Author Topic: How cheap can you get!!?? (Read 16724 times)

lisafx · « **on:** July 15, 2010, 12:59 »

Some people really amaze me with how cheap they are. The sense of entitlement and wanting everything for free! I was contacted yesterday by someone on istock with the following request:

Hi Lisa-

We are doing presentations on different medical professions and I was wondering if I could have your permission to use your istockphotos in my powerpoint presentation that only my classmates and instructor will see in class. We are only allowed to use non-copyrighted photos or receive written permission from the creator.

I would also give you due credit under each picture. Your pictures are fantastic!

To which I replied:

Hi Jessica,

First off, I'm so glad you like the photos!
It sounds like the use you have in mind is covered by Istocks license, so I would be fine with it. Just buy the image on Istock and you should be good to go.

If you need additional permission from me I will be happy to give it. Of course I still retain the copyrights...

Hope that helps. Thanks again!

Lisa

Oh, the reason I was asking for your written permission to use the photos is because I am a poor student and cannot afford to buy the pictures just to use for the presentation. I was just going to save the images as is and use them with your permission.

Oh, I misunderstood. Then the answer is no. I can't give permission for that. It's pretty hard to believe that anyone can't afford $1 per photo (for XS size).

I am a FT professional stock photographer. I support my family with my earnings.

That medical shoot cost me several hundred dollars in models, location fees, props, and equipment, and countless hours of planning, preparation, shooting, editing, keywording, etc. There's a reason they aren't free.

Best of luck with your project. Hope you will rethink and consider that maybe it's worth $10 or so to have some quality professional images.

Lisa

I have to say, I am really PO'd about this. Probably she will go ahead and use the images without my permission.

Can someone explain to me how ANYONE is so broke they "can't afford" microstock prices??? Seriously, wouldn't XS work for a college powerpoint project? How about skipping that next latte or six pack!

Is there any rule on Istock or the other micros against members soliciting other members for free photos?

luissantos84 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:06 »

this is really strange, it looks like a exam/test.. I guess seeing if you go for free or not (somebody you know or just a prank) dont know, but you made up very clear

vonkara · « **Reply #2 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:09 »

Once I had someone who saw my youtube videos, kindly asking me how to clone out the Istock logos. The conversation we had was very similar to yours Lisa, but more naive

gubh83 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:09 »

I also got a request like that. It was an environmental organization that wanted to use my illustrations on their printed material. And the responsable for their media asked me to contribute with the environment by giving away my images for free. I replied asking her if she worked for free for that organization... I got no answer for that...

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #4 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:15 »

You this all the time on Flickr. But from people with cash in pocket. For the short while I've been there I've been contacted by guide book companies, design firms etc.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #5 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:16 »

Data wants to be free. You're repressing the data!

cthoman · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:27 »

You mean you don't get at least one of these a month? I thought request for free stuff was pretty common. I always just politely refuse.

cathyslife · « **Reply #7 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:28 »

I can see why you are po'd. I can't believe people have the gall to ask for stuff for free. I'm sure an XS would work ok.

SIFD · « **Reply #8 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:34 »

well, at least she has asked.

i'm sure a lot of our images been used for free without our acknowledge whatsoever.

gostwyck · « **Reply #9 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:35 »

I wouldn't necessarily believe them either. Lots of people will cheerfully lie when attempting to blag free stuff just for . of it. Ignore them.

fullvalue · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:37 »

Kudos for the school though for not hiding behind the "fair use" doctrine that is so often abused.

loop · « **Reply #12 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:43 »

Many people ask because they don't know how to remove the logos (logos in a presentation look cheap) or want bigger sizes.

lisafx · « **Reply #13 on:** July 15, 2010, 13:49 »

Quote from: gubh83 on July 15, 2010, 13:09

... I replied asking her if she worked for free for that organization... I got no answer for that...

^^ Perfect!

Thanks for the replies. I hadn't known this was so common to get freebie requests. I have had a few before, but they were up front about it. This one was really backhanded, IMO. Didn't reveal she wanted free until she absolutely HAD to.

Glad to know I am in good company

BTW, I am sure SIFD is right and people use them for free all the time. The only reason this girl asked is because her teacher insisted. Good for him/her!!

