Airliners.net

Hey guys,

I saw the recent help thread dealing with a request another user received. I didn't want to hijack his thread so here is my own...

I was contacted about using a photo for a website. The request comes from a company who supplies engines for the specific aircraft in my shot. The initial request was brief. They just asked for permission to use the photo with credit to me and a.net. I asked for a little more info about the site and they responded with a link to the site template so I could see how it's going to look.

I'm just not sure when it's appropriate to ask for compensation for websites. From the looks of it, the intent of the image on their page is to provide an example of a plane using engines supplied by them. It's not elaborately incorporated into the layout design or anything.

I don't mind supplying an image for free IF it's appropriate to do so. Or maybe it's better to say, when expectations of monetary compensation isn't appropriate. We really should have a general thread about this stuff. Or a guide much like the rejection guide created by folks with lots of experience with photo requests and sales. Especially if most think photographers should charge for their work.

Just wondering how one should generally approach requests for websites.

Thanks

My opinion: if an engine manufacturer wants to use your photo, this is because they think this is advantageous to them. It doesn't matter if it is a straight advertisement or not, and if it's on a website or something else. Therefore I'd insist on payment.

Peter 

My opinion: as soon as a photo is requested for commercial purpose, be it on the net, it deserves money compensation. Because THEY will make money out of it, one way or another.

Now, If you ask money, the risk is that they find someone else who give it for free. This is the real problem of photography nowadays. There are so many free photos on the net that the price you can get goes down and down.

Also, if your photo is rare or hard to reproduce (ex: air-to-air), you have better chances to get the money you claim.

So you have to determine what is important for you: be "recognised" by having your photo there, or be paid... (or both...)  

Good luck.
Cheers
Patrick

Thanks guys.

Quoting coninpa (Reply 2): Also, if your photo is rare or hard to reproduce (ex: air-to-air), you have better chances to get the money you claim.

I consider the shot to be rare. A 747SP doing a LOW pass...   But this site does have a few more photos of the same aircraft.

Quoting Silver1SWA (Thread starter): We really should have a general thread about this stuff.

We did.

My view is: If they will make money from it, they don't get free shots from me.

Any business that makes money should be paying for your photos, bottom line. We spend a lot of time our own time and money to get our photos only to have someone else make money from them.

After their first email, my reply is usually along the lines of "Can you please tell me more about the photo's usage so I can determine and accurate price quote for you," and ask about application, size, views it will receive, etc. This lets them know from the beginning that you intend to charge them for it.

Some companies, however, simply can't afford too much. I tend to set a price that pro shooters in other industries would charge. I then apply various discounts in consideration with that specific business.

As an example using just some of the info you're providing, if a business came to me and wanted to use my photo on their website...maybe about 400 pixels wide to permanantly sit on their home page. That photo then becomes a major part of their brand, will be seen by many. My initial price would be about $300US. From there, I consider the company. Maybe they don't make too much to begin with, so maybe I'd lower that to $75, or even lower. But an engine manufacturer, I'd charge them full price. Companies like that deal with millions, and they should be able to afford full price.

I myself give photos away for free, assuming my labor is light, to educational institutions and fellow enthusiast sites, and sometimes governmetn organizations.

Thank you Phil. That's very helpful.