Are you leaving money on the table?

Imagine not having any legal rights to your commissioned work, and having to hand over full ownership to any client (who could then make money on-selling your images to another party). That would suck. Especially if you’re making nice work for them.

Maybe you’ve been there. In some industries it’s the norm.

Luckily, most countries in the world have laws protecting the copyright of photographers.

But the result of this is that many image makers have quite relaxed licencing and copyright systems, because they know it’s kind of OK.

The problem is, it isn’t. There are multiple variables and possibilities of media, duration and territory on each project and it can get messy without clear boundaries.

Licensing your images properly to any kind of client is more important now than ever.

Even though many clients will ask for an all inclusive package, you can use licensing as leverage to reduce costs (if they can’t afford your initial bid), and create add-on usage options (IE. more money) for later.

And you just never know when purse strings will tighten and a client can’t afford to reshoot, instead opting for an additional year or two license extension of your image(s).

Or when an off shore brand decides to use a campaign you already made for them in your own market.

Or they decide to use your library of images to make a short TV spot.

I’ve seen all these scenarios and I’ve met many photographers who’ve been neglectful of this attention to detail up front, and found themselves in a pickle later. One which has cost them thousands of dollars in lost income.

Yes I know you don’t like playing bad cop, especially when you don’t have a rep.

I know it can sometimes feel like you’re ‘stinging’ them.

But you’re not.

It’s like selling a car. It’s just business.

Kiwi image makers are the most buttoned down when it comes to licensing and copyright. They have their systems and contracts and they use them, because if they didn’t, they have no rights to their own commissioned work. Yup- New Zealand is one of those exceptions.

Imagine that ‘no rights’ scenario. And think about all the potential ways you have the privilege of securing future income for yourself. You never know when you’ll get that call asking for more usage.