Firstly I apologise if this is a common occurrence on UH.

What's happened is that I received a very nice invite form someone connected with World Wide Art Books in Santa Barbara. A girl said she'd seen my photos on a photo sharing website I upload too and that she really liked them. I was asked if I would like them submitted to her editor to see if there were any that he would like to include in the upcoming publication of "International Masters of Photography". Since then I have been accepted for submission.

Now it was stressed that there would be an inclusion fee which varied from $800 up to £3000-$4000 depending on what spread I had in the book and how many pages etc. This seemed a bit odd (but not scamming odd) as I thought if somebody really thought a photographers work was worthy it would be included for less or for free. This could just be me being completely naive though.

Being a keen amateur I was obviously very flattered to be invited, but there's just a little nagging doubt. The cynic in me took over from the flattered!

If I was to be included I can't see how it would benefit me apart from vanity. I'm still very much teaching myself photography and feel I'm improving but what would I get from the book?

I'd really appreciate any comments of similar experiences or from anyone who has indeed invested in this sort of opportunity to see how you got on.

I hate being cynical all the time, but unfortunately the world we live in..........

I must point out that there has been no pressure whatsoever and any payments have been mentioned to me upfront. The emails have been very friendly. There is a website and the it looks completely genuine. I just don't know what I would get from the investment if I was to stump up some cash (which I don't have spare anyway so it would be a gamble).

Thanks in advance for any comments, advice, help :thumbup:

You already know better than to fall for this but you've got your wallet in hand and you're trying to convince yourself otherwise by hoping you'll get a positive reaction from somebody here.

If you have to pay to be included in anything - it's a scam. There's also a Who's Who directory scam in the U.S. where you pay for the "privilege" of being included although they'll accept anybody who has the amount they request. The Republican or Democrat political parties will send you a plastic trophy that says you are an honorary member of the President's advisory board if you donate $100. There are Publisher's Clearing House scams (not by PCH but fakes) who tell you that you've won $5 million and a new Mercedes car and all you have to do is send in $900 (or some other figure) to cover all expenses of the paperwork, etc. and elderly people here where I live actually fall for it, some of them draining their bank accounts by sending money two or more times. You can also become a "published author" by sending your manuscript and $5,000 to scam publishing houses then they send you 500 books ($10 per book your cost) and those sit in your basement until you sneak them out of the house one box at a time into the garbage because of your embarrassment of being duped.

Photographers are published for free and don't make any money. Photographers are published and paid, even if only a tiny amount. Photographers do NOT pay to be included in any publication.