Selling my artwork - advice needed!

[jazzgirl]

Hello you lot

I thought I'd ask for more advice from the wealth of experience on tap here!

I have recently sold a painting I did and before it goes I want to have a professional photo taken of it so I can have prints made.
Question 1
I assume that copyright remains with me, or do I have to explicitly tell the buyer of my plans? I intend to tell him anyway - I'm sure he will be supportive.

I contacted a company wrt having a photo taken, and have now found out about an opportunity to have my work (more pieces) photographed and sold with a company which is just starting up to sell limited edition prints online. I have sent them some amateur photos of my work and they have asked me if I have a portfolio and if they can come and see my work.

Question 2
I imagine a 'portfolio' means simply the work I have done. Most of my good stuff is framed or on deep box canvas and some is quite large, though I don't have a huge number of pieces. I have never shown my work to anyone professionally, so what would they be expecting to see?

Question 3
If they like it and both parties agree to go ahead, what sort of an agreement do you think would be reasonable? Bearing in mind that I am a novice in such areas and also this company barely exists at the moment. I realise a big pinch of salt, common sense and wide open eyes will be needed!

Thanks to all for anticipated answers!!

Alice.

[mattley]

Q1, Your painting, your photo your copyright, yours to do what you like with. Selling the original makes no difference, and as you say, should the image make it's way onto greetings cards or biscuit tins, it only adds cache to owning the original.


Q2, Normally a portfolio would consist of the original works, but as this isn;t really practical, decent photographs should suffice. Any progression to a commercial venture will obviously require access to the originals.

Q3, Depends entirely on the projected useage and what you can do yourself. Assuming they do all the work, photography, image manipulationm pre press and product production to sale, then I'd settle for a royalty per sale at about 10 to 15% of sale price.

However depending on projected price, product and volume, you may be able to some/most/all of this yourself once you've seen the process, so I wouldn;t sign anything too long term or exclusive. Just enough to get you up and running, and get your name into the marketplace.

[jazzgirl]

Thanks, good specific advice.

[g_attrill]

The only other thing to consider is that the photographer will automatically own the copyright to the photo, so you need to ensure that it is explicity stated in a contract that copyright is transferred to you. If they refuse then find another photographer - you are paying them to make a high-quality permanent record of the painting, not an arty farty thing that they can call their own.

Gareth

[jazzgirl]

Good call!

[alexkp]

The only issue is whether you are selling the painting as an uncopied original. The buyer should be made aware if you are planning to sell prints, and if so, how many.

I buy art from time to time, and I would want to know this.