2007JUL271325

No time wasters

 

update Time wasters persist, nowpublic in the lead, news at ten.

 

"... Your 'software programmer' photo ...' ~ http://www.flickr.com/photos/bootload/488038536/

 

As I open up to my flickr mail today I see another mail message, open it and read the latest message caption, "Your 'software programmer' photo". I roll my eyes, scan the bulk generated email and fire off my standard reply requesting more information on the title (yes each image has a unique title based on date and time) and then quote them my standard fee. Funny I don't hear back from them again? Why?

 

 

"... Hallo Peter, I have downloaded and printed out some of your photos. You

will not even know I have taken them. I noticed that some of Flickr photos

had writing across the photo, can you do this? I have for fun downloaded

three photos. Not good ones but you will recognise one of them. I will not

download any more as if they are good enough, people will pinch them. Love

Mum ..."

 

 

My images, my licensing

It has to do with the commercial nature they want to use the images for. I've licensed all my images under the standard "Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs Creative Commons" license. I've done this to allow people to use the image as long as they abide by the nature of the license and give me credit, don't make any money off the image and make no derivative works without my express permission.

 

 

"... Hi Peter, Tried ringing you, wanting some family history information, also want to know if you have sold your photo, I have a class tomorrow on photography and I know that Fred will ask. Bye love and hugs Mum ..."

 

 

Why bother?

So why do I take these photos, whack them up on flickr allowing others to use them? Well firstly I like having my own source of royalty free images of real things. I can use them for any purpose I like. Secondly to blog it makes a more compelling story to have something interesting to look at, rather than just a bunch of dry boring words. Thirdly flickr is my dirt-cheap startup marketing tool. With a cheapy camera, some photos a bit of effort and clever choice of tags you can certainly get a big bang for your marketing dollar. Or in this case all 30 US dollars.

 

You mean they aren't for free?

So what do I make of organisations that want to use my images for commercial purposes? I make no pretense of taking professional images but If you want to use them, PAY UP. Otherwise your just another tyre kicking time waster (Time waster Fred, Fred Gassit, Australian MotorCycle news, Michael O'Leary). You can use the images if you want, under conditions. My conditions. If you want them for commercial purpose you are going to have to pay.

 

 

"... How much for the little picture, your pictures. How much do you want for them? ..."

 

 

I'm not a time waster?

So who are these people requesting images? Well there's

 

- Luke Ritchie, Managing Editor, Schmap Guides ( http://flickr.com/people/schmap/ and http://flickr.com/groups/melbourne/discuss/72157600632811599/ )

 

- Andrea Monzo, Production Photographer, Little Airplane Productions, Inc. ( http://flickr.com/photos/43839182@N00/ )

 

- Mark Schneider, Actual News Guy ( http://flickr.com/photos/9202425@N03/ )

 

Now I'm not sure how serious they are doing business (but gee the fact you want to advertise a job at 250KUSD at standard percentage rates for advertising sort of gives it away and the fact this is a heavy hitting commercial venture with big names on the board ~ www.nowpublic.com/node/161612 ) . Every time I mention my rates they don't get back in contact (or if your Schmap just be up front and say we are not paying you anything).

 

So there you have it. If you want to use my images you can. Just make sure you abide by my licensing conditions or pay.

 

More?

Do you want to read more?

- Why do I choose the most restrictive license?

- Can a picture can be worth more than a thousand words?

 

Done