How much should I charge?

A woman e-mailed me saying she had seen one of my pictures online and asked if I would sell her a copy of my original file. She said she wanted to have it blown up and put on canvas.

My question is, what price should I charge her? I want to be fair, but I don't want to underprice myself, either.

Also, since she will have a full-resolution copy of my photo, what is to stop her from making many prints made and selling them?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me. Thanks.

--StevenN

StevenN said:

..................> Also, since she will have a full-resolution copy of my photo, what
is to stop her from making many prints made and selling them?

I'd appreciate any advice anyone can give me. Thanks.

Click to expand...

The thing that stops her is the law. Unfortunately, it's not automatically enforced. No cop will knock on her door and arrest her for duplicating and selling your photos. It may take an expensive law suit. There is strong law on your side, but if anyone advises you to "sue", they most likely haven't been in a law suit, (or they're an attorney ready to take your money).

The best prevention is to be pro-active. I'm not going to advise you on what to charge, but I would suggest you find out how many copies she intends to make before you decide on a price.

Then, provide your images either in very low resolution or with a big "PROOF" watermark on them when it comes time for showing them around. Finally, when a particular image is selected, try to work directly with the company who's going to make the print on canvas. If it's a genuine company, they will most likely be VERY careful to not violate your copyright and honor your instructions about how many copies can be made. etc.

One good way to introduce your client to this idea is to claim that since you're the copyright holder, only YOU can give permission to the company doing the printing. This is an easy story to tell because it's true. This provides a natural way for you to deal directly with the printing company.

In other words, do whatever you can to prevent high res images from falling directly into the hands of your client.

You do NOT want to get involved with lawyers. And as a final thought I'll say, "You do NOT want to get involved with lawyers."

Good luck.

Bob

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It's up to you, but I would strongly urge you NOT to give her the file, original or otherwise. If she wants a print, you have it printed and ship it to her in a tube. Ask your local Pro printer and they will have them or can point you in the right direction. As for price, that's really something for you to decide. I know what I but you'll have to come up with a price yourself. Can you post the image here??
--
John

Visit my gallery below

http://www.betterphoto.com/gallery/gallery.asp?memberID=100286

Bob . . I couldn't help but get a chuckle from your last sentence . . well said
Lew
--
Lew Dunham

Hi I live in the Uk so rules might be a bit different, I use model release forms when taking people, when at weddings I hold the films or files from the digital for 5 years, then release them to the people if required, anyone that require a photo have to pay me for the prints so if asked for a canvas photo these are sent to the lab. If you took your photo in a public place you have a fair chance that you will still be able to hold the copyright, if the person was on private land and you took the photo without any forms then she will have the upper hand, I think I have this correct. Most of my work is landscape I do a lot of calander work and gallery work. Sorry can not help with a price as I would think the usa prices to the uk would not help.

If you are going to sell her a full-resollution softcopy of your picture, make sure you prepare a License Agreement stating the Terms of use for your picture and have the buyer sign it.

You can then specify things like whether the buyer is allowed unlimited use or only a single use (i.e., many prints or just one), where the image may or may not be displayed (e.g., not posting it online where others may download it for free), whether the image must be used as-is or if the buyer is allowed to modify it and if so in what way, etc.

If you search the web, you'll find lots of examples of License Agreements you can use as a starting point.

This signed agreement will help protect your copyright and will give you a legal foot to stand on if the buyer misuses your photo.

I had a couple of pictures published in a book and I made sure to have the author sign a License Agreement before I sent him the pictures to use.

Hope this helps.

--
Phil in Ottawa
http://www.pbase.com/pgammon

John,

This woman who contacted me is the mother of a young boy, who happens to be crazy about firetrucks and fireboats. She wants to purchase a copy of the original file so she can get a framed canvas print for his bedroom.

I really do not want things to get complicated here. Suppose I tell her I will have the canvas print made, and then she changes her mind? Or what if the print does not come out the way she thought it would and wants her money back, or ... a number of things could go wrong. Do I ask her for the money up front (mail me a check, I guess, assuming she lives in the U.S.; or go through paypal?)

Sorry, I have never sold my images before online, so I'm not sure what to do. Thanks for your advice.

Here is the image:

I saw that mpix.com now prints on canvas. If she wants a print for herslef, charge her for the print and deliver only the print.

