Dude? Does that mean this thread will end with aliens and mini golf? Sweet!

Sweet... 

Maybe we must find cheapest guy who made lobotomia for that kind of "mega ultra turbo marketing moron" creatures?

Dude... 

I just wanted to add that despite my bitter and frustrated response on here (and laughing at the clip), I try to always be polite to potential clients. Even if their offer is totally ridiculous or they try to insult me. I just think it is not professional and a complete waste of time to argue with potential clients. I just try to answer all their questions in a cordial way, even if I don't think I'm going to end up doing the job. Hey, you never know, so you might as well be nice.

Agreed. I was polite, gave them my price and a commercial reason for doing so,wished them luck in their endeavours. If they come back it's because they see value in my work and are not in the business of accumulating a free database of images.

Liked the dude clip. And in reply to another post - yes dude I am a novice, ergo (it's in the dictionary) I seek and generally recieve professional advice in this forum - and I'm very grateful for it. Sweet.

So that means dude, that if you ask a question and you get answer from 3 guys, at least one of them will have split personality disorder. To make up for the ration 99% amateurs - 1% pro.

To make sure you get the slightest chance to a true pro answer, you need at least 100 people to answer.

Dude...

"In my world everyone is a pony, and they all eat rainbows, and poop butterflies." - Horton hears a who...

Sean, you always come up with some good ones, but I gotta tell you, I was rolling on the floor! I MUST print this out and hang on the wall as a daily reminder...   

I do hard copy/paper magazine work and I do web-magazines and I have NEVER done one for free. Especially paper magazines....  Dude... I pull in 4 digits for one day's work (and that's not counting the cents .. that's four left of the decimal point, Philadelphia rate).  So when a paper magazine wants to use your pix for free... who's kidding who... blah blah start up blah blah blah... It costs a BUNDLE to start up a paper mag, especially in NYC.  I'm sure the staff isn't working for free.
    I know you are chompping at the bit, it is the GREATEST seeing your work in a major magazine.  I was thrilled to see Forbes use my stuff, its a real ego rush!!

None the less,  Forbes paid for the pix.

Couple of things.... Advice already given is great....
    A.  Yeah, they can use your work for free, in return for some freebie from them.... such as an ad, the publication of your website, etc
    B.  If they are truly a start up operation... one thing they will need, obviously, since they want your pix, one thing they will need is  'staff photographers'  or 'contributing photographers" 
        Tell them you will give this batch for free if they will pick you up as a contracted free lance contributing photog.  A signed contract meeting your terms. That's what I have.  You do not have to be exclusive to them, you can still sell to other magazines.
      Along that point.  Being associated with the publishing business for a few years now.... I can tell you,   the odds of a magazine on it's own, starting up and continuing... are a gazillion to one.  Either they will fold in a year or, they will be bought up by a conglomerate publisher.  Your contract will be valid with the new people and... you will be exposed to more than one magazine. That's what happened to me.
     If, if... you can get into that kind of publishing, magazines, newspapers, books, etc....  it's good  and regular money.

But free?    Nothings free.  They will have to free-back on you.

The only folks  that get free from me are  non-profit organizations, like Ronald McDonald Childrens Charities....  in this case, not only are you doing a nice thing,   dude,  you get tons of free advert and marketing and... new business.
    wishing you success!!!    =tom

Tom - comprehensive and informed advice. Very much appreciated and taken on board.

Have a good week.

Ed