newbie question

[alexanderthenotsograte]

Hello everybody. Thanks for welcoming me to the fold. I have a question about possible royalities. I did a shoot for a magician friend of mine who has signed up with an on-line magic distribution company and they will be producing a 1000 DVD of his new "trick". There is a possiblity that they will use one of my shots on the cover should I ask for compensation or just have them credit my name on the DVD? What do you think?

Thanks

[heartseye]

If those are your ONLY 2 choices, I would ask for compensation. It is my experience that having your name "out there" in that sort of fashion is quite valueless from an economic point of view....I don't know your location, but a phone chat with a commercial photographer would likely be quite enlighting for you...Regards....Bob

[grsphoto]

It is a great thrill to see your image published.

It is also a thrill to see your name on a cheque.

I think the greatest thrill, though, is seeing your image in print, and your name on a cheque.

Glenn

[Mark McCall]

I'd ask Blinky....Chip is the expert on this type of thing.

[foto op]

Of course ask for compensation -- most likely in the $250-300 rangs plus photo credit -- Is you magician friend giving away his CD or selling it? Your image must be good enough to put on this cover then it is good enough to paid for... But then did you say you would be charging him for usage prior? Is it he expecting to get it for free? If he is then ask him the question I asked you about him selling his CD...
Whether doing work for friends or not you should always have something in writing to prevent challenges after the fact...

good luck

[alexanderthenotsograte]

Thanks everybody for your input. It has been helpful. I plan on asking for $.25 per dvd as well as credit for the photo. Hopefully it works out.

[foto op]

Again -- that's great -- but you say you "plan on asking" is that to say you haven't agreed to it already -- don't try to ask to get paid after the fact - get it in writing before hand...

I know I seem to be saying the same message on a few different threads - and I know this isn't a professional forum... but folks if you are going to try to do work in a professional manner then save yourselves a lot of heart ache and put in writing and get paid...

humbly stepping off my box now...
good day

[jfrancho]

I'm thinking that "there is a chance they will use my picture" means chances are that they will use it for free. If so, there is another angle: your magician friend could pay you directly for the image, and supply it to the CD distributor. Just remember, once you start charging a fee, you are going to have to be prepared for those that are unwilling to pay, even if it means they settle for sub par work.