What to ask and what to charge?
Discussion
I've had a few pics on the BBC, and sometimes people google my name and contact me through my website to buy a copy for personal printing.
But after I got one on last week, a PR company contacted the BBC requesting to buy the picture. The BBC passed their details on to me.
So - What do I do?
1) Ask them what they're planning on using it for? Just a print for the wall/advertising/to resell/etc?
2) Just give them a list of prices for different uses? If so - what's a good way to work out pricing?
3) Other??
But after I got one on last week, a PR company contacted the BBC requesting to buy the picture. The BBC passed their details on to me.
So - What do I do?
1) Ask them what they're planning on using it for? Just a print for the wall/advertising/to resell/etc?
2) Just give them a list of prices for different uses? If so - what's a good way to work out pricing?
3) Other??
I find this very difficult.
I'd certainly find out what it's for - how big, how many copies. That's what I'd base your price on. How much you charge is entirely up to you. There are NUJ suggested prices somewhere on the net, but I generally ignore these and charge what I think is appropriate for the project.
I'd certainly find out what it's for - how big, how many copies. That's what I'd base your price on. How much you charge is entirely up to you. There are NUJ suggested prices somewhere on the net, but I generally ignore these and charge what I think is appropriate for the project.
rasputin said:
1) Ask them what they're planning on using it for? Just a print for the wall/advertising/to resell/etc?
Yep. And licence it based upon what you want it for and let the pricing scheme work for you.If you have ever been to Hollywood, there is a very distinctive house just north of the 'Strip' in West Hollywood with a big semi-circular viewing room overlooking the whole of LA. Not only that, it is on the top of a hill, all by itself.
That was bought because the guy who wrote the 'Jeopardy' US quiz show theme wanted a small cut per play and not a lump sum...
I can't offer any direct help but this link might:
http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/index.php...
http://www.londonfreelance.org/feesguide/index.php...
Sounds similar to a situation I had recently. I was contacted by an organisation requesting use of one of my photos which I took while using one of their products. Was told that they wished to use it on their website, and agreed a price - 100% of which was to be paid to charity.
Got a message a few days later: "we now wish to use the photo for a print campaign (posters and leaflets) as well as on the website". Believing the original amount to have been too low to cover this I requested more information as to the print run etc - again, indicating all money going to charity.
3 weeks later: "we've decided not to use your photo, but are instead using a drawing".
So, be forewarned - the 'value' many attach to photography isn't what you may expect.
The best of luck!
Got a message a few days later: "we now wish to use the photo for a print campaign (posters and leaflets) as well as on the website". Believing the original amount to have been too low to cover this I requested more information as to the print run etc - again, indicating all money going to charity.
3 weeks later: "we've decided not to use your photo, but are instead using a drawing".
So, be forewarned - the 'value' many attach to photography isn't what you may expect.
The best of luck!
Indeed. Slightly O/T, but that's why I love my 'day' job so much... I'm sitting here whilst the BBC are using my music wall to wall on a prog (Trust Politics), and ALL the negotiations about price are set in stone. I have no say in the matter. Bliss. The worst bit about photography for me is trying to set prices.
Edited by GetCarter on Monday 22 March 19:19
I'm having this problem at the minute too. I recentley did a shoot of a work coleagues baby and was stumped for what to charge. In the end we agreed he'd pay for my 50mm, so around £90.
Now off the back of this and a flyer i've got i've got another 3 sessions in the pipeline. Now what the hell do I charge, all shoots will be out at their houses or out on location, what do you charge ?
Now off the back of this and a flyer i've got i've got another 3 sessions in the pipeline. Now what the hell do I charge, all shoots will be out at their houses or out on location, what do you charge ?
Edited by AndyKH on Monday 22 March 20:15
bonsai said:
Andy M said:
3 weeks later: "we've decided not to use your photo, but are instead using a drawing".
So, be forewarned - the 'value' many attach to photography isn't what you may expect.
So, be forewarned - the 'value' many attach to photography isn't what you may expect.
FWIW I've not made a single penny out of my photography, but have managed to receive donations to charity to a fairly sizeable amount for the use of my photos. Given the monies were going direct to charity, I've always been surprised at how penny pinching people can be, even when the amounts discussed are pretty low.
Andy M said:
FWIW I've not made a single penny out of my photography, but have managed to receive donations to charity to a fairly sizeable amount for the use of my photos. Given the monies were going direct to charity, I've always been surprised at how penny pinching people can be, even when the amounts discussed are pretty low.
But it still costs the company £xx whether it goes to charity or not.It also depends massively on who the client is. £50 to a corporate is hardly worth the paperwork, but Meg's Fish Bar will say 'Christ, HOW MUCH?'
GetCarter said:
It's a PRS and MCPS ratecard.
Does that not raise the spectre of some Happy Larry with a keyboard and a dayjob to pile in and offer to do it for half the price?Edited by Simpo Two on Monday 22 March 20:19
Had a similar problem many (many) years ago when I first got interested in photography. After a while when I regarded myself as resonably competent, and had accrued some reasonable equipment, I was asked to "do" a couple of weddings for work colleagues, which I undertook just based on enough money to cover my costs. The results must have been satisfactory because on the back of these I had another couple of enquiries for weddings. I had to explain that the original jobs were done as a favour for friends, and that if I was going to go forward with this type of work I would have to start charging the going rate (of which I hadn't got a clue at the time)
It soon turned people towards "full time" professionals.
Didn't really bother me at the time as my main interests in photography lay in other directions but taught me a lesson on peoples view of paying either to a keen amateur or fully fledged "pro"
It soon turned people towards "full time" professionals.
Didn't really bother me at the time as my main interests in photography lay in other directions but taught me a lesson on peoples view of paying either to a keen amateur or fully fledged "pro"
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