Photographers, I need some advice

[CutebutPsycho]

Hello!

I have been an amateur photographer for as long as I can remember. I am still at the stage where some of my pictures are awful but a few are really quite remarkable (if I do say so myself).

Anyway... a local company would like to use some of my nature photos for advertising purposes, and I wonder if anybody out there has any advice?

What I should do or should NOT do?

Any websites that can help with logistics? Should I charge them or let them use my photos for free (as, of course, they are requesting) just to get my photos seen?

I have never had anybody approach me wanting to use my photos before, so I really haven't the foggiest idea what to do first.

[aline]

I would suggest having them pay you, especially if you would like to be paid in the future. If you don't value your work enough to get paid, no one else will.

Get a contract stating where and when they're allowed to use the photo(s) and for how long (standard contracts are for a one year buyout, or for full rights usually), and if possible have a lawyer look i over to make sure it says what you think it says.

Talk to some other photographers or advertising agencies in the area to see what they're charging for a similar type of thing. You can ask for a little less if you're worried about the name recognition issue, but again, I strongly advise against giving away your work for free, or severely under valuing it. Remember, this is an ad, not a gallery showing. Your photo "getting seen" for them equals business, which equals money. Its not fair of them to expect you to put in the work and not get paid.

All good advice. I purchase photography regularly for use in printed materials (I'm a graphic designer), and would also recommend that in your contract, you make sure the client is required to print your name (copyright, Fireweed, 2007) with each photo used.

If you need any info on what a sample contract might look like, or the different ways you can sell/license your photos, let me know and I'd be happy to email you some stuff.