Once again, my friends, I ask your advice. You may remember that I was contacted a while back by someone wanting to stick my photo in a book they were compiling of images found on the internet. It seemed shady, as the authors were getting their content for free, and if the photographers wanted a hard-copy, they’d have to buy it themselves.
At first, I didn’t respond because I got busy. So I received a last call email that included a link to a FAQ sheet. The additional info that provided was that only the cover photographer gets paid (100 Euros) and gets a copy. I was still wary about it all, so I replied with, “No, thank you. Please do not use my photo.”
Fast forward to today. I got another email from the publisher. He appears to be making a genuine effort to gain my interest.
:: “urban dolls” project
Hi,
We have been in contact for the PINK ATTITUDE book – as
someone at Liz had selected one of your photo – and
understand you are not interested to participate.
I am not asking again : the book is at the printing
process right now.If you want we can send a free e-book copy of PINK ATTITUDE
so you can have an idea of the editorial and graphic work
that has been made by LIZ team.Besides, we are working on a new title called URBAN DOOLS
and I wanted to ask how we can collaborate on this other
book project.Please feel free to contact me.
Have a good day
Gil Fouchard, Editor
LIZ EDITIONS
www.liz-editions.com
I don’t fancy myself anywhere near the best photographer out there. I have so much to learn. Why so interested in me? I do know that many people wrote in that they found my post when researching Liz Editions. Did the company do a Google search and find what I wrote, or is this genuine interest? I often hate how the internet so easily masks one’s true intentions. Face-to-face I can tell where I stand with someone.
Opinions? And, what might an Urban Doll be? Hmmmm…
Urban Doll = City-dwelling hottie. That would be you.
🙂
For that matter, what’s an Urban DOOL?
I must admit I’m curious as to how much work their team has to do in putting together a book of other peoples’ photos. Lots of pretty borders? Carefully written critiques?
Please don’t take my cynicism as any kind of indictment of your photography. This is about why they feel they should get paid for “their” work while you (and others) don’t need to get paid for yours. I’m naturally suspicious of any business plan which seems to be designed around the assumption that people will go “Gaaaw-lee!” at the prospect of seeing their work in print.
at least is isn’t URBAN DROOL…
if you go to their page, there are a few samples from the pink book. nothing too fancy – gray background with a couple photos per page. over-styled text on the books description page.
WTF? Can you say automatic translation?
“The pink attitude it is the big brewing of types: culture nippone, homosexuality, the gothic shopping, musics new wave, … Let us go surfing, thanks to you hushed up, on wave rose!”
http://www.liz-editions.com/flip/liz01.html
Do the people going along with this not have a copy of iPhoto?
Sounds fishy. If you reply no I’d say something about working elsewhere and your images are copyrighted. Even though they should know it stating it just makes it more formal.
It’s hard to say. I got a similar email about one of the pictures I took in Ireland, but it was for an online travel guide, and I don’t even know if they used it.
Offhand I’d say they’re trying to make a profit on books of images they don’t have to pay for.
Also, a typo like Urban Dool makes me wonder about the people making the request.
From a purely cynical point of view, a model + photographer “reasonable” fee is almost always going to be more than the cost of that book. Look at it this way.. If you accept even the book for free (which they’re not offering), you’re devaluing the work of photographers and models everywhere 🙂
Get the free copy. Judge against that once you’ve seen it.
My instinct would still be no. hah