Business model for Commonwealth Games photos?

[jiti_chadha]

<p>I'm a freelance photographer who will have media accreditation for all the events at the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi (Oct. 2010). I wont be committed and thus can offer my services to anyone. Even customization to specific athletes from interested countries is possible.<br>

Any suggestions as to what would be the best business model for me?<br>

Who would be the interested parties and how does one get in touch with them?<br>

Also, how does one price photos in such a case?<br>

I dont have experience at this level but have covered State/National level sporting events.<br>

Thanks in advance.</p>

[starvy]

<p>Hello Jiti,<br>

What kind of work have you done before? Do you have contacts in the press? Are you expecting your work to be published as web or print content?</p>

[mikael_karlsson]

<p>Contact newspapers in smaller countries that will have athletes in the games but would have no coverage of their own and offer your services as a stringer.<br /><br />But, like Starvy points out, you'll have a much better chance at getting takers if you can show experience and quality samples.<br /><br />Make sure you take accurate notes and provide excellent caption information with any images. I'd set up an account at SmugMug, Zenfolio or similar and simply point any publishers that might be interested to those galleries. Send out e-mails when you upload new coverage. Upload new images as fast as humanly possible.<br /><br />Pricing for this type of images I have no idea. Understand though that newspapers aren't exactly known for paying well. If you can find a local writer so you can provide images with text, you'll have much better chances at getting takers - especially if you can offer non-mainstream stuff.</p>

[Jerry_]

<p>Does a organization (office) exist for the Commonwealth Games? If one does, the leader of that organization may have some input as to what you can do with your images.</p>

<p>Like NASCAR in the U.S., or the National Football League, the organization's president has some major say in what may be done with images from their sport. Posting photos on the Internet is not a concern, but when you sell images for a profit, they have a interest in sharing your $$$s.</p>

<p> </p>

[mikael_karlsson]

<p>Jerry:<br /><br />Few sports organizations outside the US are actually so controlling/greedy. Most give you access once accredited and don't care what you do with the images as long as it isn't things like using editorial images commercially etc. In Sweden, and most of Europe, this is due in part to strong unions for photographers/journalists and unions have made it clear to organizers that if their demands are too stringent the event(s) won't receive any coverage.<br /><br />But you do indeed bring up a valid point to check with the organizers if there are any rules as far as image usage goes. Typically that information should find in the press kit sent out to accredited photographers/journalists.</p>

[Jerry_]

<p>"Few sports organizations outside the US are actually so controlling/greedy."</p>

<p><strong>Ha!</strong> Have you heard of the International Olympics Committee?</p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>Thanks for the replies guys.</p>

<p>The press kit only says "Photographs being taken on the competition and non- competition venues of the Commonwealth Games 2010 Delhi on the occasion of the Games are to be used for editorial publications only and not for commercial or advertising purposes."</p>

<p>I guess that gives me a pretty free hand ?</p>

<p>I dont really care if its web or print content. </p>

<p>Getting in touch with the smaller newspapers etc. is a great idea and I'll start my research on that. Setting up an account with smugmug or zenfolio will also be done soon. </p>

<p>My limitation is that I dont have too much sports related stuff - its mainly wildlife and photojournalism etc.</p>

<p>I feel my USP is that there wont be many freelance journalists at the event since most of them are committed to their organisations or media houses and can not sell freely.</p>

<p>The big question is pricing. How does one go about it?</p>

<p>Does one quote differently for web and print?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance.</p>

[Charles_Webster]

<p>There are pricing guides available for stock and assignment photography<br>

Try FotoQuote software by www.cradoc.com<br>

Or these web calculators<br>

http://www.photographersindex.com/stockprice.htm<br>

http://www.sethresnick.com/price/price.html</p>

[mikael_karlsson]

<p>Jerry:<br /><br />I sure have. I've also worked with a bunch of organizations in other countries and have had zero restrictions applied. Just because IOC are complete b@$t@rds doesn't mean all sport organizations are. I have friends who cover soccer and hockey in Europe and have no restrictions at all imposed. They are accredited, get full access and the organizations expect nothing else aside from coverage if possible.<br /><br />*******<br /><br />Jiti:<br /><br />Pricing would vary wildly between papers and countries. A photo that a US newspaper would pay $50 for might sell for $250 to a German or Swedish paper. It might also sell for $5 to a paper in Bangladesh... When you ask papers if they might be interested in having you send them photos from the event ask them about their fee schedule. Most newspapers have set rates for pretty much anything but breaking news and big scoops.</p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>Mikael, Thanks a lot for your input.<br>

How does selling photos on the web work?<br>

Would it be a good idea to send a contact sheet to say Reuters or Zuma or AFP/AP or Getty images or maybe someone else who could then pick and choose and pay for whatever they use?<br>

Thanks once again</p>

[Jerry_]

<p>"Getty images..." You need to do a Google search to find the Getty web-site and information on submitting images to them. They have some size requirement (I think) and they follow strict standards as to quality for images other than really, really newswothy shots (i.e., a Space Shuttle mishap upon landing...)</p>

<p> </p>

[Jerry_]

<p>"Getty images..." You need to do a Google search to find the Getty web-site and information on submitting images to them. They have some size requirement (I think) and they follow strict standards as to quality for images other than really, really newswothy shots (i.e., a Space Shuttle mishap upon landing...)</p>

<p>Please check</p>

<p>http://www.photo.net/business-photography-forum/00WZvt</p>

<p>for some current back-and-forth on Getty, as well.</p>

<p> </p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>Thanks Jerry. When you say size requirement do you mean minimum resolution etc.?<br>

What about some of the other web based folks?<br>

And is it a good idea to say 'heres my stuff - pay me for whatever you use' ?</p>

