FYI - - Popular Photography magazine has a new photo contest, but be sure to read the fine print. Their big ads says $10 entry fee, and makes it sound like it's $10 for the whole contest,
BUT
it's $10 for EACH & EVERY image you submit.
Of course they allow you to enter as many images as you want to,
(since you are paying for them all)
I can remember back when photo magazines had contest that were not only free to enter, but they had prizes in the thousands of dollars, and I used to have an old copy for one that the grand prize was $20,000. Yes, that's $20K with a capitol "K". Now most are nothing but money making scams, and the ones that aren't are still so cheap that they expect the people entering to pay for them.
Coming soon to a contest near you;
"Entry fee $100, you supply your own prizes, and we get to use your images for free."
Long live Capitalism!!!
Posted by Walter Rowe on August 7, 2006 at 4:36 PM
Do they also grab the rights to the images entered? That is another thing to always look out for in the "fine print" of photo contest entry rules. They often convey perpetual, unlimited usage rights to the contest holder granting them the right to use the image for any purpose in any medium with absolutely no compensation to the copyright holder ever.
Posted by Robert Helms on August 7, 2006 at 6:23 PM
Paul, I couldn't agree with you any more. There was a local contest here recently and friends asked me why I didn't enter anything. Well, the regulations stated that the company that was supporting the contest gets the rights to use your image for what ever their purpose. The grand prize was a whopping 100.00. Hardly worth my time and I'm not giving any image rights away for nothing more than a tank of gas. Of course there were a lot of people who took the bait. There were several images entered in the pro category. I would expect people who have good knowledge in photography to be more intelligent that this.
All it amounts to is a company taking advantage of people who don't know better.
I also print this same line on all paperwork, and photo captions.
Sometimes I also include,
"Reproduction rights must be obtained in writing."
Most major companies that hold photo contest always go through this last part anyway before using a winning image, and the others who don't you can't really trust what they will do with them.
I seldom enter contests anymore other than ones I may get national/international exposure from, like Nikon,
who has used several of my images as promos on their web site in the past.
When it comes to photo contests you really have to pick and choose,
and READ ALL of the contest rules. If you have any questions about it, email them
to get an answer. I had several questions for Pop Photo about this one and since I never heard back I am guessing that they are not much interested in people knowing what is in the fine print.
There is also one publisher who holds regular contests, but because I do not agree with their contest rules, I have told them twice that I will not promote it on any of the sites I write for, including NPN.
They did change part of the rules the first time I told them, but other parts are still the same and vague,
which makes things in the favor of the publisher should there be a future problem.
Photo contests are nothing like they used to be, and most are not even worth entering when you compair what they get against what you "might" get. I totally stay away from 99% of the ones that expect you to pay for all of their expenses to hold it. Then there are the contests that publish all winners in a yearly book, and they give winning status to EVERY image that is entered, even if it is just honorable mention, just so they can use it. Then of course they offer to sell you a copy of the book for $50 and up.
Paul, this leads me to a question I had thought of posting before, but I'll ask it here. When the magazine states in the PhotoContest Rules that they reserve the right to use any entry for whatever purpose are they talking about just using the image(s) while the photographer retains all rights to his work or has the PhotoContest Participants given up all rights to his photograph? They do not specifically say that they want all rights to the photo. It is never clear on this.
If they do use your work why should they charge you for submitting it?
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Posted by Dan Borzynski on August 8, 2006 at 11:06 AM
Will, this is one big reason why I have never submitted anything for any reason to Pop Photography. My feeling is that your question is so basic, it really should be spelled out in writing somewhere easy to find. It is not in the magazine, contest rules, or as far as I can determine, on their website. In the back of my mind somewhere, from another thread on another website, I seem to remember that they can do what they want with anything sent to them, but otherwise, the photographer retains rights. But that was a few years ago - eons in terms of coporate greed.
Hmmm, there was a photo about two years ago of some Cuban women passing eggs to each other across windows. I have seen that one published elsewhere and I think on one stock website, so I think the photographer retains rights, but as I said above, that was eons ago in terms of corporate greed. And the policy really needs to be easier to find than it is.
