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Give It For Free

3/3/2009 11:47:00 PM

It happened again. Every so often a message comes in from a site, or a person who asks to use one of my photos free of charge. They ask expecting that I should be happy and excited that they are willing to showcase my photo on their site, and credit me. Although they try to do so with a wonderful upbeat message, it always comes back to the same thing. They want my photo and do not want to pay for it.

The same people that will ask about obtaining the use of one my photos will not care about the harsh reality that these photos are a source of income. These are the same people that charge people to advertise on their own sites. Do they give away free advertising banners to companies and organizations that want to advertise? No.

They hope that the photographers should be more than happy with getting credit, since why should a photographer want money for a photo? Aren’t they all independently wealthy individuals who only strive to purchase equipment, travel and then give the product of their work away?

These same companies and individuals that ask for free photos cannot go to a car dealer and ask for a free car; they cannot go to a real estate agent and ask for a free office yet they feel that they can from a photographer.

The only time photographers will be able to get a fair price is when we finally educate companies and individuals that photos are our product, which is no different than a iPod, a notebook computer or a car.

BLOGS THAT I READ
Thoughts of a Bohemian
Joe McNally
A Photo Editor
Vincent Laforet
John Nack on Adobe

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