[MBrannon]

I've just been contacted by a marketing firm for a nationwide restaurant that also hosts car and bike shows, and they were wondering what I would charge for the rights to reproduce 4 of my images for a coaster set. They will probably sell these in their stores, as well as their website.

I've sold a few prints and done a few private shoots, but have never been asked for pricing where they want to reproduce my photos to sell.

Can someone give me a good idea of what would be a reasonable price to ask? I need to let them know within the next day or so.

Thanks =)

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Last edited by MBrannon; 08-02-2013 at 08:35 PM.

[Kozlok]

If the coaster sets are to be sold, I'd negotiate a percentage. I'd want 20% of the profits (not 20% of the gross).

[thedollarbill]

It'd also be nice to ask how much their budget is. Firstly, it makes THEM make the move not you. So if it is above your expectations then it would be a gain for you. If it is lower, then you can explain how you would like more or even just take it if it is a reasonable amount of money. Allowing the client to make the move, in my opinion, makes the conversation more friendly and less awkward, especially about negotiating prices.

Good luck,
-Steve

[Colbyt]

I have zero experience in such matters so keep that first in your mind. I don't perceive

but have never been asked for pricing where they want to reproduce my photos to sell.

this type of reproduction as selling your prints to others. At least not like artwork sales. The images compliment the product being sold; they are not the product. In my mind I would be wanting more money for art work or poster sales than I would for something like this.

I really like what thedollarbill said as a starting point. Having known and dealt with a few accountants in my time I would never sell anything for a % of the profit. Percent of gross profit after cost of goods maybe if it was really well defined what went into the cost of goods amount. It is a far cleaner transaction for all parties to negotiate a fee and perhaps a royalty per unit than any other method.

Then one should consider what if any photo credit, the exposure derived from that, what if any opportunity there would be to sell the prints as artwork or posters and how much you would like to do it. The pros and semi-pros on this forum are going to encourage you to keep the price high because that is what they would do. The truth is you need to cut a deal that makes you feel good and strive to please no one else.

[thedollarbill]

Then one should consider what if any photo credit, the exposure derived from that, what if any opportunity there would be to sell the prints as artwork or posters and how much you would like to do it. The pros and semi-pros on this forum are going to encourage you to keep the price high because that is what they would do. The truth is you need to cut a deal that makes you feel good and strive to please no one else.

To add quickly to this, exposure derived from photos can be a big boost for your own work, and even if it is lower than what you expected it is probably a better idea for you to take the job (and the money) and benefit from an extra experience, and additional exposure for your work. But all in all, your own opinion is important too, if you're really getting underpaid then don't take it. (And I've just looked at your website and your work is pretty good so I don't think they would try to underpay you of any sorts)

Once again,
Good luck!

-Steve

[MBrannon]

Thank you everyone for your responses! This all sounds like good advice. The company is Quaker Steak & Lube. They have about 60 locations around the US and 1 or 2 in Canada. I know it's only for a coaster set (not art prints or the like), but I'm pretty excited that they are interested in my photos. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks =)

[Colbyt]

Hey, just in case, I surely wasn't putting it down. I would be delighted and proud if I were you.

[rawr]

My 2c

Don't forget to include in the deal words to the effect that:

(a) you are licensing the images to them non-exclusively [ie there is nothing to stop you reselling the same images in another form later to someone else]. If they want exclusive use, it will cost more;
(b) their use of the images is limited to a set of coasters only for company X, for sale by them as described 'in store and on their web site' [ie if they want to use the images to make posters or billboards or T-shirts etc, or the ad agency wants to re-use the images in another campaign, then a new deal will need to be negotiated].

[BrianR]

No experience with this at all, but you might want to check out some of the rights managed stock websites. Alamy and Getty have an automated system where you fill in the usage details for a photo and they give you a price. I checked Alamy, and they don't have 'coasters' as an option, but they do have 'mousepads'. This might give you a starting point.

Edit-I just looked at your Flickr and you have some interesting stuff. It also made me wonder about needing property releases if the images they were interested in were of identifiable vehicles.

[MBrannon]

Well, I e-mailed them back on this and haven't heard anything since. So, i guess they've decided to go another route. Thanks for all the replies and good info though. =)

[nomadkng]

For what it's worth, in my experience pricing for non exclusive single use images (ie coasters only not posters, billboards etc) for national distribution ranges from 100-500 PER image. I have a fellow photographer who sold an image to a band for an album cover for 5000, but that was beyond MY personal norm.

Stock photography is tricky if it's not current events. In your case, 4 images for about 250-300 would probably have been reasonable, especially non exclusive rights. Almost no one will give you a percentage of profits unless you are a heavyweight and established in the business.