So do you find it rude....

[Morgan J Segal]

When people on forums ask to send them high res files so they can make prints or for wallpapers, assuming you would just give it to them?
Obviously, it's a complement that they like the photo, but to assume that I would just give it to them for nothing, especially when it is pretty clear that I do it professionally

I really don't like to post wallpapers or email high res photos to random people since it basically means losing control over the image, a wallpaper image is high resolution enough to publish (albeit small)

I just had a guy on a forum ask me via PM to send a high res version of my photo to him so he can make a large print of it. Upon going back to the forum I noticed he had made a post asking if anyone knew of a place to get big prints done and if they would like a copy, I had not even replied to his PM yet :mad:
And this is car forum that is an older crowd ( I might be the youngest) too.
Now I have to come up with a way to politely turn him down ( He is overseas so asking for money would be more of a PITA than it is worth)

I once had someone email me their address and TOLD me to send them a print :rolleyes:

Discuss

[Jim Sykes]

I'm no longer offended as it seems that most people on forums are so ignorant to the fact that folks actually try to m ake a living at this that its not worth it to get upset any longer. Plus, with all the hacks out there with DSLRs, they'll give away prints whenever asked by those on forums simply because they are thrilled someone other than their mother likes what they took. I see it all the time..."Dude can I get a high res copy of that"..."Sure, give me your email."

I just explain to them now that I make my living this way and nothing is free, then I give them a price that will make it worth my while if they actually want to buy a print.

[Dylan Wiggins]

but why would you have a problem with it when 'their buddy with a DSLR' gave them all the originals they wanted for free?

Someone recently posted a very polite way to enlighten someone to the fact that you do this for a living and I can't find it at the moment. For me, the unpaid amateur, I also find it rude that people can be so overly blunt and dump on your work like that.

[Jeff Wilson]

I simply don't reply to those requests. Simple, effective and it saves me from developing an ulcer.

[John Thawley]

I forward them to Wheels On Walls or RaceCarPrints.com - I'm neither polite or rude.

There's a guy on the ALMS board all the time posting "can I get a hi-res version of that?" My response is, "no, although you can buy a print at RaceCarPrints.com -

I'm just unphased by it.

[Morgan J Segal]

I simply don't reply to those requests. Simple, effective and it saves me from developing an ulcer.


That's not really a good option when they ask publicly on a forum (on a thread that you started) that you are a regular participant on, then you just look like a dick

[Morgan J Segal]

I forward them to Wheels On Walls or RaceCarPrints.com - I'm neither polite or rude.

There's a guy on the ALMS board all the time posting "can I get a hi-res version of that?" My response is, "no, although you can buy a print at RaceCarPrints.com -

I'm just unphased by it.

Not option for me either

[Jeff Wilson]

That's not really a good option when they ask publicly on a forum (on a thread that you started) that you are a regular participant on, then you just look like a dick


First, I inferred that you meant the person had messaged you privately. Second how - exactly - do you look like a "dick" (really nice choice of words) when it could just as easily be assumed that you took the request to email/PM?

[Morgan J Segal]

First, I thought you said he messaged you. Second how - exactly - do you look like a "dick" (really nice choice of words) when it could just as easily be assumed that you took the request to email/PM?


I said he made a public post about it as well and I was not just referring to this one instance.
Would you prefer I said Schmuck?:rolleyes:

Edit: I find it just as rude to ignore people when they contact me, whether PM or in public, it is the equivalent of hanging up on them. I would not want someone to do that to me

[Mike Ditz]

:( Nobody ever asks me for no pitchers, no how..
They have however stolen them to use on their websites.

It's more ignorance and the napster "everything is free" mentality.

[Jeff Wilson]

Would you prefer I said Schmuck?:rolleyes:

Actually I would prefer that you reflect on the irony of saying one might appear unprofessional given your original choice of words. But that is neither here nor there. :)

On topic: You may want to consider creating a boilerplate type of reply to that sort of request. A "Thanks for the compliment! However, because this is my business, I don't distribute high resolution files that can be reproduced without permission." or some such thing. Then open a printroom account and direct them to it for print/file fulfillment.

[Morgan J Segal]

Actually I would prefer that you reflect on the irony of saying one might appear unprofessional given your original choice of words. But that is neither here nor there. :)



Get a life :)
It's not a matter of looking professional, it is even more rude to ignore someone like you suggested IMO


On topic: You may want to consider creating a boilerplate type of reply to that sort of request. A "Thanks for the compliment! However, because this is my business, I don't distribute high resolution files that can be reproduced without permission." or some such thing. Then open a printroom account and direct them to it for print/file fulfillment.

