Should I ask to be paid?

[ColleenG]

DH somehow got nominated a few months back to be vice president of our little town's Democratic Club. So he has been some what involved with the campaign for the 2 canidates running for town council. He asked me tonight if I would take some pictures for them. I said yes, any excuse to use my camera will do! I jokingly asked if I would get paid and he said no. But now that I think about it these are pictures I assume will be used in ads and mailings. DH always goes on about how shocked he is about how much money they have raised. So my question is, if they are going to use my pictures in print ads, should I ask to be paid? If so what would be a fair price? I can't imagine I would spend much more than a half an hour photographing and half hour processing. I think $100 would be great! I could get the hood and shutter remote I want before our Disney trip!!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I'm not sure, but just my opinion....if you are taking the pics for personal use (even their personal use) you shouldn't get paid..
BUT...if they are going to publicize them, then, yes, they should get your permission and pay you something...

 

[ColleenG]

I know DH said they are planning to send out several fliers in the mail over the next few weeks and they have been running ads in the local paper weekly. If they want the pics for personal use that's fine with me. But I'm pretty sure they want them for promoting the campaign via newspaper and nice color mailings with pictures of the canidates.

 

[Chikabowa]

Can I be honest for a sec? Please don't take offense because I'm not trying to be snotty.

But the reason you were asked is because it was assumed it would be free. That is the problem with these kinds of gigs... people will ask the world of you and just want it for free.

Here is my advice...
I get asked to do a TON of these kinds of things. If it's an organization that is important to me (like one of my first clients has a special needs child and asked me to do a charity calendar - I'm donating my time/efforts because these people have helped my business so much over the years and I care deeply for them), do it with an open heart and an open mind with NOTHING in return. If it isn't something that means something to you on a deep level, decline.

If your husband is actively involved with these campaigns, then the pay-off just might be in your husband's favor. I personally pick and choose which things I'll do for my husband's activities because I would be used and abused if I didn't lay down perimeters of what I will and won't do.

Trust me... the aggravation, hard feelings, the hoops you end up jumping through are just not worth it unless you are actively involved with the project on a personal level.

 

[ColleenG]

Hi Susan, no offense taken. I'm sure DH volunteered me to do the photos. I have NO interest at all in the group. Politics just isn't my thing. DH would get out now if he could. He's really dissappointed with all the ego feeding and general BS that goes on. After Election Day he wants to resign his post. He thought originally he could be a part of a group that wanted to make improvements in our town, but it is, politics, and the garbage that goes along with politics.

With the amount of money they have to spend I'm sure a few bucks won't make or break them. I have no problem doing pictures for something I care about or for friends or family. This past weekend I took the pictures at a friend's baby's Christening. I was happy to do it and expected nothing in return. But for this if they are sending the pictures out in ads to everyone in town, I just feel like I should be compensated something. I mean, I know I'm not a professional so I wouldn't expect what a pro would charge. If the pictures come out totally crappy and they don't want to use them, and not pay me then that would be ok. I would chalk it up to getting some quality time with my camera without hearing, "Come oooooooon Mooooooooom!"

 

[ColleenG]

Let me also clarify that the one canidate owns a business in town and wants pictures taken of him and the other canidate in front of his business cuz on the front of the store it says "An American Original", so not only are they promoting the campaign, he's advertising his business. IMO

 

[ukcatfan]

I would say to go ahead and do it for free, but make them sign something saying that they do not get any ownership of the images and that they are only for the purpose of this campaign. That way if they do ever use them for something other than that, you can demand damages at the going professional rate.

 

[jann1033]

i'm taking you don't really know these people on a personal basis IE they aren't friends...it sounds like they are using you cause they don't want to pay for photos they know they normally would have to pay for. I'd give them a charge you feel is fair and close to the going rate, mentioning due to your husband's affiliation it's less than what you normally would charge( of course then you have to make sure the photos are worth what you are charging for ie professional looking) and see if they decide to use your or not.

recently i ran into something similar...someone wanted to "use a few photos i had taken" to promote their business but literally thought i should make them copies for "free"( even though i am positive they wouldn't say give me their services for "free" if i asked them nicely, IE i don't recall them handing over a new lamp or chair just cause i liked it). personally it really frosts me when someone tries to take advantage so i'd be inclined to charge them even more than normal

 

[NateNLogansDad]

If it's for Corzine, you BETTER CHARGE HIM! I'm sure it's not, so if it might benefit your DH in some way, I'd do it free this time but maybe make up some business cards to hand in with the final prints. Why can't it benefit you also later on? I'd like to throw out one thing about getting paid, even though the chances are minute. You don't necessarily want someone in any office think you are running a business on the side and not reporting it. Just a thought.

