Magazine is interested in my Photos

[chrisvl]

I may have a opportunity to shoot an event. The event organizer wants photos for their website and magazine and also 15% of sales if I sell any photos. They're not paying me to shoot the event as I'm doing it out of interest. I've been self-employed for over 12 years so of course I said no and that I would get back to them.

My question is what should I go back to them with? This is a one day event with another one coming later. There is potential for sales.
I have issues with % of my sales. I have issues with giving photos that they can print over and over again.
This is new territory for me so help.

[PhotosGuy]

I would get back to them. Since you're "self-employed for over 12 years...", How about this?
I get paid $X to shoot an event. You can have 15% of my sales after my sales reach the $X figure. The cost of your limited rights come out of your 15%. I have issues with giving photos that they can print over and over again. Offer 2 year limited rights?

[S.Horton]

Your time is the most valuable thing you have.

Charge for it.

So, if you're silent and they come back, I'd recommend providing a quote for time and materials, work-for-hire, separate lines for time to set up, shoot, x min per photo post-processing, $50 for every CD you burn, CD is the final product.

[MJPhotos24]

I may have a opportunity to shoot an event. The event organizer wants photos for their website and magazine and also 15% of sales if I sell any photos. They're not paying me to shoot the event as I'm doing it out of interest. I've been self-employed for over 12 years so of course I said no and that I would get back to them.

My question is what should I go back to them with? This is a one day event with another one coming later. There is potential for sales.
I have issues with % of my sales. I have issues with giving photos that they can print over and over again.
This is new territory for me so help.

Chris - I would get back to them with you would like to do it but you need to be paid a day fee for them to use the images internaly ONLY. You have them sign a contract for use in the magaznie and website saying they must credit every photo, cannot distribute to 3rd parties such as parents, athletes, other news outlets, cannot make prints for 3rd parties, basically only for internal use - nothing personal or for anyone else. How much is up to you and what's reasonable.

The second part, giving up 15% is at the high end of what I've seen - usually it's 10-15% when companies ask for a percentage of sales. I've never done that but am waiting for the day I hear someone ask for it. For that you just tell them they will make the money back that they paid you and more if they help promote the photos as well on the website and in print! Then they are invested in your print sales too because they want to make some $$ too.

My guess is the event organizer isn't working for free so why should you?

[primoz]

I don't know for USA and Canada, but here in Europe, photographers don't pay for rights. TV does, but photographers don't. So this means, events doesn't get our percentage of sales.
On the other side, agencies normally take around 50%, but they do sell your photos, so they actually do all marketing selling. If organizer in your case would be marketing and selling your photos, 15% is perfectly fine. But if you would do all this on your own, I don't think I would give him anything.

[chrisvl]

Guys, Thank you. Great advice and in line with what I was thinking.
I will get full promotion in all communication and their website and magazine.

[chrisvl]

Guys, thanks for all the great advice. You've confirmed what I was thinking.