Selling images of national trust sites.

[dan123]

Hi guys,

this seems to be a very Grey and touchy area,
I have many images of national trust sites, or images that were taken on them such as forests and famous marks.
I have been asked if mine are for purchase..
so what do i do, ive heard a lot of different opinions on this, some have said i need a release from them, some say i need it uploaded to thier galleries to sell and others say all sorts of things.
and if any one can explain it for a simpleton like me that would be great

Cheers Guys,

Dan

[Cathus]

best would be to speak to the horse's mouth, the NT.

I've heard that a condition of entry onto their property & taking photos on their property is that you cannot use the images for commercial gain and thus would require a property release.

Of course if the photos were taken from a public place then that might be different.

Either way, I don't believe there is a legal requirement for a release, it just protects you against civil action should the NT deem that they are losing money from your commercial gain & decide to sue you.

[Stormsong]

Hi Dan,
This genuine email response to a question posed by a photographer in the same position as you may be useful:

Dear Mr XXXX,

I am Chris Lacey - Photographic Manager, working for the National Trust in the photographic library. I have been forwarded your email which you sent to Rosalind Stone last week - see below for your ref.

I note from your website that you advertise the images are for sale. Could I ask if you have written permission from the National Trust to be able to photograph and commercially exploit images of it's properties in this way please? I am afraid that if you do not, to financially benefit from commercial image sales of National Trust intellectual property in this way would be to contravene the National Trust's policy of no commercial photography of it's properties.

(Once you pay for a ticket and enter the property - which is privately owned by the NT - you are abiding by the terms and conditions of entry, of which one is no commercial photography allowed without first gaining written permissions. Amateur photography or photography taken for person use only is permitted.)

If you can produce confirmation of permissions then please do so, I would be most grateful. If not, then please may I kindly ask that you take the images of National Trust properties off of your website, and that you refrain from exploiting them for financial gain please.
If you shoot NT properties from a public stand point then this is not contravening the policy and would be acceptable. (Public highway, road, public footpath etc.)

But as Cathus says, best approach the NT directly - good luck with that, apparently they are notoriously slow at replying to queries.

Regards,
Denise

[Stormsong]

This may be useful reading too:

http://www.worldphotographyforum.com...ead.php?t=4681

Regards,
Denise

[GeoffWessex]

A two-year long dialogue used to run on the Royal Photographic Society website forum about exactly this..... and yes, the bottom line is "no commercial photography allowed without first gaining written permissions" (which you almost invariably will NOT get).

Their line about Amateur/Pro is quite funny - "Amateur photography or photography taken for person use only is permitted".... the trouble has, at least in the past, been that the moment anybody (a 'jobsworth') spots a tripod they think you must be professional!

[dan123]

Cheers... i was afraid you would say that.. i now there a nightmare.. i dont like them, would preffer not to deal with it, but im gunna have to... the bit that gets me is 'paying to enter' the places i went to have no entry fee or car park or NT cafe,
When i went to Durdle door last, wich is a NT it said on the board 'no comercial photography' but at the woods i went to, it did not say this... so comfused with them

Yeah ive heard of months and in most cases nothing.....

dan

[KeithT]

I hate the NT. Not only do they restrict photography, but have the cheek to charge way too much for entry onto their sites. Fair enough they have to upkeep the places, but they get them free or next to nothing in the first place. Can you imagine what misery it will cause photographers - amateur and professional, if the Government finally agrees to sell our country side to this mean bunch of fatherless people?

[Cathus]

Maybe ask DC Mag about permission to reproduce photos of Durdle Door, I'm sure there will have been photos of it in the mag, it appears with grim regularity in most photo magazines, I wonder if they obtain such permission (if it is necessary)

[dan123]

Originally Posted by KeithT

I hate the NT. Not only do they restrict photography, but have the cheek to charge way too much for entry onto their sites. Fair enough they have to upkeep the places, but they get them free or next to nothing in the first place. Can you imagine what misery it will cause photographers - amateur and professional, if the Government finally agrees to sell our country side to this mean bunch of fatherless people?

you and me both keith.... A local place. the birth place of thomas hardy they charge 4.50 to walk round the 3 bed cottage... no thanks... theyd preffer you to stay at home and send the money to them....
its annoying, i cant actually step out side my door without being on there property... i really hope they dont sell, be a stupid idea..
good idea Cathus, i might do,



dan

[dan123]

Well ive emailed them as directed on the website.... the wait begins.............

dan