need help, got a potential buyer for a pic.

[zacker]

Someone contacted me through another Photo Site I visit and asked if they could buy a copy of a photo I have. Im not sure as to what they plan on doing with it or if its just to frame and hang in their home, How should I "Handle" this?
should I outright ask them the purpose? and then should I charge more for it if it will be used on a website or for advertising? and less if its just to hang on a wall?. Also, what should I charge? Im kinda hesitant to sell the "file" and would much rather sell a "Printed" version.. but then again...... What to do? Any advice will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
-zacker-

[thomascanty]

Definitely ask them what they want it for. Pricing varies widely depending on use. If it's for advertising, you should be also asking what type of media, what size (if it's a magazing ad - quarter page, half page, etc.), target audience size. If they want it for a book, is it a hardback or paperback? What's the press run? Again, what size will it be printed at? There are a lot of factors to consider for this.

I use a commercial program that I punch all this criteria into to determine pricing, but I can't remember the name of it off-hand. It's on my home computer and I'm at work right now. I've mentioned it here before, though.

[zacker]

Thanks! Im also wondering, if its just for this persons own personal use, should i stipulate that my name needs to appear on the photo at all times? also, how do you set a price on a print for say, hanging on a wall? i know i will need to factor in printing costs.. but what a good rule of thumb type thing to figure this out. I think this guy is just looking to frame and hang but untill he e-mails me back with his intentions, i will assume he's just interested in getting a copy for personal use.
8x10 printed and mailed would be??? or 12x14?? this is where im stuck.
thanks again!
-zacker-

[zacker]

oh yeah, is there a website to down load some sort of contract or form he needs to sign if the shot will be used commercially?
thanks again!
-zacker-

[thomascanty]

Personal use varies too. If he just wants to use it as a wallpaper on his computer I'd charge a nominal fee or maybe just give it to him free (but with my copyright notice on it). For a print, that's up to you. You can set your own pricing levels, depending on print size and frame quality. For an unframed print, I'd have to think about it. I've never sold unframed pictures. Mine have always gone out framed and matted, and I charge hundreds.

As for a site with contract forms, I don't know. I haven't looked. Last year I licensed several pictures to publishers to use in books. One publisher sent me a simple license agreement form. For the others I just typed up a simple agreement stipulation text blurb as part of the invoice.

[zacker]

Hmmm I see, I e-mailed him and am waiting for his reply, told him i will need to know what the shots use would be.. private or commercial and what size. and i also told him if he wants a copy just for his own personal use, like as wall paper, id send him a copy, low rez and my name must not be removed from it.
we'll see what he says.Thanks Thomascanty
Anyone else care to part with some wisdome?
-zacker-

[The22oz]

Definitely ask them what they want it for. Pricing varies widely depending on use. If it's for advertising, you should be also asking what type of media, what size (if it's a magazing ad - quarter page, half page, etc.), target audience size. If they want it for a book, is it a hardback or paperback? What's the press run? Again, what size will it be printed at? There are a lot of factors to consider for this.

I use a commercial program that I punch all this criteria into to determine pricing, but I can't remember the name of it off-hand. It's on my home computer and I'm at work right now. I've mentioned it here before, though.

I would love the name of the software you use of determining price. If you get a chance can you post it here sooner or later? Thanks !

[thomascanty]

I would love the name of the software you use of determining price. If you get a chance can you post it here sooner or later? Thanks !

Now that I'm home I can look it up easily. It's FotoQuote Pro (http://www.fotoquote.com/). I gotta warn you though, it isn't free (or very cheap for that matter). There's also this web site that provides a similar, though much more limited service: http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm

Remember, the prices these return are suggestions, not hard and fast rules. These are just tools to help you decide what you should charge. You need to make the final decision yourself, and be prepared to haggle if necessary.

[The22oz]

Now that I'm home I can look it up easily. It's FotoQuote Pro (http://www.fotoquote.com/). I gotta warn you though, it isn't free (or very cheap for that matter). There's also this web site that provides a similar, though much more limited service: http://photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm

Remember, the prices these return are suggestions, not hard and fast rules. These are just tools to help you decide what you should charge. You need to make the final decision yourself, and be prepared to haggle if necessary.

Thanks alot ! I'm gonna check into it tonight. What version are you using?

[thomascanty]

What version are you using?

I'm not sure. I can't see any way to tell from inside the software. The help menu doesn't have an "About..." option. I got it about four or five months ago. When I looked up their web site for my last post I noticed that it said version 5.0 was recently released. How recently? I'm going to have to figure out if that's what I have or if I need to upgrade... (looks around for that receipt)