Question re: Getty Images on Flickr

When I signed up for Flickr, I saw that you had the option of making your images available to Getty Images. I searched online and found people complaining about the terms, so I just opted out.

Now, I've got a request from Getty about a specific set of images they wish the license... except the only controls on Flickr are "No Getty", and "Give Getty exclusive rights to everything in my photostream, and any similar photo I made produce whether it's on Flickr or not". Non-similar images outside of Flickr aren't theirs. I imagine the similar image clause is to avoid someone taking two shots, giving Getty rights to one, and selling the other elsewhere, but there is no definition of similar. Perhaps they expect exclusive rights to my daughter and dogs. :)

Considering these options, I'm leaning heavily towards ignoring their request.. but I figured I'd ask. Has anybody here had good worthwhile dealings with Getty via Flickr?

That is awesome, David! Congrats!! I would most definitely find out more information before declining the offer from them!

Could you possibly move your more personal/family pics to a new address and let Getty have full access to the old one? And yes, I would be a little hesitant to let them have all files. I know a preacher dude that got a free family portrait. The catch was the photographer was giving one of these companies access to all their shots. Next thing you know, the family pics are being used all over the net for various reasons/businesses. He had no idea how the pictures would be used and would never do another "free" family portrait again.

I like tagging any personal photos as "only family can see this photo". That helps protect against anyone not wanting their pic as a public item.

Dave

So, I've started to follow up on this, and it's looking like it's different from the usual Flickr checkbox to let Getty access your images... I had to make an account with Getty, and provide tax information, and they're going to want model release forms... I'm wondering when they'll notice all my flickr images are only 900 pixels tall... Of course, I can provide them with full-res images, but I'm wondering if I'll be forced into updating to flickr pro to do it.

In an invited member only forum (of 76000 users, so I'm not THAT special) somebody mentioned selling an image for several hundred dollars. That's what convinced me to look deeper into this.

I still have to read the fine print, and I need to figure out if I need to apply for a US tax ID number thingy... I left that blank, and they accepted it for now.

The contract looks fine, they only have rights to images I submit and they accept, and they're requesting higher-res images directly from me... So far this seems good.

sounds promising. Congratulations!

btw I just checked my settings, and I have different options. One of them says
"

Enable the "Request to License" badge on my photos AND allow Getty Images editors to invite my photos"which to my understanding does not grant rights automatically. Iy means Getty can invite my pictures, and anyone else can

request to license them through Getty.
Another option includes only the first half of the option above, without displaying the request link, third option is none.

I wonder if it is different for pro accounts, or non-US countries?

The last time I looked at the settings was several years ago, so it's very likely it changed. I guess it's fine that they can request to license pictures, and I can say yes, or no. Not sure why Flickr won't allow you to change that per image, but it's not the end of the world.

Getty chose 5 shots of Bella from over a 2 year period, so somebody did some digging through my photostream. They may have gone further back, if there was a further back to go through. Because you can't control WHO they sell to, or HOW the images are used, we'll likely not give them rights to shots of Bella.

I'm going to have to start shooting pictures of things, instead.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DavidEccleston

Getty chose 5 shots of Bella from over a 2 year period,

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That is funny! My suspicion was that they were looking to get the pictures of her! You have so many of her with really great expressions that I think could be used for various advertising purposes. I understand why they are looking. Congrats on getting some recognition though.

Dave.

Yup, she could make a great poster child for something. I could see approving some specific uses of her image. But, since I can't limit how the images are used via Getty, nobody gets to use it.

Thanks for all for the congrats. It's not everyday you're asked to sell your photos. Anyway, now that I have an account with them, I can see about submitting some less personal pictures. Apparently they have a twitter feed on what images they currently have a need for, and a flickr group that they watch, if anybody wants to try to get their work in front of them.

I do believe you could set up a contract for the terms of use. From Flickr:


There are two types of license available in The Flickr Collection on Getty Images:

1. Rights-managed (RM) – Rights-managed works are licensed with restrictions on usage, such as limitations on size, placement, duration of use and geographic distribution. The price of the license takes these elements into account. (Getty Images has built a calculator for this.) Exclusive rights to images are available for some rights-managed products. Find out more about Rights-managed licensing over at Getty Images.

