Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Amazing--NY Mag Online wanted Free Photos

I was contacted by someone from NY Magazine online because they're featuring a Keralan restaurant in London I'd written about for a travel piece. They wanted to know if they could use my food photos "with credit, of course." I replied that I'd be happy for them to use the photos for whatever token fee is standard but that I couldn't give permission without at least an honorarium. I got a reply that they don't do payment for such things. Does everybody think everything is free?


This Post was written by Peter Cherches from Word of Mouth

12 comments:

SaltShaker said...

In this day of ubiquitous photos of things and places and food all over the internet, they probably know that if you don't say yes for free, they'll find someone who will. The credit is likely the most you'll get offered, so it comes down to if that's sufficient for you. It's unfortunate for those who put the time and effort into taking good photos, but it is the way of things these days....

Peter Cherches said...

I've been happy to grant use to other non-commercial media, but NY Mag? No way. A publisher of NY neighborhood advertiser newspapers once made me the offer to be their restaurant reviewer for "the exposure." When I told them I didn't need exposure, what kind of money could they offer they told me $50 a review. I told them at that rate it wasn't worth my time.

jen maiser said...

Good for you, Peter, for asking for payment. I often tell bloggers that unless all of us ask for payment, publications will expect to get our photos for free. The important part isn't so much the amount that is paid -- it's that they are willing to pay money for it. So many online folks are flattered and willing to give away their photography when asked that it ruins it for the rest of us.

Jeanne said...

Yes - they do! I had a friend who is a trained lawyer tell me the other day with a straight face "but once it's on the internet, you can't enforce copyright?". And that's a lawyer... Good for you for saying no - it's not as if they can't afford to pay...

Caleb said...

I've had PR companies contact me wanting me to do reviews of new restaurants. By the way, when I say reviews, they wanted me to do biased reviews where I say their restaurants were the most wonderful places in the world. When I asked them how much they would pay me they quickly tried to go the "it'll give you exposure" route. I told them that they're the ones asking me to do the review and they wouldn't have wanted a review if it wasn't of any worth to them. They've offered me free meals, restaurant coupons and discounted meals, but I've declined all those offers.

I figure I wouldn't pay my plumber or my dentist in vouchers so why should I be treated any different. A job is a job.

I definitely think that PR companies and magazines see bloggers as dispensable so they treat us as so.

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