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NYC photographer's crowdfunding rules OK after DKNY boosts YMCA NYC photographer's crowdfunding rules OK after DKNY boosts YMCA
(7 months later)
When Brandon Stanton found out last week that DKNY had used his photographs in a Bangkok storefront without his permission, he was understandably upset.When Brandon Stanton found out last week that DKNY had used his photographs in a Bangkok storefront without his permission, he was understandably upset.
"I had a very strong emotional reaction," the 29-year-old New York City street photographer told the Guardian. "I felt disrespected and stepped on"."I had a very strong emotional reaction," the 29-year-old New York City street photographer told the Guardian. "I felt disrespected and stepped on".
Stanton, who runs Humans Of New York, a popular photo blog with over 500,000 followers on social media, decided not to pursue compensation through legal action for "personal reasons", even though his photography is his sole source of income. Rather, he took to social media to ask DKNY to donate $100,000 to his local YMCA instead.Stanton, who runs Humans Of New York, a popular photo blog with over 500,000 followers on social media, decided not to pursue compensation through legal action for "personal reasons", even though his photography is his sole source of income. Rather, he took to social media to ask DKNY to donate $100,000 to his local YMCA instead.
"I've been going almost every day to the YMCA to work out for two and a half years," he said. "I've gotten to know the staff and the kids that hang out there, and I see how important the YMCA is to their lives.""I've been going almost every day to the YMCA to work out for two and a half years," he said. "I've gotten to know the staff and the kids that hang out there, and I see how important the YMCA is to their lives."
Five hours and nearly 30,000 "shares" of his Facebook post later, DKNY issued an apology – appropriately, via its various social-media outlets. It also pledged to donate $25,000 to the YMCA in Stanton's name. The photographer was pleased with the donation.Five hours and nearly 30,000 "shares" of his Facebook post later, DKNY issued an apology – appropriately, via its various social-media outlets. It also pledged to donate $25,000 to the YMCA in Stanton's name. The photographer was pleased with the donation.
"I thought, $25,000 would help a lot of kids," he said. "But the next day I woke up and thought, 'Well, why not try and raise the rest of the $75,000? That way, we can help a lot more kids at the YMCA and help them go to summer camp.""I thought, $25,000 would help a lot of kids," he said. "But the next day I woke up and thought, 'Well, why not try and raise the rest of the $75,000? That way, we can help a lot more kids at the YMCA and help them go to summer camp."
Stanton set up a fundraising campaign on Wednesday, via the crowdfunding website Indiegogo, and urged his online community to support his cause. The photographer set Friday 1 March as the deadline and $75,000 as the target sum. Within two days, his fundraiser had surpassed that goal and the donations were still pouring in. The fundraiser closed on Friday night with 3,145 backers pledging a total of $103,710.Stanton set up a fundraising campaign on Wednesday, via the crowdfunding website Indiegogo, and urged his online community to support his cause. The photographer set Friday 1 March as the deadline and $75,000 as the target sum. Within two days, his fundraiser had surpassed that goal and the donations were still pouring in. The fundraiser closed on Friday night with 3,145 backers pledging a total of $103,710.
"Today is my birthday, and I couldn't imagine a better gift than passing $100,000 and helping those kids," Stanton said."Today is my birthday, and I couldn't imagine a better gift than passing $100,000 and helping those kids," Stanton said.
Stanton had engaged his Humans of New York community before, when he launched a crowdfunding campaign for Hurricane Sandy relief. He offered donors signed photographs in return for donations, something he felt he couldn't do this time around, due to his current financial circumstances.Stanton had engaged his Humans of New York community before, when he launched a crowdfunding campaign for Hurricane Sandy relief. He offered donors signed photographs in return for donations, something he felt he couldn't do this time around, due to his current financial circumstances.
"I was unsure how the community would react this time without me offering signed photographs or anything," he said. "This is a strong testament to my fans' generosity, to how much a community managed to raise compared to a giant company.""I was unsure how the community would react this time without me offering signed photographs or anything," he said. "This is a strong testament to my fans' generosity, to how much a community managed to raise compared to a giant company."
In the statement posted on Stanton's facebook page, DKNY said the Bangkok store had inadvertently used an internal mockup containing Stanton's images, after the photographer had turned down DKNY's offer to buy 300 of his photographs.In the statement posted on Stanton's facebook page, DKNY said the Bangkok store had inadvertently used an internal mockup containing Stanton's images, after the photographer had turned down DKNY's offer to buy 300 of his photographs.
"They wanted me to track down all 300 of my models and have them sign model releases, which would have been monstrous work," he said. "It wouldn't have been worth $50 per photo.""They wanted me to track down all 300 of my models and have them sign model releases, which would have been monstrous work," he said. "It wouldn't have been worth $50 per photo."
"I've had over a hundred lawyers send me messages telling me what my rights are, how I should sue DKNY," he said. "But I spend a lot of time on the street taking photographs. I enjoy doing it, I don't need a lot of money to do it and I didn't want to get involved in a legal battle that would take any energy away from that."I've had over a hundred lawyers send me messages telling me what my rights are, how I should sue DKNY," he said. "But I spend a lot of time on the street taking photographs. I enjoy doing it, I don't need a lot of money to do it and I didn't want to get involved in a legal battle that would take any energy away from that.
"It's my birthday, we raised money for the kids. I'm happy," he said."It's my birthday, we raised money for the kids. I'm happy," he said.
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