Looking For Some Help On What If Anything, I Should Charge To Allow A Fellow Ffa Member To Paint My Photograph One Time.

Hi Ann,

In my opinion it is subjective to what, if anything, you want from it.

Do you want money?

A Print?

Will there be stipulations that prevent the artist from selling prints of their new painting?

Do they have a website where they can place a link to your portfolio?

Will the painting be donated and you receive credit?

Thank you for your reply Jeffrey.

The artist did mention that I would be credited as the original artist on his FFA page.

That he only wanted to paint it one time. He did not mention sales but I am assuming that this is the reason he would like to paint my photograph.

I am just not sure what to charge for him to paint it the one time.

I understand, Ann.

My suggestion is, if you grant permission put everything in writing. Handshakes, so to speak, are wonderful but, when/if things go sour you're somewhat protected. Understanding you're in Canada, if they are an American things might get tricky. It's best you protect yourself.

Money, again, it's all subjective. If they plan on making prints to sell I feel you should be monetarily compensated, at least what you've put into it. What is your time worth? Is $30 fair, or is $200 fair? That's something you'll have to decide.

I've licensed photos for $2500 and I've licensed photos for $100.

Ok Thanks again Jeffrey.

I have replied to the email asking what the intentions are once the image is painted.

I guess, I will have to make a decision once I get that information. I have not had time to fill out the licensing information on this site yet, but I guess I will have to get on that.

Can I ask you…

What was the difference for licensing at $2500 and ones at $100? How did you decide?

I really appreciate your time and knowledge on this topic.

Ann,

In my case the different licensing prices were due to usage (e.g. books, calendars, CDs. adverts - including full cover page, one quarter page inside, mailers, etc.), the length of the contracts (unlimited, 10 years, one year, one month), and units sold.

How to decide? I use a software programme called Fotoquote as a baseline jumping off point for negotiating.

Welcome to the wonderful world of licensing your artwork :-)

Hi, Ann,

Will the painting (or a print of the painting) be sold on sites where you're already trying to sell your original version of the image?

That might be something to consider when you're wording your agreement.

This seems rather strange to me. Painters don't normally paint from photography other than references and you don't need permission to check whether the tree was on the right or left side of the fence or whatever. It's a landscape, right? Might make sense if a celebrity or something like that.

Is this artist asking for a high resolution image? If the artist is just needing a reference than they don't need a high resolution master. If they just want to copy the photo than they have no artistic statement... and you might not want credit for inspiring it too; regardless they still don't need a HR image (maybe a crop).

Do any other painters here ever do this?
-- mary ellen anderson

Hi, Mary Ellen,

I'm on several different art forums, and hear requests like this (from painter to photographer) more often than I can count. It's even come up on this forum several times.

I don't think it's an uncommon occurrence, at all.

Some people complain about photographers being nothing more then craftsman. Then here is the case where the photographer composed a scene so compelling that a painter simply wants to "painting by number" with it. Where for art thou artistry? I say the artist is the photographer who arranged the elements in the composition.

Mary Ellen,

It does in fact come up a LOT. And often it is an exact copy but painted rather than shot.

My one addition is not about price but rather a clause that will NOT allow for sales in direct competition to your work here or elsewhere Ann. You do not want to try and sell the exact same image on the same sales site competing with your own.

I allow painters to paint my scenes IF they ask but I stipulate no prints. Though they can always sell the original.

On a side note, FANTASTIC work Ann....

I would have to say no to selling prints. My price for that would be too high. I have let my photo be used for reference for art that was a book cover. They are completely different and only the basic subject and position and point of view are the same. My photo was also used in the book with credit and no pay. This was for a friend and it helps my photo sell. If not for a print then it would depend on who the artist was.

I have to disagree with Mary Ellen. Painters do paint from photos and often they just make a few changes like a creative kid using a coloring book. I found one popular stock image used 15 times in paintings on FAA. One was almost a copy but a hat was added to a child's head to change the ethnicity. The face was the same as the model. I contacted the photographer and she was quite upset. I could go on for days finding them, and it is not legal to copy most stock photos. I have found photos here where I suspect strong that my own photo was a reference and inspiration. Not a copy but surely the artist had never seen the subject like I had. A closer look and their entire portfolio looked like it was painted from popular photos from around the world. I agree with Edward. Just painting does not make you a creative. These days photographer do all the hard work and painters want to steal the glory. And then get on this site and bash photographers.

Painters don't go out in the world for subjects anymore. They browse the internet. And yes that is a generalization just like the ugly stock photographer bashing that is allowed here.

Wendy is right. I don't think this situation is all that unusual. I once had a painter visit my home for the first time and ask to paint a photograph right off my bathroom wall. I think when they see an image that speaks to them, they are just compelled to paint it! Not much different from how photographers feel when they see a scene they are dying to shoot. As for the one in my bathroom, I did make her a print of it, which she did paint. Her interpretation of it was lovely, and it now hangs in my living room--she gave it to me.

I can see why someone would want to paint your images, Ann--they are beautiful.

This is not uncommon, and you can still be creative working from a photo. Every artist does things a little differently, even if they try to do a direct copy it will still have their own spin on it because everybody has their own style. Painters from the dawn of time have used some sort of reference, even if it's working in plein air, even if it's only for one small piece of the work, that's how people are able to paint accurately. You need to know what something looks like in order to paint it correctly. What photographers do doesn't come completely from their head or imagination, why would it be different for painters? We all start somewhere. I find that the work that I use some sort of reference for tends to be a little more refined then the work I do completely from imagination. That said I still prefer to take my own reference photos, that way I know it all came from me; it's my creativity, my composition and my original idea.

As far as letting the painter use your work, that is completely up to you. I think it is a good step that they are respecting you and your work enough to ask (I have seen a ton of artists paint from other peoples photos with no respect for the original photographer or their copyrights) they may be reasonable and willing to not sell prints on sites where you sell. Likely for the painter it's not about the money anyway, it's more about the process of being able to paint something beautiful that has captured their attention.

I can certainly see why a Painter was enticed by your images. Fantastic captures.

Painters can simply change the position of the tree, bark or limb. Move a paw up or down, put a sun or mountain in , or take it out.

Since you do admire this gentlemen's work - why don't the two of you come to an agreement of how you would appreciate seeing your image in a painted style ?

You will be receiving credit for the original photograph which will bring more attention back to your work - & perhaps a print for your home ?

This is not uncommon, I think sometimes other artists share the same vision with yours and needed to paint it. I had a fellow artist from the west coast email me and wanted to use one of my photos for her painting.I know my painting style is very different from hers even if I paint the same image mine will be different from hers. Without any thoughts I send her the image. Weeks later she emailed me her wonderful painting. it is nice to know my photo which can inspire both of us.

Unless it was something that sold really well or I was really attached to it, I'd just let them paint it for free and sell prints and request some size print of the work.

Thank you to each and every one of you, for your kind words and the time you took to help me out with this decision and a special thank you to Jeffrey for all your time.

I am still waiting to hear back from the artist as to what the use of his painting will be. I will go on the sight that Jeffrey mentioned, Fotoquote, for some extra guidance.

Thanks again all!