PDXImaging wrote:
I'm not saying to send or not, but make sure you get an address that shows the guy is in the military if you do...  I received the same type of e-mail from someone a few months back that saw a model's image I had taken on my port here.  I responded to his "you're so Hot!!!! I'm such a lonely soldier..." line by saying I'm not asking, so don't tell, but I doubted that I was his type...  LOL  The address he sent was US based and I asked about this and never heard back...  My thinking on it, however, is if someone wants a 8x10 print or whatever, let him pay for it and the mailing, etc. and let the photographer do it so the print is of a high quality (with a copyright notice on the image or a stamped "not for reproduction" or such on the back...), that way the guy doesn't get your return address, at a minimum he's distanced and you don't get the inevitable follow ups...

same thing happened to me a few times.  Honestly, who wants an autographed picture of me when they can get a autographed picture of "insert naked hottie".  I just assumed it was a scam and didn't bother with it, not that I'm saying it a scam mind, I'm just saying check before you mail.

D. Brian Nelson wrote:
You need permission from the photographer who holds copyright.  If he's a reasonable guy, he'll give it to you for this use, provided money's not involved.

-Don

Send them nudes.  Servicemen love autographed nudes.

P.S.  "APO" or "FPO" in the mailing address generally means it's going overseas.

Yes, it had an APO in it.  And I asked the photographer and he said yes.  Thank you all!!

Geary Enterprises wrote:
What if the photographer that took the image plans to publish it?
They "Own" the rights to that image. If it is something that they intend to publish, if it ends up in circulation before that it can and will reduce it's saleability and benefit to you and the photographer.

In this case, the model dang well better already be aware that the photographer intends to publish the photograph and should have been compensated or at the very least compensation upon sale should have been discussed and arranged.

Geary Enterprises wrote:
The first question that comes to mind is how did the photo that prompted the request for an autographed copy get there.
Was it copied of the web, sent by you, the photographer, etc???
How did the person that requested an autographed copy find you to make such a request???

He it was just posted in their rec room...it had my name underneath it, or at least, my stage name...and it was printed off of the internet but everywhere I post it it has the photog's logo on it and I copyright...but he said he googled my stage name and he found me Ujena page which has my e-mail on it.  I googled my own name and it was the first link to pop up so it's plausible. 

Either way, no one's benefitting monetarily from it, and unless I end up famous in 20 years or something it won't be worth anything on eBay.  But I did already speak to both photographers who said it was perfectly fine.

Thank you all for your help.

Geary Enterprises wrote:
What if the photographer that took the image plans to publish it?
They "Own" the rights to that image. If it is something that they intend to publish, if it ends up in circulation before that it can and will reduce it's saleability and benefit to you and the photographer. Unless otherwise stated in your release you have the ability to present the images in your portfolio for your own self promotion, period, nothing more, you do not have the right to make and give away copies.

If the photographer plans to publish it and doesn't want it in circulation, he wouldn't have given it to the model to post on her internet portfolio. If it's on the net, it's already in circulation. And arguably, sending a free autographed photo to a soldier in Iraq falls under self promotion. She's getting her name and image out to an entire group of soldiers. You can't tell me that doesn't have the potential to generate some revenue or marketability somewhere down the line. I'd say she handled this absolutely correctly by asking the photographer's permission and sending the photos. I certainly wouldn't say "no" to a request like this from one of my models.

Dana Nicole wrote:
He wanted to know if I could send him an autographed one...now, how do I go about this copyright-wise?

Print the picture out, autograph it and send it.  Based on the situation if there is any bitch by the photographer tell him to FO.

Any photographer that would get his panties in a bunch over something like this is probably a hack.

JHoward wrote:
At first read, this sounded sketchy, like requests that I get for autographed images from some of my sites (and from models' sites that I run).

Two things to be wary of, that we learned the hard way:

DO NOT sign your name.  Write it or print it (they know it already anyway), but DO NOT include your signature for two reasons:  A)  identity theft and B) it reduces the resale value on Ebay.

Also:  Be sure to address it to a specific person (my models address it to the person who's name appears on the credit card used to purchase the print, regardless of the request).  Again, this reduces the resale value on Ebay (Jim isn't highly likely to buy an 8x10 of someone that's addressed to Fred).

I agree with part of what you said, and understand the other part.

Yes, identity theft could be an issue, but it cheapens the picture if you just write/print your name. When I sign my pictures, it's not the same as the signature used for credit card purchases, etc., but it IS my signature.

If you address it to that person specifically, it would definitely reduce the resale value. Maybe I'm just naive, but if the guy went through all this to get an autographed picture that's personalized, how much could he realistically get on Ebay?

The upside to Ebay is that if it DOES go on sale there at some point, then there will be yet another group of people who will see the picture, which could mean more exposure and publicity.