Horse Show: Team Photographer offer?

[MadTony]

Hello all. I am new to the forum (obvious from the post count) and new to making money on photography in general. A few weeks ago, I shot a horse show, and offered prints for sale. I ended up selling around 25, and everyone seemed impressed with the quality. In fact, I was asked to be the "Team" photographer, where the team would pay me an appearance fee for shooting, but where they would sell the pictures. From what I got from the talks (And they were only informal and peliminary) the team would get a percent of the money from any prints sold. Additionally, the team would want electronic rights for some pictures for their website. Since I am new to this, I wanted to get some opinions on anything to look out for, or any terms that might be "fair."

Here's what I plan to do:
On the sales of prints, I would retain the original files and rights.

For photos for use on their website, I would resize off the original file, so that they could not re-sell prints off the files I provide.

I am thinking that for the fee that they would pay me, They would get electronic rights for use of x# of pics on their website, and $x for each print sold at the event. In exchange, they would advertise the print sales at the event and record orders while I focused on shooting. Any thoughts? Any input on what terms I should seek?

Thanks for the input!
Adam

[IndyJeff]

Tread lightly bub. Your into either a gold mine or a tragedy waiting to happen.

One way would be to make your apperance fee resonable enough they can recoup it from the sales. Be sure that it will cover your expenses and time for the day tho.
Secondly, if they are marketing and manning a booth selling your images you might think about a little higher percentage for them. They more work they do the more they should get. Be sure they don't price the prints so low that neither one of you make any money.

Another approach, and the one I would want, would be to tell them you want say $250 for the day, flat rate. They keep all the sales until they exceed that amount, after that everything is split 50/50 or 60/40 with them getting the lions share of the profit. If they market it right, considering you sold 25 before, you both should make money. By setting them a goal to begin making money, you can assure they will sell harder and price the images a bit higher to reach their dollar target.
Also I would suggest nothing under a 5x7. Don't forget about the printing costs and S & H. Work it so that at the end of the day, all sales are added up, print costs and S & H are deducted, they get the first $250 from sales and then you begin splitting. You get your $250 upfront, no matter how much sales are, doesn't matter to you, you've got your days wages.
Example: Pricing $9 - 5x7, $17 - 8x10, $29 - 11x14
Total Sales.....42- 5x7's........$378
26- 8x10's......$442
10- 11x14's....$290
Total....................$1110.00
Print Costs..............$160.00
Photographer Fee.....$250.00
Profit margin............$700.00
These figures would give you $530 for the day and them $420 at the 60/40 split. If you were to go say 75/25 your take would be $425 theirs $525.

You get the idea, just work with the figures. Of course a lot will depend on how many participants are there. If you have 30 participants chances are you won't get the sales numbers as exampled above.


Good luck.....sounds promising.

[Jon, The Elder]

MADTONY- IndyJeff speaks from experience. I don't always subscribe to his percentages but, his deeper meanings are tried and true.
I don't discount for the simple fact that my work stands on it's own. I've been shooting for 40+ years and I'm sure that plays a part in my philosophy.

If someone claims I am too expensive. I answer that I'm not too expensive- they just can't afford me, and thats that. Thank them for their consideration and move on.

I also shoot horse shows. Both rated and non-rated competitions. All age groups. Free advice: Get to the board members show them your potfolio, give them your terms. Once the governing body backs you, things get a lot smoother. Don't forget a nice "complementary" shot now and then.

[Wendy Lilygreen]

Hi from the UK
I also am an equestrian event photographer and all I can do is tell you how I do it here!
I get myself nominated as show/event photographer by searching for horse show dates and ringing to see if they want a photographer, if they do I volunteer my services. Some want payment some ofer to pay me! I have a caravan which I take to the shows, a generator and a PC and HPphotosmart 7550 within the computer. Depending on how many rings there are I take between 3/4 other photographers with me - it helps if they know horses - and I have one in the caravan or two if it's a big show.
We take loads of photos, produce contact sheets on the day, they then order and pay for the prints which I print off and send out in a few days from the Epson 4000 - which is currently playing up. I am considering getting a dye-sub printer which would reduce my workload at home but increase it on the day for who ever is in the caravan.
The days photos are also uploaded onto my website, an order form can be printed off and sent to me with cash www.goytrephotographic.co.uk
I'm still getting orders from last August off the web.
The people who help get paid depending on how good a day we have, they know the pay may be crap!
It's tiring but rewarding, personally I'd keep anyone trying to take a cut of your money out if I could. The fewer people that know what you take and what your profits are the better.

Hope this helps.

Wendy