Some business related questions...seeking advice...

[smassey]

Well, my internship with my school is coming to a close, and they will be losing my services. But it is something that I still want to do, but its not financially feasible for me to do at this time being recently graduated.

And it appears that they still want me to shoot for them as well. I just got an email today from the SID asking me if I would consider shooting their spring media guides. How do I turn this into an opportunity to get paid, while still not putting them off?

Since I know they want more than just shooting the media guides, how do I turn this into an exclusive deal? As an intern, I was shooting all the home events that I was available to make for next years publications, providing prints for public display, and doing team pictures for end-of-the year trophies. The athletic director has also talked to me a few times about setting up an online store to sell images to the parents. I feel that they're going to want all this from me.

I feel that I have an excellent business opportunity here, but I don't know how to approach it. I don't want to put them off by demanding an outrageous sum to shoot for them, but I also don't want to undersell myself.

Which also leads me to another question. While shooting a hockey game the other night for the afforementioned school, I got an excellent shot that would look great for one of their competitors. I would like to solicit this image to them, and I have this watermarked, but I don't know how to proceed. When soliciting an image to a potential client (for pay), what are some good pointers?

Thanks in advance.

[IndyJeff]

Your probably looking at $125-$150 per event in pay scale. You shoot and turn it over to the SID for their uses.
The NCAA frowns on posting images for sale. If you do this get it in writing that the SID has asked for this service. Check with a local attorney before proceeding any further.

As far as sending the other image, don't put a watermark on it. If you must add anything make a small photo by smassey in one of the lower corners in a small font. Send them a low res file about 400 on the long side. This will be enough that they can see it but not to run off any great prints large enough to be worth while. Include a statement in the email that the images attached are copyrighted.

Don't take the line "Well we really don't have a budget for photography". They do.

[smassey]

IndyJeff,

Thanks for your advice. What do you think about a contract that will cover the entire semester or sports season? It will deal with media guide shoots, up to a certain number of prints, and action shots for one flat fee? The thing I worry about is that when I raised the cost of my prints, they initially balked at paying me for them. I don't want to end up in a situation where I do the job but then they balk at the price, even if they previously agreed to it.

I was skeptical at first, too, about selling images from NCAA events. But I dug up the bylaws for the NCAA level that my school is a part of, and it says that it is allowed with written permission of the school. Also, I've heard that its a good idea to give a percentage of the profit back as a donation. What are your thoughts on that?

So you say the best way to send them the image is to send them a small, low-resolution file with my name in the corner? What if they decide they don't care about the quality and just crop my name off of the image?