Posted by Wayne Shakell on February 1, 2012 at 4:10 PM
Hello all, Further to my previous post on pricing, I have more information from prospective client.
He wants a price for a photo for the front cover of a Sales manual and the first print run will be 500 copies.
Any help with pricing will be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Lon Overacker on February 1, 2012 at 4:22 PM
Wayne,
I sold an image a few years back for a book cover. It was someone self-publishing and it was going be less than 1,000 copies. I sold it for $75. We also had an agreement that if the book did well and there was a second printing beyond the original 1,000, their would be an additional fee of $275. I don't remember where I got those numbers, but the cost is pretty much proportional to given usage rights, distribution and numbers of copies. In other words, if the request is for world wide EXCLUSIVE rights, 500,000 copies for 10 years, you could probably charge whatever you wanted, thousands. My book cover was for non-exclusive, North American rights, less than 1,000 copies for 1 year. Can't expect to charge too much for limited rights, copies and distribution.
I have the invoice for that that spells out the agreement if you're interested. Drop me an email and I'll send it to you.
Personally, if this is a corporation producing the sales manual, it's likely to be distributed internally only? I think $100 would be reasonable, but you have to remember too they could go out and get something for free so you have to weigh your worth vs. the free-market value. It's the old rock and a hard place. You say $50 and they immediately agree and you think, crap, I should have asked for $100. If you ask for $500 and they go elsewhere, then you get nothing. But really, don't give it away, get some good value for your work.
Great advice Lon. They would probably pay a whole lot more to hire you to TAKE a specific photo, but if they're after stock they expect to pay less and will bolt for cheaper or free sources if you ask too much (in their eyes).
Discussion
2 repliesHe wants a price for a photo for the front cover of a Sales manual and the first print run will be 500 copies.
Any help with pricing will be greatly appreciated.
I sold an image a few years back for a book cover. It was someone self-publishing and it was going be less than 1,000 copies. I sold it for $75. We also had an agreement that if the book did well and there was a second printing beyond the original 1,000, their would be an additional fee of $275. I don't remember where I got those numbers, but the cost is pretty much proportional to given usage rights, distribution and numbers of copies. In other words, if the request is for world wide EXCLUSIVE rights, 500,000 copies for 10 years, you could probably charge whatever you wanted, thousands. My book cover was for non-exclusive, North American rights, less than 1,000 copies for 1 year. Can't expect to charge too much for limited rights, copies and distribution.
I have the invoice for that that spells out the agreement if you're interested. Drop me an email and I'll send it to you.
Personally, if this is a corporation producing the sales manual, it's likely to be distributed internally only? I think $100 would be reasonable, but you have to remember too they could go out and get something for free so you have to weigh your worth vs. the free-market value. It's the old rock and a hard place. You say $50 and they immediately agree and you think, crap, I should have asked for $100. If you ask for $500 and they go elsewhere, then you get nothing. But really, don't give it away, get some good value for your work.
HTH,
Lon