Retouch For A Photography Business, Credit

[tcr1016]

I have a wedding photography company that wants me to do post work to add my effects to the photos. Some brides have requested me through him (wedding photographer).

My question is how do I preserve my name on he photos? I want my name on there so people credit me, not just the photographer. How do most of you get credit when doing retouches for photographers?

[mistermonday]

Typically you don't. You can make the request but the photographer owns the finished product and has copyright. It's actually quite rare to have any attribution given to a retoucher especially on wedding photographs.
Regards, Murray

[plugsnpixels]

I agree. In this case, you're the photographer's subcontractor, not the main player. You're paid to make his/her work look good, not to promote yourself.

Perhaps since brides are already requesting you, you can go after the "wedding CD" package folks, ie, those who just get a disc from a low-budget photographer and want postwork done. I'm not sure how these guys word their contracts, but it's probably understood that clients getting only digital files are going to make their own alterations to them, including posting on Facebook (speaking of which, that must be another can of worms for wedding professionals!).

You can advertise to these types of customers directly, bypassing the photographer altogether. This may get you more business but the credit on the image still remains up in the air.

[edgework]

Rule of thumb: if you've done your job right, no one will know you were there. Most clients are quite happy keeping you invisible.

[Mathias J]

Maybe add some meta data to the pictures? Is that ligit? Anyone knows?

[Aladdin]

You can do what you want with the meta data, however, it will not survive exif stripping, besides, you assume that the end user knows what meta data is or if he/she has an exif viewer

[RobertAsh]

You likely won't get your name on the photos (nor should you, as explained above), but you could legitimately at least try to negotiate a mention in credits somewhere, e.g. in the album somewhere or a splash page of a slide show, etc. if the photographer is open to doing that.

How are brides learning about you through him? is he telling them who did the retouching? if so, I'd recommend working with him to expand your business and make contacts so he doesn't feel you're going around him. If he's referring you and mentioning your name to brides he sounds like an ally to be cultivated.