Posted by Bill Dark on September 21, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Over the past year or so I've experienced a disturbing trend that seems to be developing among interior design houses and art consultants. Two firms that I've been doing business with have purchased their own printers, and are now interested in purchasing my digital files only. I have resisted the trend, citing my concerns with color management and lack of control over the final print. And of course, there's the concern that prints could be made without my knowledge. I'm wondering if anyone else has had the same experience, and if so, I'd like to open discussion on your thoughts on the matter.
2. Negotiate 'terms of use' for your digital files.
Option 1 is the most drastic, of course, but will prevent any unauthorized use.
Under Option 2 you could license the images for only certain uses and/or sizes. For example, they could use your images for brochures, cards, etc., with no single image being greater than a certain size, and no image would be printed, matted and framed for wall use without your inspection and approval.
It goes without saying that a written and agreed upon licensing contract is needed..
I haven't run into your particular scenario, but I am certainly interested in what others have to say on the subject.
--P
Posted by Jim Sabiston on September 21, 2012 at 2:36 PM
This is A market that I work in as well,although I have no formal arrangement with any designers. Mine are strictly print sales to date, although the multiple print orders are very nice!
Personally, I would never, ever release my digital files to another vendor under those circumstances, legal contract or not. There is simply no realistic way to audit what they are doing with those files. I will offer reasonable discounts and supply uncounted or matted and let the designer mat and frame as desired. This leaves them with plenty of room to generate a profit on the print itself as well as on the framing mounting. I will bet even money they would seek out the cheapest available printer, etc, to run your prints. I care too much about the quality of my work and it's presentation to hand off that responsibility.
Posted by John Reed on September 21, 2012 at 5:52 PM
I have lost my largest previous client for print sales to hospitals and offices for a similar reason. I was asked to provide the files and the client would have them printed on acrylic. Allegedly this was preferred by hospitals for sanitation reasons. Seems a stretch to me but there it is. I declined and was told flat out, well prints on paper are on the decline for hospitals so you won't be getting much business. I would've thought I'd still get queries for prints for non-medical installations but it seems since I declined on the acrylic deal, I've been dropped like a hot potato...zero further sales to that buyer. My main concern is also being in total control over the final product that will carry my name. I'm not sure a print on acrylic will have the same quality as a traditional print, wet photo or inkjet. And of course, I too don't want to lose control of my files. I'm not sure what the answer is and will be interested to see how widespread this has become.
JR
Posted by Mark Stahlke on September 21, 2012 at 6:13 PM
I'll be following this topic with interest. I hope print sales don't go the way stock photography went.
Posted by Brad Mangas on September 21, 2012 at 7:55 PM
A very interesting and potentially market altering dilemma. The majority of my own sales over the last couple of years have been prints. I would guesstamate 20-30% have been non-print sales. This has been all publication use, magazine, calendar, company brochures. I have no problem providing the image file to the printer for uses such as this, but for use as you have just mentioned, I am quite sure that if I was asked to sell an image file to xyz corp so they could make their own print for display use I would definitely say no. You are totally right in your assumption of final print quality and it would more than likely not even be close to what you would provide for the final print if printed by yourself. To be honest I would be much more concerned about the quality of my work being displayed than the possibility of them making multiple prints for the file. The photographer must maintain quality of their work for it to be of any value.
This is another example of the importance of photographers maintaining control of their own work and the need for all photographers to stand together in order to help each other and the future of fine art photography.
Good to hear from you Bill.
Posted by Stan Wojtaszek on September 21, 2012 at 9:27 PM
I'm thinking Mark is right on the money.
A couple of years ago, I was asked to submit a quote for artwork for a hotel belonging to one of the large chains. Althought the manager had a lot of interest, I never did hear back from them.
On a subsequent stay at another hotel, one piece of artwork looked incredibly familiar to me. I'd seen it somewhere before.
Checking some of my bookmarked sites, I found it available from one of the "discount" houses for $14.95.
Good for them for a 24X36 print.
Not a price I can even come close to competing with.
I'm certain that art supplier would be willing to pay 25 or maybe even 50 cents for the use of some of my work. lol.
Sorry.
All I can do when I see stuff like that is laugh.
$15.00 artwork in a joint that charges over $200/night.
Poor guys.
Their costs are soooo outrageous.
Oh. BTW.
The piece of "art" isn't something I would hang in my garage or basement.
The best I would be able to do is use the frame to make a smaller one with properly cut joints.
Discussion
6 repliesIt appears you have a couple of options...
1. Remove them from your client list.
2. Negotiate 'terms of use' for your digital files.
Option 1 is the most drastic, of course, but will prevent any unauthorized use.
Under Option 2 you could license the images for only certain uses and/or sizes. For example, they could use your images for brochures, cards, etc., with no single image being greater than a certain size, and no image would be printed, matted and framed for wall use without your inspection and approval.
It goes without saying that a written and agreed upon licensing contract is needed..
I haven't run into your particular scenario, but I am certainly interested in what others have to say on the subject.
--P
Personally, I would never, ever release my digital files to another vendor under those circumstances, legal contract or not. There is simply no realistic way to audit what they are doing with those files. I will offer reasonable discounts and supply uncounted or matted and let the designer mat and frame as desired. This leaves them with plenty of room to generate a profit on the print itself as well as on the framing mounting. I will bet even money they would seek out the cheapest available printer, etc, to run your prints. I care too much about the quality of my work and it's presentation to hand off that responsibility.
JR
This is another example of the importance of photographers maintaining control of their own work and the need for all photographers to stand together in order to help each other and the future of fine art photography.
Good to hear from you Bill.
A couple of years ago, I was asked to submit a quote for artwork for a hotel belonging to one of the large chains. Althought the manager had a lot of interest, I never did hear back from them.
On a subsequent stay at another hotel, one piece of artwork looked incredibly familiar to me. I'd seen it somewhere before.
Checking some of my bookmarked sites, I found it available from one of the "discount" houses for $14.95.
Good for them for a 24X36 print.
Not a price I can even come close to competing with.
I'm certain that art supplier would be willing to pay 25 or maybe even 50 cents for the use of some of my work. lol.
Sorry.
All I can do when I see stuff like that is laugh.
$15.00 artwork in a joint that charges over $200/night.
Poor guys.
Their costs are soooo outrageous.
Oh. BTW.
The piece of "art" isn't something I would hang in my garage or basement.
The best I would be able to do is use the frame to make a smaller one with properly cut joints.