Reasonable Fee: image used for (start-up) product label use?

I've been a pro artist for 40 yrs, but I'm a semi-pro photographer. Potential client wants to use an image for a label for his start-up product.
I very much doubt he's expecting or willing to pay much. I don't want to do any more damage to the professionals' market than has been done over the last couple of decades (with amateurs willing to give their work away) but can anyone suggest a range of prices for such usage?

Any professional advice greatly appreciated, I have to get back to him soon.

A quick check reveals he hasn't even registered what would be the obvious domain name choice for his planned product-- guess I shouldn't expect too much in the way of professionalism...

The first question to ask in this case is how specialized is your image to his product? If your image is simular to one he could purchase from a stock image service why would he pay more for yours.

I am not saying your work is not worth more than that, I am just saying people will need more information to answer your question. If you took the time to shoot his product in the scene it is a way different situation than if the buyer just wants to use your image of a duck (for example.)

My image is not at all specialized to his product, and he could indeed find similar on a stock site. The image(s) are of a particular regional geographic area, to be used as a background to his product label. So knowing that, what do you suggest?

Why not license it to him as you would for your illustrations?

two other ideas, first go to getty and pretend to be a buyer for a RM image and then plug in the usage he is requesting. Second if you do feel like giving him a deal make sure you have a time limit & non exclusive on the licensing so you don't feel like the sucker when your background image in plastered on ad posters for the next ten years.

That said a business man is going to spend hundreds of dollars on his business suit (personal appearance) more money on a professional website and marketing materials etc.. Why is he purchasing this if he doesn't have things in place to move forward?

We internet photographers love to scare ourselves into believing that the sky is falling and nobody is going to license photography at reasonable rates - of course there are stories to back this up just like everyday I choose not to buy this or that because of cost - important stuff I buy and there are plenty of photographers with incredible stories that just don't post online. Look at all the bad online ramblings a computer gets when a bug is discovered - no reason to post when things are moving smoothly.

p.s. I wouldn't sell yourself short if you are talking about a local scene - sure there are lots of mountain images from Colorado on cheap stock sites but nothing that says authentic & local

Thanks for the response and outlook. The Getty research was next on my list, I was being a bit lazy by not doing it first.
Not sure why he doesn't have his ducks in a row-- probably not that organized, or business savvy. I'm going to propose licensed use for a label only, but no time limit.

Thanks again.

Trout Bum wrote in post #18344469
I'm going to propose licensed use... but no time limit. .

Well that's exactly what I would Not do. Either have a time limit or a print run max but it's best to set a precedent now so down the road he understands all licensing has a time limit even if you set it for a couple of years.

Let's say he baulks at the time limit A) then doesn't that tell you he sees long term value in your image and B) you can then start a negotiation with either adding more money to your proposal or getting a byline on the image should it be place on their website, etc..

How confident are you in the product and the people behind the business? (Even if they might need a kick in the pants and some guidance to get them moving in the right direction on things?)

Never overlook the idea of trading services or soft products to a start up in exchange for shares or profit tied deals. - You can dangle something important and useful in front of cash strapped startups in the here and now, and then turn it around into far more money in the long run.

Invest carefully, but don't be scared of risks.
- If you configure the deal properly then you can earn more in the long run if it goes well than if you just sell it out right up front, but if things go badly and fail you can still pull your image back and be no worse off than you are right now.

Trout Bum wrote in post #18343945
I very much doubt he's expecting or willing to pay much.

Any professional advice greatly appreciated, I have to get back to him soon.

As you know, there are no hard numbers here. A fee that meets his expectations and his willingness to pay will tick the box of 'reasonableness' on his end. Whether that seems reasonable to you is something that only you can determine.

Best of luck-