The other week I asked myself if some organization approached me and offered me $1 Million to give them exclusive use of my best selling photo, where I get to keep my copyright (but they do not credit me) and will cease from printing it, selling it, or displaying it in any way and give them sole use of it, would I do it?
I know, sounds wacky, but that's what I asked myself. I still don't have an answer for myself.
Well I'm not a pro, but I can't see any reason why just about anyone wouldn't take that deal. Is the image ever going to earn you a million dollars over it's lifetime? If not, then the only reason not to sell it would be if you can't bear to not be able to print a few copies for yourself. But that doesn't sound like it would be nearly worth losing out on the million dollars.
Unless I captured a one-of-a-kind historical photo like Kennedy's assassination, then yeah I would go for it. David does have good points though and something everyone should ask themself before making those decisions.
What Harley said. It's my understanding, however, that such sales generally involve selling the copyright. Not that any company has approached me on this yet. Yo Nike! You seeing this?
Youssef, if somebody is ready to offer you $1 million for the best selling photo, there is surely somebody out there who would be ready to shell out $1.1 million. So why would you give it away for $1 million only!
Murphy's Law Society would come into effect with this case.
You would sign all the papers, then a week later, Murphy's Law Society would come along and say "We will offer you $3,000,000 for that photograph of..............." Doh !!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, simply math.
You get a million bucks before taxes. You end up with three quarters of a mil after taxes. Invest this money and reap a modest 5 percent per year. 5% a year is 35 grand.
Where I live, and for my lifestyle, 35 grand is going to go a long way. I would keep working, investing my money further and in less than ten years I'd have enough to comfortably retire on.
I'd do it in a heartbeat.
Well Michael, if we could get a bird to do it's thing on a high politician and catch it in the act over the person's head, then we might just have a $million dollar avian photo!!! Anybody know how to train a bird?
Youssef, if the first offer was for $1M, then I might try a counter offer to incorporate enough dollars so I would GET $1M AFTER taxes. I'd be pretty happy with that !! And then, I would be sure to let all the agencies and gallery's know about the sale and drum up even more business with my photos selling for abnormally high dollars due to the other $1M sale.
Hey, let us know when you get that sale!!!! Remember we incouraged you and buy us all a D3!!!!
I'd fly out to where you live and slap you silly if you didn't take that offer In fact...I'll sell every image I've ever taken so far for half that...so there's my plug...Yo Mr. Gates...more Vista backgrounds?
Discussion
18 repliesI know, sounds wacky, but that's what I asked myself. I still don't have an answer for myself.
What would you do?
What's the reason you're debating?
$ 1,000,000.01!
You would sign all the papers, then a week later, Murphy's Law Society would come along and say "We will offer you $3,000,000 for that photograph of..............." Doh !!!!!!!!!!!!
Sort of like buying a new camera
Danny.
You get a million bucks before taxes. You end up with three quarters of a mil after taxes. Invest this money and reap a modest 5 percent per year. 5% a year is 35 grand.
Where I live, and for my lifestyle, 35 grand is going to go a long way. I would keep working, investing my money further and in less than ten years I'd have enough to comfortably retire on.
I'd do it in a heartbeat.
BTW, anybody know what the odds are of such an offer in our avian photo market or the highest fee ever paid for a bird shot?
Youssef, if the first offer was for $1M, then I might try a counter offer to incorporate enough dollars so I would GET $1M AFTER taxes. I'd be pretty happy with that
Hey, let us know when you get that sale!!!! Remember we incouraged you and buy us all a D3!!!!
Troup
Guy
I am going to keep telling myself that such an offer will come my way. You know what they say about postive thinking and reinforcement.
Yeah, I think I would do it. And then I would do what Troup suggested, especially to all the galleries and art consultants who have turned me down.