Quote:
Originally Posted by candyspics
Hi everyone,
I am new to this site and hope someone can help me. I was asked by someone if I would sell him the rights to some of my pictures so he can resell them (I don't know if I am wording this correctly?) Can someone give me some advice on how to go about this? I wouldn't even have a clue on a dollar amount.
Thanks,
Candy  |
No, no, no, no, no and a thousand more times NO!
Never, ever
sell your rights -
especially copyright - to any of your works.
Rather form a contract with anyone looking to represent your work that entitles you to a share of the revenues - this is how all major image agencies operate.
I send work to WireImage, Getty Images, Xposure Photo Agency and Camera Press; in all instances, I receive no less than 50% of whatever revenues they make from selling on my work. The copyright to the images that I send them is joint copyright for a period of 5 years from the date they receive them and, after that, the sole copyright reverts back to me.
As a photographer, your saleable images represent your pension. They can be, if marketed or represented correctly, a source of revenue for you for many years to come.
If someone approaches you with the offer of a one-time fee so they can then sell your work as they see fit,
DON'T DO IT - the chances are that, when properly licensed, you'll receive a lot more money over time for your work than their one-off payment.
Being commercially successful in photography is as much about having business smarts as it is being a skilled image maker.
If you're looking for direct advice on how to handle your current situation, please PM me and we'll take it from there.