Do what makes you feel comfortable, but I would like to address a couple of things..because I also spoke with another blogger who didn't want to write up a contract for hiring a photographer..
First, Travel journalism is storytelling. Its not just information based but it is also not a diary. Storytelling is the best and most effective way for people to learn, we learn how to handle events and experiences by the way others do, through characters and plot. Why do you read fiction? That is not even real. The difference is that they are structured, or else they would be diary entries. Give yourselves more credit, the differences between your travel blogs and the stories in a magazine are a focus/ something to say (people don't want a laundry list of the stuff you did. THAT will not sell.), an editor, and a paycheck. (Don't be fooled. No one goes into journalism because it is glamorous or it will pay. We go into it for the lifestyle and the passion.) Travel writers make their living because they sell 6 or 7 stories about one destination with different angles.
Unfortunately, if someone if buying your work they are buying the rights, Jessica. It is up to you with a contract to determined which rights those are. 1st rights, all rights..that's what makes this a business. Why would he buy something that is still going to be available for free? At the very basic, you will be allowed to still self-publish but your writing can't appear anywhere else (the contract I am in now) or he publishes and the story can not be sold again for a certain amount of time.
When I went to a professor in college telling her I wanted to be a travel photographer, she wouldn't even see me. She told me I should start traveling. As a brazen, determined, egocentric 18 year old I replied by informing her that I had just returned from two years of travel and if she couldn't help me then maybe she could point me in the direction of someone who could? I was told to come in that afternoon. During our meeting, two other professors joined us and after the initial travel introduction (Have you been here? Oh you have? Did you like it? Did you see this? I actually worked at that bar on the island!) she asked me to explain exactly what I was going for. I did at the end of our meeting she gave me a list of contacts of whom I was questioning if I should actually contact these people. "These people are way out of my league. I can't call him!" She told me "Just do what we just did. You clearly know how to communicate. You just returned from two years of traveling..you've finished the hardest part."
My best advice is just to look into travel writing and photography...not "be a better shooter" but the actual business side to it. Get yourself a contract, take it and roll!
Can I ask if you are willing to offer your work for free why you are all so protective of it? It is already accessible. (Its not exactly easy.. I know, I've tried lol I needed a thumbnail of a photo during my photo research for an article and I couldn't get a hold of it..you can thank Mel and the staff of Travel Blog for that one!) But, if anyone wanted to take your stuff, they would. The internet is not a secure place. It takes one person with basic code knowledge to take your work. Luckily, plagarism is a serious, serious crime. Not to stir things up, but I am just not understanding... I know its your "art" but you are already posting for free in a public platform. Why not let someone act as a vehicle to get you more viewers by allowing him to compensate you (even with a small stipend) to promote you from his public platform as well, while also promoting himself? Just a thought..
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