Fee for rights to images

Curtis Cunningham · #1 02-18-2008, 05:25 PM

Here in BC the Knowledge Network is launching a website in Dec.08 showcasing images from around the province. To make a long story (of which I've only been recently introduced) short, they are looking for photographers to submit images for possible inclusion on this website. From what I understand these images will be freely available for people to download. (See attachment for further explanation)

The project details stipulate that each photographer will receive $500 for each image accepted for inclusion in this website (6 images max.).

To me, $3000 for the rights to six images seems more than fair, but then I haven't been doing this that long, so I may be wrong.

Am I? Wrong that is...

michaelnotar · #2 02-18-2008, 05:47 PM

sounds like a great way to be exploited. perhaps $500/image is great to amateurs but any pro should know not to. thats decent money, but for the scope of possible usage thats an insult to offer. if they were serious, a few thousand to ten/tens of thousands would be appropriate.

and the doc attached doesnt work...its blank when you open it.

Jason_Hoss · #3 02-18-2008, 05:53 PM

Curtis,

The word doc worked fine for me. It seems the $500 for a full copyright release of an image is a bit under what I would expect for a commercial venture. But then again, if you don't mind, then it could be another line for your bio and some publicity.

michaelnotar · #4 02-18-2008, 06:19 PM

what does everyone think is a fair price for a © release... only numbers i have heard and seem right to me is $35-50,000, but i would do like $20,000 for a single image to $35,000 for a shoot's worth of images i think.

Jason_Hoss · #5 02-18-2008, 06:23 PM

Michael,

Are you being sarcastic or playing devils advocate?

Curtis Cunningham · #6 02-18-2008, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by michaelnotar

what does everyone think is a fair price for a © release... only numbers i have heard and seem right to me is $35-50,000, but i would do like $20,000 for a single image to $35,000 for a shoot's worth of images i think.

Michael,

Thanks for your thoughts. To help get some perspective on your answer I had the following questions for you:

How long did it take you to get to the point where you can charge $20K for rights to a single image?
How many years have you been a photographer?
What is the market like where you shoot?
What kind of clients do you have?

michaelnotar · #7 02-18-2008, 08:02 PM

i just now see what the attached doc reads...with that amount of work, $500 an image is fair w/o © transfere, but adding it is really taking advantage of photogs. perhaps its is a time restriction in it or are you giving the © away forever.

jason-im serious. i will answer your question below

curtis-i got those figures from fotoquote, the industry standard as they say for usage quoting. i dont have the market/client to support those numbers, but thats what it would take for me.

both of you, consider this...they want to buy the © to an image, you took, ie you never took the photo, they created it! how does that fit in your head! they can do what ever they want with it, unlimited reproductions which isnt that unusual (buyout), but they are going to have the say what others can do with it and transfer images to others to distort and alter the image. sucks doesnt it!

further more, you have to account for all sales lost over a lifetime of that images (perhaps lost sales to your heirs), what if you create an really awesome image from that shoot, you want to include in your portfolio or simply show to your family/friends, you cant, gotta be something in there for this anguish too. suddenly $20-50k sounds really reasonable, if not just 'fair' compensation. if you used any special techniques/equipment i would demand more.