I guess I just need to state my needs more clearly before I take even casual photos for people. I did a little photoshoot yesterday and already processed the photos and uploaded them to flickr/facebook.
The person who asked me to take these photos downloaded them, added a photoshop background to one, and stuck his business logo on everything. He did this without asking. I don't mind the logo... much. But he took a photo and photoshopped in a fake beach background and it looks downright bad.
The job before this, the bride re-processed EVERY photo herself, adding some stupid gaussian blur frame to each photo among other things.
I know I should have a contract which states "You can't alter my shit", but I'm not officially a business yet, I'm just an amateur trying to learn.
None the less, what other actions do I need to take to prevent this sort of thing? I don't want people manipulating my work and then giving me credit for it, I want my work to be untouched after I deliver it unless given express permission. Is that unreasonable?
I think it's time to write up a contract & start using a watermark. I need to make sure I have the legal right to my photos, even after commercial use. Where do I start? Guess I need to find everything I can about legal copyright etc
If you feel compelled to hand off files, then price them as if you were selling a 20x30 print of each one, say, $150 to $1500 (depending on your market) each. This will ensure you get to sell prints which most people won't bother to scan to alter.
Finally, add the appropriate language to your contract.
Prints give you absolute control over how your work is presented, so really it's the only way to go IMHO.
For commercial clients (advertising usage for example), handing off files is more the norm. Make sure you understand that the fees for such images should be tied to usage -- size, placement, length of use and range of distribution (local vs national, etc.)
John Harrington's book may be the best single resource for insights and tips on running a photography business. It's pretty comprehensive and highly recommended.
For a quick start guide, Kirk Tuck's book will do, but if you can get only one book, get Harrington's.
I was just thinking I needed to pick up a book on running a photo biz.
I'm 5 years into a business degree.... doesn't mean I'm an expert on photo business. A known unknown if you will
As far as this current client, I've decided I'm going to charge per photo they use. And charge hourly if they want me to photograph their events (maybe charge 1/2 that hourly rate for post processing time?)
Unless you're doing fashion model / celebrity touch-ups where post processing is an industry all its own, structure the pricing to include post. This assumes post consists of doing all the typical mundane culling, color correcting / balancing, occasional cropping, sharpening, etc. Those are things an essential part of the production of every usable image and really can't be separated. Also, not listing post as a line item stops the haggling over the cost of it before it ever starts ("I'm not sure we really need that..."). It's required, period. You wouldn't deliver undeveloped film to a client; neither would you deliver unprocessed images.
If you're asked to make a collage, composite two images together, drop in another background, etc., then you should add another line item for post. These things are above and beyond normal processing and subject to "creative" fees. As to what it's worth, I'm thinking it's worth more than half your hourly rate. Back in the day when I was taking Photoshop classes, one of my instructors charged $75 just to fire up his computer such work. $150 per hour with a 1/2 hour minimum sounds like a good jumping in point to me, assuming that you're more skillful than the average duffer with Photoshop. Charge more if you can get it.
As to charging by the hour for event shooting, some people say hourly / day rates are not the way to go. I don't have strong feelings one way or the other, but I have charged day rates in the past with a half-day minimum. If you're charging $600/day, your half-day rate should be $350-$400.
Ellis Vener has an excellnet post in the linked thread about setting rates.