Let me know if you want some help on that shoot. I don't have a clue of what I'm doing but I can make you look like a pro with an assistant!

 

[YesDear]

My 2 cents worth.

You have already said yes. You do not want to hurt your husband in the community. Local politics can be great fun and brutal at the same time.

Take the pictures as a learning experience but have them sign a release that any pictures used will be used for this campaign only and you get photo credit for any pictures used. You may get a photo credit that would be cool and you have protected yourself from the candidates using them for personal purposes in the future unless they pay you.

I would recommend you register the pictures with the copyright office. It would cost you $35 but it could be cool to go through that process and you have protected yourself should they try to steamroll you in the future.

Chances are, they will use one or two in a flyer and never use them again. Politicians are great at having their pictures taken! And you have had your work used publicly.

Those are my thoughts.

 

[Chikabowa]

I ditto YesDear.
If you've already said yes without discussing compensation prior, then at this point, you are obligated to follow up on your word. It's kind of a bait-and-switch if you go back and say "Weeeeeeelllll, I want to be paid now."

It's great advice though to register with the US Copyright Office.

 

[seashoreCM]

A fair compromise would be to take snapshots, let them do arrangements and posing if htey wisht to before you snap the pictures, and give them a CD of the image files as they came from the camera.

If they need Photoshopping etc. then ghey can pay you for that or do that themselves.

 

[GrillMouster]

Charge 'em. You don't know these guys personally, so whether you're photographing them for their own personal or professional purposes, you should be compensated for your time. Don't underestimate the time it will take you to shoot and process the images. Don't forget about the time you'll spend prepping (charging batteries, etc), packing, driving, and delivering. Your time is worth money. It's time you wouldn't be spending with your family or photographing something that brings you personal joy and fulfillment. The only time you shouldn't charge is if it's a personal gift for someone or some organization (like a charity) that you care about. For them to expect you to go out of your way to photograph them, promote them, their campaigns, and at least one of their businesses, is an insult. If they scoff at your meager price, then I wouldn't want either of them in office, and I'd let everyone know that they demanded free services from you. I'm sure they like to claim that they want to stimulate the local economy, and here's their chance to prove it.

 

[Marlton Mom]

I too have been in the position of working for free and it becomes all consuming with constant, unrelenting demands. I'd avoid this trap at all costs and and let them know that your husband misrepresented your intentions.

If you do decide to jump into this mud puddle I'd present them with an estimate of what you are willing to provide and how much it will cost. Be prepared to deliver on what you have agreed to. The good news about doing it this way is you define what you are able to offer.

You know they have the money so I'd be sure and try to get some from them.

This is really a slippery slope and I'd bet big bucks the minute you hand them that estimate they will find some other chump that can push a button on a camera and give it to them for free. They will, however, get what they pay for with that Cheapo approach so let the buyer beware!

Don't underestimate your talents and the worth of your time.... nobody buys the hive if they are getting the honey for free!

What ever you think you should charge I would TRIPLE it. You'll see in the end that it took that much of your effort just to deliver a decent product.

Best of luck,
Marlton Mom

 

[ColleenG]

Thanks for all the replies guys! I mentioned to DH tonight about wanting to get paid and he said then they would probably just have some "old guy" that is a member do it. We were supposed to do it tomorrow afternoon and they are predicting a noreaster to roll through here so it will most likely be raining tomorrow afternoon. It would be pretty neat to see one of my pics used publically. If I do take them I will look in to getting them copyrighted.

 

[Steve's Girl]

As others have already stated, you said yes with no discussion of pay. I think you should go ahead and do it without compensation this time. You should be credited for your work any time the photo is used. However, I'd be sure they understood that this is a one time deal. You are not the official unpaid photographer at their beckon call. If they want more photos later, discuss a fair rate of pay up front.

 

[GrillMouster]

If you do take them, then at least charge them enough to cover your expense for filing the copyright.

 

[MariDisney]

I'm no photographer, but just opened this thread because it looked interesting. To me, the pain in the rear of having to file the taxes on whatever you make as a contractor wouldn't be worth it to bother having them pay me. I am self-employed, but I don't know if there is a minimum amount of income you'd be required to report if you got paid. When I think of 13% self employment tax and 20 some % income tax, to me I'd probably just do it for free if I enjoyed taking the photos.