Question about selling vs. exposure

[drivin_me_nuts]

Supposing you has the choice between selling an image to be used on a book cover or give it away in the knowledge that the book will sell tens of thousands of copies and make a name for you... what are your thoughts on the matter?

- give the image for free; in the sure fire knowledge that the book is going to be poopular

- or charge a fee for it

I am really not sure as to what to do.

[_dobbo_]

If they are going to use it anyway - charge money. If it's a case of give it away for free or not have it used, I'm still not sure I'd do it. I'm guessing it's not a charity book?

[drivin_me_nuts]

_dobbo_ said:

If they are going to use it anyway - charge money. If it's a case of give it away for free or not have it used, I'm still not sure I'd do it. I'm guessing it's not a charity book?

..

no it's not a charity book

[Altrezia]

perhaps charge less than normal?

[beano500]

drivin_me_nuts said:

... and make a name for you... .

How will a book cover make a name for you? Surely it'll be the author's name plastered all over it?

Then again if it opens up opportunities, maybe because the publishers like your work, which are worth more than one image, that's a better deal.....

[_dobbo_]

Book covers do credit the designer - usually on the back cover it will say "Cover illustration by Fred Bloggs" or similar.

I'm always dubious of anyone that has a money making enterprise that they want/expect people to contribute to for free, whilst they sit back and take the profits. On that basis alone I'd say no and possibly be spiting only myself as a result, but hey, that's me!

[CommanderJameson]

Sell it. It'll still be in your portfolio and you can say "used on the cover of XXXX", and you'll have some cash. If you give it away, you'll get exactly what you got before, but without the money.

[bobphotographer]

Always sell

Are you going to get more exposure because you gave it away for free.

If they want it, they will buy it, if they like it and want to use it and dont have any bread, they will ask you to allow them to use it for nowt or very little.

If you know they havent got any bread, give it to them for nowt, if you dont need the bread.

Usually there is no reason to give it away for nowt. Dont make the same mistakes that every pro tog has made, equating cheaper to more exposure.

If you are known as a smudger who works cheap, you will always be a cheap smudger. You cannot say to one client, I'll do it for you special rate, £100, do a good job, get recommended to his mate and try and charge him £500. The client will tell his mates that you did a great job for £100. There you are, always a cheap smudger.

Never discount, ocassionally do it for nothing if you like

[Bacardi]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Same applies to photography... amongst others.... if you want to be professional about it.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Thanks for the advice - will plan to grant copyright in this country book,cover only, for this edition only for £1k ish.

Cheers

[_dobbo_]

Bacardi said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Same applies to photography... amongst others.... if you want to be professional about it.

Looks like Harlan Ellison says the same thing as I said above, only much more eloquently! I've been called a "prick" before for refusing to work for nothing.

[trackdemon]

_dobbo_ said:

Bacardi said:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE

Same applies to photography... amongst others.... if you want to be professional about it.

Looks like Harlan Ellison says the same thing as I said above, only much more eloquently! I've been called a "prick" before for refusing to work for nothing.

Not in so many words, but pretty much the same thing....

[Elderly]

drivin_me_nuts said:

- will plan to grant copyright in this country book,cover only, for this edition only for £1k ish.

Don't give away your copyright;
grant a 'license to use' ; normally covering teritory, type of use & a time limit.

[drivin_me_nuts]

Elderly said:

drivin_me_nuts said:

- will plan to grant copyright in this country book,cover only, for this edition only for £1k ish.

Don't give away your copyright;
grant a 'license to use' ; normally covering teritory, type of use & a time limit.

...thanks. You are absolutely spot on and it will iindeed be a license not a copyright assignment.

Thanks