2. Royalty-free (RF) – Royalty-free images are licensed at set prices based upon the file-size the customer purchases. The end-use is not specified (though certain types of uses that are defamatory, pornographic or illegal are banned) so the customer has a lot of flexibility in how they use the images, and can use them multiple times. Find out more about Royalty-free licensing over at Getty Images.

On the Getty site they have a drop down, but the only option I had was RF.

So, more on the two licensing models... Getty chooses the licensing model based on what they think would generate the most revenue. You cannot change the model. If they choose to the change the model at a later date, you cannot decline the change.

I'm more worried about the Model than the revenue, but that doesn't fit into their business model. They wish to be able to promote and sell your images however they see fit, to maximize profits.

Hey Dave had you made any progress with your images being used by getty? I've got a couple of emails from them wanting to use 13 of my shots and I'm just wondering if it is worth the time signing up etc?

Thanks mate,
Ben

If you intend to give them rights to sell your images for any purpose, then sign up. You aren't committing to anything by signing up. Some people are making a decent side income from it (not everyone).

You'll need model releases for people (their form, so it has to be images of people you can still contact), and you'll need property releases for any recognizable property. They'll ask you to upload your highest-res version of the image (so it works fine with Flickr non-pro users), and copies of release forms, and to add any meta-data you want to help people find your images (ie: "New York", or whatever). Then you'll submit it for review. If it passes review, I guess it'll be available for sale.

I didn't approve any images, as they were all of Bella, and I'd have no control over how she's presented. For example, if a drug company wanted to use Bella as a poster child for their ADHD drug, I'd have no say. Bella would have to live with the stigma of being associated with such a campaign, even though she had nothing to do with it. Because of the complete and total lack of control, I chose not to provide releases, or submit for review.

Also, you're giving Getty exclusive rights. If you think you might sell the images elsewhere, that's a consideration. If you have no intentions of selling your work, and your subject is generic, then I don't really see a downside. You might make nothing. You might make a few bucks. You might make hundreds.

I received the same email and submitted all the photos requested except for the few they wanted of my grandkids. All were accepted. Except now, I somewhat regret the decision after reading this that I saw originally on Twitter this morning ...

http://thomashawk.com/2013/03/why-i-...o-stocksy.html

Thanks Dave and Denise. Not sure what I'll do yet but I'll keep that link you posted in mind Denise.

Cheers.

Oooh, love the updates at the end of that thread, Denise.

While I imagine a few more high-profile names will follow Thomas and Trey out the door after reading this, I'm also fairly sure Getty will survive these self-inflicted shots to their feet. Perhaps they'll learn something along the way.... doubt it though.

Sorry to bring up an old thread but I cannot control my excitement! I sold images on Getty to 3 buyers! All 3 buyers bought photos of my Cocker Spaniel and one is a well-known maker of dog food and dog toys and another was a media company! Look for Lucky Charm's mugshot to be hitting store shelves soon! :D

:):):):) Congrats Denise. That is awesome....which shot?

The company that makes Avoderm dog food, Nylabones and a whole mess of other dog products under the name Four Paws bought a less cropped version of this photo ...

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3570/5...9105da85_o.jpg
Happy Boy :) by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

and a media company out of Italy and another company out of Canada bought this photo ...

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8222/8...2c96a49d_o.jpg
Bathtime by Denise Trocio ( www.dtrociophotography.com), on Flickr

Not sure why they chose the first shot ...it's not even sharp! Oh well, it sold and I'm happy!!!

Congrats Denise, that's great!

I showed the second one to my wife, and all she said was aawwwwwwwwwwe. I think it is impossible to look at that picture with out hearing that (which is what they're after).

Congratulations... well deserved.

Pat

Congrats Denise.

Thank you! As my friend on facebook said, the Lord works in mysterious ways! So my words of wisdom for the day are ...don't ever give up and don't ever lose hope! I never, ever thought I would really sell anything especially to a large dog product manufacturer and if I was to sell something, I sure would have chosen a lot better photos than these two ...go figure!

Thank you! Not too many good things come my way very often so I am still floating on air on this one! I guess I don't call him Lucky Charm for nothing! :)