Collegiate Sports: Rates

[dsmPhotoCompany]

I've shot some sporting events for fun, mostly a professional portrait shooter. I'm now having preliminary discussions with a local (and profitable) sports message board site about shooting some of the games. I'd shoot the game, cull the images and give them the full-res files to do with what they please. They won't be selling them or printing posters, etc - will just be for use on the site with stories. I'll give them a video of about 30+ images from each game too, using Animoto.

I'd be interested in knowing what the going rate is for this type of thing. I've estimated my time at about 4-5 hours per football game (3-4 for basketball), and then another 3-4 hours of image culling and producing the files.

Will have a solid contract for this including the usual, will also note I will provide a professional replacement should I not be able to attend (not likely, but protects them). Will also note they can use the images for web but not for sale without written approval from me.

I have a 40D and a 70-200 2.8L IS, will need to rent a 2nd body and bigger lens, cost will get passed on to them.

I'm going to give them a few pricing options...

- Per event rate (one rate for FB, one for MBB)
- Bulk rate (2 FB, 5 MBB and 2 WBB)
- Bulk rate with advertising (I'll get banner ads on the site)

Any suggestions from those experienced in this are welcome!

[kayintveen]

its more a question about how do you think you are worth per hour.

what u can do is charge a X fee per hour. and extra costs for a photo.
or just 1 flat fee. i would go for a starter somewhere between 50 and 75 dollar per hour.

[DDCSD]

Can't help you on pricing, but why would you give them full-res files if all they are going to use them for is their website? I'd give them 800px files at the most. There really isn't any need for anything bigger for web-only usage. Giving them full-res files is just asking for them to violate the agreement.

[J.Napier]

+ 1 on the 2 above ^^^. I dont have alot of experinece with colligate either but I would think that you just need to figure what you are worth per hour. And I'm not sure of your abbriveations of FB,MBB and WBB are all about either. Cam you clarify?
DDCSD is right sending them full res files is just a temptation for them to use them other than for what they say they will be used for.
Let us know how this turns out for you.

[wyofizz]

Interesting that a business like this could afford to pay you for that number of hours without at least being able to sell the images at will.
They must have some great advertisers and business model.
How do they make their money?
I'd just charge them an hourly rate and give them the images.
Not having to worry about marketing and sales could be a good thing.
Hope it works out well for you.:)

[clarence]

I'm not sure of your abbriveations of FB,MBB and WBB are all about either. Cam you clarify?

My guesses:
Football (FB)
Men's Basketball (MBB)
Women's Basketball (WBB)

[J.Napier]

Thanks Clarence,

[bigjon0107]

I would recommend just using a flat rate per event. $X amount for X sport, so on and so forth. Makes it easier for them to know what it is gonna cost. They don't want to guess on if it is going to cost more if the game goes into overtime, etc...

[jbrevard]

most of the sports message board type sites charge a fee for premium members and they do a magazine so many times a year. Scout and Rivals are the biggest and both of these do a magazine and to see the pictures and certain recruiting info you have to pay.

[dsmPhotoCompany]

why would you give them full-res files if all they are going to use them for is their website? I'd give them 800px file at the most. there really isn't any need for anything bigger for web-only usage. Giving them full-res files is just asking for them to violate the agreement.

Good point and really is an error on my part here, I would only give them what they really need.

Interesting that a business like this could afford to pay you for that number of hours without at least being able to sell the images at will.
They must have some great advertisers and business model.
How do they make their money?


Advertising. They're selling at $500 per month for approx 280x70 size. I have not yet received from them the other sizes, persistence, if they can be dynamic, etc.

I won't be doing this in straight up trade, as the hours involved for me most likely far outweighs the potential benefit via advertising.

I would recommend just using a flat rate per event. $X amount for X sport, so on and so forth. Makes it easier for them to know what it is gonna cost. They don't want to guess on if it is going to cost more if the game goes into overtime, etc...

I've done other research since posting here and will be doing exactly that, which is what I wanted to do from the start - just didn't know exactly how I'd price it. Here is a brief overview of how I'm going to quote it...

FB - 3.5 hours for the game, 1hr for prep/pack-up (includes the negligible travel time) and .5hr for culling.
BB (men's and womens) - 2.5 for the game, 1hr for prep/pack-up (includes the negligible travel time) and .5hr for culling.

I applied my corporate hourly rate with this and showed them the total per football and basketball game. Then showed what a combined rate would be for 2 FB games, 5 MBB and 2 WBB - giving a discount on that.

Frankly, I'm assuming they'll pass. While I know what they are selling some ads for and the cost would be within budget, I doubt they'll pay what I'm asking. Which is ok...I'd like to do the job but won't do it at the expense of my business, especially when I can book full paying portrait clients in those time slots.

most of the sports message board type sites charge a fee for premium members and they do a magazine so many times a year. Scout and Rivals are the biggest and both of these do a magazine and to see the pictures and certain recruiting info you have to pay.

I'm very familiar with both networks, this site is not affiliated with a network and is free based to the members. The site runs by selling advertising and will be growing exponentially by adding other team sites.