Why you need to keep the copyright in your photos.

 

This image was part of a series shot on assignment for Weldon Owen Publishing. It was used to illustrate a school book on festivals around the world - I was in charge of the Japan book.

I chose the festival, lined up the models (my wife's sister's family!) and organised the day of the shoot.

Not that they at any time had asked for it, but if I had given away the copyright for all the photographs I took I wouldn't be able to show this one to you. It wouldn't be mine any more. I could actually get sued for showing it to you, or using it in my portfolio to show potential clients the kind of work I do.

If I had given away the copyright my assigning client would then own all the rights to that picture, meaning that they could then license it as stock and make a profit off of it and wouldn't have to pay me a cent.

As it is they have used it in another couple of books and I, of course, get paid every time it gets used. I have licensed it to accompany articles on Japan written both by myself and other writers. It's even been used in an ad for a major Japanese travel agency (I needed signed model releases for that one).


All in all my income from stock sales of this image have far outstripped the original assignment fee. And none of that would have been possible if I had relinquished my copyright.

I saw an ad for a wedding photographer the other day boasting about the fact that he gives the copyright to the couple. Does he realise that he can no longer use those pictures in his own portfolio? Does he know that he could get sued for putting it on his website? Methinks if the couples he photographs knew this and they were in any way dodgy they could leverage this legal loophole.

Chances are that your clients have no intention of selling your photographs to third parties. But if they're a major publishing house they might think about using it in others of their publications. They might think they need copyright to prevent you licensing it to their competitors. They might think that if they own the copyright it will save them having to come back to you to pay for extra rights that they might need down the track.

These are all legitimate concerns but you can argue against any of them and reassure your clients that they will get what they need while protecting your own business interests. Have something in your contract that promises you won't license the images to competitors. Put in your contract what you will charge them for any possible future licenses that will go beyond the initial contract. Explain to them that there's no point in paying extra money for usages they may never need. Show them how it's cheaper to just pay for what they need now.

The photographer-client relationship should be a collaboration. We provide great photographs at a price the client can afford with a license attached that they need. This isn't necessarily always what they want but such is life - I want a new Ferrari but I'm sure the dealer isn't going to give me one for cheap just because I want it. Work with your clients and if they're interested in working with you and willing to see your side of the coin as well as their own then I know you can see a way beyond the 'we have to own it' argument.

And remember that as soon as you give your copyright away you have no rights whatsoever to show those pictures anywhere in your own portfolio or website. Think about that one for a minute. I can't imagine any client wanting to put that kind of a restriction on their photographer, or any photographer who would knowingly admit to those conditions. But that's what you're doing every time you agree to hand over your copyright.

Oh and if you needed any more persuasion, a recent survey of professional photographers in the UK showed that photographers who kept their copyrights made an average 33% more income than those who gave it away! Now doesn't that appeal to your hip pocket?

A new resource for professional photographers in the developing world

One of my all-time favourite pieces of software is Expression Media. I've blogged about it before and probably will again. Anyway I found the software through the wonderful book on Digital Asset Management by Peter Krogh. Peter has a website and a blog which you can find at The Dam Book site and on today's post he mentioned what looks to me to be a great resource.

Put together with a number of prestigious photographic bodies, including the World Press Photo people, the just-launched Shutha site has a host of really instructional videos on professional photography. As they say in their blurb, you already know how to take pictures, their site is designed to help you turn it into a profitable career you will love.

So if you're an aspiring or newly-minted professional photographer, especially if you're living in the developing world, then I would definitely recommend you pop over for a look because there is a lot of really valuable information there. Great to see somebody looking out for the rest of the world, and let's hope it helps photographers from all over the planet to show their own visions of the world around them.

Daintree looking lush, green and tropically tantalising.

Daintree National Park Photos - Images by Paul Dymond

The wet season in this part of the world is long, hot and very, very wet. Plus there's usually a  couple of cyclones and the humidity levels go through the roof. But when it's all over and far north Queensland has had its life-giving top up of water then we find out what it was all for.

At this time of the year the forests are lush and green. The creeks and rivers are clear and flowing with all the run-off from the surrounding tropical rainforest-covered mountains. And it just looks spectacular.

Arguably the jewel in the crown of our tropical rainforests is the world-heritage listed Daintree National Park. Enjoy these images and if you're local consider popping up to take a look - the ferry over the Daintree River is free for us! Yay. If you're from out of town then now would be a great time for a flying visit. My one tip for rainforest photography - leave the polariser on and don't forget the tripod.