Posted by Luke Ormand on August 24, 2010 at 10:05 PM
I have some photos of a beached humpback whale that was stranded in the swash zone for 4 days before being put down. After the incident, I was contacted by "Stranded No More" via facebook to add some photos to their gallery. I did so, but after awhile I removed the photos from the gallery because I just wasn't crazy about the idea. Well, they have contacted me again, and stated they are making a website for their non-profit and wanted to know if I would give them some of my images to them for their site.
"Stranded No More" has the following statement on their facebook page and this is all I know about them:
We are a group of marine mammal scientists and members of the general public who grew consistently dissatisfied with how live strandings of whales and dolphins are handled around the world. We feel that many animals that could have been saved did not receive adequate help and were not given a chance to live. The scientific community still argues about what causes whales and dolphins to strand alive and it remains a great mystery of our time. Necropsies of stranded animals are often inconclusive. In many cases the reason for stranding remains unknown. However, we also know that the human impact on our oceans continues to grow. Until we know the exact reason of what causes whales and dolphins to strand alive, we should do everything we can to return animals to their habitat or to rehabilitate and release them later. Using euthanasia and shooting stranded animals to death are widely popular now but should not be used as freely and casually as they are. Animals should be given any chance possible to live.
I know that I have no obligation to give them any photos (they said they will credit me), but the photos they want are very unique (live strandings of humpback whales are quite rare) and the images have value to me. I have been told by a respected photographer that non-profits often ask for a photo for free, and when you tell them no they miraculously come up with money to purchase usage of the image.
So, is it OK to ask for money? How does one go about it without sound greedy? It's my policy to donate photos to good causes but of course I get to pick and choose and I'm a bit skeptical. Thanks in advance.
- Luke
Posted by Dan Borzynski on August 24, 2010 at 11:18 PM
I've gotten a couple of requests like this myself. Here is my take, for what it might be worth. Would I ordinarily be willing support the organization with my time or money, if I was not a photographer getting a photographic request? This is essentially what they are asking for. I've answered yes to that question a couple of times and they have received photos, files, and/or time from me.
This isn't the same thing wanting to - we all have limited time and money and have to decide where we want to put it.
Depending on the nature of the organization and the people running it, it might be possible to trade access to something in exchange for use of the photo. Maybe one of the board members is a marine scientist and can get you on a boat for a couple of days while they do their work. Or a museum collection. Or a lab for stock shots. Try to think a bit creatively if you feel you should charge for the image but are uncomfortable with doing so.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question.
Posted by Mark Zane on August 25, 2010 at 12:24 AM
I agree with the comments that Dan has made ... specifically with giving something to an organization you would support anyway! At least there is a connection and value to your donation then.
Another take (coming from someone who has worked in non-profit) is that you can get a donation or tax receipt for your donated photos. It can be a bit daunting in the process ( as it requires market evaluation of the photo, and a receipt for an amount comparable to other similar photos sold commercially) . Most are more inclined to get credit for work ... and let it go. Not sure how the tax law goes in the US ... but this works here in Canada eh!
Great idea, Dan, on a trade for access to photo opps not otherwise easily gained. I'm sure gonna keep that tip in mind. I've often been stumped by the same dilemma, and your solution solves the issue nicely in a win-win fashion. Thanks for sharing the idea.
Posted by Allen Pearson on August 25, 2010 at 8:28 AM
I agree with Dan and Mark.
Seems I've had a lot of nonprofits asking for donations these days. I can't support everyone nor can I do everything for everyone. So, I've decided to only support ones that I "agree" with or am connected to (i.e., the Rescue group where I got my dog) and would limit the numbers of groups I support or donate to. I'd be overwhelmed with doing free things with if I did everything for everyone who inquires. Seems maybe word gets around?
And, I've never had any problem with get some publicity for my website.
" I did so, but after awhile I removed the photos from the gallery because I just wasn't crazy about the idea."
I'd study that feeling for awhile. Our practices reflect the other comments- If it's an org that we would support and donate to in any case, then photo donations are appropriate with lots of conditions.
Remember that you can only deduct the actual cost of producing the photo from your taxes, NOT the retail price.
If it's not one of your fave non-profits and they can't pay, other forms of compensation are GOOD.
Beware the staff turnovers at non-profits. Verbal agreements on terms of use are worthless if the staff turns over every six months. Write a contract and expect successive staff to go beyond your use restrictions at some point down the line. I'd be inclined to give them only a web-sized version, 1/4 page or smaller, with all other uses that need larger files requiring your written approval.
