BetterPhoto Q&A
Category: Selling Your Photos

Photography Question 

Don W. Conn
 

What Do I Charge for Pictures?


I took a shot of a race car in action with film and had it put on a CD. I sent a small picture to the race team, and they asked me what the pixels are on the master and how much do I want for the use of all rights for the picture. Help! What price do I ask for? What do I send them ... print? I need help and advice from all you pros out there.


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April 06, 2005

 

Mark Feldstein
  Seems that when you distill this down, you've got two problems: First, whether you want to surrender all your rights to the photograph, which essentially means you retain nothing in terms of usage, even for self-promotional purposes. That's not such a hot idea. Meanwhile, I wouldn't send them any photos beyond the one they already have until you come to some sort of agreement or unless it's stamped or watermarked on the digital file.
Second, you have no clue as to what they intend to use this image for. If they use it for team publicity by making and selling or giving away autographed prints, that's one thing. I'd be inclined to let them do that without a usage fee if they clearly print your byline on the face of the photo with your telephone number, and give you, say, 100 copies of it. BUT, if it ends up as mural size on transit buses throughout the U.S. promoting Budweiser, or in magazine ads hyping one product or another, then unless you charge an appropriate usage fee per use, you've screwed yourself out of a fair chunk of change.
I think you need to define your terms of "use" and offer them a list of use fees per type of use. One fee for editorial vs. another fee for advertising vs. another fee for unit publicity. Make sure that you deal with someone on that team with the authority to contract because that's what you're making.
OTOH, if this is not a really spectacular photo, one that could be used in advertising, etc., cut a deal with them for a very minimal use fee in exchange for something like pit passes to make more photos for yourself and them, locally and if they go on the road. There may be some great advantage in that for you and the race team. And, if you continue to get into these situations, you need to look at the Advertising Photogs. of America Web site and the older annual pricing survey, http://www.apaamerica.com, and the American Society of Media Photogs site at http://www.asmp.org. At ASMP, you'll be able to find and purchase a number of handbooks (available to non-members) on stock photography, legal forms for photographers (including invoices w/ rights of usage info), and other memorable publications to help keep you out of these kinds of jams.
Take it light.
Mark


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April 06, 2005

 

Don W. Conn
  Thanks Mark for the good advice.


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April 06, 2005

 

Mark Feldstein
  My pleasure Don. Let us know how it turns out. Be well.
Mark


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April 07, 2005

 

BetterPhoto Member
  Don,
One other thought: If the race car is smothered with their race team name and their sponsor - say, Budweiser - you may have trouble doing anything with the image separate from them because you would need permission. I think you just need to ask them what they would like to do with the photo. If they want all rights, it may mean they don't know what they want to use the photo for at this point. When it comes to price, I'll bet they are hoping you don't know how to price, yet if you ask too much, they will say forget it, knowing you can't do much else with the image other than some editorial uses.
If they tell you what they want to use it for, you can get an idea of pricing at www.photographersindex.com. Never sell all rights, but you can sell unlimited rights. These days of Royalty Free, clients don't like to call and renegotiate usages again with the photographer and that is why they like RF. So negotiate as much as you can in the beginning may be your best bet.


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April 08, 2005

 
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