Calendar Images

Apart from my day job, I also do some work for a number of realtors in town. While working with one yesterday, he mentioned off-handedly that he was unhappy with the images that had been selected for his yearly calendar. Being the salesman that I am, I offered to show him some of my work.

Long story short, he may be interested in using a few of my shots in his calendar. Problm is, I have no idea what to charge him, nor does he have any idea what to pay me. Being an amature at best, I obviously can't charge what a pro would, nor would I, as he is a family friend as well. But what do I charge him? He is a very successful realtor, so I would imagine that he would be mailing this calendar to around 500-1000 people. What do you all think?

"Being an amature at best, I obviously can't charge what a pro would...."


Why not? If he's unhappy with the pro images he's getting and considers yours better, he has every reason to pay you pro rates.

Is he a hobby realtor, or is he in business and paying all his vendors pro prices?

You're not charging him the same pro prices as everyone else, your charging his business. He'd expect to pay for anything else he buys, so why would ever consider shorting a friend such as you?

I'm with Hank. Selling your work is one of the things that makes you a professional. Ask professional rates.

Thanks for your input guys... What is a professional rate for something like this?

It depends on lots of variables, especially size of print run, number of images on the calendar, and whether he's merely passing out the calendars or selling them.

I'd ask him what he's payed in the past. I would never consider letting him have your work for less, especially when your work is better. In deciding how much to go above that, you're down to negotiations. When working with friends I find it best to identify a set of criteria for pricing before actually selttling down to put numbers on the discussion.

For the image I have going into the Outdoor Photographer's Magazine 2009 Calendar, I get paid in the $200 - $300 per image range, but they have a much wider distribution, so you can come down to maybe 1/4th that per image.

For Kodak I made about the same when I did their 2007 Calendar. If that helps.

Congrats by the way, I think it's a great opportunity for you to market your work. i would see if he will put your info on the calendar too. May be worth a lower rate to trade for advertising on it.

I work with two regional calendar producers (both sell the calendars) who pay $100 per inside photo and $200 for the cover image (which also then runs inside).

I got a call yesterday for a similar project in the same industry with a print run of 15,000, my price research indicated it would be somewhere between 400 to 600 for a full page inside use. 1000 for the cover. Be sure to ask for the print run before giving him a price.

I got 300 for a smaller print run a few weeks ago selling to a different industry though the price calculators quoted around 450.

The standard I have been paid for a basic wall calendar from major souvenir companies is $150.00 for one time use. $75.00 for pocket calendar size.