I'm an amateur but on occasion I've been asked to license my work. A couple of years ago I licensed five photos to a real estate website and after consultation with a couple of friends who sell their work I agreed to a one year non-exclusive licensing arrangement for $500 for five photos. In reality the person used six photos but I didn't pursue additional compensation.

Recently, a local seminary asked if they could license one of my photos. It is a dynamite image, though I took it fairly early in my most recent digital adventure and it isn't an ideal image for printing. I took it with a borrowed Nikon 5700 and shot the images that day as JPEG rather than NEF files. My conversations with the seminary have been cordial. Last week they told me they intend to use my photo on a mailer they will be sending to prospective students as well as showcasing it on their website. I gather they intend to use the image as a bit of a centerpiece for their advertising. In explaining that to me they offered $200 for a non-exclusive license.

I reflected on the offer and eventually countered with a request for $500 for non-exclusive use. Today I received an email directing me to the head of their communication department and I find myself wondering whether I've asked too much for the photo.

I'd welcome any feedback those of you who've been selling your work might have. I'm really shooting in the dark here. My two friends who are professionals lamented the fact amateurs are flooding the market with photos that are under priced. I know there is no such thing as a fixed market. I want to be fair to myself, fair to the seminary and respectful of those photographers who make their living doing what to me is a very pleasurable hobby.

Thanks in advance...

Always ask too much, you can always negotiate down. You can't start low and negotiate up.

If a client balks at my first quote, I ask what their budget is and see where we can strike a deal. If the budget is ridiculously low, I'm not afraid to walk away.

<Chas>

cwebster wrote:
Always ask too much, you can always negotiate down. You can't start low and negotiate up.

If a client balks at my first quote, I ask what their budget is and see where we can strike a deal. If the budget is ridiculously low, I'm not afraid to walk away.

<Chas>


Thanks Chas. I'm afraid the whole thing blew up in my face. We came to his bottom line via two statements I didn't find helpful. First he said they had plenty of images in their possession so weren't inclined to pay my asking price. I guess if they had so many fine images to choose from I don't quite understand their interest in my image. I guess they figured if they could lowball me, then fine and good. But the second comment really made little sense. When I'd been contacted by the seminary's graphics person it wasn't clear what image she was asking about, so I sent her five different images, four of which I'd taken on the campus. The person with whom I spoke this afternoon magnanimously offered to give me retroactive permission to sell photos I'd taken on private property and was legally unable to use. That struck me as less a generous offer than a swipe at me for having taken photos illegally on private property. I reminded him I'm an amateur who doesn't sell his work unless asked and I can imagine no one but the seminary being interested in photos I took of their grounds. I'm certainly not looking for a market for these photos.

The experience was sufficiently distasteful that I told him I simply couldn't accept his offer. So my gorgeous image will remain on my desktop occasionally and be shared with friends. Live and learn, I guess...

You're going to want to check out FotoQuote, it's a pricing software that many industry professionals use. Or you can consult a book called "Pricing Photography" by Michal Heron and David McTavish. It's in it's 3rd edition and has kinda become a standard for new photogs.

IMHO, your quote was fair and reasonable. It will certainly not be the last time you will be knocked back by clients looking for inexpensive images. At least they were offering you something..most companies/corporations don't expect to pay a dime. They come up with the usual "We will put your name on the image and a link etc etc". Attribution does not pay the rent!

They may well get back to you with a counter offer (if they really want the image) but if they don't, don't lose any sleep. It would be a good idea to check out their website in a couple of weeks to see if they have used your image illegally!

Cheers
Sheila