Query regarding licensing the photographs

[obb]

Hi everyone,

I have just started my own photography business and recently, I covered a marketing competition of some colleges. After the event, a marketing company approached me for the photographs of the event. I told them that I would charge them a licensing fee. I gave them the link to the photographs and told them to select the ones they need.

They would be using the photographs to talk about the event in their magazine. They will also use the photographs to promote the event during the next few years.

Now, they have replied me with some questions, which kind of put me in a confused state.

They asked me for a fee for all the photographs from the event. Now, there are 300+ photographs and I don't think it's a good idea to license all of them, for it would be really confusing.

Secondly, they asked about an estimate for the photographs, if I am not giving the entire collection to them. I am assuming they are asking about price of a single photograph. And they said that they may use the photographs for the next 5 years.

I don't really know how to approach this situation. How much should I per photograph? What's the standard rate? If I have to give a quote for the entire collection, how much should I charge and what kind of rights should I give them?

Thanks in advance!

[ChrisAdval]

Originally Posted by obb

Hi everyone,

I have just started my own photography business and recently, I covered a marketing competition of some colleges. After the event, a marketing company approached me for the photographs of the event. I told them that I would charge them a licensing fee. I gave them the link to the photographs and told them to select the ones they need.

They would be using the photographs to talk about the event in their magazine. They will also use the photographs to promote the event during the next few years.

Now, they have replied me with some questions, which kind of put me in a confused state.

They asked me for a fee for all the photographs from the event. Now, there are 300+ photographs and I don't think it's a good idea to license all of them, for it would be really confusing.

Secondly, they asked about an estimate for the photographs, if I am not giving the entire collection to them. I am assuming they are asking about price of a single photograph. And they said that they may use the photographs for the next 5 years.

I don't really know how to approach this situation. How much should I per photograph? What's the standard rate? If I have to give a quote for the entire collection, how much should I charge and what kind of rights should I give them?

Thanks in advance!

are they looking to use the photos specifically for their own advertising or do they want to use it for other commercial purposes? I'm assuming its just their own advertising and if that's right I would charge them at least $500 per photo, per fiscal year, but note I'm not experienced in this area just an idea or thought on what I would do. Also this would depend if they publish them in their magazine do they charge for the magazines, do they have ads in them, what size of circulation, etc.. then you could get a better idea on what rate you should charge based on those answers.

[obb]

I just emailed them to clarify some questions, for example, where will be they using the photographs and for how long.

In the meantime, any help regarding pricing the photograph will be really helpful!

Thanks!

[andyw]

Originally Posted by obb

Hi everyone,

I have just started my own photography business and recently, I covered a marketing competition of some colleges. After the event, a marketing company approached me for the photographs of the event. I told them that I would charge them a licensing fee. I gave them the link to the photographs and told them to select the ones they need

They would be using the photographs to talk about the event in their magazine. They will also use the photographs to promote the event during the next few years.

Who was the client you were covering the event for and what was the deal/contract with them in the first place?

Originally Posted by obb

Now, they have replied me with some questions, which kind of put me in a confused state.

They asked me for a fee for all the photographs from the event. Now, there are 300+ photographs and I don't think it's a good idea to license all of them, for it would be really confusing.

Secondly, they asked about an estimate for the photographs, if I am not giving the entire collection to them. I am assuming they are asking about price of a single photograph. And they said that they may use the photographs for the next 5 years.

I don't really know how to approach this situation. How much should I per photograph? What's the standard rate? If I have to give a quote for the entire collection, how much should I charge and what kind of rights should I give them?

Thanks in advance!

Back to who or why you were covering the event in the first place.
I can only assume it was not this marketing company.

That being the case your initial contract must be non-exclusive to whoever you were covering the event for.
Next potential issue you have is selling the images on for advertising purposes. As there would no doubt be members of the public or people not associated with this marketing company in the images then have you got releases from them or was there prominent notices stating that any photographs could/would be used for advertising purposes etc.
If not then (especially in the US) you could have issues.

Was the event on college or other private property? If so, agaiin their permission will be required to use the images for advertising by a 3rd party.

Assuming all that is fine and you are free to sell on to 3rd parties for any purpose then there is the issue of the amount of images and their usage.
You need to either tie them down to specifics of the what, when, how many etc before you can give a price for licenses. There is no "standard" rate as such although you can use calculators such as Stock Photo Price Calculator

If you try and price that as advertising for xx at yy etc for all 300 images then you could well get a figure in excess of 100k ?? They simply are not going to pay that.

(Using Getty for a RM simple business image for marketing display and ad material for 5 yrs comes in at approx £600)

Personally I would
1.Try and tie them down to max 10 images for use in their advertising and display material
non-exclusive for 5 years at around 300-500 per image
2. I would not be prepared to release all 300 or so images for all/any use.
But would compromise with a deal for all images at 3-5000 with a license for internal use (company newsletter, intranet etc) only and use of any 10 images only for other use for an extra 2k or so.
You end up having to trust them on that though.
3. specify that there are NO model releases for any of the images. That is assuming there isn't.
4. ensure that ALL deals are non-exclusive.