[mikael_karlsson]

<p>Jiti:<br /><br />Put low resolution images up that the papers etc can pick from. Then have them request the high-res file from you (and you can deliver by e-mail or ftp) because that way you will know which files were sent to which newspaper/magazine.<br /><br />Jerry is absolutely right in that Getty (as well as other agencies) have requirements as far as file size, resolution, format etc goes. Often agencies also have a list of which cameras are "acceptable" for them. It's not easy to be accepted by Getty and getting your photos accepted is even harder. If you want to go the agency route instead of selling directly to the papers/magazines I recommend you find an agency that specialize in sports. Agencies take anywhere from 40% (alamy.com) and up of the fees the newspaper/magazine etc pays for using your images. On the other hand they are good at marketing images to markets it might be hard to reach otherwise. It's also nice to have an agency that does all the work as far as licensing, accepting payments etc so you can concentrate on photographing. Before signing up with any agency spend time reading (and understanding) the contract you will sign.</p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>Thanks Mikael<br>

Agencies definitely have the advantage of taking care of the marketing etc. But I figure that if I can manage to sell directly - after all it is limited to the Commonwealth countries only - it might be more fruitful than trying to get accepted by an agency.<br>

I'm not sure of a few things:<br>

1. Does one have to be previously accepted by an agency or does one just send in a contact sheet kind of thing and hope they like/want something? And if that happens, how does one price it? Also, is there any site which lists out the contact emails of these agencies?<br>

2.Is the nett after the agencies take their cut likely to be more or less than a direct to newspaper/magazine sale?<br>

3. Which are the agencies that specialise in sport?<br>

I dont foresee a problem as far as acceptance of equipment is concerned ( 7D, 24-70 f2.8, 70-200 2.8IS, 300 f2.8 IS, 1.4TC, Gitzo monopod and if I see it working out then I will get the 1D mrk iv before the Games)<br>

Thanks once again for all the help</p>

 

[Jerry_]

<p>"1. .... one just send in a contact sheet kind of thing and hope they like/want something?" </p>

<p>Probably not. This is the electronic age: the runner or jumper that sets a record on Saturday, is news on Sunday. Three weeks later, the next race is on and no one will have much (newspaper or magazine) interest in the old images you have available. The runner or jumper may look into buying a print or two for their scrapbooks, but beyond that .......?</p>

<p> </p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>No Jerry, what I meant was I send the low res contact sheet right away - within two or three hours from the record being set. These get sent out to a number of agencies and one hopes one or the other likes what they see and uses it and pays me for it.</p>

[mikael_karlsson]

<p>Jiti:<br /><br />You sign up with an agency ahead of time. How you should submit your images vary from agency to agency since they all have different "rules" that encompass things like file size, format, how to upload etc. You absolutely want an agency where you can upload high res images and they go on sale pretty much instantly.<br /><br />Agencies set their own pricing so you wouldn't need to worry about that. <br /><br />Personally I have had a great working relationship with Alamy and would recommend them warmly. They have recently started a route to upload news and reportage photos much faster than the "normal" way submissions go. Alamy is based in the UK so they might be a really good fit for you. Check them out at http://www.alamy.com and if you have any questions after checking them out I'd be happy to help.<br /><br />Alamy will take 40% of the sale price and that's pretty cheap as far as agencies go. The most recent licensing of one of my images they did a couple of days ago was for $340 for spot size in a brochure. Of this $340 Alamy will deduct their cut (40 %) which will be $136, so my cut for this particular sale is $340 minus Alamy's cut of $136, which leaves me with $204.<br /><br />As far as other agencies go I'd recommend that you check out Getty Images, Corbis, etc. Most agencies have worldwide distribution. For something like this I'd probably look at a number of different agencies. Just make sure you sign with agencies that are non-exclusive and you'll be able to send the same photos to a number of agencies. Alamy has a really good network of distributors all over the place.<br /><br />I agree 100% with Jerry that it is crucial that you get the images up instantly. Think of your photos being used for websites of newspapers, online news agencies, TV stations etc. The day after isn't acceptable these days if you want to be able to offer your images as current affairs/news.<br /><br />Agencies typically does not buy images or pay for images on acceptance. Think of them as a broker of your images. They'll market your images to their contacts, collect payment for the usages from the clients and <strong>then</strong> pay you (when payments from clients have cleared typically).</p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>Thanks Mikael for a very comprehensive response.<br>

Just had a quick look at the Alamy site.<br>

Just wondering how does an agency realise the news / urgency value of the photo, what with thousands of photos being uploaded daily?<br>

How does one get accepted at places like Getty Images or Corby?<br>

Also, which are the agencies which specialise in sports?<br>

Thanks for all the help so far guys.</p>

 

[mikael_karlsson]

<p>Jiti:<br /><br />You apply to the agencies. At Getty info about joining them for the sports section is at http://contributors.gettyimages.com/workwithus/article.asp?article_id=1105<br /><br />Alamy has a special upload route for news/reportage etc images (and coverage from large international sporting events would absolutely fall under this category at Alamy) where you submit them in a different way compared to "regular" submissions. <br /><br />For Alamy, you can find information about signing up at http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/sell-images.asp<br /><br />I don't photograph sports - unless you count criminals trying to run away from the cops as sports - so I don't have much personal experience from agencies specializing in sports. ASPP have a good comprehensive agency listing on their website though and that should be worth it to check out for you. You can find that here: http://www.aspp.com/index.php/find-a-pro/spapro<br /><br />One good way to find agencies that specialize in various things is to search for images and look at credit lines/bylines. Leaf through magazine with coverage from the last time the games were held and see if you can find agency names for some of those photos.</p>

[jiti_chadha]

<p>Thanks once again Mikael and Jerry for all your help.</p>