Going rate for billboard use (US)

If it's used for advertising, it's commercial use. You could be a homeless shelter advertising your free soup kitchen. It's still commercial use.

I agree it's best to have a contract. Better yet if you can work with your attorney on a form to use. Sometimes people (school district administrators) fail to plan properly and get themselves in a time crunch. This is when you weigh the risk/reward of offering the license on a verbal agreement and make a decision. Truth is, both parties in this relationship will benefit by negotiating in good faith.

also dmitrim from what it sounds like Curtis was saying is that the pictures originally are to be used in house. If they take those pictures and go to spread them to the outside world like this billboard that no longer would be considered in house anymore.

Personal use has little bearing on if the person using them was going to get paid for the act or not. it's more of how they are being used. If they are used to adverstise, promote, bring attention to and such it cna be considered commercial use. In this the school went from using the pictures in house to give to students and stuff like that from what it sounds like to instead spreading the word to the outside world to bring more attention to the school.
I would say this very much so sounds justified to have an additional charge with using the images as such being that this wasn't the agreed upon use of the images originally and now they are being used as an outside promotional tool.

Park Street wrote in post #15533946
Corbis quotes $1000-$1800 for one billboard, three months, with the price depending on the size the image runs on the billboard. I would use that as a basis and then figure a discount if I thought it appropriate.

For those who wish to give away a commercial use like this, you and people like you are one of the reasons so few people can now earn a living at photography. No one else in the equation is going to give away their work except you. The Ad Agency will get paid. The people at the ISD/school are paid. The people who own the billboard will get paid.

Thank you. Best post on here.

Curtis-

You wisely recognize the significant change from internal to commercial use. Getty Images price for 1 year use on 5 billboards is $2600. A good general guide for media budgets is that the creative is often produced for 10-15% of the media buy. The marketing consultant they hired will often get a 20% commission on the media buy.

-Scott

Thank you Scott. Good info.

Curtis, I think you were clear in that personal use and in-school promotion use were only allowed. Seems pretty straightforward to me

With regard to billboard use, I've charged anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 for one billboard for a months usage. It varied based on the client, usage, prestige, and placement. Higher end for urban environments (such as Kenmore Square in Boston/Red Sox stadium, etc), to the lower end for hiway or out of the way locations. Fotoquote shows a range of $1,216 to $2,433 for a months usage FWIW. Corbis and Getty rates have also been listed in the thread. In the end, it really depends on the project, client, product/service being sold, location, industry, etc. A school would be a very local use with limited audience, and thus a very low usage value. It sounds like you priced it pretty fairly for both parties.

sfaust wrote in post #15547961
Curtis, I think you were clear in that personal use and in-school promotion use were only allowed. Seems pretty straightforward to me

With regard to billboard use, I've charged anywhere from $1,000 to $2,000 for one billboard for a months usage. It varied based on the client, usage, prestige, and placement. Higher end for urban environments (such as Kenmore Square in Boston/Red Sox stadium, etc), to the lower end for hiway or out of the way locations. Fotoquote shows a range of $1,216 to $2,433 for a months usage FWIW. Corbis and Getty rates have also been listed in the thread. In the end, it really depends on the project, client, product/service being sold, location, industry, etc. A school would be a very local use with limited audience, and thus a very low usage value. It sounds like you priced it pretty fairly for both parties.

Thank you Stephen. Useful info. The price I quoted is quite a bargain, compared to those rates.

Curtis N wrote in post #15533298
The fee I ask for will be very reasonable, but I'm not going to be the only person working for free on this project.

That's a great attitude, because by not giving your work away you are not only helping yourself, you are helping every other working photographer as well.

I hope it all works out for you and you receive a fair and prompt payment.

Wayne