Selling an Image - Advice Please...

[Remorhaz]

A little advice sought please...

Someone contacted me indicating that they "would like to use this image for a internal corporate message" for one of my images (paying for the right to do so) - this is for me the first time this has happened and it may in fact not happen so...

I've responded I'm happy to discuss, however I wouldn't mind some advice from hopefully people who've actually sold images on:

a) important questions I should ask (which presumably go towards defining the use and price)
b) things I should be aware of that I might not
c) how much roughly I should be looking at (obviously the answers to a) could dramatically influence this)

I'll preface with
- I've got a reasonable idea that there will be factors which might go into this - e.g. exclusive use vs non exclusive, period of use, distribution area (local, worldwide, etc), size, numbers of copies, and so on
- This is a hobby and not my income stream so the actual price doesn't bother me too much but I don't want to massively lowball or highball it

[biggerry]

Whilst not necessarily direct answers to your queries, a few thoughts and experiences.

- I've got a reasonable idea that there will be factors which might go into this - e.g. exclusive use vs non exclusive, period of use, distribution area (local, worldwide, etc), size, numbers of copies, and so on

You have really answered 1) here - Clarification on what exactly they want to use it for and what is the distribution is going to be is the key, obviously there is significant difference between a single image and one thats gonna be used on a brochure and distributed across a company.

b) things I should be aware of that I might not

this is purely my opinion - however I have found in the past its a shitload easier just to say no and tell them to go to a stock site. At the end of the day I am in teh same position as you, its nothing but a hobby, engaging money in any part of that I have found has lessened my enjoyment. However as a rite of passage and if your looking to move your photography into a new level you may find this is something of significant value.

c) how much roughly I should be looking at (obviously the answers to a) could dramatically influence this)

straight off the bat, 550+GST (yeah yeah i know the GST is for ABN holders and pushing out more than x dollars a year)

now, thats for internal company use, over 5k printed versions and electronic distribution and for a maximum period of 2 years and... distribution in oz.

obviously there are other factors, however I am gleaning that this is for a corporation, not a 3 man band, hence that is factored into the above cost.

Another important note is, stock sites often have better images and often at much cheaper prices - a good guide to pricing your stuff is to look at stock sites and work out what they can simply just go and buy it at already thus making sure your image is priced competitively.

for me personally, i have found payment in various forms of alcohol much more appropriate and enjoyable

and of course a final point, its important that one does not undervalue what a photography is worth or more importantly the value of photography, that is open to different interpretation and is for another discussion

good luck.

[Matt. K]

If the image is going to be used internally by the company....then for a 1 time use $200 is fair. If they want to buy the exclusive use and copyright of the image then around $400 -$500 is about right. Get too greedy and you will get nothing. As Gerry has pointed out....there are plenty of stock images out there so competition is fierce. Good luck.

[surenj]

I am surprised that they asked you at all. Think about it, they could have internalised your photo without anyone knowing. You certainly wouldn't have seen it.

My only advise is to respond quickly. Otherwise they will go to a stock site.

[Remorhaz]

this is purely my opinion - however I have found in the past its a shitload easier just to say no and tell them to go to a stock site. At the end of the day I am in teh same position as you, its nothing but a hobby, engaging money in any part of that I have found has lessened my enjoyment

Thanks Gerry - I'm with you - certainly not in it for the money - however I figure I'd already taken the shot, posted it, shared it and enjoyed it and they came to me so from that point of view I don't see it diminishing my enjoyment. I'm not intending on changing profession, nor am I deluded enough to think that this is anything other than blind luck

If the image is going to be used internally by the company....then for a 1 time use $200 is fair. If they want to buy the exclusive use and copyright of the image then around $400 -$500 is about right. Get too greedy and you will get nothing. As Gerry has pointed out....there are plenty of stock images out there so competition is fierce. Good luck.

Thanks Matt

I am surprised that they asked you at all. Think about it, they could have internalised your photo without anyone knowing. You certainly wouldn't have seen it. My only advise is to respond quickly. Otherwise they will go to a stock site.

Thanks Suren and agreed on both counts - and already done.

FYI we settled on $100 in the end which I am happy with (and it's already in my Paypal account). The use case was for promotion of their Xmas party on their internal web site. FYI2 she also indicated she normally buys stuff off iStock.

[surenj]

Nice one Rodney, This should pay for your D600 battery grip? Might as well get it first....

[darklightphotography]

$100 seems like a good deal for that usage. I get these queries every now and then, what I usually do is go onto Getty Images, search for a similar image, pick a similar usage and see what they quote me. Then halve it because they are very expensive.

[stubbsy]

Congrats on the sale Rodney. Care to share the image?

[zafra52]

A few years ago a friend saw one of my images and
showed it to one of her friends, who is/was a partner
in a photo stock business. They wanted me and some
of the BCG members to contribute to their stock images.

The only problem was that although distribution of your
images in this way is headache free for your, the photographer,
it becomes restrictive because you are locked into a
a contract and cannot use your own images if they
are in the stock pile. Fair enough! Your images also need
to be of a certain quality and dimensions.

However, the figures we were shown were impressive.
Images could return a cool AUD60,000 if used in a
national/international advertising campaign in big
billboards by a big corporation.

I guess some your people have greater experience on these
matters and can provide sound advice.

[surenj]

$100 seems like a good deal for that usage.

Kevin, I think you make a fair comment but the stock sites often have images for $0.10. In this case, all they need is a small image for non-exclusive use. I think Rodney got a good deal. Because he could have got $0 just as easily.

Oh yer...would be nice to see the picture.

[Remorhaz]

I'll post it when I'm back in front of a computer instead of my iPad
However it was the star trails one that Gerry and I shot from Kirribilli

Edit: this one:



from viewtopic.php?f=18&t=42623

[BBJ]

Well done Rodney,

I think that if you are happy with the price is all that matters. Some people around where i live are asking unrealistic prices for images. There is a lot of people just entering the digital camera scene and all of a sudden have become wedding photographers and charging good money as i have seen 1 local lady who doesn't seem to know how to take the camera out of Auto mode.

APC Magazines pay me $60 an image, not a lot but better than nothing. So what ever you feel is fair.

Cheers
John
BBJ

[stubbsy]

Rodney

I can see why they wanted the shot. It's a great image. I think you got fair payment.

[zafra52]

Brilliant photograph. I can also see why they want it.
I hope you still retain to ownership.