Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

I’m a nurse and a part time landscape photographer. Recently, as I was reorganizing my locker, my director noticed some of my printed images that had fallen to the floor as I was cleaning. She asked to see them and subsequently showed them to upper management. They, in turn, asked if I could provide them with a few large prints for the admin. lounge. I did. Fortunately, they turned out to be quite nice looking. Then they asked for a portfolio of my best images, which I provided. I edited them in LR and PS and printed all of them at 8.5 X 11in on my Canon Pro-300. I now have to meet with them on March 1, 2022, this coming Tuesday for a walk through the commons areas of the hospital. I’m kind of excited about the whole thing; not for financial gain, but for the exposure. My wife, on the other hand, feels like I need to get paid. Of course I agree that with all the effort and expenditures, I need some sort of compensation. I’m just not sure how to approach them with regard to money. I’ve considered buying the Canon Pro- 4000 to be able to do all of the printing myself. How should I approach them regarding money. I’d like to be able to reimburse myself for the printer.
Thanks,
J

srg

If it were me, I would be so delighted that the financial question would not even occur.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

I know what you mean. I AM very delighted. I wouldn’t take a dime if it would make them any less likely to use any more of my images.

chasgroh Loc: Buena Park, CA

You should, at the very least, get compensated for expenses. I assume your pieces are going to be framed/mounted...lots of work there (I know cuz I do all that myself) or the shop you send 'em to. <shrug>

Burkley Loc: Park City

A nice landscape is very calming in an anxiety producing location. I would submit a bill for the cost of printing and hanging. No question. Hospitals have a lot of money. I wouldn’t hesitate to discuss additional renumeration. I would think you’re saving them a good bit of money. If they are large prints, at least $100-$150 seems reasonable. See what they can do.

knutte

Charge them well! Hospitals are making so much money these days. My "non-profit" hospital had board of directors approve a $12 million bonus for our CEO while he's still making $2 mil a year. All while the rest of us clinical people taking care of patients can barely afford to live. We can't hire any people because the pay is so poor compared to how expensive it is to live here in my town.

larryepage Loc: North Texas area

Getting paid for side jobs for an entity which is already your employer can be a really sticky wicket. Once they ask you to do it, it becomes part of your assigned work. If your hospital is a public entity, the rules are even tighter. The only good advice here is to sit down with Human Resources and understand what the rules and policies allow. It may be that they are thinking of having you manage this as a project in addition to your current duties.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Instead of getting money, if you itemize on taxes you can also donate the prints and take it as a tax write off, a non-monetary donation. If the hospital is a non-profit, it is easy. Usually for-profit hospitals have some sort of non-profit foundation that you can donate to with similar tax advantages. I would price the prints for tax purposes similar to what an unknown is selling them for at a local small gallery. Hand a receipt to a board member and have him/her sign it to show you did donate the photos. If you don’t itemize, charge the hospital something.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

Thanks, I do my printing and framing as well. At least up to 13 X ? with the Canon Pro-300. But, it appears I’ll need much larger prints, better frames and better glass than Hobby Lobby or Michaels can provide. I’m thinking about getting the Pro-4000/4100 to get past 13 inch wide prints. I wish I had time to make the frames myself. I think I’ll browse around the net and see if I can figure out what kind of budgets hospitals have for this kind of thing. I’m going to have a lot invested.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

Thanks, I do my printing and framing as well. At least up to 13 X ? with the Canon Pro-300. But, it appears I’ll need much larger prints, better frames and better glass than Hobby Lobby or Michaels can provide. I’m thinking about getting the Pro-4000/4100 to get past 13 inch wide prints. I wish I had time to make the frames myself. I think I’ll browse around the net and see if I can figure out what kind of budgets hospitals have for this kind of thing. I’m going to have a lot invested.

Burkley Loc: Park City

Don’t hesitate to use a professional printing company. I’ve used Bay Photo and placed the photos on both metal and paper. Both were great and much cheaper than getting a large format printer.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

Thanks for the advice. I like the metal prints. I wonder how durable they are. How easily they scratch.

Jklovell Loc: Rock Hill, SC

Ours is also a non-profit. And they just bought up at least 4 smaller hospitals in my state. I feel like if I play my cards right, I could possibly move in to some of those as well. I’m not a business person but for once I can smell opportunity and I can bring something to the table.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

While this invitation is flattering and, no doubt, deserved, it's also a big "ask." Don't forget the Human Resources Department's first loyalty is to management, not the employee. So while getting policy guidance, which I hope would be in writing as part of a handbook, policy manual or other doument, I wouldn't rely on that totally for your decision. I hate to burden you with this, but consulting an employment attorney would make a lot of sense. You'll need your own loyal guidance to deal with such issues as:

Once these go on display, are they yours? If the hospital either pays you for them or reimburses you, to whom do they belong then?

Can you price them for sale and if someone wants to buy one of your prints, how do you handle that?

What if the hospital keeps asking you to provide more and more prints on a regular basis?

Will the hospital be responsible for damage or theft while they are on dispaly?

I am sure there are other questions, but those came to mind quickly. A lawyer could probably think of more.

It's a wonderful honor. But hospital administrators can't be trusted. I should know. I was one before I became a journalist.

rgrenaderphoto Loc: Hollywood, CA

Offer to have the prints done on metal by a Pro lab to guarantee quality. Charge them double your cost and there you go