Quote:

For those of you who provide digital copies on CD/DVD, how do you restrict the use of those images, or do you even bother since there is little hope of controlling it anyway?



There you go.

1. Yes.

2. No. They get a print or prints and they are to commemorate the win period. If they want to use the image for advertising, web, etc., they have to have my written permission and order appropriate media i.e. high-rez file.

3. No. I archive all my shots but I am not required to keep them for a specified amount of time. I do, however, provide CD/DVD show books to the show chairs. Keep in mind that my contracts are with the Show Chairs and my "products" are sold to the exhibitors so there are two levels of rights/usage.

4. Not any more. It's like talking to the wall. Those that do understand, don't want to be lectured; those that don't understand never will.

Keep in mind that it is almost impossible to police the usage of an image after somebody has received it. I realize that folks scan the prints and put them on their websites. I try to make sure that they at least have done a decent job and that my sign (my copyright) is visible. That's pretty much all I can do.

In advertising, I try to make sure folks order the file but, again, it's almost impossible to stop them from scanning and sending a file to the publication. Most of the pubs will contact me if the file they get is lousy. My objective is, again, to make sure I get the credit for the photo so if the sign is visible, I'm OK with it. Because I don't put the signs in until the work has been paid for, I know that I've at least gotten paid for the print.

As for my non-show portraits, most folks order the prints they need and most will ask for web files if they want them. I haven't had any problems with folks trying to steal images in this venue.

For my commercial work, I negotiate with the client what they need. If it's a buy-out, they pay an appropriate price. If it's single usage, they pay that price. My bottom line is that I want to get paid for the work and not spend my time policing usage. And, if I've done a good job, I'd like to get hired again. So I negotiate a rate that works for both the client and me.

Jim

Jim Garvie
www.jagphoto.biz