Opso1 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 527 posts, RR: 1 Posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2894 times:
Some advice please, if any of you could give it...
I have been contacted by a hotel chain in America (with hotels worldwide) asking to have digital copies of 2 of my images in black and white in order to make two 36x36 inch wide framed prints to put into their hotels. Always nice to be appreciated!
Any idea of how much I should ask for?? I don't want to ask for too much, but don't want to sell myself short for what could be the most lucrative deal for my photos yet!
Psych From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2004, 2968 posts, RR: 60 Reply 1, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 1 day ago) and read 2868 times:
Many congratulations OPSO1 - I hope it comes off for you.
To be honest I am pretty well clueless about such matters, not least because no-one really wants to buy any of my photos, so I have limited experience .
I would be tempted to make an initial response back thanking for them for their interest, checking out how many prints they intend to make for their chain and asking them what budget they are working within. A response - of whatever sort - might help there. Particularly on the latter point - if they say we have £50, you might choose to simply walk away, whereas if they say they hoped to spend something in the region of £1000 you might have a different attitude.
One of the few sales I ever made was from a position of complete ignorance, so I asked the guy what he was thinking of spending. What he said in response was definitely more than what I would probably have felt okay asking for, so I said 'thanks, that seems very reasonable'! But I come to this from a position of being a poor businessman.
Just 'thinking aloud', if they went to one of the shops that do posters of images around that size, they may well be sending quite a few quid on each one. Multiply that by however many pictures they were buying and you would have ball-park figure. Then add to that the fact this is not just a mass produced poster, but an image they have bought and I reckon you must be talking quite a reasonable amount for this deal.
I shall be interested to read what those with more experience than me say about this. Good luck.
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 2568 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 20 hours ago) and read 2818 times:
OPSO1,
I've just had a look and compared what Getty Images would charge for such a photo. They're quoting around £388 for single reproduction to give you an idea of what the 'trade' would be looking at. As mentioned above, I would ask what they are willing to pay and take it from there. I normally reply thanking them for their interest explaining this is a hobby and that camera equipment is expensive and to help cover expenses, photos are sold. I wouldn't be greedy, but I'd certainly be looking for around £100 for the photo, including your time for processing. If you're happy with what they come back with, snatch their hand off! If not, thank them for their offer and respond with a counter offer and negotiate. In my experience, once they know you won't be sending them a copy for free, you often don't hear back from them and they just keep sending emails to photographers with similar shots until they get someone willing to send them a photo for free. That's why we all need to stand together! Factor in your time as well in processing and sending the photo to them, you don't want to be working for nothing. As John mentions, if you're thinking of going somewhere where they have a hotel, they might give you a room upgrade or a night or too in exchange. Rather than taking payment, I have some model aircraft and memorabilia from My Travel for some photo's I did for them.
Darren
Equipment: 2x Canon EOS 50D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-105 f/4 L, Speedlite 430EX
Stevemchey From United States of America, joined Feb 2009, 338 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 19 hours ago) and read 2795 times:
I just sold a 36x24 print to Alaska Airlines and they happily paid me $300. The way the whole deal went down made me believe they would have paid more if I'd have asked, but I was honestly happy with that. However, in my case, I did the prep work myself and took care of the printing for them. Also, they were not interested in any rights to the photo, just a single print.
First off, I would check with the hotel if they are interested in a one time use (for multiple prints) or if they want the rights to the image. If the latter is the case, the price goes up. Also, check with them if they are doing the prep work and printing or if they want you to do it. Prepping for such a large print can be quite time consuming and difficult, so take that into consideration when you set the price.
Good luck and if I can be of any additional help feel free to contact me.
Avrich From New Zealand, joined Apr 2009, 62 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 6 months 1 week 13 hours ago) and read 2728 times:
Quoting Dazbo5 (Reply 3): In my experience, once they know you won't be sending them a copy for free, you often don't hear back from them and they just keep sending emails to photographers with similar shots until they get someone willing to send them a photo for free. That's why we all need to stand together!
I agree! We must not undermine each other.
Weather photography is a hobby or part/full time income, equipment is expensive and your time is worth something.
Some people think creating great images is as simple as "pressing a button". Those who supply their work for free do nothing but reinforce this idea.
I hope you get a good price.
"Time....the fighter pilots enemy" Flt Lt CJW Roscoe Tanner 1962-1991
MWHCVT From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 573 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (3 years 6 months 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 2634 times:
Not wanting to hijack the thread but also not wanting to start a thread as it is not an aviation photography question, I have been approached ref the purchase of this picture to reproduced on canvas for a persons home (kind of shocked as a newbie to photography) what should I ask for? they have asked my price, also they are interested in set of 5 based on this theme if it prints well
Matt
Must think up a new one soon, slow moving brain trying to get into gear ;)
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 2568 posts, RR: 2 Reply 9, posted (3 years 6 months 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 2594 times:
Hi Matt,
I think the above applies to any photo really. If they won't make you an offer, ask yourself what you think they are worth. How big do they want to print them? How many copies of each do they want? Are they printing them or you (costs / time)? If they just want a couple of each to hang on the wall then I'd probably ask about £20-30 for the photos (for the set) as it's only small reproduction, you aren't giving away any copyright and they're for use in a persons home. That's just me though, I'm sure others will think differently!