And yeah, it's perfectly okay to ask for money. If strandings are so rare and photos so hard to come by, it kinda makes me wonder about their premises. And any nonprofit is going to ask for freebies whether they are poor or well-heeled, as some certainly are.
Posted by Richard Ditch on August 25, 2010 at 1:39 PM
I agree with the comments so far and do about the same. If it is truly a not for profit 501(c) organization AND I support their cause AND they aren't rolling in money I usually will donate images. But I'll stipulate that any commercial use of the image is not allowed.
Make sure the group is really a 501(c) group and not some "hobby" group with good intentions but no formal organization.
Check out any web site and definitely Google them. See if they have a paid staff and a published budget. I've been astonished by the resources that some "non profits" have at their command who have asked me to donate images when they have giant payrolls and budgets for everything else.
Finally, monitor what they do. I've cut off one of the local Audubon Chapters here in Phoenix after they went quite a ways beyond the permissions I'd given them, and I had to send my repeated requests for the guy to remove my images from their web site to the entire board of directors to get them to stop messing up my images.
Posted by Peter Conway on August 26, 2010 at 8:59 AM
I am glad I read this thread. Lot's of great suggestions and sound critical thinking!
Discussion
7 replies"Stranded No More" has the following statement on their facebook page and this is all I know about them:
I know that I have no obligation to give them any photos (they said they will credit me), but the photos they want are very unique (live strandings of humpback whales are quite rare) and the images have value to me. I have been told by a respected photographer that non-profits often ask for a photo for free, and when you tell them no they miraculously come up with money to purchase usage of the image.
So, is it OK to ask for money? How does one go about it without sound greedy? It's my policy to donate photos to good causes but of course I get to pick and choose and I'm a bit skeptical. Thanks in advance.
- Luke
This isn't the same thing wanting to - we all have limited time and money and have to decide where we want to put it.
Depending on the nature of the organization and the people running it, it might be possible to trade access to something in exchange for use of the photo. Maybe one of the board members is a marine scientist and can get you on a boat for a couple of days while they do their work. Or a museum collection. Or a lab for stock shots. Try to think a bit creatively if you feel you should charge for the image but are uncomfortable with doing so.
I realize this doesn't directly answer your question.
Another take (coming from someone who has worked in non-profit) is that you can get a donation or tax receipt for your donated photos. It can be a bit daunting in the process ( as it requires market evaluation of the photo, and a receipt for an amount comparable to other similar photos sold commercially) . Most are more inclined to get credit for work ... and let it go. Not sure how the tax law goes in the US ... but this works here in Canada eh!
Seems I've had a lot of nonprofits asking for donations these days. I can't support everyone nor can I do everything for everyone. So, I've decided to only support ones that I "agree" with or am connected to (i.e., the Rescue group where I got my dog) and would limit the numbers of groups I support or donate to. I'd be overwhelmed with doing free things with if I did everything for everyone who inquires. Seems maybe word gets around?
And, I've never had any problem with get some publicity for my website.
I'd study that feeling for awhile. Our practices reflect the other comments- If it's an org that we would support and donate to in any case, then photo donations are appropriate with lots of conditions.
Remember that you can only deduct the actual cost of producing the photo from your taxes, NOT the retail price.
If it's not one of your fave non-profits and they can't pay, other forms of compensation are GOOD.
Beware the staff turnovers at non-profits. Verbal agreements on terms of use are worthless if the staff turns over every six months. Write a contract and expect successive staff to go beyond your use restrictions at some point down the line. I'd be inclined to give them only a web-sized version, 1/4 page or smaller, with all other uses that need larger files requiring your written approval.
And yeah, it's perfectly okay to ask for money. If strandings are so rare and photos so hard to come by, it kinda makes me wonder about their premises. And any nonprofit is going to ask for freebies whether they are poor or well-heeled, as some certainly are.
Make sure the group is really a 501(c) group and not some "hobby" group with good intentions but no formal organization.
Check out any web site and definitely Google them. See if they have a paid staff and a published budget. I've been astonished by the resources that some "non profits" have at their command who have asked me to donate images when they have giant payrolls and budgets for everything else.
Finally, monitor what they do. I've cut off one of the local Audubon Chapters here in Phoenix after they went quite a ways beyond the permissions I'd given them, and I had to send my repeated requests for the guy to remove my images from their web site to the entire board of directors to get them to stop messing up my images.