I’ve had a few of my images used in print by media houses before, most free of cost, but a few (which can be read as just more than a couple) I have actually been paid for, one was a nominal fee, once was a fair but cheap price and recently, a very fair and unexpected fee from a reputable regional magazine. This article is just to share a little of what I have learnt along the way
In recent weeks, with the approaching Christmas Season, we’ve been asked by many of our members about “selling their photos” for use in items such as Corporate Calendars, Greeting Cards, or even media publication. So we thought that now would be a good time to clear up some of the confusion and shed some light. It also makes a good follow up to Dwayne Hackett’s “Making Money From Your Photography”. This is not meant just to answer the questions for this “Season” but for future reference as well.
Some of us take photographs and keep them to ourselves, for our own pleasure and to share among family and friends. Some of us tend to try and get our work out there, for others to see and admire. If your work is out there, you may be asked at some point if you would permit your image to be used for one purpose or another, whether it is to beautify a web-page, be included in a new article, or even as the cover image of a magazine.
Many of us starting out would jump at the chance to have our work printed in a well-known newspaper or publication, and starting out, we would even let it be done for free, just to see it in print. I think (and I know many who share my opinion) if someone thinks that your photograph is worth using, then it’s also worth some money in your pocket.
One of the greatest things about a photograph is that each person will always have their own interpretation of it and a different feeling about the image. This particular composition that I put together, with great difficulty I might add, was perhaps the most risky thing I have done thus far in my photography endeavours. However, being a hobbyist with a dSLR and a rather vivid imagination, risks should be something routine to me – I assure you, it is not.