... by the way, I was in Ottawa two weekends ago to attend my cousin's wedding. It was my first time there ... I am from Massachusetts. Ottawa is a beautiful city! Unfortunately, it rained the entire time we were there, due to the tropical storm that reached north. But we did take a walk downtown past the old Parliament buildings, etc. I would love to visit the city again!

--StevenN

... the consensus here is that I should send her a print, not a copy of the original file. But what I am trying to determine is what I should charge her for photo ... the creative part, not the canvas part! ;-) I mean, if she was to walk into a store, or, better yet, an art gallery, and saw the photo for sale, how much would it fetch in price? I know that is subjective -- I'm just trying to come up with a ballpark figure. But being that this is an individual buying the picture, and not some corporation or stock photography house, she's probably limited as to what she is willing to pay. Or, maybe not.

--StevenN

Sorry, I can't help. But that is a great image!
--
Cheers,

Wayne
http://www.pbase.com/wayne_n

StevenN said:

... by the way, I was in Ottawa two weekends ago to attend my
cousin's wedding. It was my first time there ... I am from
Massachusetts. Ottawa is a beautiful city! Unfortunately, it rained
the entire time we were there, due to the tropical storm that
reached north. But we did take a walk downtown past the old
Parliament buildings, etc. I would love to visit the city again!

--StevenN

Click to expand...

That's really cool Steven!

Do you mind me asking which hotel you were staying at (if you stayed in a hotel that is). I ask because my wife works in a small downtown boutique hotel and there was a big wedding going on there two weekends ago. Maybe it was your cousin's.

And I'm happy to see you enjoyed our city.

You mention the Parliament Buildings. I have a gallery of images taken there during the Sound and Lights Show they hold there every evening during the summer. Basically they project images and films on the main building while they play music and narrate the history of Canada. Here's an example:



You can see a few more if you follow the link to my PBase galleries below. The Sound and Lights gallery is in the My Photography gallery.

--
Phil in Ottawa
http://www.pbase.com/pgammon

Without seeing the pic, I don't know what to even suggest as a price. Have you sold photos before? It sounds like this is a first since you're asking for advice. (Not intended to be a slam.)

Personally, I would charge 2x whatever mpix is charging for the canvas print. If she balks, let her walk. Don't do it for free or cost. It seems like the hardest work is the pro bono stuff. They want everything since the price is right.

--
^
Cheers!

-R4

I happened to be visiting South Street Seaport one day when I saw the fireboat go by in the opposite direction, away from the bridge. I just lost a photo opportunity, I thought to myself. Well, my girlfriend and I left the platform and were walking away when I looked back over my shoulder and saw the fireboat starting to make a u-turn. So we ran back to the dock ... just in time for me to grab a shot of the boat going under the Brooklyn Bridge.

--StevenN

There is a website by the American Society of Media Photographers that has a step-by-step tutorial showing how to register an image with the Copyright Office:

http://www.asmp.org/

A Google search for "photograph use fee" produces a lot of interesting results, with the first page being mostly institutions like colleges and historical societies. The best one I found seems to be:

http://www.vahistorical.org/research/use_fees.htm

I say that because most of the "going rates" I've seen so far vary between $150 and $300 and they fall in that region.

It looks like the amount charged is scaled to the size of the end product wanted, even for use fees without making the actual print (or canvas reproduction as in this case).

Best of luck making a decision. It is a fine photograph and well worth whatever you decide to charge.

... We stayed in the Hotel Arc -- or, as they call it, Arc the Hotel. It was very nice. The wedding guests had booked a block of about 42 rooms. All of the hotel personnel were very friendly.

That is a very nice photo of the image projected on the Parliament building. When I have time later I will go to your pbase site and check out the rest. Thanks!

--StevenN

Sorry, I had posted the picture a few posts up -- I guess you didn't see it. The woman who wants is has a little boy who is crazy about fireboats and firetrucks. She wants to hang it in his bedroom.

Thanks

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I think it may depend on your future plans.

If you are a hobbiest, mostly shooting for your own pleasure I'd suggest keeping it simple as you suggested. Charge a nominal fee and feel flattered she asked.

If you are aiming towards more serious and professional activity as time goes on. this is a chance to begin to learn the ropes and procedures involved.

Personally, I'd be inclined to keep the price low, feel flattered, and use it as an occasion to consider what to do the next time. But then, I've never been much of a salesman.

Congratulations,
RLD