Hoping to get advice based on your previous experience knowing how helpful you all have been and despite this being slightly off topic.
I have a case where I was going to volunteer to take photos at a non-profit (think church social ) event where they had two points of use, near-real-time slide show of the photos during the festivities, and some web posting of some of these event photos on their own website. All straight out of the camera. I wasn't going to volunteer editing with this limited scope and figure they would self select the better shots anyway.
I wanted to volunteer and do this for the organization, but being that the photos where going to be of people/members, I didnt want the organization to be able to distribute/give the photos to the individuals, nor did I want the individuals to be able to do a right-click download off the web. They were ok with the first part, but didn't like the idea of having the responsibility of protecting the images on their website despite me telling them I could provide an embedded link.
gschlact wrote:
...nor did I want the individuals to be able to do a right-click download off the web
I don't think that's a reasonable contingency, especially for volunteer work.
You can try to protect your content on hosting sites that you choose to use, but I've yet to find a site that an image couldn't be copied from... right-click, PrtScn, or File - Save As - Webpage Complete.
What are your concerns with people copying the pictures that you're donating? Potential low quality since you're not culling and editing the shots? Loss of potential sales?
If you're doing this as volunteer work for the good of the community or to aid the cause of the non-profit, then I'd go a step further and eliminate any hassle and liability from contingencies and demands associated with your contribution.
If this is your underlying concern, you could ask for the right to ask them to remove any picture(s) that you feel does not adequately represent your typical quality.
gschlact wrote:
All straight out of the camera. I wasn't going to volunteer editing with this limited scope and figure they would self select the better shots anyway.
My initial reaction is unless you nail every shot you take and you know everything is exposed properly, composed properly and virtually "print-ready", I would not give them anything "straight out of the camera." Now way I'm going to let someone I don't know is a good photographer "self select" what they think are the better images. I don't want my reputation put at that much risk.
It seems to me that you're putting a lot of effort and responsibility on the shoulders of the event organizers. IMO, it would be best if you give them images that YOU'VE selected (that whole "self-selecting" thing makes me nervous), and you are comfortable with people seeing and even right clicking and doing a "save as." Dumping the images into a program like Photo Mechanic will give you the option of doing a "save as" and reducing what you give them to web size and it would take minutes to do (allowing you to meet their near-real-time needs).
IMO, just because you're volunteering your time and donating your time/images doesn't mean you don't have some responsibility (at least to yourself!) to put the time/effort into the images to make sure you're presenting your best work in the best way possible.
Scott Sewell wrote:
My initial reaction is unless you nail every shot you take...etc. etc.
Absolutely. Someone once said "A photographer is not known for the photos he takes, but for the photos he shows". Photo selection is just as big a part of photography as actually making the photo in the first place. And another thing I agree with Scott on is volunteering doesn't justify half assing. You can really shoot yourself in the foot if you're not careful on this one.
But beyond that, I'm not really seeing any copyright issues here. Everything you have mentioned can be done without you giving up your copyright. You need to concentrate on usage rights or licenses. You can make the terms any way you like and then negotiate with the other party til you reach an agreement or call the whole thing off. If you want your photos protected or what ever then stick to your position. If they can't or won't meet your terms pass on the deal.
Odd I always felt that charity and community was something beyond marketing, and profit. Maybe I'm dumb, but I have done charity work for free and gave them the photos. I never cared about copyright because I'd have no use for them and no model releases anyway.
