Usage fee estimate for international company

I have recently been asked to photograph exteriors of multiple buildings for an international siding company. Buildings were damaged as a result of hurricane Irma last fall and are being resided by this company. Company wants to use images for their product catalogue, a blog, a video, and social media. They want perpetual usage so they don't have to worry about usage rights expiring. They expect that they will want approx. 10 images total. They also want to share the images with their partners (the owners of the buildings). I am unsure of how to create the usage fees - I have never worked with a company of this size. I looked on my blink bid software. They have a usage fee estimate worksheet. According to that, I would be charging up to $5,000 per image! That seems excessively high, but like I said, it may be accurate when dealing with a company of this stature and wealth and considering what they want to do with the photos from an advertising standpoint. Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated. I don't want to overbid and potentially lose them, but I also want to get paid what is fair. Thanks!

The old rule may apply - "If it seems to be too good to be true, it usually is." Venture forward with care, research the organization, and seek for legal advice before signing anything. Years ago, I did a "large for me" job, with a contract I had written - fortunately I got an advance payment that covered my expenses. They paid in full, eventually. Get some money down.

I do hope that it is a genuine opportunity for you!

As a commercial photographer, it's important to consider the value of your photographs as well as the effort it takes to do the photography. There are other factors as well: you'll also want to consider the uniqueness of your photography - are you being asked to shoot this job because you approach it differently than any one else (for your "style" or "eye") or could any guy with camera shoot it? If you're sought out for your creativity, you can charge more. The value of the photograph has to do with the intended usage and the usage you grant. If these are images that can host an international ad campaign, then you should be getting top dollar for them. If they can only be used for someone's local social media, then it's got a very low value and should have a low usage fee. My main line for estimates is "creative fee and usage" which takes into account how difficult the assignment is, how unique is the approach, and how great is the usage. If your client is making the images available to 3d party companies, then all bets are off for you maintaining any control over the images - I would consider this a buyout and double or triple your usage rate. Lastly, were you selected because you are local or from a national pool? Obviously, if the latter, you have to consider that you're bidding against other national photographers, which would indicate a higher rate. Regardless of what you decide, speaking candidly with the client and getting as much information as possible is always advisable. When you speak to them, be sure to really listen instead of just giving your thoughts - most clients will tell you exactly what they're looking for and what their budget is if you let them expound. Good luck and I hope it works out for you! Best, David Shopper, www.davidshopper.com.

There is a newer thread with a virtually identical situation. The OP here hasn't been seen since 22 October.