Darren
Equipment: 2x Canon EOS 50D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-105 f/4 L, Speedlite 430EX
Dendrobatid From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2004, 1605 posts, RR: 65 Reply 10, posted (3 years 6 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2585 times:
Quoting Stevemchey (Reply 4): I just sold a 36x24 print to Alaska Airlines and they happily paid me $300.
Now there is a real irony as Alaskan Airlines complained about their aircraft images being available for sale on the site so all were withdrawn from the prints for sale option (when that was working)
MWHCVT From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2008, 573 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 years 6 months 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 2581 times:
Quoting Dazbo5 (Reply 9): I think the above applies to any photo really. If they won't make you an offer, ask yourself what you think they are worth. How big do they want to print them? How many copies of each do they want? Are they printing them or you (costs / time)? If they just want a couple of each to hang on the wall then I'd probably ask about £20-30 for the photos (for the set) as it's only small reproduction, you aren't giving away any copyright and they're for use in a persons home. That's just me though, I'm sure others will think differently!
Thanks for the advice Darren, I was thinking that appox £20 would be a resonable price, all I am going to have to do is email the file, they are dealing will the production of the print.
I'll see what they offer and go from there
Matt
Must think up a new one soon, slow moving brain trying to get into gear ;)
Opso1 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 527 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (3 years 6 months 4 days 1 hour ago) and read 2468 times:
I've had an offer of $9000 from them this morning to sell the images to them for them to use as they want (some will be printed in different sizes, but all I have to do is e-mail the images) in around 450 hotels (around 900 prints, so $10 per print). It's more than I was hoping for! I'd still retain the copyright on them to sell elsewhere. Is there anything else I should state as a term of the sale?
It'll be black and white versions of these ones...
GST From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2008, 927 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2445 times:
Whilst I havent sold any of my pictures before, you might want to take anything I say with a pinch of salt, but I'd yank their hand off. The price per image isnt amazing, but the volume makes up for that massively, its $9000 you otherwise wouldnt have and you wont have lost any rights.
Maybe ask if you can put your name very small in the bottom right like an artists signature incase anyone who looks at it wants to buy some too can look you up, but even without that its a good deal.
Dazbo5 From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2005, 2568 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 23 hours ago) and read 2440 times:
Quoting Opso1 (Reply 12): I've had an offer of $9000 from them this morning
I would agree with GST and snatch their hand off with an offer like that! There's no point in trying to negotiate further as I think that's quite a fair offer considering they'll be doing everything and just want the photos emailing to them. When you send the photos, make sure you send an invoice with them as well. It doesn't have to be anything spectacular, just a simple 'supply photos for printing and display', followed by the sale amount. Microsoft Word etc have invoice templates you can use. Fingers crossed everything goes through ok, congratulations
Darren
Equipment: 2x Canon EOS 50D; Sigma 10-20 EX DC HSM, 50-500 EX APO DG, Canon 24-105 f/4 L, Speedlite 430EX
INNflight From Austria, joined Apr 2004, 3765 posts, RR: 62 Reply 15, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2416 times:
I agree, the offer is good, esp. as you will not have any printing / preping costs.
Seriously, you're not doing this full time, 9 grand is a great amount of money, even more so in the current economy.
BTW....:
As you mention you are surprised at the offer and you thought it would be less....
Let this be a great example for anyone who thinks that their photos are worth nothing, and especially that if you'd sell those through a micro-stock agency, like shutterstock, THEY COULD GET EXACTLY THE SAME PRODUCT for their large project, and you'd get what? 25cents?
Opso1 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2005, 527 posts, RR: 1 Reply 16, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 2412 times:
I've e-mailed them back and they are happy to put my name in the corner and will have my details to hand for anyone who wants a copy for themselves.
It just goes to show that you never know who could be looking at your photos and why they may be looking at them! I've just got to see what Wifie will allow me to spend the money on (new lenses or new sofas???)...
Thanks very much for all your advice!
Now, who knows of any greeting card manufacturers I can approach???
Iamlucky13 From United States of America, joined Aug 2007, 227 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 2357 times:
Excellent news! And they have great taste in classic aircraft, too.
It does sound like a lot of money, but $10 licensing premium per print is probably less than they'll spend just printing them, and certainly than they'll spend framing and hanging them. It sounds like both sides are getting a good deal, and that's exactly how business transactions should work.
DRAIGONAIR From Netherlands, joined Oct 2000, 705 posts, RR: 6 Reply 18, posted (3 years 6 months 3 days ago) and read 2301 times:
Sure is great OPSO1, good job!
Im getting some emails also and i state a price which is fair, but usually they think its too much. I will try the idea of asking them 'how much are you willing to pay' beacuse thats what you did right?
Chuck9941 From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 188 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (3 years 6 months 2 days 15 hours ago) and read 2261 times:
Quoting Dendrobatid (Reply 10): Now there is a real irony as Alaskan Airlines complained about their aircraft images being available for sale on the site so all were withdrawn from the prints for sale option (when that was working)
Mick Bajcar
exactly what I was thinking. I remember getting those emails saying that my AS photos could not be marked for sale.
OPSO congrats on the sale. 450 hotels is a huge placement. Would be fun if you walk into one and see your shot on display sometime down the road.
Oh, it's a big pretty white plane with red stripes, curtains in the windows and wheels and it looks like a big Tylenol.
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