How do I respond?

[JubeJube]

As this is a first for me, how would you guys respond to this email?

"Just wondering if you would be interested in submitted some photo\'s for the new Phone book Directory for (*County of 110,000* or *(city of 120,000*) or for Four Counties (horse picture) we are looking for front cover photo\'s as well as filler pictures to put into the community page section of the local phone directories coming out this summer. If you are interested at all please email me back with your questions/comments.

Thank you,

Name*
Southwestern Ontario Sales Support"

*places have been changed to population and name has been removed!

I'm not sure what they mean by four counties.. there is an area where the four counties meet though?

I'm thinking they are looking at my horse pictures they seen on my web site.

Also I'm thinking they are just looking for 'free' pictures!
Any ideas?

[bildeb0rg]

Gotta be worth two full pages of advertising space for your business.
If they refuse that, there's no way they'll pay you, so I would probably walk away.

[memento]

say, sure.. if you PAY ME.
if they ask for samples, upload very small pictures.
with a very BIG watermark.


however, it may be free advertising,, for you.
if you get a picture published, you could always refer future 'client's' to your 'published' photo's.

if you answer you'll probably get a follow up e-mail saying, we'd have to pay you in the form of a cashiers check or a money order. or we'll send you a check for ten million dollars!!! all you have to do is send us five hundred dollars to cover shipping and handling...............

[MJPhotos24]

Free advertising is wishful thinking - I had my image on the front of the phone book and not one person noticed the big bolded credit inside that was about 1/16th the page. Also wasn't paid a dime so it was worthless as not one person associated the image and my name, when I told a couple people they thought it was the local papers. Fact is noone reads or cares to read the photo credits! MAYBE if you can get an actual ad that usually you'd have to pay for that will benefit you it could be worth it, but the whole "I was published and given credit" isn't worth it. I say benefit you because some just won't reach there client base in the phone book and money is better spent other places advertising...sports photography just don't think it would do well around here, maybe other spots but every time they send me something to put an ad in I throw it out.

Respond in a professional manner saying you'd be happy to have them use your image and you'd like to know the usual compensation for that type of usage, also what other usage, if any, are they looking for? Professional response will get the best results. You'll either get the "we dont pay", the "what do you usually charge", or the "we pay X-amount for....", or no response at all once they see you're not free. I got sick of the "free photo" question so it's now bold on my site - NO UNPAID USE! The freebie questions have stopped pretty much dead in there tracks.

BTW: The team I shoot for gave them the image without my knowledge as they thought they had the right to do that when in fact they do not.

[swampler]

Originally Posted by MJPhotos24

BTW: The team I shoot for gave them the image without my knowledge as they thought they had the right to do that when in fact they do not.

If they used your image without your permission, i.e. given to them by someone else, you should send them an invoice for its use. And don't let it drop if they refuse to pay.

[poloman]

I would call or respond via email and ask for a large ad in exchange. Not credit....an ad. They should put that in writing. It will keep them honest.

[sfaust]

I agree with the previous posts. A credit line is worth about a buck. And thats only so you can say someone liked your images enough to use them for nothing

I would ask what compensation is offered, or whether they would consider a barter for an ad in the directory. Keep in mind a phone directory cover isn't worth much these days, and the directory space is probably worth more in the end. But its worth a try.

[AndreaBFS]

What is a good chunk of the page ad in the phone book under Photographers worth? I'd guess it varies based on market. When I do resort to the phone book for local services, I always choose the ones with large ads -- usually because they are able to give me more information about their services before I call. It might be worth submitting a photo in exchange for a large ad in the actual yellow page section.

[amfoto1]

You can't assume anything until you talk to them and get more info.

When you ask them what their budget is for the photo, they'll tell you whether they are trying to trade out for it or not right away. They may be willing and ready to pay for your images... In which case, let the negotiations begin!

Trade outs can be a good deal for everyone involved, so don't rule that out. This might be what they intended all along, or it might be an option that you can leverage into even more value for your image than you might get for it otherwise.

[LBaldwin]

I agree with MJPhotos24 with one exception. I would set the prices - usage - and the write the contract. Somethng like that should garner at least $750.00 per image -cover and $350 per inside shot, one time north american serial rights. No other usage granted.

I am in a position where I rarely ask the (potential) client about their budget. Most companies don't set photo "budgets' anyway. They decide on a per shoot basis if they can afford your service. In other words if you are still asking potential clients about the planned "budget" you are allowing them to set what you get paid. Not many other service industries do this.

I set my fees if they like it we are skippy - if not I find out how far we are apart and try my best to bring them around to my price - service level, product etc. If we are too far apart I walk away. Oddly enough I often get recalled after they choose the lowest bidder...

Edit: When the schmuck from the yellow book asks about free images - I would simply ask when was the last time they gave away a free 1/4 page color ad... if they wanted to do a trade I might consider but get it in writing.

[sfaust]

Originally Posted by LBaldwin

I agree with MJPhotos24 with one exception. I would set the prices - usage - and the write the contract. Somethng like that should garner at least $750.00 per image -cover and $350 per inside shot, one time north american serial rights. No other usage granted.

I doubt we could still find one telephone book in the country willing to pay $750 for a phone book cover. It would be tough to get half that. The reason photographers get so many requests like the OP's, is because they are all trolling for freebies, and they get them.

Ah yes, that was nice! But thems days are long gone!

[LBaldwin]

Originally Posted by sfaust

I doubt we could still find one telephone book in the country willing to pay $750 for a phone book cover. It would be tough to get half that. The reason photographers get so many requests like the OP's, is because they are all trolling for freebies, and they get them.

Ah yes, that was nice! But thems days are long gone!

I agree completely. But the reason I might use that ploy is so that they understandt that you are no rookie / pushover / bit*h....

[sfaust]

Or a prima donna thinking $750 for a telephone cover is reasonable There is always that risk as well.

But yea, give him a price for the image, and leave it at that. The less time spent with clients that don't value your work the better. Move on to someone with a budget who choose your for your style and not because of price. Then give them the best service you can and they will come back!

If they talk about your work before the start talking about price, your work is what got them to call you. Thats a client worth working to win.

[LBaldwin]

Originally Posted by sfaust

Or a prima donna thinking $750 for a telephone cover is reasonable There is always that risk as well.

But yea, give him a price for the image, and leave it at that. The less time spent with clients that don't value your work the better. Move on to someone with a budget who choose your for your style and not because of price. Then give them the best service you can and they will come back!

If they talk about your work before the start talking about price, your work is what got them to call you. Thats a client worth working to win.

Thats MISTER Prima Donna to you bucko
Now the dag blasted title fairy is gonna nail my A$$ and it is all you're fault DOH!!

[jbimages]

Whip over to photoshelter http://psc.photoshelter.com, search for a photo, one with a horse if you must, click the thumbnail and fill out the rights managed pricing to get an idea of what to charge.
The one I checked for 1/4 page editorial with up to 250,000 copies gave USD $350.
Alamy, http://www.alamy.com/, would sell it for USD $130 for 1/4 page inside. I'll leave you to try the prices for the book cover.