Howdy everyone. I'm having 12K calendars printed for a bank & they want to use some of my scenery photos. I've never sold my photos before. Does anyone have any clue how much I can get for them? It'd probably be 12 photos.
Thanks always, Felix.
Posted by TJ Duvall (Member # 3133) on :
Are you selling just prints, images on CD, or the rights to use the photos anytime anywhere they want. If it is the first or second make sure they know it is a onetime usage fee they are paying. If it is the rights to the photos then I would check some of the stock photo catalog websites to see what they are going for. It has been a couple of years since I was involved in selling work so I'm not quite sure what they are going for. Hope this helps.
Posted by Felix Marcano (Member # 1833) on :
Thanks for the quick response.
I'm just allowing them to use the photos for the calendar (1 year).
Posted by TJ Duvall (Member # 3133) on :
Just make sure to include a copywright symbol and your name with the photos. Or write your contract pertaining to usage of the photos so it is clear to the user.
Posted by Curt Stenz (Member # 82) on :
Felix, I just purchased a small (5mb) color digital stock photo of a pizza from a food stock photo house. The reproduction rights are for local use only... cost was $95.00. I had to sign an affidafit to promice to destroy the file after used.
Seems to me that if you could get a similar amount per image, you would do good. You may get some referral work out of this too.
I am sure that this bank is well aware of what these things cost. Don't let them take advantage of you.
Curt Stenz
Posted by Bob Stephens (Member # 858) on :
A good friend of mine who is a photographer just sold (1) of his skydiving images for one time use for $1,200.00 through a stock photo agency he just began using if that helps you any.
Posted by Marty Engel (Member # 3483) on :
Hi Felix,
Since this post is a couple of days old, you probably already have your answer. However, I will offer my two cents anyway...
First, it is difficult to judge the value of your photographs without seeing them first. That being said, here are a few general thoughts on the pricing of photography:
First, what would it take for some other guy with a camera to reproduce or create similar images? If you have unique, professional quality images with involved or elaborate set-ups, there would tend to be a greater value associated with your images. In the case of Bob and his skydiving friend... $1200 bucks is a deal, since skydiving photographers are not that easy to find. And if you wanted to do it yourself, you would end up spending that much on lessons and equipment alone.
Also, consider the common theme in many of these posts: STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY. In many ways, the $40 stock photography CD with 1000 royalty free images has killed a major portion of the photography industry. These quicky-clickie images are very similar to the quicky-sticky sign shops that many on this board rant about. Since, many of these CD's are chucked full of landscape images, you may be lucky to receive $100 for the whole lot. But I digress…
Second, you have to consider the end use of the images. If they are being used for PR in a freebie calendar, they would not be as valuable as an image used on the cover of a national magazine.
And lastly, what is more important to you: the printing or the photography? In no way would I give the images away, but unless you are trying to move into the photography world, I would not make it the main focus of your project. Rather, you may find it a nice way to upsell this and other future projects.
Hope this helps.
Good luck,
Marty
Posted by Checkers (Member # 63) on :
Hiya Felix, What are they worth to you and how much would it cost for you to reproduce that shot? There's no straight answer, but, if they buy your copyright, easily charge a few thousand dollars. If you want to license them for one time use, the price can be much lower, say about $100 per image. To get a better handle on this, check out some of the stock photo sites. There's a whole lot of legal & pricing info on their web pages. Off the top of my head, go to comstock.com. We routinely pay $200-500 for large file size digital images.
Havin' fun, Checkers
Posted by David Harding (Member # 108) on :
A few years ago, I sold two of my vacation photos from Big Bend National Park to the Houston Chronicle for use in their Sunday magazine. I received $75.00 for both.
I had hiked the rim of Mariscal Canyon with a school teacher from West Texas and had taken some shots of him overlooking the canyon. He later wrote an article about the hike and submitted his copies of the prints I sent. The newspaper contacted me and paid me the above amount for the rights to run the photos.
Probably the best benefit was when I was being teased by one of my brothers in law about taking so many pictures there on another trip. Another brother in law told him: "He gets paid for those now. He's a professional!"
Posted by Felix Marcano (Member # 1833) on :
Thanks guys. I think it couldn't get any clearer than that!!!
Thanks again!
Posted by Mark Rogan (Member # 3678) on :
Banks are full of money...LITERALLY. They can afford to pay you $500 per shot. Tell them for $6K they can have "buy-out" rights. Meaning they can use the photos from now to eternity whenever, however and wherever they'd like. If they think you're gouging them, get a quote for the same type shots from www.theimagebank.com or www.tonystone.com. Your 6K will then seem like a bargain!
Posted by Mike Pipes (Member # 1573) on :
Is the bank reselling *real* calendars or just making little promotional give-aways?
I think you could easily get $200 (or more) per image for one time usage rights.
If they're reselling the calendars I'd charge them more. If they're going to pull in $120,000 selling calendars at $10 a piece, they can afford anoter $12,000 for photos cause printing costs will only be $10,000.
Posted by Felix Marcano (Member # 1833) on :
