My first: Ok -- this is a little about photography. I'll start by saying, I take pictures for my own pleasure. Am by no means a professional photographer. That being said, I am...

KenProspero

Ok -- this is a little about photography.

I'll start by saying, I take pictures for my own pleasure. Am by no means a professional photographer. That being said, I am occasionally a photographer for social or political groups in which I am involved. Things like getting shots for a newsletter or a website, or making sure that someone who is being honored has a record.

So, it was with surprise and excitement when I opened my local newspaper a couple of days ago, and saw they had printed (and credited!!!) a picture I had taken of some local candidates for office. Nothing particularly special about the photo itself, but still, it's my first published photo.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

KenProspero wrote:

Ok -- this is a little about photography. br br I... (show quote)

Neat feeling, eh?

LeRoy V. Loc: Oro Valley, Az

KenProspero wrote:

Ok -- this is a little about photography. br br I... (show quote)

Hey Ken that's got to be a great feeling, congratulations

SunBeach1962 Loc: Syrscuse, NY

Nice feeling having your photo recognized.
I hope you were on board with the political position of the subject picture.

KenProspero

LOL!!!

Yes I am.

UTMike Loc: South Jordan, UT

Congratulations, Ken!

mr spock Loc: Fairfield CT

KenProspero wrote:

Ok -- this is a little about photography. br br I... (show quote)

Congratulations! Hope you got paid 😁
Of course you’ve now lost your amateur status.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

KenProspero wrote:

So, it was with surprise and excitement when I opened my local newspaper a couple of days ago, and saw they had printed (and credited!!!) a picture I had taken of some local candidates for office. Nothing particularly special about the photo itself, but still, it's my first published photo.

Wait a minute. How did they get your photo? Did they use it without permission? Did they pay you for it?

As a retired journalist (I owned and ran a newspaper in addition to having been a reporter), at a minimum, the editor should have asked your permission. And, by all rights, you would not have been out of line to ask for a payment at their standard free-lance rates.

JohnSwanda Loc: San Francisco

newsguygeorge wrote:

Wait a minute. How did they get your photo? Did they use it without permission? Did they pay you for it?

As a retired journalist (I owned and ran a newspaper in addition to having been a reporter), at a minimum, the editor should have asked your permission. And, by all rights, you would not have been out of line to ask for a payment at their standard free-lance rates.

If the OP donated his time to shoot the candidates and gave them the photos, they probably assumed they had the right to use them in their campaign. The editor should still have checked to see if they had permission to use them, but if the OP expected payment if they were published, he should have had a contract to that effect.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

JohnSwanda wrote:

If the OP donated his time to shoot the candidates and gave them the photos, they probably assumed they had the right to use them in their campaign. The editor should still have checked to see if they had permission to use them, but if the OP expected payment if they were published, he should have had a contract to that effect.

John and others,

I don’t mean to be contentious here, but for the newspaper to credit the photo properly, which OP wrote that it did, someone in the newsroom had to know who shot it. And thus, that’s a straight-line phone call from the newsroom to the supplier of the photo (I assume a file) to Ken (OP) for permission — and on that we agree.

As for payment, the class act would have been for the newspaper to offer Ken money. An a prior contract in this case is irrelevant because the use of the photo was a surprise. As I said, Ken wouldn’t have been out of line to ask for money.

The Amarillo Independent’s (my newspaper) two photogs were veteran shooters who worked with me as friends/colleagues with a verbal agreement on each assignment. We were a small, upstart weekly operation and the whole group of us shared the mission we had for the Indy. It was the best seven years of my 22-year journalism career.

KenProspero

newsguygeorge wrote:

Wait a minute. How did they get your photo? Did they use it without permission? Did they pay you for it?

As a retired journalist (I owned and ran a newspaper in addition to having been a reporter), at a minimum, the editor should have asked your permission. And, by all rights, you would not have been out of line to ask for a payment at their standard free-lance rates.

I'm a member of the Town Committee for one of the political parties. I volunteered my services to take photos of some of the candidates who had just announced they were running for use on our Party's website and for publicity purposes. The local newspaper must have asked if we had a picture when they ran the story, and must have asked who they should credit with the picture. Our publicity group must have given my name.

Technically, the paper probably should have asked for a release. In this case, I was volunteering my services for the Party and my goal was to get publicity for our candidates. I really do want to make it as easy as possible for them to promote us -- so all is good. I was happy to get the credit in print.

Bill_de Loc: US

newsguygeorge wrote:

John and others, br br I don’t mean to be content... (show quote)

You just don't get it!

Ken is having fun, got a picture published and got credit for a photo. Ken is excited about it. He got praise where he wasn't looking for any. There is no reason to pee on his parade! Let him enjoy his time in the limelight and start your own topic to talk about all the legal BS.

----

Bill_de Loc: US

KenProspero wrote:

I'm a member of the Town Committee for one of the ... (show quote)

Way to go Ken. More people should volunteer just because!!!

---

KenProspero

Bill_de wrote:

Way to go Ken. More people should volunteer just because!!!

---

Thanks Bill. I really didn't think that anyone was peeing on my parade, but rather criticizing the Newspaper -- and reminding me that if folks are going to publish my work, getting paid is something to consider. Under the specific circumstances, all is good, and I'm happy to have the publication credit.

Copyrat

congrats.