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Old Posted Dec 6, 2013, 10:27 PM
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MTLskyline MTLskyline is offline
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Pricing photography

Hey.

I got a message on my Flickr from a small design firm asking me if I would let them use one of my photos without attribution. They would be sending out 1,250 e-mails containing the photo, as well as inside 500 printed brochures. They asked me for a quote.

I have never sold any of my shots before, and am completely unsure of how much to charge. As an amateur who shoots infrequently, I have no idea what a fair value is.

However, I thought this would be a good place to ask since their are a lot of great photographers on here.

What do you think is fair for an amateur to charge?
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Old Posted Dec 7, 2013, 12:07 AM
ue ue is offline
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No attribution? I wouldn't bother, if it were me. For pricing, it'd depend on the photo and how much value you attach to it.
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Old Posted Dec 11, 2013, 6:16 PM
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mSeattle mSeattle is offline
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Your situation is making me think that I really do want to buy a book I saw in a local bookstore about pricing your photos.
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Old Posted Dec 11, 2013, 10:43 PM
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Doady Doady is online now
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ue View Post
No attribution? I wouldn't bother, if it were me. For pricing, it'd depend on the photo and how much value you attach to it.
...and the how they plan to use the photo of course.

@OP: I'm not sure being "amateur" really matter. A commercial firm wants to use your photo for commerical purpose. That's what really matter.

Price I would guess for that use should be at least $100. I'm not sure..
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Old Posted Dec 12, 2013, 1:48 AM
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MayDay MayDay is offline
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I've sold quite a few photos over the years - a lot have been to smaller companies like you're describing.

If they don't want to provide attribution - first, you need to make sure you have documentation and signatures from the firm's contact to protect your rights as the original photographer. Second, because your work is being distributed without being acknowledged as yours, you are losing out on possible leads to subsequent photo work (unless the firm replies to inquiries and steers people your way). After all, if your name isn't listed on their materials as the photographer, people will probably assume that someone in the firm created/provided the photo so for me, I'd want to recoup those lost leads via the licensing fee.

With that, I think at minimum you should ask $100USD but depending on how unique or customized the image is for this firm's needs - I might charge substantially more. If you're willing to share the image here along with more details, I'd be more than happy to offer more advice. mSeattle, you're more than welcome to pick my brain and save the $ on the book
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Old Posted Dec 12, 2013, 3:55 AM
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MTLskyline MTLskyline is offline
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Thanks for your comments! I asked them to make me an offer, and I'll see what they come up with. Based on your comments, I know not to accept under $100 for a shot without attribution.

They told me it was still in a concept phase, so I guess it's not 100% certain they will use it.

MayDay, you make some good points regarding the attribution. I was thinking that the lack of attribution was worth extra, but was not sure how much more.

They told me that they wanted to use my photograph of Honest Ed's in Toronto, although didn't refer to the specific photo. (Actually these were the two first images I took with my current camera) Not particularly unique, they may very well have asked a bunch of users who took similar pictures in an attempt to get the lowest price.


Honest Ed's by Canuckistan, on Flickr


Honest Ed's by Canuckistan, on Flickr
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Old Posted Dec 12, 2013, 4:32 AM
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As someone who has sold a few pictures just by happenstance, I think it was a good move to ask them to make an offer. It keeps them interested in you, if they are shopping around, as you think might be happening. If they want a lower price from you, you benefit in making that amount of money, whereas the other people make $0.

From my experience, take whatever offer they make. A couple times I have suggested a little negotiating, and they said that they wanted to just get permission and get moving, and that they would look elsewhere pretty quickly. Don't let them have time to think about anyone else.
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Old Posted Dec 12, 2013, 8:40 PM
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I don't think a photographer should just accept any offer just because it's higher than $0. Have some respect for yourself, and for the medium.
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  #9  
Old Posted Dec 13, 2013, 12:48 AM
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MayDay MayDay is offline
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^Agreed - and I'd add that photographers and their clients should have respect for the time and effort it took to get that shot. Taking a cheap offer sends a message to the potential client - that you don't take your work seriously and you don't value your time and effort, so why should they value it? I'm sure I've been passed over because I insisted on a reasonable licensing fee but that's *their* loss, not mine - my clients who respect and value my work don't come to me for a race to the bottom pricewise.
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  #10  
Old Posted Dec 13, 2013, 1:32 AM
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diskojoe diskojoe is offline
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Really this photo they want to use is not what I would consider a serious piece of art. If they offer a few hundred bucks take it. I had one company ask to use a photo of mine but they wanted to use it as part of their branding. They offered a one time offer of $250. I countered saying that they should offer me about 10x that. They stopped emailing.

This was the shot. The company was called Sam Houston Capital Mgmt I think.


Sam Houston Statue by DiskoJoe, on Flickr
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