Share the HD version of a photo?

[virginie24jb]

Hi,

As I mentioned in another post, I photographed an event that I helped organize with a dozen other people. It was not a paid job. They just thought I was the most fitted for the "job" as they had seen photos I took at previous gatherings.
So I'm not a professional.

I shared the pictures on the message board where the participants are from. The photos are 1000px large and have my signature on it.
One of the members asked me if I could provide him the HD version of a specific photo (his car) so he could make a print of it.

I would love to share it with him but:
- If all of them ask me the HD version then I'm not done here... And I hope they won't post it online in HD afterwards but that they will only use them for their own use.
- Should I keep the signature on it or not?

By the way, would you share it?

 

[Usul]

To provide full resolution image or not depends on your relations with the people who ask and what goal you want to achive taking photos on the event. If your first goal is to promote yourself as a photographer then of course you are interested in keeping logos on the photos you take and as it isn't a paid job and you have no contract that obligates you provide full res images then keep the signature. But if that people are your friends or good acquaintances personaly I see no reason to give the photos to them especialy if you don't mean comercial use of the images yourself.
I photograph events for a paintball team I used to be a member of and I've never refused to give any pictures to the other members.

 

[tirediron]

"I don't normally provide high resolution digital files, but I will be happy to offer you an at-cost 8x10 (or whatever size) print (watermarked) of your car. That way I can ensure that it's you receive the best possible quality product". In short, no, don't give away the high-resolution file. Even if you give away a water-marked image, they will very likely crop/remove the watermark before printing.

 

[virginie24jb]

To provide full resolution image or not depends on your relations with the people who ask and what goal you want to achive taking photos on the event.

I think you've got a point here. Because if it were one of those organizers who had asked me a picture like this, I would give them without hesitation as they have become friends over the last few months. Here it's a member of the message board with whom I don't have much contact and I didn't really get to know. That's why I'm more hesitant.

 

[Designer]

- Should I keep the signature on it or not?

By the way, would you share it?

Whether you keep your signature on it is entirely your call, but what I would do is sell a large print.

If you don't intend to make any money in the deal, you can offer to send the file to a printing service and let him pay for the print (he pays your cost directly to you). That way, your HD file is not in his possession, but he get the large hi-res print, which is what he wants.

 

[KmH]

What does he consider HD?
What do you consider HD?

I have found many people use the 'buzzword' HD without knowing what HD is, particularly when it comes to still photographs.
HD is a term invented to describe video, not stills.
For stills and making prints the car owner would want a high resolution version of the photo.

I second the notion that you get the print made.
You don't want a poorly made print out there with your name on it.
There are various cropping, resolution, and editing considerations that will effect the quality of a print.
You should control those various considerations since it's not likely the car owner knows what considerations might need to be made.