Fire Fighters

RacinRandy

Thanksgiving for these Men and Women was a tough day. Having to answer a call at 2:30pm Thursday afternoon these Brave Men and Women rushed to the scene to find a Raging Blaze. A Two Alarm fire call was sent out and 7 neighboring community Fire Houses responded. The Building, Four apartment "Four-Plex", housed two sets of tenants. All of which were home at the time of the Blaze. All Occupants got out, Two Adults and a Small Child were taken to the Hospital and treated for Smoke Inhalation.

The Building was a total loss and was Razed by Orders of The State Fire Marshall. The Tenants lost everything but the clothing they had on.

With That said, I had been on scene and shooting pictures. I posted several to my Facebook page. Here starts my quandry, I have received many requests to purchase prints from private citizens. I have told both families of these requests and they have told me to do it. Ethically I feel it's wrong to do so, Profit from someones loss.

Now I have begun acting as a liaison and being a drop point for Donations and Contributions for the families. So I am thinking of Selling the prints and donating the proceeds to the families.

I need some help as I feel a few images need a specific size to maintain their "Impact and story".

Like these;
1)
original
4x5 crop

2)
Original
4x5 Crop

3)
Original
4x5 Crop


This one I'm Just wondering if I NEED to get a release from the Fire Fighter?



Please feel free to chime in. I am Really torn on a few....

Thanks in advance

jonh68

Here's the reality of selling images like this. You will have people wanting to buy pictures. You will jump through hoops to get it right. When it comes time to actually buy it doesn't happen. So, you need to determine how much work you want to do in regards to making prints, taking orders, delivering prints, taking the money, and then donating that to the family. My guess it would be easier to just donate some money yourself if you want to help the families.

As far as your specific answer for crops, it's a depends. If it's a very large print then the wider shots work. If you want to focus on the firefighters then closer the better, but you don't have face shots which reduces the impact of highlighting the subjects.

Qarik

I like the tighter crops. As far as selling them..man if you really the need the money..but imo just give them away unless you are going to make habit of this,

Hackbone

Agreed with both comments above. If you don't need the money make a donation. I find with shooting sports the folks like them, want to buy them, but unless you get paid upfront and then print them they don't buy. Just a hard, cold fact of photography. Like the PP in these.

RacinRandy

I Don't

Qarik wrote: »

I like the tighter crops. As far as selling them..man if you really the need the money..but imo just give them away unless you are going to make habit of this,

Need the money. I wouldn't see any of it anyway. Two of the fire stations that responded what to buy larger images. I told them they could have them but they refused... I had not intended to sell any of the images. After a bunch of purchase requests i decided to try the fundraising aspect.

I did set up a donation drop off point in my garage for clothing and things for the victims. I can no longer use my garage to park in, To much stuff in there.

Hackbone, Thanks for PP kudos.

alaios

Nice shots!