Know-How Exchange : Student Questions

I would argue to the contrary.

You were hired to take photographs for particular purposes.

Once the job is finished and fully paid-for, title and reproduction rights in the images pass to the client.

Otherwise their specially-commissioned photography might be licensed to someone else by the photographer if it truly were still his to sell/license...

Clearly that was not the intention. They wanted something specific, that was theirs and theirs alone. So how could the right to license the images be retained by the photographer?

This is an object lesson in preparing yourself properly to conduct business... It's way better to make these things clear upfront so nobody gets themselves in knots over any subsequent misunderstandings.

You need a set of standard terms and conditions.

Is there a professional photographers association or institute in your region you could ask for their advice on setting up a standard set of Terms and Conditions?

If this was the only grey area you are lucky. Suppose the shoot had turned out badly and the client refused to accept the shots. Who pays for the re-shoot? That could be expensive.

Better business planning upfront will save you a lot of worries later on.

So get properly set-up - there are loads of people here who can assist (Ask me for my standard terms and conditions LOL!)

Hope this helps


ChrisB