Photography copyright question?

W

WhO WhAt?.

New member
What are the pro's and con's of a copyright?

I only shoot people (family,kids, couples)
I guess what I am trying to ask is what are the pro's and con's of releasing the rights to a customer.
 
Well, the first thing that jumps out to me is the financial backing of it -- if you keep the rights, the customer has to pay you to get prints.

If you give them the rights to it, they can do whatever they want with it -- and you'll get a lot less money in the end.


It varies depending on the market -- whether you're photographing for advertising, for travel, etc., or just for family settings as you seem to.


In your case, I wouldn't bother signing over rights to the image -- it seems like a better business tactic to keep the rights.


HOWEVER: I am not a professional in this and could be wrong.
 
Never give the copyright away.
Lets say you take the perfect family picture. If some one else saw that picture and lets say they wanted to use it for an Apple Ad. If you gave the copyright away they person that owned it could make tens of thousands of dollars and they would not have to give you a penny.

Now I take people pics all the time. If it is personal work I really do not care if they use the pictures for family and friends. I will assign unlimited Usage rights for the personal use.

Now more importantly lets say you are hired to take pictures for a Company. I will never give away copyright. If they pay alot of money I will give them unlimited usage rights. But I will still retain the copyright.
Why, you may ask? Again if you give copyright away they now have the ability to sell your pics over and over again.
Plus if you give away copyright you might not even be able to use your very own pictures for your portfolio if you did not clarify your own usage.
 
a pro photographer never gives up copyright to any photo. never.
what they do is assign (read, sell) usage rights which allow the photos to be printed or edited or used in specific ways. more freedom to do what you want with a photo means more money for the photographer.

compare giveing or selling the copyright to a photo like selling your car. once the title is signed, its done. you have no access, no key, no right to drive it or sit in it or anything else.
 
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