| So you have purchased a camera and now you | | | | releases are required. In most cases, the use of |
| are ready to go out and make a living as a | | | | an image to a tell story, used in a newspaper, |
| photographer. Easy you think, take a few | | | | textbook or magazine article, does not require a |
| pictures, sell them and you are off to the races. | | | | model or property release, however in some |
| Not so fast my friend, unless you are extremely | | | | cases a publisher will require one. For any |
| lucky, the road to success is a difficult one. | | | | commercial usage of an image that has a |
| Let’s face it, making a living in the wonderful | | | | recognizable face or facility, get a release. Carry a |
| world of photography can be fun, but there are | | | | handful of releases in your camera bag; it will |
| many challenges along the way. | | | | save you much aggravation, |
| First off, what type of photography are you | | | | Understand your licensing options. If you do not |
| going to perform? Weddings, portraits, events, | | | | care how the image is going to be used and as |
| editorial or commercial have you given that any | | | | long as you have the proper releases then you |
| thought? Are you going to be one of those who | | | | can provide your customers with a Royalty-Free |
| will upload your photographs to a micro-agency | | | | license, just know that they may, for the most |
| and be ecstatic when you receive twenty-cents | | | | part, reuse the image as many times and in any |
| when someone makes a purchase and downloads | | | | manner they desire. You have basically given up |
| an image? Oh boy, you are on your way now! | | | | your rights to how your hard work is going to be |
| Wedding and portrait photographers must have | | | | presented. |
| the ability to deal with a group of people who are | | | | A Rights-Managed license provides you and your |
| stressed and at times, not very rational. Do you | | | | client more control of image usage. Basically, the |
| have the right personality to calm a bride to be | | | | client agrees to use your image based of a |
| as she breaks down, or smile while a mother | | | | selection of criteria. An example, suppose a |
| attempts to gather the children for that special | | | | magazine wants to use your image for a inside |
| family portrait? | | | | ¼ page spread with a production run of 25,000 |
| Looking to do event photography? You will need | | | | issues and they want exclusive usage of that |
| to form relationships with the local the baseball | | | | images for six months, then you charge |
| and softball leagues, golf courses, racetracks, | | | | appropriately. |
| chamber of commerce, and any form of | | | | Having fun yet? You are just getting started, just |
| organization that has or performs civic activities. | | | | wanted to begin to educate those who believe |
| The ability to review and print on-site is almost a | | | | that the business of photography is as simple of |
| must these days. Be sure that you can accept | | | | picking a camera and taking a picture. There is |
| credit or debit cards for those who do not have | | | | money to be made, just be sure you have a |
| cash and desire to a purchase on-the-spot. | | | | good understanding of the industry before you |
| Now for editorial and commercial side of things, | | | | make the jump and do not leave your daytime |
| make sure you understand when and where | | | | job to soon. |