While I think of it, a lot of the British magazines generally seem to say that if you send material to them, they can use it for promotional uses, but other than that, the photographer always retains rights.
I think the people that fall for these things are new photographers that would be extra thrilled to see their work in print. I fell for the annual book that selected one of my photos, and yes, shelled out over $50 to purchase it. I figured at the time it was a rip-off, but still wanted to see my photo in print. I entered a few other contests in the past, but have stopped doing that for the above mentioned reasons. The photos are mine, and I would prefer them just hanging on my wall, instead of benefiting some magazine without getting any compensation.
Posted by Kent Staubus on August 8, 2006 at 1:06 PM
I would never consider paying to enter a contest, or anything else. If my photos aren't good enough they won't publish them other wise, then so be it.
- - -This will be my last reply here because I will be having an operation soon and will not be online for awhile after today. Maybe a week or so. You can start another post for more info from others....
So,
TWIMC - - Almost ALL photo contests state that, by submitting an entry, the sponsor has the right to use those images for any and all future needs. Some will add that the only ones they will be using are the winning images, which is good. Other contests state "all images submitted" which is a rip-off, and the main reason I refused to promote the publishers contest I stated before. That means they can use ALL winners and loosers alike. The better contests will also state that these uses will include future contest promotions, in a magazine or wherever needed, and usually on their web site. That is usually the only places that most contests will use them.
BE WARE of the contests that do not state any specific places for the use, and leave that part open. Open for them means you get screwed!
Entry fees are not always bad. Many times they are worth a small, FARE, expense. You just have to balance the cost with the possible rewards. Nothing in life is free...
BUT,,, contests that charge for each and every entry are to me, nothing but a (money-making) RIP-OFF!
As far as who still owns the rights to images submitted,
the photographer always does,
unless the contests winning images require all rights, which would have to be stated in the rules,
but even then I am sure that those rights would still have to be signed over to the sponsor in writing
before they could legally own them. That would be done before they would award the prizes for that image.
If you want to enter a contest and are not sure, just add this line to every entry;,,,
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED by "your name" including registered copyright!
Of course if you state "registered" - it must be registered,
but you'd have to be a fool to enter any image in any contest that has not been.
(I'm sure that there are plenty of those out there though.)
These matters ALL come right back to READING the rules,
and asking them questions if you don't like what you read.
Remember,,, A reply from them to your email question - - is your proof - -
of what they want and what you get from it.
Most of the people who get screwed in photo contests are those who are
too lazy to take the time to read and understand the rules, and ask questions.
It is as simple as that. And they get just what they ask for.
Posted by Kent Staubus on August 8, 2006 at 7:21 PM
Paul--
Hope everything goes well for you. Do keep in touch when you are up to it. I have hundreds of very nice photos of BNSF and Union Pacific trains in all kinds of weather. I've been asked by some in their media relations dept. to submit photos to their annual calendar contest. They pay $100 for photos used. I have refused because they too reserve the right to use any submitted photos for other purposes. I told them if they were interested in using some of my photos for marketing purposes/corporate reports/etc. and pay me for that, we could discuss it. Believe it or not, I have a solid nibble from one of them. Few people have as big a collection of Midwest ag/railroad operational photos as I do, and they have at least some value.
Discussion
9 repliesBUT
it's $10 for EACH & EVERY image you submit.
Of course they allow you to enter as many images as you want to,
(since you are paying for them all)
I can remember back when photo magazines had contest that were not only free to enter, but they had prizes in the thousands of dollars, and I used to have an old copy for one that the grand prize was $20,000. Yes, that's $20K with a capitol "K". Now most are nothing but money making scams, and the ones that aren't are still so cheap that they expect the people entering to pay for them.
Coming soon to a contest near you;
"Entry fee $100, you supply your own prizes, and we get to use your images for free."
Long live Capitalism!!!
All it amounts to is a company taking advantage of people who don't know better.
I'm sure you can all handle that.
As for the uses, I always recommend ALL photographers do this,,,
Whenever entering any contest, ALWAYS print on the front of the image along a border these words,,,
© Paul W. Faust - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
(use your own name in case you can't figure that part out)
I also print this same line on all paperwork, and photo captions.
