Dear <AUTHOR | WEBMASTER>,
I wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your <WEBSITE TITLE> at <WEBSITE URL>. I found it (<via SEARCH ENGINE or OTHER WEBSITE>) while doing research for the free online encyclopedia "Wikipedia", and thought that your image(s) might be worthy of inclusion in our living and growing document.
Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.org) is a free encyclopedia that is collaboratively edited by volunteers from around the world. Our goal is to create a comprehensive knowledge base that is not only available at no charge, but is also freely distributed.
I am specifically seeking your permission to use <this image/these images>: <URL(s)>
I'd like to include your image in this article: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/<RELEVANT_WIKIPEDIA_PAGE>; (To get a sense of the freedom of Wikipedia, you yourself can edit this page without registration, right now!)
We can best use your materials if you are willing to grant permission for it to be used under terms of the GNU Free Documentation Licence (GFDL). However, there are other alternative licences that you may use.
The GFDL means that although you retain the copyright and authorship of your own work, you are granting permission for all others (not just Wikipedia) to use, copy, and share your materials freely -- and even potentially use them commercially -- so long as they do not try to claim the copyright themselves, or try to prevent others from using or copying them freely.
You can read this licence in full at: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Text_of_the_GFDL (note: To keep things simple, we don't use Invariant Sections, Front-Cover Texts, or Back-Cover Texts)
This licence also expressly protects creators "from being considered responsible for modifications made by others" while ensuring that creators get credit for their work. There is more information on our copyright policy at: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Copyrights
We chose the GNU FDL licence because it is the best available tool for ensuring that our encyclopedia is and can remain free for all to use, and for providing credit to everyone who donates text and images. It may or may not be compatible with your goals in creating the materials available on your website -- that's for you to choose. Please be assured that if permission is not granted, your <copyrighted?/original?> materials will *not* be used at Wikipedia -- we have a very strict policy against copyright violations.
If you agree, we will credit you for your work in the image's permanent Description Page, noting that it is your work and is used with your permission, and we will provide a link back to your website.
Thank you for your time.
Kindly, Duncan