our photography workflow
Some of the most common questions we get asked are around how our free boardgame photoshoots work.
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We've put this page together to give you confidence in understanding what our process looks like, what to expect, and to assure you that there are no hidden charges or costs as part of how we work.
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If you have any questions about how this works, please email us at hello@risingdice.com or contact us directly.
A Quick Overview
These are some simple answers to our most commonly asked questions, but we'll give more details further down the page.
How Do We Get The Game To You?
All aspects of the game to be shot, including but not limited to the box and all components, are expected to be provided to us and any delivery charges are expected to be covered by yourself.
How Many Photos Will Be Delivered?
We usually aim for around 10 photos but that number can vary depending on the complexity of the shoot and the game. We're happy to combine multiple types of shot into one deliverable which could also increase the number we provide, but 10 is a good number to expect.
Can You Return The Game Back To Us?
After your shoot is complete we will happily return the game back to you in the packaging in which it was originally shipped, using either a provided pre-paid postage label or a shipping agreement covered by yourself.
What Licence Will The Photos Be Under?
All photos will be provided with a free non-exclusive, perpetual, commercial license. Copyright of all images will remain with Rising Dice, however the commercial licence will give you complete control over how the images are used in all future campaigns and events.
Is It Really Free?
Yes.
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There are only two potential costs to you - one would be shipping the game (to us and potentially back to yourself) and the other would be any additional expenses that come with the shoot.​ For example, in previous shoots we have been required to hire out an additional venue or purchase/hire additional props or components that complement what we're shooting.
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However, all of these costs will be discussed up front and any potential charges will be provided via a fixed-cost quote (provided as an invoice after the shoot) so you know exactly what the cost would be before we start.
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For small expenses we won't charge back, so in the vast majority of cases no additional expenses would come your way.
Our Workflow
The following step by step is the process we go through, from the initial idea all the way to having photos available for you to use.
1
Identify the scope and type of shoot
We'll first discuss the kind of shoot you are looking for, whether it's a traditional pack shoot, if you're looking for gameplay photography or if you're interested in a more detailed themed shoot. We'll identify what you're aiming to achieve and what your target audience will be.
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If there are multiple games or accessories that you're looking to capture we'll work through each one individually and ensure we're both comfortable with what you'll be expecting when the shoot is finished.
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This is usually done via email though we can discuss this via video call if we need to.
2
Agree to any additional expenses
Depending on the complexity of the shoot we'll go away and identify any additional components, props or locations that would enable us to achieve the vision you're looking for.
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While in the vast majority of cases this won't result in any cost, and we don't charge back for small expenses, we'll provide a fixed-cost quote (if needed) for you to agree to before we continue.
3
Ship the game to our studio
Once you're happy with what we'll create you can then ship your game to our studio.
4
Carry out the photoshoot
When the game arrives we'll start to pull together any additional props or components needed and complete the shoot.
We'll process the images based on the style and theme agreed on (whether that's your vision or our's if you've handed the creativity to us) including basic corrections (such as colour correction, blemish removal, cropping etc.) and any additional editing as needed.
We aim to complete this in two weeks but depending on the complexity of the shoot, how much post-processing is required and how busy we are this may take a little longer but we'll keep in contact to let you know what progress we're making.
5
Review the photo proofs
Once we've completed the shoot we'll provide you with a proof gallery containing lower resolution, watermarked images to allow you to review and feedback if needed.
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If there is any rework or retouching required then we'll do this as part of this step.
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Provide the final images
Once the licence has been signed we'll provide all images as high resolution JPEG files which will be stored on our servers for a minimum of 6 months before they are deleted.
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Please note that we don't provide RAW images of the photos as part of delivery.
6
Agree to the licence terms
Once you're happy with the proofs we'll provide the free, non-exclusive, perpetual commercial licence for you to review and sign.
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To give some confidence in the structure of this contract the salient points will read as follows:
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Grant of License The Photographer hereby grants to the Client a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to use the Images for the following commercial purposes: - Advertising and marketing - Promotional materials and content - Online, social and print media (including 3rd party publications) Restrictions Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the Client shall not: - Sub-license, sell or rent the Images to third parties - Use the Images in any manner that is considered defamatory, libellous, obscene, or illegal - Alter or modify the Images without the Photographer's prior written consent with the exception of: - Adding campaign, company or similar decals to support advertising, marketing or promotional material - To crop or resize in the support of publishing restrictions or design requirements Credit and Copyrights All Images included as part of this Agreement remain copyright of Lee Winder and Rising Dice and: - The Client agrees to provide credit to the Photographer (where appropriate and suitable) for any use of the Images that is public in nature - The Photographer asserts their moral right to be identified as the author of the Images and will not be associated with any work or derivative thereof in a manner that is prejudicial to the Photographer's honour or reputation
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Issue an invoice for any expenses accrued
If we agreed to any additional expenses at the start of the process then we'll provide an invoice covering these expenses which is expected to be paid within 30 days.
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This invoice will match the fixed-cost quote we agreed at the start and will never be higher.
Additional Information
Hopefully that provides enough information for you to get an idea of how our free photoshoots work and what we'll provide at the end. But if you do have any more questions about our process then please drop us an email at hello@risingdice.com or contact us directly.