Digital BW, The Print

Hi All, 

I know this is terribly off topic so if it's completely inappropriate to post this question I 
apologize. But there are so many photographers on this forum shooting for a variety of 
purposes I'm hoping a few of you might share your opinion. I have googled and not come up 
with much.

I just finished a portrait commission and the client wants the files. My inclination is not to 
give them up at any price because I do not want inferior prints of my stuff floating around. 
How do you all feel about this issue and for those of you that do sell the files....how much?

Thanks,
Sarah

Your instincts are correct. Never give up your file. The client paid for a
portrait. If they had purchased a portrait from a studio using film, they
would not expect to receive the negative.

 

  _____  

From: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sarah
Renkes
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 12:43 PM
To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Digital BW] OT: rights to digital files

 

Hi All, 

I know this is terribly off topic so if it's completely inappropriate to
post this question I 
apologize. But there are so many photographers on this forum shooting for a
variety of 
purposes I'm hoping a few of you might share your opinion. I have googled
and not come up 
with much.

I just finished a portrait commission and the client wants the files. My
inclination is not to 
give them up at any price because I do not want inferior prints of my stuff
floating around. 
How do you all feel about this issue and for those of you that do sell the
files....how much?

Thanks,
Sarah

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Sarah,

This is what I say:

>"At this time I am not offering high resolution digital files on CD 
>because I care about the quality of the print and I don't want to 
>trust it to self-serve photo printers. This may become an option in 
>the future. If you really need a high resolution file for magazine 
>advertising or something else, <mailto:kalbaugh@...>get in 
>touch with me and we'll work something out."

So far, no one has gotten in touch with me so I haven't come up with 
a price but it would probably be a useage fee not unlimited print privileges.

Good luck,

Pat K.

__________________________



At 08:42 AM 12/26/2008, you wrote:

>I just finished a portrait commission and the client wants the 
>files. My inclination is not to
>give them up at any price because I do not want inferior prints of 
>my stuff floating around.
>How do you all feel about this issue and for those of you that do 
>sell the files....how much?
>
>Thanks,
>Sarah
>
>

Hi,
the deal is normally a portrait and prints - stick to your guns. 

If it's a commercial job, however, it's different because they will want to use the image in an ad or book or something and need the digital file; but still, your licence is only for that purpose and you can hold them to that; and put a date on the licence for the return of the CD.

Richard

At 08:03 a.m. Saturday 27/12/2008, you wrote:

>Your instincts are correct. Never give up your file. The client paid for a
>portrait. If they had purchased a portrait from a studio using film, they
>would not expect to receive the negative.
>
>_____ 
>
>From: <mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com>DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
>[mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Sarah
>Renkes
>Sent: Friday, December 26, 2008 12:43 PM
>To: <mailto:DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint%40yahoogroups.com>DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [Digital BW] OT: rights to digital files
>
>Hi All, 
>
>I know this is terribly off topic so if it's completely inappropriate to
>post this question I 
>apologize. But there are so many photographers on this forum shooting for a
>variety of 
>purposes I'm hoping a few of you might share your opinion. I have googled
>and not come up 
>with much.
>
>I just finished a portrait commission and the client wants the files. My
>inclination is not to 
>give them up at any price because I do not want inferior prints of my stuff
>floating around. 
>How do you all feel about this issue and for those of you that do sell the
>files....how much?
>
>Thanks,
>Sarah
>
>[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
> 

--
www.richardsmallfield.com 

   "Many of life's failures are people who did not realise how close 
   they were to success when they gave up."
   --Thomas Edison


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

May I ask if they signed a contract before the shoot and was there a 
mention of digital files in it?  Were digital files discussed at all 
at any other time before the shoot? If not, then I would not give the 
files. Those are your permanent records, not theirs. I have heard of 
some photographers selling them, but the price is usually very high, 
like $200.00 or so and not every photo taken, but a select few.

Debbi

>
>At 08:42 AM 12/26/2008, you wrote:
>
>
>>I just finished a portrait commission and the client wants the
>>files. My inclination is not to
>>give them up at any price because I do not want inferior prints of
>>my stuff floating around.
>>How do you all feel about this issue and for those of you that do
>>sell the files....how much?
>>
>>Thanks,
>  >Sarah
>>
>  >

Dear Sarah,

If you have a moment, you might review the following topic...

³Work for Hire²

<http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=359720>

<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_for_hire>


jim k



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks to all who replied; I appreciate your comments.

Sarah



--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, jim kitchen <jim.kitchen@...> 
wrote:

>
> Dear Sarah,
> 
> If you have a moment, you might review the following topic...
> 
> ³Work for Hire²
> 
> <http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=359720>
> 
> <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Work_for_hire>
> 
> 
> jim k
> 
> 
> 
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>