Sometimes I also include,
"Reproduction rights must be obtained in writing."
Most major companies that hold photo contest always go through this last part anyway before using a winning image, and the others who don't you can't really trust what they will do with them.
I seldom enter contests anymore other than ones I may get national/international exposure from, like Nikon,
who has used several of my images as promos on their web site in the past.
When it comes to photo contests you really have to pick and choose,
and READ ALL of the contest rules. If you have any questions about it, email them
to get an answer. I had several questions for Pop Photo about this one and since I never heard back I am guessing that they are not much interested in people knowing what is in the fine print.
There is also one publisher who holds regular contests, but because I do not agree with their contest rules, I have told them twice that I will not promote it on any of the sites I write for, including NPN.
They did change part of the rules the first time I told them, but other parts are still the same and vague,
which makes things in the favor of the publisher should there be a future problem.
Photo contests are nothing like they used to be, and most are not even worth entering when you compair what they get against what you "might" get. I totally stay away from 99% of the ones that expect you to pay for all of their expenses to hold it. Then there are the contests that publish all winners in a yearly book, and they give winning status to EVERY image that is entered, even if it is just honorable mention, just so they can use it. Then of course they offer to sell you a copy of the book for $50 and up.
If they do use your work why should they charge you for submitting it?
Will
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada
Hmmm, there was a photo about two years ago of some Cuban women passing eggs to each other across windows. I have seen that one published elsewhere and I think on one stock website, so I think the photographer retains rights, but as I said above, that was eons ago in terms of corporate greed. And the policy really needs to be easier to find than it is.
While I think of it, a lot of the British magazines generally seem to say that if you send material to them, they can use it for promotional uses, but other than that, the photographer always retains rights.
Kent in SD
So,
TWIMC - - Almost ALL photo contests state that, by submitting an entry, the sponsor has the right to use those images for any and all future needs. Some will add that the only ones they will be using are the winning images, which is good. Other contests state "all images submitted" which is a rip-off, and the main reason I refused to promote the publishers contest I stated before. That means they can use ALL winners and loosers alike. The better contests will also state that these uses will include future contest promotions, in a magazine or wherever needed, and usually on their web site. That is usually the only places that most contests will use them.
BE WARE of the contests that do not state any specific places for the use, and leave that part open. Open for them means you get screwed!
Entry fees are not always bad. Many times they are worth a small, FARE, expense. You just have to balance the cost with the possible rewards. Nothing in life is free...
BUT,,, contests that charge for each and every entry are to me, nothing but a (money-making) RIP-OFF!
As far as who still owns the rights to images submitted,
the photographer always does,
unless the contests winning images require all rights, which would have to be stated in the rules,
but even then I am sure that those rights would still have to be signed over to the sponsor in writing
before they could legally own them. That would be done before they would award the prizes for that image.
If you want to enter a contest and are not sure, just add this line to every entry;,,,
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED by "your name" including registered copyright!
Of course if you state "registered" - it must be registered,
but you'd have to be a fool to enter any image in any contest that has not been.
(I'm sure that there are plenty of those out there though.)
These matters ALL come right back to READING the rules,
and asking them questions if you don't like what you read.
Remember,,, A reply from them to your email question - - is your proof - -
of what they want and what you get from it.
Most of the people who get screwed in photo contests are those who are
too lazy to take the time to read and understand the rules, and ask questions.
It is as simple as that. And they get just what they ask for.
Hope everything goes well for you. Do keep in touch when you are up to it. I have hundreds of very nice photos of BNSF and Union Pacific trains in all kinds of weather. I've been asked by some in their media relations dept. to submit photos to their annual calendar contest. They pay $100 for photos used. I have refused because they too reserve the right to use any submitted photos for other purposes. I told them if they were interested in using some of my photos for marketing purposes/corporate reports/etc. and pay me for that, we could discuss it. Believe it or not, I have a solid nibble from one of them. Few people have as big a collection of Midwest ag/railroad operational photos as I do, and they have at least some value.
Kent in SD