Dreamframer · « **Reply #14 on:** July 15, 2010, 14:10 »

To be honest, I'm pleasantly surprised that she wrote to you. I can't imagine the same situation here. Unfortunately, I doubt that teacher here would say to students they have to use only images with a permission of a photographer. If she doesn't lie, she probably thinks you earn so much, that you don't really care for those few images. She is maybe a mid school student....I mean just a kid...again, if she doesn't lie.

Pheby · « **Reply #15 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:22 »

I'm also suprised that she actually asked for permission. Her replying "I was just going to save the images as is and use them with your permission" has a sort of naive cheek to it, although annoying. Maybe your last (very well put) reply actually got her thinking...

I teach at university, and I'm suprised what students who complain about having to pay a small amount towards class material for some seminars can afford (there's no tuition). Many of them sit around campus with a MacBook Air, and many of them I never have seen in the same outfit, not to mention the sneakers they wear...

Dreamframer · « **Reply #16 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:35 »

Quote from: Pheby on July 15, 2010, 15:22

I teach at university, and I'm suprised what students who complain about having to pay a small amount towards class material for some seminars can afford (there's no tuition). Many of them sit around campus with a MacBook Air, and many of them I never have seen in the same outfit, not to mention the sneakers they wear...

That's true...

lisafx · « **Reply #17 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:37 »

Quote from: Pheby on July 15, 2010, 15:22

I teach at university, and I'm suprised what students who complain about having to pay a small amount towards class material for some seminars can afford (there's no tuition). Many of them sit around campus with a MacBook Air, and many of them I never have seen in the same outfit, not to mention the sneakers they wear...

I suspect your are right. It is more about perceived value than about what they can actually afford. I have a college age daughter and she can always find the money for things she really wants.... Worse come to worst she'll ask me.

Pheby · « **Reply #18 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:39 »

Yeah, that's the expression I was trying to find: perceived value! Thanks.

lisafx · « **Reply #19 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:42 »

^^ My pleasure

Of course I am highly insulted that the "perceived value" of my work is nada!!

Dreamframer · « **Reply #20 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:49 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 15, 2010, 15:42

^^ My pleasure

Of course I am highly insulted that the "perceived value" of my work is nada!!

Lol, Lisa and her sense of humor.

lisafx · « **Reply #21 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:53 »

Quote from: Dreamframer on July 15, 2010, 15:49

Lol, Lisa and her sense of humor.

You too Ivan

Pheby · « **Reply #22 on:** July 15, 2010, 15:54 »

Quote from: lisafx on July 15, 2010, 15:42

Of course I am highly insulted that the "perceived value" of my work is nada!!

Only to really, really young, really, really poor students whose teacher only just recently told them what copyright is! A rather small subset of people who stumble into istock.

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #23 on:** July 15, 2010, 21:41 »

Quote from: cthoman on July 15, 2010, 13:27

You mean you don't get at least one of these a month? I thought request for free stuff was pretty common. I always just politely refuse.

Usually around once a month, I get contacted by people who see my photos on microstock sites. Their requests usually go like this, "We have seen your work on microstock sites and we are not prepared to pay such nominal fees for such outstanding work, please send us your paypal address so we can give you $100 per image that we use (xs size)".

To which I usually reply...

"I really have an intolerance for this kind of snobbery. I know many people like to buy expensive things, just to show they have money. Please buy my images on the microstock sites, where I am more than happy to receive 20% of the revenue."

Randy McKown · « **Reply #24 on:** July 15, 2010, 21:52 »

Can't blame the buyers for wanting everything for nothing. The business model was designed and flourished by targeting low profile buyers and all the little people who can't afford to pay professional prices. Doesn't have anything to do with a photographers skill it's purely a result of a decade of micro-marketing. Don't worry this is nothing ... it will get far worse. LOL

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Author Topic: How cheap can you get!!?? (Read 16724 times)

lisafx

luissantos84

vonkara

gubh83

PeterChigmaroff

Sean Locke Photography

cthoman

cathyslife

SIFD

gostwyck

fullvalue

Rahul Pathak

loop

lisafx

Dreamframer

Pheby

Dreamframer

lisafx

Pheby

lisafx

Dreamframer

lisafx

Pheby

Microstock Posts

Randy McKown

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