Pictures for a Textbook are My Copyright

My friend, Paul Bolls, has been working on a book, for what seems like forever, and I was recruited to take pictures for its illustrations.

Because they will be used in a publication in the somewhat near future, I decided to send them in to the Copyright Office so that I could control how my images are used. I'm in the process of investigating what type of licensing the publisher is planning on using.

I'm really glad that I'm taking this Business Planning class. (Thanks, Jackie!) It has already given me a lot to think about and it's only the third week of class... I wouldn't have even thought about the licensing before the semester started.

I thought I would include a few outtakes.

Obviously, we didn't use this one, but at least you know what I was wearing the day I was taking pictures.

Negotiating the glass so as to not have a reflection.

Pricing in Photography

So we've been talking about how to price our services. Today I came across a blog post (on the Photo Business Forum blog) that talked about that very thing. Make sure that you look down in the comments, because it tracks the evolution of the article.

They break down some of the time investment:

• Session prep time (30 minutes-1 hour, includes equipment and back up equipment checks + vehicle checks)
• Travel time to session: 1 hour
• Prep time at client’s home: 15-30 minutes
• Actual shooting time with client: 90 minutes-2 hours
• Travel time from session: 1 hour
• Upload time (from digital cards to computer): 30-45 minutes
• Creation of back ups of original images: 30-45 minutes
• Editing time for client gallery: 2-5 hours
• Prep time for ordering: 1 hour
• Time with client for ordering images: 2-3 hours
• Sort time and checking order: 1 hour
• Prep time for delivery: 30 minutes-1 hour
• Shipping order: 30 minutes-1 hour
• Any additional phone time or time needed for add on ordering, shipment issues, quality issues

And people just think that it's point, click, develop and deliver.

Copyright Infringement

The more I think about being a freelance photographer, the more I have been thinking about copyright. It doesn't help that this is what we've been talking about it in class. There is an actual website, Pilfered Magazine, whose whole purpose was to compile other people's images so that people could pilfer them.

The founder of Pilfered, Patrick Hoelck, (an "award winning photographer") was really enthusiastic about his stealing in an article in Mean Magazine.  "It is the first truly provocative, interactive, sign of the times magazine for artists and the visually inspired. You either get it or you don’t and are pissed by it."

I guess those of us who object to his stealing (and are pissed) just don't get it...

David Eddinger's Thoughts on the Subject

Here's a blog rant against the "Scumbags."

I was able to locate a link to an issue of the magazine (right now their site is down and they're 'reimagining' their vision). When I looked through it, it seemed like a bunch of pretentious crap to me... I guess I eat too many "bouzhy" dinners and don't see the genius of it...

I wonder if he'll be winning any more awards after this.