This is a short post on how NOT to undersell yourself.
I only dabble in photography. I once had a dream of being Ansel Adams’ replacement, but I have come to a more pragmatic view of my art. I can take good photos, but it’s not my passion. Not anymore, that is, or not at this current state of my life.
That said, I consider it a serious hobby, and an extension of my artistic expression.
So, at first, I was really excited when our corporate office asked for photos of our region to use in their updates of personalized presentations for our agents. I have some really nice photos of our region, and – specifically – of the city I live in. But, then, I began to think like an artist.
My boss asked for photos at a recent sales meeting and I asked, “Will they pay royalties?”
I know they pay royalties to Getty Images (don’t start me as an artist!).
The looks around the room were blank stares. My boss said, “No.”
“Huh. Then I have no photos to offer.”
More blank stares,
Look, folks, I am serious. No more FREE. You want to use my images? You pay.
Now, my company might pay. My boss simply is not educated in artistic license. She may not even know it exists. *I* know it exists, and *I* am making the stand. Fellow artists, you should be proud of me.
NO MORE FREE.
My work costs me. My work is serious.
YES!!! It took me a long time to reconcile in my own mind, that my time, skill, talent, and my overall investment in my craft are actually worth something.
A neighbor recently showed me a project that he has been working on for several years. On the first page: one of my photos — poorly scanned from a small print, and with no photographer credit. I suppose I am supposed to be flattered, but my first internal reaction was, “That’s copyrighted material”. I said nothing.
I stewed slightly over this for a while. I finally decided that, since the project is not a commercial venture, I could deal with it a different way: With no further discussion on the matter, I printed a release, granting my permission to use the image.
Freebies undermine ALL artists. If some give their work away, the rest must struggle harder to validate our reasons for charging.
I agree.