Yes, many of us have heard it. “My Uncle Bob (or Aunt Mary) got a great shot of (insert whatever) and I want it in my album.” Or even worse, it becomes plural. “There are only about 20 shots.” Ugh. We all love our clients and want to do what they want, but at the same time we want to preserve our integrity. So what do we do?
As with everything, as with any business, if there is a “policy,” then it takes the decision out of our hands. With the prevalence of DSLR’s out there and the ever increasing number of guests showing up with pro gear, these requests are going to increase. I recommend creating a policy and putting it into your contract.
There are a few options:
- Only images taken by Studio X will be presented in products created by Studio X. This includes, but is not limited to Albums, Canvas Designs, etc.
- Any images not taken by Studio X, to be included in any art created by Studio X will incur a $XX processing fee.
- Any images not taken by Studio X, to be included in any art created by Studio X will be at the sole discretion of Studio X.
Personally, I like option 2. It gives the client the choice. But it keeps them from Willy Nilly throwing images to you. And chances are, once the extra money is mentioned they’ll just say, “Oh, that’s OK, we’ll skip it.”
That said, I’ve included old family photos in engagement albums. This particular photo is of my client’s grandfather, who passed away a couple of years before the wedding.It’s out of focus and totally blown out.
When her grandmother, his wife, saw the photo in their engagement album, she kept touching the photo over and over. It was one of the most touching moments I’ve ever been priveledged to be part of.
Fundy
Fundy is the creator of the Fundy Album Builder, Fundy Album Proofer and a host of workflow tools. Free trials are available here.
Back Home
8 Comments at "I Want Uncle Bob’s Images in my Album!"
Do it. Put clients photos into the photo books and albums. Charge them a small fee for doing so and put them in a separate section or label them, but, if they really want them, put them in. If you feel your visual integrity is ruined and future sales will suffer, imagine what it will be like when the married couple are showing friends their album and saying “Yeah, the shots are great, but you know, I wanted a picture of Nonna in their and they wouldn’t let me, no matter how much I asked.”
I’ll take it under advisement, only been asked once and I chose to include it. It was a shot that I would’ve included if I had taken it and was a better angle than I took of the same thing.
The Bride said she was reluctant to ask and expected me to try to convince her it wasn’t a good photo.
“You have eyes, don’t you?” was my response.
It was a good shot. The guy who took it bought an album for himself; I don’t think he would have otherwise…
We’ve been in business only two years and we haven’t been asked in the past. I haven’t really thought about it. I have a feeling that the last couple we photographed may be asking us to include photos of their grandparents who are no longer with them. Thanks for the suggestions.
ive never been asked yet but i think (oxford photographer) makes a good point. so if faced with it i would say yes, hate doing it, but still yes.
Listen to Oxford, option 2 is the best route. At the end of the day it is their heirloom. If they’re willing to pay the fee, why not? It’s not like they are going to credit you with the image every time they show the book. Instead they’ll tell folks what a great sport you are.
I think it has to be on a case by case basis. I would definitely do it if someone had passed away and they wanted to include them. I may well be doing that with a wedding I have coming up next year because for the past five generations the weddings have been on the same date it is a tradition so I will want to include this into their album by using pictures of the past weddings if I can. There are only two generations of the five currently with us today.
If the bride wants it she gets it. All signed off and legally covered. I have the bride get me a copyright release stipulating that the images is release for use in said album from the originator of the image. I won’t use that image with just the brides approval. I need the originators legal approval. You just never know in this sue happy society when someone will rear their ugly head and want to be compensated for (fill in the blank).
-Geo- ” I have the bride get me a copyright release stipulating that the images is release for use in said album from the originator of the image.”
I think your point is the best point of all. Sure you can charge for handling their files, or say no, but I think the mos important lart is that if you decide you want to get future referrals from that client and you do include the photos, build up the respect you have for yourself by asking fir a photo release. I think it does multiple things for you as a photographer. 1) it covers your butt for liability like you mentioned. 2) it shows that the work you do is legally protected and illegal to just use without protection let alone make money selling them an album with that image in it. 3) it shows that you live by your own copyright policies and take them seriously.
Whether or not we include the photos isn’t the most pressing image for me, it’s whether or not we sendthe message that what we create is indeed valuable and therefore something deserving legal protection and warrants the effort/extra step to get te artists protection. If we don’t get the other photographer’s permission, then why would we ever expect a consumer to do the same for anything we give them?
Comment Now!