Someone inquiring about using my originals..

A representative from a graphic design company just emailed me to ask if I could "give her" the high res original of one of my pics...

this one:
http://www.flickr.com …/davidraymond/3​362236979/

She mentions it's for an educational graphic for a zoo. So this is most likely a commissioned designer looking for handouts. Needless to say, I'm not giving any of my work for free to a profiting ad agency that goes to a profiting zoo. Anyways, the image is just about full-frame off of my 40D, although lighting wasn't great so fine detail is a little muted.

I'm just going to throw some sort of price at them (and expect to be ignored afterwards). What sort of figure would you guys/gals throw back at them?

Thanks!

Tell 'em no less than $500.

500? Try learning what its for first..what if they reproduce it 11 000 times in 6 countries? I'd say 2 grand to give up one of my copyrights. Could offer a license instead, otherwise give it a little copyright symbol with your credited name under it for every reproduction

Zoos tend not to be run for profit.

I'm with those who're suggesting you find out what it is being used for, and giving a license rather than giving over full rights to the image. I think it might be fiscally sensible to let them use the image for a reasonable fee though - the exposure is worth something.

Sorry nuffi, but it's not. AFAIK no one looks at the byline of an image and says GEE I really think we need to contact that photographer to hire him/her for our next project. It just does not happen. The OP needs to set a price and a license and work from the position of strength.

$350 for one time rights and 500/750 or so for multiple rights is about correct.

How much did that 500mm f/4 run you?





Nice shot!

LBaldwin wrote in post #7696678
Sorry nuffi, but it's not. AFAIK no one looks at the byline of an image and says GEE I really think we need to contact that photographer to hire him/her for our next project. It just does not happen. The OP needs to set a price and a license and work from the position of strength.

$350 for one time rights and 500/750 or so for multiple rights is about correct.

Years ago a photographer told me a photo credit and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee, nothing has changed except for the price of the coffee. Get the usage fee, whatever it is, the credit is worthless.

I always start the pricing at $500. This seems to be a number that most can live with -- and if they negotiate down there is a little wiggle room. I always limit the amount of use with the photo for that price though. I want them coming back to me in a year paying me again.

first things first - take that image down and replace it with one that has a "BIG" watermark across it.

There are many stories of companies just using the image anyway - don't be one of them.

I've sent an email back to the designer, inquiring the specifics of the usage. Like I said before, the tone of their message plus being contacted through Flickr makes me believe they are trying to get something for free. If they contact a few people on there, heck they probably will find somebody who will donate an ok shot for free.

FYI - This is the Santa Barbara zoo, if it ends up there make sure I got paid!

LBaldwin wrote in post #7696678
Sorry nuffi, but it's not. AFAIK no one looks at the byline of an image and says GEE I really think we need to contact that photographer to hire him/her for our next project. It just does not happen. The OP needs to set a price and a license and work from the position of strength.

$350 for one time rights and 500/750 or so for multiple rights is about correct.

^^^^^ Les is right...
The designers getting paid why shouldn't you?

davebreal wrote in post #7697127
Like I said before, the tone of their message plus being contacted through Flickr makes me believe they are trying to get something for free. If they contact a few people on there, heck they probably will find somebody who will donate an ok shot for free.

I've been contacted by a couple people before through flickr asking to use some of my motorsports images, one was even for an upcoming video game. It was kind of a catch 22. Most of my shots are of my cousin who races in the Speed GT World Challenger cup. So he would've had lots of visibility in the video game. The company would obviously be making coin off of the game. They inquired of pricing, and once I got back to them, I heard nothing again.

FWIW, I only put my images up to non-friends/family as restricted small images or whatever it is called. So the most people will get is the 40k'ish image, if they take a screenshot since I don't allow downloads.

The designer is not working for free, and the Zoo still needs to operate as a business. They pay for electricity and water, why not photos. Payment is the only true measure of value. For the Zoo, charities, and other valuable cutlural institutions I do not mind donating time or services. Even telling them you will be happy to make a contribution to the Zoo of 50% of the fee demonstrates value to your work and provides a solid tax deduction.

-Scott

By "original" I thought you meant the RAW file. I never ever give out RAW untouched files.

I agree - offer them 50% off as a donation.

Who the heck caares about the credit? What good will that do you? It seems amateurish to need to see one's name on things.

The prices being reccomended here are largely outrageous. The ad person knows they can just go to iStock and get the rights to use an image for a couple dollars. Why the heck would they ever pay $300, $500, $2000. Yes, these are prices that people on here actually suggested charging.

The way to get the most $ may be to offer a package deal for a number of images you took at that zoo. Give them unlimited rights to use the images for one year and charge a few hundred bucks. They'll probably just ignore you, but at least if they do take you up on it, you'll get a few hundred bucks out of the deal. I doubt they'd pay any more than $50 for the one image you mentioned. Actually, they'd probably only pay about $25 for it.

Another thing - by selling them the rights to use the image, you are in no way giving anything up. Sell it as unexclusive rights, meaning that you still may use & sell the image in any way you care to.