The publisher for this magazine has contacted me for a feature on my landscapes. He requested an online interview, and 6 or 7 of my images. I do have gallery work and have sold for a couple album covers, but I have never submitted to a magazine. No money is involved in this, as he stated that it is tight . but he stated a very nice article and feature.
I'm hesitating. I hate to send full resolution images for this, if that is what is needed. Waiting for his reply on that. Anyway, is this a standard way of doing this, and do they need a full rez file?
Why on earth would you do this? There is no such thing as 'credits in a magazine' being worth the price of FREE. Things are tight everywhere, too bad, if he's got enough money to pay for the printing of his magazine, then he has enough money to pay for decent photos.
clients usually don't look to magazines for photographers.
clients never look into magazines from other countries for photographers.
magazine covers nowadays bring very little portfolio advantage.
unknown magazine covers in foreign countries bring no portfolio advantage.
Absolutely right, Bruce. Why does anyone think giving photos away for free is a good idea? Your tire shop doesn't give away tires for free to everyone when they first open so you can see if the tires are any good. And your new grocery store doesn't let you try the groceries for free for a few weeks when they first open. It just doesn't make any sense!!
john660 wrote:
Absolutely right, Bruce. Why does anyone think giving photos away for free is a good idea? Your tire shop doesn't give away tires for free to everyone when they first open so you can see if the tires are any good. And your new grocery store doesn't let you try the groceries for free for a few weeks when they first open. It just doesn't make any sense!!
Those aren't very good examples because there is an established market value for tires and groceries and the quality of tires and groceries does not vary widely from tire shop to tire shop or grocery store to grocery store. Photography is different in at least those respects. Also, groceries and tires are goods whereas photogaphy is a service. They sometimes operate under different economic principles and they are valued differently. And there are some times that a tire shop or a grocery store might give away free products or coupons for free services when they first open.
There could be some valid reasons why one would want to give away their photos for free, but this scenario the OP is involved in does not seem to present any valid ones.
Is it customary to charge a magazine that is doing a feature story on you? I was part of a story a few years ago and the thought of charging the mag didn't enter my mind. Or the minds of the other 2 photographers they profiled. Maybe we all fell for the evil publisher's plan of world domination.
The fact that is is an unknown magazine in Ukraine is another thing to consider. If Communication Arts or Sports Illustrated or Arizona Highways or another well known American magazine did a feature on your work would you expect a paycheck? I dunno I'm just asking....
Yes, it is customary to charge for 'profiles' in a magazine. I've always been paid for any profiles done on me that included photos taken by me.
@mdude85, you're right on all counts. It is indeed a service, not goods, so indeed the economy treats them differently. Let's compare dental services or house cleaning services, instead (I was so frustrated by this thread that I threw out the first two examples that came to mind!). The point is, most new businesses, whether offering services or goods, do not use giving their service or product away for free as an initial promotion. It does happen here and there (although often with some sort of catch or caveat), but certainly not on the mass scale that you see in photography. Certainly not in things like graphic design, web design or video, or even illustration, which might be argued are fairly close to photography in certain ways. Anyways, good points mdude85!
What is this worth to have a feature article and spread in this magazine at this early time in my career?. I don't know. I do know that money is certainly not a driving force in my passion for landscape photography, that is for sure. So, I guess you have to ask yourself, what is this worth to me at this time?.
Each offer has to independently assessed based upon station in life.
Would Ansel Adams do this? Probably Not.
Would J. Q Public one year out of college? Probably So.
What does it cost you? Probably nothing.
How would you value it? Would something come of it, Would it look good in your portfolio, How would it make you feel.
Based upon what has been said, do it with a passion and enjoy being wanted.
However, I hope you have registered the copyrights for the images you will share.
What is this worth to have a feature article and spread in this magazine at this early time in my career?. I don't know. I do know that money is certainly not a driving force in my passion for landscape photography, that is for sure. So, I guess you have to ask yourself, what is this worth to me at this time?.
Sure that's different for everybody.
Thanks,.....Brian
Just taking alook at their website, it doesn't look like money is very tight.
I do know that money is certainly not a driving force in my passion for landscape photography, that is for sure. So, I guess you have to ask yourself, what is this worth to me at this time?
Brian, sorry to come down on you so harshly, but this is a PRO digital corner, so I thought you were a pro or an aspiring pro asking for advice and I gave it as such.
Their website and magazine look very professional, so I'd agree with mdude85 again, they really don't look like money is tight.
john660 wrote:
Brian, sorry to come down on you so harshly, but this is a PRO digital corner, so I thought you were a pro or an aspiring pro asking for advice and I gave it as such.
Their website and magazine look very professional, so I'd agree with mdude85 again, they really don't look like money is tight.
No worries,
The reason I asked my question here is because it IS the PRO digital corner. I wanted a professional perspective about doing business when it comes to photography in today's market. And maybe, since it is tight in today's world, which it is, if exposure equals compensation in my situation; depending on what I do with it now and in the future.
