Hands up. How many times have you had the email, or phone call, from some magazine picture editor, or perhaps from some charity PR person and they ask “Can they have the image for free?”, followed by their usual cheap sell line of the publication will be “be good for your folio”. Hands up who has had that email or call ? I’ve had it, last time was a UN magazine I think (they didn’t reply to my enquiry about the budget for their mag, funny that…), and before that someone wanted a portrait of Yoko Ono to use in their free magazine. I laughed when they said they’d give me a byline, sure you will I said, ..and also 200 Dollars…
I don’t give out the pics for free, sometimes for a lower rate than perhaps I’d expect, depending on the image and the charity, but usually I ask for full payment, and if they use the folio line I tell them I have a great folio…

If you’re not sure of what to say in these phone calls, or emails, then watch this clip for some sound advice. The guy Harlan Ellison is a screen writer, but just imagine he’s talking about a pic someone wanted for free….