More on business and value

Yesterday evening I received the following e-mail:

"Hi Doug,

I work for XXXXX Magazine. We're running a profile on XXXXXX in our March/April issue. I am designing a small facebook ad to promote the article and I'm looking for a free image of XXXXX sport - XXX athlete. I found your image of him on flickr and I wanted to know if I can have your permission to use it. I understand that you're a professional photographer and I won't be able to credit the photo in the ad - so I wanted to check with you first. The ad will only run on-line for two weeks and the image will be about 200 x 200 pixels. Please let me know.

Many thanks,

XXXXXXX"

I wrote back:

"As I'm sure you understand, except in special circumstances I am unable to make my images available for publication sans credit or compensation. However, if you wish to license the image for use, for the size you specified, the price would be $250 if it was to run online only for two weeks. I know you said you were looking for a free image, and if that remains the case, I certainly understand, but will have to pass on this opportunity. Thanks so much.

-Doug"


I just received this response:

"Hi Doug,

I totally understand. Thank you for getting back to me.

Best,

XXXXXX"


I'm pretty frustrated about this, as I posted previously, I'm not in the business of giving things away. Such is life in the digital age I guess, I made the client a more than fair offer, but apparently they were looking for someone who would have been all, "You mean I can get PUBLISHED?!!" Well, you came to the wrong photographer. Then again, at least they asked, and it never hurts to ask, that is after all how I get some dates...

For more on this and other similar topics, I refer you to the Photo Business Forum blog.