Copyright/Licensing Questions & Issues - Adam Taylor

The Spiro Podcast: Managing your Real Estate Photography & Videography Business

One of the most common questions real estate photographers ask is about copyright and licensing of their photos. Who owns the rights to the photos? Do they need to be licensed? What happens if a listing changes hands and the new Realtor wants the photos the first Realtor paid for? Can the photographer use their own photos in other applications? Our special guest, Adam Taylor joins Todd & Craig this week to tackle these questions and give you some creative ideas on what licensing your photos can do for your business.

Check out Adam's Website at: https://adamtaylorphotos.com/

For Adam's Licensing Educational Resources, visit: https://adamtaylorphotos.com/education/

Show Summary Notes:

0:00-0:57 Sneak peek

0:58-2:55 Intro

2:56-4:04 Why copyright and licensing can feel scary

4:05-9:57 Adam’s story

9:58-13:47 Intellectual property

• Your photos are not a tangible goods or a service; they are intellectual property
• Licensing is selling the rights to use intellectual property
• Music as an example- you have to buy the right to use it in a monetized YouTube video or commercial

13:48-15:39 Licensing makes sure you, as the photographer, get paid

• When you take a photo, you have the copyright to that photo and must give others the right to use it
• Working with an attorney is helpful
• Know how the images can be used to set an agreement with your client
• Licensing is priced according to the value of the intellectual property

15:40-18:04 How to compete with photographers who sign away their rights

• Educate yourself and others
• When you sign your photos away, you give up creative control and the money you could make from licensing those photos elsewhere

18:05-20:17 What other ways can you license your photos?

• The “Licensing Mindset”: View every shoot as a way to make money- “I’m taking photographs that companies will pay for; how can I use the work I’m already doing to make more money?”

20:18-22:21 How can I license my photos to other companies?

• Find the email address for the company’s marketing department and reach out to them
• Craft a good cold pitch email- make it quick and easy to digest

22:22-25:59 Adam’s resources

• Adam's website | Resources
• Full course on the licensing mindset
• Mini-course on cold pitching
• Virtual workshop replays on architectural shoots, editing, portfolio-building, and more
• Email templates

26:00-27:48 Licensing can be profitable

• The types of homes you shoot will be a factor in how much you make from licensing
• Set a goal for how much you want to make from licensing each year
• Think about homes you’ve recently shot- were there any logos or new fixtures in the photos?

27:49-30:37 Be transparent

• For photographers selling their copyrights, ask what their goals are
• There might be a solution that can help you both
• We can’t assume our clients understand copyright and licensing; they might be scared, too
• Be open with your clients about licensing and how you incorporate it into your business

30:38-32:47 Contact Adam and us

Have questions? Email [e-mail]. You can find out more about Spiro at http://spiro.media.