Selling rights to a photo - How much?

RussellHons

Senior Member
I took a photo at a college hockey game last winter. Recently the Marketing Coordinator for the Arena contacted me stating

"We absolutely loved your picture you shared with us on February 8th. Is this something you are looking to sell for a copy? We would love to use it on our site & throughout the arena."
So my question is, where do I start as far as negotiating a price for granting them the rights to my photo? I don't want to start too high and have them drop it, but I don't want to sell myself short either. This is my first opportunity of this type. I look forward to your opinions.
Russ
 

Rick M

Senior Member
Can we see the Pic? It depends on the value to you and to them. That could be $50-5000. If it's an average shot to you, maybe say $200, If it's the shot of a lifetime, more. The publicity could be worth a lot to you.
 

RocketCowboy

Senior Member
It's not a bad place to start with asking them how much do they usually pay for such a service? That also gives you a feel for whether they are leaning towards the $50 end of the spectrum, or possibly the higher end of the spectrum.
 

RussellHons

Senior Member
Can we see the Pic? It depends on the value to you and to them. That could be $50-5000. If it's an average shot to you, maybe say $200, If it's the shot of a lifetime, more. The publicity could be worth a lot to you.

Sure, here is a low rez version of the picture. It was more of a good timing shot, than a skill shot. I used my point and shoot camera, since they don't let you bring DSLRs into the arena.

facebookcopyoforiginal.jpg
 

RussellHons

Senior Member
It's not a bad place to start with asking them how much do they usually pay for such a service? That also gives you a feel for whether they are leaning towards the $50 end of the spectrum, or possibly the higher end of the spectrum.

That is probably how I'll go with it, and hopefully convince them to keep my watermark on the photo. If they do what I imagine, it will be blown up to probably a 10' photo to be hung in the commons area. They have tons of photos that they have done like that, most of them old black and white ones, etc. but this would be a nice addition I think :)
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
Just a thought …. "mmmm?" (That's me thinking)

Why not offer this one for a fairly low price but ask them if you can bring your DSLR for future games, get "in the pit/ringside" and do a much better job for them?

Look take this with a bag of salt as I have no idea about how these sports arenas work and have not had much practice at thinking.

Really cool shot BTW.
 

RussellHons

Senior Member
Just a thought …. "mmmm?" (That's me thinking)

Why not offer this one for a fairly low price but ask them if you can bring your DSLR for future games, get "in the pit/ringside" and do a much better job for them?

Look take this with a bag of salt as I have no idea about how these sports arenas work and have not had much practice at thinking.

Really cool shot BTW.

LOL. we think alike. I actually had that same idea. I do get a little "special treatment" from them already since i worked there from 2000-2010 doing security. They let me in on occasion to do a senior picture shoot, which they usually deny to other photogs. Their rule "no professional camera, or cameras with a 4" lens or longer" I did take my camera in one day and got shots with a 55-300 that turned out good. The problem is that you really can't do much with the action photos after you take them, since the university has the rights. Here are some of them: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.782984098395774.1073741837.754868244540693&type=3
 

Rick M

Senior Member
That darn hand is a killer!. I agree ask them what they are willing to pay, if it's $50 take it. I agree with asking to bring in your DSLR and let them know it's for their benefit. Might get some future business.
 

Lawrence

Senior Member
Hey Russell those are cool action shots.

Allright then you are way ahead of me on how to handle these guys.
Would you not get a better stadium photo with a 35mm or 50mm prime> Both would comply with the 4" rule.
Oh I see you don't have a 50mm prime …. "mmmm?" (thinking again)
Sell this for at least enough to get a 50mm … :)
 

RussellHons

Senior Member
Hey Russell those are cool action shots.

Allright then you are way ahead of me on how to handle these guys.
Would you not get a better stadium photo with a 35mm or 50mm prime> Both would comply with the 4" rule.
Oh I see you don't have a 50mm prime …. "mmmm?" (thinking again)
Sell this for at least enough to get a 50mm … :)

Normally I just bring the point and shoot. I could bring the dslr with my 35 on it and that would comply, as would the 85 and my 17-50. Its just a pain sometimes to drag the dlsr there every night. I'll try and take it to a few games this year. They start next weekend! :)

As for a 50mm prime, I just don't think I would use it that much. I have the 35 and 85 1.8s, and I have 3 - 2.8 zooms to cover 17-200. I think my next purchase (maybe next week) will be a D7100 so I can use both cameras and not have to switch out lenses so much. but then I start thinking one of the new Tamron 150-600 would be nice on my crop sensor for doing wildlife..uggg there is always something *sigh*
 

RussellHons

Senior Member
That darn hand is a killer!. I agree ask them what they are willing to pay, if it's $50 take it. I agree with asking to bring in your DSLR and let them know it's for their benefit. Might get some future business.

Rick. I agree about the hand :(, and I hate to have to crop the photo at all. I am going to do some checking to see if i have any more shots, where i could just replace that corner of the photo. if not, I'll see what i can do about trying to remove it another way.
 

ShootRaw

Senior Member
Clone that hand out...You can give them usage rights and charge very little..But if they are going to sell it or make any profit you can charge a good amount..Make sure they credit you as well..If they want to own the copyright,then that is a whole other ball game..
 
Last edited:

briansullivan

Senior Member
I think back to the Louie DeParma method of pricing from Taxi when Jim burned Louie's apartment down. When asked how much does he need he said, "Well, it needs to be enough that they say Argh, but, not too much that they don't say, Meh, OK."

Depends on whom and usage. I agree, if you love shooting this type of thing, you may be able to get press clearance and occasionally support them with some images. Make sure you put in writing that it is for a)usage on their website, and/or b)print(s) for public display, and c) not for resale. I recommend that you supply the printer directly with the high resolution file and only provide them with a web resolution.

Yah, hand is a killer. I'd personally give it to them.

B
 
Top