Thanks, I am confident I could come up with something.
I was merely opening up a discussion to see if others felt the same

[Todd Corzett]

I just say that I do not sell digital copies of my images for personal use, and if they would like to purchase a print, I would be more than happy to send them a price list. Typically, I've found when you ask about money... they quickly go elsewhere.

but why would you have a problem with it when 'their buddy with a DSLR' gave them all the originals they wanted for free? For me, the unpaid amateur, I also find it rude that people can be so overly blunt and dump on your work like that.
The issue isn't dumping on their work... just because someone is an "unpaid amateur" doesn't mean their images are bad... BUT, many people don't realize that their images have value... and should be sold for that value.

If you are shooting images that are of high enough quality to be desired... you should be getting something of equal value in return. Unfortunately, often times, it is not just "unpaid armatures" who are devaluing their work (I know I have been done it). It is hard to run a business when you have someone else giving away their product for free... especially when they are of comparable quality.

-Todd...

[Chris Clark]

The issue isn't dumping on their work... just because someone is an "unpaid amateur" doesn't mean their images are bad... BUT, many people don't realize that their images have value... and should be sold for that value.

If you are shooting images that are of high enough quality to be desired... you should be getting something of equal value in return. Unfortunately, often times, it is not just "unpaid armatures" who are devaluing their work (I know I have been done it). It is hard to run a business when you have someone else giving away their product for free... especially when they are of comparable quality.

-Todd...

I am running into a similar situation.

I shot an event at Mid-Ohio a few weeks back and posted a few pics online. Shortly after, I was PM'ed to death with requests for photos. So I showed some proofs and gave a price list for prints. Some people have purchased prints and loved them, most people answer back with: "Our local photographer just sells us all of the original Hi-Res images on a CD for $40"...One guy actually wanted a DVD of ALL of the event photos for $50....

Yeah, not so much.:rolleyes:

Now, I don't really consider myself a "Professional" by any means, and maybe I'm stupid for not taking their money, as I could have made a couple of hundred bucks by now, but I just don't want to be THAT guy...

The number of people who want original Hi-Res files so they can go make their own prints, and think there is nothing wrong with that amazes me.

[Dennis Murray]

My website only shows prints for sale, so I occasionally get an inquiry for a digital file or how much a digital file would cost.

I guess they are assuming that the digital file would be less expensive than buying the $5 4x6 print.

The only digital files I'll send out are web sized (600 px) images at around 50-70kb.

I do post on a few forums of interest to racers but I always have my website name in the signature and use my real name on the site. I try and come across as a business on line always. I find that reduces the freebies people want.

[Mark Delbrueck]

Speaking non-professionally (because I'm not a professional) I find it rude when you do somebody or a friend a favor and shoot their car (or boat in my case) and they ask you for the high-res files.

[Dylan Wiggins]

I have found myself in that situation a number of times when I will go shoot a local event to support them and give them something to link their friends to. When they start asking for the originals emailed to them, there is a very fine line you have to draw that say politely that you would be happy to mail them a print for a small fee without coming across as 'that guy who comes to our events but he's just trying to make a buck off us.'

[Dennis Murray]

I have found myself in that situation a number of times when I will go shoot a local event to support them and give them something to link their friends to. When they start asking for the originals emailed to them, there is a very fine line you have to draw that say politely that you would be happy to mail them a print for a small fee without coming across as 'that guy who comes to our events but he's just trying to make a buck off us.'

I'm not sure what type of event you are referring to, but in a lot of cases there are many vendors there to provide a service for a fee. Don't feel bad about being that.

[Erik Anderson]

I take the response that I appreciate their interest and prints/files pricing are available at the rates indicated on my website. I either get a phone call with a CC number, a credit to my paypal account, or never hear from them again.

I used to get very annoyed and make long bold, lecturing-type posts about how this is a business into which I'm investing both my time and money, but that just gets responses like 'Well Bob gives me digital files for $3 each.'. So I stopped with the lecture and went with the short and sweet. :)

[Gary Parravani]

slightly off topic:
Dont the race organisers have a problem with you selling prints to end users? I know that here in the UK they frown on it.

[Gary Parravani]

Speaking non-professionally (because I'm not a professional) I find it rude when you do somebody or a friend a favor and shoot their car (or boat in my case) and they ask you for the high-res files.

apologies if i missunderstanding that post, but are you saying that if you take a photo of a friends car you find it rude if they ask you for the hi-res file?

[Todd Corzett]

Dont the race organisers have a problem with you selling prints to end users? I know that here in the UK they frown on it.
Depends on the events... sometimes you may be shooting the event for the organizers with the understanding that you will be selling the images. It still doesn't stop people from asking for digital files for free... as "it doesn't cost you anything"

-Todd...