Selling your photos?

[Elle]

Hello everyone... sorry if this is the wrong area but wasn't sure where to post it.

I have just started out in photography and am out to learn as much as I can and try to get 'jobs' where ever I can (usually friends and family call me to take pics of birthdays, weddings, etc) Anyway to make a long story short... a friend saw some pictures of mine and was interested to make prints of them - wants to enlarge and frame them. She is asking for the jpgs and said she is willing to pay for them. Now this is my question... should I offer to have the photos printed out, or just give the jpgs?

I'm not really sure - as I have never come across this personally.
Any advice is appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

E

[kat]

The only time I've given my full photo to anyone is to my close family. It would be photos of my kids or family outings. Photos I know I wouldn't sell and don't mind giving up to those I love and know they wouldn't do anything with them. To the rest of the family or friends, they get prints.

I would never give any person any of my other photos (landscape, fine art, abstract, etc). I always print them off.

I made the mistake of giving a family friend an original photo last year (being nice) and next thing I know, it was entered into a photo contest without my permission. It was a slap in the face.

I would really think about how you want to treat this. And good luck!

[AcadieLibre]

I would offer if they were really, really close to me one photo for free, I would print it and like I do with all my photographs I sign, date and number them. I have only given away four fine arts photos but they were to people I consider very dear and true friends. If you sell of give a photo away you should always sign it (some do a small sig on the front or most do like me and do the back of the print), date it and since mine are all limited to runs of 10 I put what number of the 10 the particular print is. I signed print is more valuable than one that is not signed. And confirms artist, and I do © on the back also.

[kat]

I would offer if they were really, really close to me one photo for free, I would print it and like I do with all my photographs I sign, date and number them. I have only given away four fine arts photos but they were to people I consider very dear and true friends. If you sell of give a photo away you should always sign it (some do a small sig on the front or most do like me and do the back of the print), date it and since mine are all limited to runs of 10 I put what number of the 10 the particular print is. I signed print is more valuable than one that is not signed. And confirms artist, and I do © on the back also.

Gonna sound silly but what do you use to write you name with? LOL..that doesn't run or damage the print?

[AcadieLibre]

I use a sharpie extra fine point, it works well on the back, no bleeding and lasts forever and have done many of them so for me it works. I don't sign the front so not sure what someone would use, although some people sign and date the matting which I think is terrible idea.

[kat]

Yah. No I was more interested on the back..that is a great idea.

[Elle]

Thank you all for your replies...

I think I am going to try and get her to accept me printing them out
at least that way I still have the jpgs

Signing the back is a great idea!

E

[Marko]

Hi Elle!

This may sound crass but...it really depends on the jpegs.
If they are important to YOU in any way, don't give them.

Sometimes for family/friends I'll just give the jpeg because it's the easiest thing to do. If it's a souvenir of a birthday party etc.

BUT....

IF the photo has any importance or artistic value, I'll never ever give the file away because it would kill me to see a bad reproduction of my work which WILL happen. I know photography...but my cousin Vinny - not so much. Marko