I'm been asked to supply a few photos for a local bi-monthly newspaper. Actually, not so much a paper as a newsletter that is geared towards tourists. It is basically fancy pictures on the front, a few articles about local goings on, and ads. Going to do it, shouldn't be too hard to come up with a few images a month and it sounds like fun.
I've got a few questions...
1. They pay $25 an image. Seems about right to me for a paper with circulation of hundreds or at the most a few thousand. Seem right to you?
2. If I'm paid for an image that is used once in a paper, who typically retains the rights?
3. It is my understanding that I do not need any sort of signed release for photos that would appear in a paper. Am I correct?
Skip, it is safe to assume that you have no background or experience in journalism or photojournalism? Shooting for a newspaper--regardless of the size--is more than just "coming up with a few images" and having "fun".
I would suggest sitting down with the photo editor or news editor at the newspaper and asking them questions #2 and #3. If you're going to be a regular freelancer for them, they should have a freelance agreement or contract you both sign that details these kinds of things.
If this is as small a paper as you say, I'd say the $25 is about as good as you could expect.
Scott, it is really a tiny operation and it was pitched to me as "coming up with a few images a month." It is going to be an expansion of a paper that is published in a little touristy town about 130 miles away. We're talking 1-2 pics, 1-2 articles, some ads for local tourist traps and that is the whole thing. I posted these questions because businesses in the interior of Alaska tend to be very casual about certain things and I wanted to have an idea of what what was normal when I actually talked business to the fellow that publishes the thing.
You're right, I've got no experience with PJ or journalism, but at this scale I'm confident in my ability to learn and cope.
(although after rereading this post, I may feel good about my photography, but I really need to go back to high school english and relearn sentence structure)
Edit: After lurking and reading some other threads I just wanted to mention one thing, I'm not trying to be sneaky and take business away from pros in my area. I might be the only fish in a vary small pond.
