ok today i had an inquiry, everything went well booked on the spot. Anyways so the bride saids she doesnt want me to use their pictures on my site or for my portfolio work, the thing is i really want to!
what to do? do you guys charge more for this? should i be expecting every client to allow me to use their pictures or is this the norm?
If she's booked, contract signed, then you and her are bound by whatever has been agreed to. But yes, many photographers charge a higher fee if they won't be allowed to use the images for self promotion, etc. Usage rights have value. Confidentiality agreements aren't unusal if the clients are celebraties, sports figures, politicians or one of those is in attendance. While I've never dealt with one of those, I'm fairly sure that the photographers that do charge accordingly.
My contract has a model release built into it. I've never had anyone ask for me not to use their images but if I did, I'd certainly do some hard thinking about it. To an extent it depends on the bride/couple. Not everyone has a "portfolio" look about them. So I suppose if it was someone I wouldn't likely use in an add or sample album anyway, I might not care. Drop-dead gorgeous bride with a really handsome groom... well that could be an entirely different matter.
contract not yet signed, as i was pondering wat to do. b/g not drop dead gorgeous or anything but i am almost certain i will pull out some great shots in every wedding so i would like to use it... i mean why would i go out of my way to be creative if i can't show it off?
I have gotten this request many times - at first, I decided to respect their wishes off the bat. However, it's turned into a problem where developing/evolving a portfolio starts to get difficult with such restrictions. Therefor, I now charge a fee for censorship.
Quan wrote:
... i mean why would i go out of my way to be creative if i can't show it off?
well, that i have to respectfully disagree with-if someone has booked me to shoot their wedding, i do everything i can do knock it out of the park...whether it benefits me and my portfolio or not...
The only reason I could see why they "possibly" don't want to be seen on a web site together is problems with ex-boyfriend/spouse.
Use of the photos on our site is built into the contract too. We have not ever experienced this before, but I would respect their wishes and not use them on our site. I would not charge them extra for this either.
I recently photographed an actress and her lawyer husband who asked the same thing. We negotiated it to a "client approval" clause that the client would approve all images for public consumption and I am still OK to use them for in-studio samples.
My starting point in the negotiation was (and you can quote me if you like): Showing the work from previous weddings is how I continue my business, much like the work you (the couple) have already seen. Without keeping my portfolio constantly updated with the latest and greatest work, my business can suffer. I certainly understand not wanting your photos out in public view, but can we meet in the middle - say approval for anything that is public (blog postings, etc) and let me use you guys in a sample album to show future clients"?
If they say no, then if it's a popular date, pretty venue, etc I would not budge on the in-studio samples. If it's an off date or nothing that would really benefit you, then just take the money.
Just think, they will have a far greater value as only you will know the beauty. Although you can't put them in a portfolio, they act as those "secret" images that only few have seen.
But, I myself would want to charge extra simply because I cannot use them in online/portfolio submissions. kind of a catch 22.
okay so i talked to the bride again, the reason being is they are getting married in secret and do not want their families to find out. I can respect that, case closed.
though this is a good lesson for me and probably will have value in the future, thnx all for comments!
Take the job dude. It is still a learning experience for you plus you do get paid for it. I've had more than a few couples who have made this request even after they sign the model release and I was fine with it. Not using one or two weddings for your portfolio is not that big of a deal if you're consistently getting work. Just do it
If you have already booked her, just go along with her wishes. Its not worth creating a big stink over and having her make your life a living hell up to and after the wedding.
In the future though, definitely write into your contract that the photographer (you) has the rights to use the images for business promotion.
In the 40+ weddings I have shot, I have never had anyone bothered by the fact I show off their images in my portfolio. I would take this particular instance as being the exception, not the rule.
My wife asked the photographer not to use the images, they lined it out of their contract (probably at no risk, not being the stunning model sort myself). No questions, no worries and no suggestion that they would raise the fees.
For my beautiful daughters, I'll be happy to negotiate a reasonable reduction in your fees to account for the business advantage you expect to get from using our images, the venue we paid for, the clothing we bought or rented, the flowers we bought, the reception venue, etc. Or you could just accept that this is a job they hired you to do, to shoot their wedding, and remember they didn't hire you to pump up your advertising portfolio.
Photographers charge on the anticipated benefit the user of the images will accrue, user makes more money, the photographers make more money. If the images are really so valuable to "you," pay for them.
