Selling yourself, or your work

Here's an example http://www.photoagencynews.com/

I would approach a couple of agencies and see what they say. Agencies seem to specialise in a particular type of photo's

Heres a thought, contact a university that runs Advertising and marketing courses get hold of one or several lectures and quiz them. Ask for agency reccomendations.

Call advertising agencies and quiz them. Just tell them your problem and see what they say. Dont give to many exact details ie the clients.

Good luck!

Most stock photos we buy from the stock photo places online cost about $200-350. Less if it is low res. More if it is high res.


Are you selling the rights to the picture or selling them usage?

I believe some art photographers charge based on usage. You get limited rights to use it in certain circumstances. Less if it will be used in a brochure. More if it will be used in an ongoing ad campaign.

Unless you are famous you won't be charging $20,000 for a single shot. If they wanted to hire a professional photographer to go reshoot the shots you have taken it could cost them several thousand dollars. Don't charge more than it would cost them to do that.

If you think this will be an ongoing campaign, negotiate how much usage they get for the price. Maybe even a fee each time it is used in a new piece. A yearly usage fee might be one of the best ways if you think it will last for a while.

I suppose what parados said is done worldwide.

Some of my pics have been been published in newpapers and magazines just for a couple of $$ or I gave them for free.

Those in (guide-) books got the equivalent of (plus/minus) $200 (depending on the publication).

Parados' pov seems useful...

(I've had a photo featured in the LA Times, in an early photo of the week thing, but so what. Not a career deal.)

You say this company has already offered to buy your work?

Kinda off the subject, but I was watching a Suzy Orman 2 hour show I'd taped, specifically about women and money.

She was saying one of the big things women in business do is underprice their product. She sited the example of women who are afraid to raise their prices because they fear their customers will abandon them, so just work more hours to make up the difference.

I know you're a confident woman, so am I, but I think almost all us female types have this niggling notion that we're not worth it.

I say if you have them on the hook already, and they want your work, go for the high end of what you're comfortable with. Tell them $1,000 a picture, or $1,500 or $2,000.

How do famous photographers get famous? There are tons of talented people out there, they get famous by selling their product and letting the world see it. It you price yourself so you're barely covering expenses, your customer will look upon your work as cheap to come by.

One thing Suzy said during that show that really resonated with me personally was "Don't put yourself on sale"

In other words, don't put yourself in the 75% off clearance rack with all the other stuff that couldn't be unloaded at a decent price.

If the company balks and can show you are legitamately overpriced, then you've had a learning experience.

I do not believe opportunity knocks only once. I think that's an expression people use to get you to act in desparation.

Don't put yourself in the bargin bin shewolf.

it is very high res.
It, as it stands could be printed on a 5x7 ( foot) silk screen and not show a single pixel.
Possibly even larger..



I don't want to give away the rights.
This picture is fabulous and part of my OWN adds. I love it to death because I really enjoy the child in it. I want to keep it as a part of my adds.
It is on my business cards at the moment in fact.
So then I guess I should be looking at selling usage instead of giving it over to them completely.
Maybe I should get a lawyer?




I can only WISH to be famous at this point.
But when this is over, I just might be. hehe

No. 20 grand is not in my scope and I know that.
Im thinking more along the lines of a few, or even a single thousand dollars.



I know this will be an ongoing campaign.
And I think a yearly usage fee would be perfect.

The last time they used an image for an add campaign ( this is a company like.. err... red cross... ) it ran for about 2 years in mailers, on print -newspapers and such-, TV commercials, billboards, flyers, you name it.
And this new campaign has its same 'goals'. ( to reach everyone) But I am not sure if it will leave Texas.
I think it is supposed to.
The goal behind the campaign is to get the cost of daycare lowered for EVERYONE by this company giving donated money to schools for supplies and teacher pay. So that what comes out of parents hands can possibly be a little less each year.
Since this is not just for lower income families, it will rely on donations from everyone in every income bracket.

it sounds pretty big to me.

is this one of Bean? or another child? if another child don't forget the legal/permission/cost implications of that.

Good luck and well done - it's deserved, your work is lovely.

Selling work is somewhat confusing process, i totally understand. I'm currently going to school for graphic arts, and the only thing i really know is that in an instant such as your, that work really is your work. You Must insure that it stays that way. What you really should be doing is finding out how you can sell the rights to use your work. Never sell your work, just the rights, that way you still own it, not them. Personnally i go to great lengths to insure that my work stays MINE. I've done a few jobs while attending school, and I guess the real difference is I sell them my time, not the finished product. Sure they get to use it, but i still own it. sorry this was a bit of a rant, but i really hope it helps! If you have any questions feel free to shoot me a line.

Shane