Pricing for usage of photos shot for a different client...

Hi All,

I'm stumped on how to figure pricing for this particular situation. I shoot interiors for designers, builders, architects, etc. I recently completed a shoot for the designers of a renovation. The builder would now like to buy usage rights for those sots. The designer has not problems with it since they will be cross promoting each other. My normal pricing structure does not itemize out usage, and the shoot and finishing work were all paid for by the designer. I'm thinking I charge per image for usage but am not sure what that rate should be. Any ideas or suggestions?

Thanks!

How will the builder be using them?

Did you grant the designers "exclusive rights?"

I assume you did not transfer the copyright or shoot for hire...

 

Usually rights costs are calculated on the basis of specific usage, but in my work I often granted "broad rights" which excluded resale etc. I have charged $300-$1500 for broad rights to photos from shoots paid for by other clients. It depends on their profile and usage.

Thanks for your response Charles. The designers do not have exclusive rights nor did I transfer the copyright. Builder will use the phots for promotional purposes: his website, Houzz site, Instagram, print ads, etc. for unlimited time period. No editorial submissions. The other part of this equation is that we only shot half of the House due to the homeowners time constraints. We will go back for another shoot to do the rest of the rooms. The designer is hiring me for this, but the builder will also be interested in these additional shots. Should I continue as I am for the first half of the shoot charging the designer my regular fee and the builder per photo for usage? Or work out some other deal up front before the next shoot for some kind of shared fee? Thanks for any advice as I’ve never had to deal with this situation before. As a side note, I’ve worked with the builder before on his other homes so he is familiar with my regular shoot fees.

As an architect, my contractors and firm frequently share the costs for professional photography of completed projects. We then share rights for use of the images for promotional purposes. I'm not at liberty to share rates, but it would seem reasonable to make a joint arrangement between the designer and builder to share both costs and image rights.

Thank you David for your perspective from the other side of this. I think going forward with this project, I will take that approach of having all involved share the cost.

The sharing rates would be a marked up rate not your regular rate. Additional people interested in photos from a previous shoot will pay a higher rate than just a per picture rate.

Pricing shoots and prints separately avoids this problem, but many don't do it that way.

 

The easy way would be to charge the builder the regular price for the second shoot, at which point both sides are equal, as far as shoot costs.

 

Then figure out print costs, as you normally would for extra prints, or digital file costs in the normal way, paid by each, separately.

It all depends on how your contract was written with the initial client.

Is the second half of the shoot is still part of the first contract or a separate contract?

 

Since your client already paid you for the photos, it may complicate a new contract with the other client for the same photos. At that point you will need the initial client's permission in writing to allow the builder to use his photos. Somewhere down the line one party or the other will complicate your life. Clear it all up now.

 

Id make amendments to the existing contract signed by everyone involved. have both parties added in the wording with specific usage rights. You can base your new fee with both parties sharing the cost increase... but it all has to be done in writing.

Edited April 26, 2018 by William Michael