Public Thanks to BlackShadow!

[DwightMcCann]

There was a discussion about pricing of images for print in here a couple of months ago. I didn't have much to offer because 99% of my business is for my two largest ongoing clients and there is an agreed rate. But from time to time I am asked about licensing an image so I joined in. In the course of the discussion Richard made a comment indicating he had a rate structure for print work. After a short discussion with him I decided that I should have such a thing, or appear to have such a thing, and did a little research. Prior to this I usually provided courtesy images for editorial use and asked very little [essentially the cost of an hour of my time to fetch/ship] for other uses because I was never prepared.

About a month ago I was contacted by a representative of Wolf Trap, an outdoor venue run by the National Park Service, about licensing an image of Steve Miller. Only because of my discussion with Richard did I have a number on my finger tips: $325 for a one time use in a brochure of approximately 10,000 impressions. I would have taken less as I support what the NPS does but since I had a number and no hemming or hawing that's what I asked. This morning I got confirmation that my offer was accepted.

So, I have emailed the images. While I would generally recommend that you get money before providing product I think the NPS is pretty safe! :-)

I believe that I owe Richard a huge debt of gratitude for getting me off my butt and being prepared for even more success than I already enjoy.

[Curtis N]

Apparently I missed a thread.
Got a link?

[DwightMcCann]

Apparently I missed a thread.
Got a link?
No. The OT may not even have been pricing. But I was seriously impressed by what Richard had to say, which amounted to, "Have a researched price structure in your pocket even if you never use it." plus a suggestion about price ranges.

BTW, just got an acknowledgment that they have received the image and are cutting my check.

[skifurthur]

Stuff like this is what makes this forum a daily read for me. Sure, seeing the photos is great, but learning technique and business tips from everyone is money in the bank.

[gmen]

Dwight...

This is excellent news and good on you for licencing the pic for a nice price. BlackShadow's advice was excellent.

PhotoShelter is also excellent for this as you can use the FotoQuote module for rights managed sales - it can be your 'price structure in your pocket'. As long as you get online you can give a price direct from your archive. Equally you can point clients to an image gallery and (with a free log-in) they can check prices for themselves and even enter into a simple e-mail negotation with you. I even carry around a few price points in my camera bag as a rough guide when I'm out in the middle of a field with no phone signal!

I get a steady stream of these enquiries and it makes life so much easier. It provides a level playing field for the bigger clients. There's no harm in having a 'fall back' position for the very small businesses and individuals that have tiny print runs or very basic usage requirements. In fact, FotoQuote (via PS) can handle some of that as well as you even quote a 'Desktop Publishing' licence for a print run of under 500 :lol:

You can also adapt your pricing to a fixed percentage of the FotoQuote price to mirror the existing, known price points in your local market. Even better, you can apply a different (higher) pricing profile to any images that you think might be very sought after - i.e. premium pricing.

Nice one Dwight.

---- Gavin

[DwightMcCann]

Thanks, Gavin ... I am still with PhotoShelter but don't use it currently as I, like you, are a FWI shooter and haven't gotten around to uploading my concert images ... just too busy. My plan is to put them on PhotoShelter for licensing and Printroom for print sales ... I always have lots of plans ... but while I have accounts at both I just haven't gotten to it, sigh.

Small update, after promising to cut the check since I emailed the images immediately the Art Director came back to say, "Um, actually I need an invoice." I emailed it this morning.

[gmen]

Thanks, Gavin ... I am still with PhotoShelter but don't use it currently as I, like you, are a FWI shooter and haven't gotten around to uploading my concert images ... just too busy. My plan is to put them on PhotoShelter for licensing and Printroom for print sales ... I always have lots of plans ... but while I have accounts at both I just haven't gotten to it, sigh.Dwight...

I just let PS handle all the sales for me. It has optimised my productivity and efficency... and, in turn, has increased turnover significantly.

In simple terms... I shoot an event. I edit, caption and keyword the images. Upload to PS, apply a pricing profile to the archive folder as appropriate, copy images to a gallery and add a link to the relevant website page(s) using the PS custom URL.

For regular trusted clients that I invoice monthly by the job or by the download, I'll allow them access to a password protected gallery to download their high-res images (or sometimes send an invite).

Other one-off clients can contact me about images via the e-mail link and/or get a rights managed price simply by setting up a free account. Once they indicate they want to purchase an image, I receive an e-mail to that effect and I can release the image there and then, or enter into a simple negotiation. I need to review all rights managed sales as some end-users need to have specific licencing/permissions in place to use certain images. If this wasn't the case, it'd be possible allow direct sales for every picture.

Once the new clients become regular, trusted clients they move over to the high-res downloads from a gallery (or invites).

I offer print sales for some images. These are done via self-fulfillment as I like to see the prints before I send them out (and PS doesn't have a UK print partner yet). Also, I optimise images for printing slightly differently to images for editorial (newspaper/magazine) use.

When a print order is taken, PS sends an e-mailing detailing the image references, sizes and finishes (and takes payment). I use my regular print supplier to fulfill the order, generate the paperwork from the PS online invoice and pop the package in the post. I also set a minimum order amount to ensure all sales are suitably profitable.

I should add that all your sales (outstanding or completed) are available online via your PS account pages. Also, all downloads and FTP transfers are logged by client/IP address.

That's the basics. It works well. Keeps all the eggs in one neat and tidy basket and saves duplicating work.

It also means that your archive is searchable... and that is the real driving force behind getting it to work for you. I'm very close to moving to the multi-user account as that will have tangible benefits for me now - just waiting on some feedback from the PS gurus about how to make the transition.

Enough waffling from me! EDIT: Also, apologies for thread hi-jacking... it's a rare quiet day :lol:

---- Gavin