Digilabs & HP want to use my calendar as sample

[Photosbysteve]

I created a 2007 calendar for an AKC dog club using Digilabs calendar software. Digilabs has used it as a sample to promote their calendar building software as well as their print quality. Today I got an email from them...
"HP has approached us and is interested in using this sample at some of their upcoming shows. They currently license the DigiLabs software out to printers who purchase their HP printers. I wanted to check if you would be okay with this?"

My contact info is on the calendar as well as a copyright symbol on each photo. My question is this: Are there any other things that I should do, or ask of them before I give an okay?

Thanks,

Steve
http://photosbysteve.smugmug.com (http://photosbysteve.smugmug.com)

[strmrdr]

$5000.00 sounds about right....

[Jayson Prentice]

Or maybe say sure, but free prints and calendars for life? ;)

This sounds like the calendar is going to be used for some pretty good advertising of some sort, so I don't think just saying its' okay is the best option here. I'm sure some of the more experienced photogs can come in here and say what you should expect to get for something like this.

[jakes]

can we see some of the pics? just out of curiosity

[Photosbysteve]

$5000.00 sounds about right....


Sounds good to me! :)

[Photosbysteve]

can we see some of the pics? just out of curiosity

I will post some tomorrow evening as it was a long day at work and all. I'd be interested in what other opinions, critiques, etc. are out there. Thanks for taking an interest.

Steve

[FlyingPhotog]

+1 for not selling yourself short or cheap. I don't remember ever reading that opportunity doesn't have to bring a checkbook when it comes knocking!

[Photosbysteve]

Here are Jan. and Feb. This breed is called the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and they come in 4 colors: Tri-color (black and white), Ruby (red), Blenhiem (red and white) and the Black and Tan (black and red).

[strmrdr]

sweet pics

What did they say to the $5k?

[tim]

Definitely don't give your work away, i'd try for $5K. Work out how much a professional would charge to shoot a calendar and license the images, try not to go over that. Pretty hard to estimate though.

[Rubi Jane]

It depends on how HP intend to use the calendar; display a few copies to demonstrate the outcome of their software or hand out 100s of copies to booth visitors at the show? I think this has more to do with their software capability than the beautiful images you shot, although presenting a calendar with beautiful images is a plus for them. My concern is if you ask for $5000 they might think they can buy stock images and produce their own calendar for far less.

Beyond what monies they end up paying you try to work in a couple of ways for them to spotlight you & your work. Ask if they'll display your business cards and put up a biography on your work, something like a laminated 11x14 with a couple of different images, a write-up and contact info. You might get some enquiries.

Good luck

[strmrdr]

It depends on how HP intend to use the calendar; display a few copies to demonstrate the outcome of their software or hand out 100s of copies to booth visitors at the show? I think this has more to do with their software capability than the beautiful images you shot, although presenting a calendar with beautiful images is a plus for them. My concern is if you ask for $5000 they might think they can buy stock images and produce their own calendar for far less.

Beyond what monies they end up paying you try to work in a couple of ways for them to spotlight you & your work. Ask if they'll display your business cards and put up a biography on your work, something like a laminated 11x14 with a couple of different images, a write-up and contact info. You might get some enquiries.

Good luck

spotlight and $5 will get ya a coffee and a sunburn...
HP has a history of riping off unknowing photogs IP for nothing.
They are a big corp they can afford too buy.
They want to use the op's photos they should pay.

[Sledhed]

Good luck, but I don't think you'll get $5000. They'll just move on to the next person.

[Rubi Jane]

spotlight and $5 will get ya a coffee and a sunburn...
HP has a history of riping off unknowing photogs IP for nothing.
They are a big corp they can afford too buy.
They want to use the op's photos they should pay.
Perhaps that's the case, but document the request and the OPs offer back and if HP doesn't accept and uses regardless, that's a different matter. You read more into my post than I wrote. I didn't say they should get the use for free, I merely stated the amount might be based on how much HP values the use of the calendar/images. Not knowing the circumstances it's hard for anyone to put a value to what they might pay.

On another note, just because a corporation is "big" and can afford it doesn't mean they see if that way. I worked for a leading global packaged goods manufacturer and as a corporation they were responsible to a number of stakeholders; consumers, employees, suppliers, customers & their shareholders. Satisfying all these stakeholders is what typically makes a corporation successful, and being financial responsibility is one aspect public companies take seriously. To think HP will drop $5Gs on the rights to use a calendar in a few trade shows might be wishful thinking, then again it might not. It all depends on the use and how much they (HP) value the calendar to help "sell" HP products/services, hence the suggestions for ways to gain incremental value to the OP in addition to an amount of money.

[New Hobby]

To think HP will drop $5Gs on the rights to use a calendar in a few trade shows might be wishful thinking, then again it might not. It all depends on the use and how much they (HP) value the calendar to help "sell" HP products/services, hence the suggestions for ways to gain incremental value to the OP in addition to an amount of money.


Trade shows are very expensive for companies to attend. The cost of just the back drop can easily be a few $1000. Keep in mind they are thinking your work will show off their company is a very good light. That is value and as such should be properly compensated.

I'm guessing that a company the size of HP spends $50-100K per show taking in to account give-a-ways, people time, equipment, shipping, etc.

[Photosbysteve]

Thanks for all the feedback. I'm learning a lot...but I think I'll get back in touch with DigiLabs to see if I can learn more about how they (DigiLabs as well as HP) plan to use my calendar...a few samples for people to look at, or something they plan to distribute as a "give away" item...I'd also like to know whether it would be more local, or nationally as well. I think I need to "feel them out" a little more. Any other questions I should ask?

Another thought...What if Digilabs wants to photograph parts of my calendar to use in their website or other materials? Kind of like they have done here... http://www.digilabs.net/calendars.shtml

[strmrdr]

personally I don't care what someone does with my images for personal use but if they make money from them either directly or indirectly then they owe me a cut of that money.
So I would want too be paid.