Record Label want to use photo in CD liner

Hi, I looked through all the other "what do I charge" threads and still would like to ask a little advice please.

A label for a new up and coming band saw some photos I took of the band on social media, contacted me, saying they want to use a couple of my photos in a collage of other social media photos in the CD liner notes.

How to proceed? Ask what their budget is and ask for liner notes credit? What's a typical price and license agreement for something like this? This would be the first photo of mine that someone has expressed interest is using, so I'm not sure how to proceed. These aren't typical social media iphone photos either, but photos I took with my 5DM2.

Thanks

I don't think you ask them what their budget is. If they came to you asking for a shoot, then you might ask their budget, so that you could scope the work accordingly (assuming you offer something in their range). However, they already know what the product is... and they've asked for a price. I think you just give them a number.

How much would this use be worth to you? Let me re-phrase... What is the value of your work? That's the amount that I would charge.

I know this isn't a number, but maybe others who do similar work will chime in with values...

http://www.asmp.org/co​mmerce/estimator.php

http://media.gn.apc.or​g/feesguide/photo.html

fotoQuote Pro®

And since you used a descriptive title, the forum has done a mini-search for you. Look at the links at the very bottom left hand corner of this page.

Thanks for the advice. I'm getting the feeling they want to use them for free, so I am going to send them a quote and see what they say. Do I need to have them sign some kind of licensing agreement form if I submit the hi-res photos?

ManhattanNYC wrote in post #15940991
Thanks for the advice. I'm getting the feeling they want to use them for free, so I am going to send them a quote and see what they say. Do I need to have them sign some kind of licensing agreement form if I submit the hi-res photos?

they don't have to sign anything. just send them your licensing agreement and include the language that the license is not in effect until the licensing fee is paid in full, and that unlicensed usage is considered a copyright violation.

of course they want to use it for free...

So I send them a quote for a fee for non-exclusive use, and they wrote back and backed out, saying they basically are looking to just use free social media images from fans and not paid for photos. Oh well.

ManhattanNYC wrote in post #15941986
So I send them a quote for a fee for non-exclusive use, and they wrote back and backed out, saying they basically are looking to just use free social media images from fans and not paid for photos. Oh well.

they'll get what they pay for

just respond, "thanks for the consideration, but you understand. we all got bills to pay. good luck and keep me in mind for when the budget will allow."

at some point, they'll make it or they'll bail. if they make it, there will be money to pay for your qualified services.

Yeah, if they want crappy cellphone pics, great. Plenty of those out there. ugh.

I basically responded with, "Ok, understood, let me know if anything changes."

ManhattanNYC wrote in post #15941986
So I send them a quote for a fee for non-exclusive use, and they wrote back and backed out, saying they basically are looking to just use free social media images from fans and not paid for photos. Oh well.

it sucks.

and that kind of attitude is rampant these days.

the best thing you can do is sit down with them and discuss what goes into the process, then hope for some concession on their part.


remember they think they are holding all of the good cards, don't fold.

I know I'm a bit late on this thread, but I'd say you, the OP, are holding ALL the cards. I would much rather have an image of mine never be used, than used for free. The label think they'll get fans by using the fan pics, but they'll really just make enemies once the friends of the fans tell them the band is making a mint off their pics. Which of course, they're not. So it's just a bad idea all around, and you can stay out of that.