| So you have purchased a digital camera and now you | | | | sure you understand when and where releases are |
| are ready to go out and make a living as a | | | | required. In most cases, the use of an image to tell a |
| photographer. Easy you think, take a few pictures, | | | | story, used in a newspaper, textbook or magazine |
| sell them and you are off to the races. Not so quick | | | | article, does not require a model or property release, |
| my friend, unless you are extremely lucky, the road | | | | however in some cases a publisher will require one. |
| to success is a difficult one. Let us face it, making a | | | | For any commercial usage of an image that has a |
| living in the amazing world of photography can be | | | | recognizable face or facility, get a release. Carry a |
| fun, but there are many difficulties along the way. | | | | handful of releases in your camera bag; it will save |
| First off, what type of photography are you going to | | | | you much aggravation |
| perform? Weddings, portraits, events, editorial or | | | | Understand your licensing options. If you do not care |
| commercial have you given that any thought? Are | | | | how the image is going to be used and as long as |
| you going to be one of those who will upload your | | | | you have the proper releases then you can provide |
| photographs to a micro-agency and be ecstatic when | | | | your customers with a Royalty-Free license, just |
| you receive twenty-cents when someone makes a | | | | know that they may, for the most part, reuse the |
| purchase and downloads an image? Oh boy, you are | | | | picture as many times and in any manner they desire. |
| on your way now! | | | | You have basically given up your rights to how your |
| Wedding and portrait photographers must have the | | | | hard work is going to be presented. |
| ability to deal with a group of people who are | | | | A Rights-Managed license provides you and your |
| stressed and at times, not very rational. Do you have | | | | client more control of image usage. Basically, the |
| the right personality to ease a bride to be as she | | | | client agrees to use your picture based of a selection |
| breaks down, or smile while a mother attempts to | | | | of criteria. An example, suppose a magazine wants to |
| gather the children for that special family portrait? | | | | use your image for a inside ¼ page spread |
| Looking to do event photography? You will need to | | | | with a production run of 25,000 issues and they want |
| form relationships with the local the baseball and | | | | exclusive usage of that images for six months, then |
| softball leagues, golf courses, racetracks, chamber of | | | | you charge appropriately. |
| commerce, and any form of organization that has or | | | | Having fun yet? You are just getting started, just |
| performs civic activities. The ability to review and | | | | wanted to begin to educate those who believe that |
| print on-site is almost a must these days. Be sure | | | | the business of photography is as simple of picking a |
| that you can accept credit or debit cards for those | | | | camera and taking a picture. There is money to be |
| who do not have cash and desire to a purchase | | | | made, just be sure you have a good understanding |
| on-the-spot. | | | | of the industry before you make the jump and do |
| Now for editorial and commercial side of things, make | | | | not leave your daytime job to soon. |