As there are some wonderful photographs posted on this site, I was wondering if any of you have ever tried selling these shots. There´s a busy market place on the internet, but do you need permission from the zoos before you can sell, or even post, shots of their animals? If so what´s the protocol, and is it worth it? I have sold a few wildlife photos in the past, but never ones taken from Zoos. Anyone any thoughts on this matter? Pete help save the rainforests Stop the destruction of the rainforests - Online Petition
It's a rather grey area in the UK. Strictly speaking if you take a photograph, you own its copyright and therefore you can ask for payment if someone wants to use it. However some zoos have a clause in their entry terms regarding professional photographers; Blackpool makes quite stringent restrictions on the use of photographs taken in the zoo and I think Chester expects professionals to negotiate with them, presumably before they arrive at the zoo - I imagine that they would want to know what you intended to shoot and why - and then they would name their fee (which would probably appear rather steep to you or me). As an amateur photographer, I occasionally sell images to publishers (usually at a low rate). I also get occasional requests to use photos for educational publications from people who have seen them on Fishbase or another archive: the two shots they usually want are close-ups of an electric eel and a tuatara, both taken at Chester many years ago. I allow free use of these for educational purposes (I am a teacher, after all) and I am sure Chester would have no problem with that. I did complain to Schonbrunn (Vienna) when my electric eel photo appeared on their website without my permission and without my name either. Alan
