|
| Author | Thread |
|
|
07/07/2010 02:25:40 PM · #1 |
I have recently entered talks with a publishing company here in Malawi (southeastern Africa). Potential jobs include a solo photo book (which would potentially replace a well-known, but out-dated book, the only one of its kind on that topic), a joint photo/history book, some calendars, postcards, architecture shoots for advertising/tourist magazines, and a handful of other opportunities. I am absolutely ecstatic about all of this, so I don't want to make a rash decision just because I'm overexcited.
The head of the publishing company has given me a few different options for payments. This is a large African publishing company, but it's still pretty small compared to most other international publishing companies. The calendars and postcards will be sold mostly to tourists. Malawi does not have nearly as many tourists as other countries in the region. The books will be sold internationally, but mostly in Malawi and the UK. He said that the runs would be "smallish" and revenues would not be big enough to support lavish budgets that are common in the States.
The options are:
Per shot used or supplied
Per assignment with a minimum number of pics subjects
Other
Please help! |
|
|
|
07/07/2010 02:33:10 PM · #2 |
| I don't which option you should choose but this might help. |
|
|
|
07/07/2010 04:19:10 PM · #3 |
in the states, that stock calculator would be the first place i'd go to get ball park numbers. in Stefanie's case, i doubt if they'd come close.
as in most all cases, i recommend talking with the client and finding out what their budget is, what they would normally pay for something like this.
get an idea as to how many images they are looking for and put together a shotlist, then put that to a map and a calendar. work out the logistics of what you'd be shooting and how you would be shooting it. then you can start to get an idea as to how much effort is going to be involved. you also need to know what kind of turnaround time they are looking for, and how much post-production work you'll be responsible for.
you also need to know what type of rights they are looking for. do they want exclusive use of the images? if so, for how long? do they want unlimited use of the images? or, would you be able to do your own thing with them, including licensing them for stock?
the thing is, you are going to be in a position to capture images that are not that easy to come by. not just anyone is ready, willing, and able to take on such an assignment. there's value in that.
in addition to the value of your work, you have to know what you need for the work. if you had a regular, decent job, how much would you expect to make for the period of time you are going to have to put into this project? add the licensing value to that, and that should give you a starting point.
there's a huge difference between lavish and reasonable. just don't be taken advantage of...
good luck! |
|
|
|
07/07/2010 05:34:07 PM · #4 |
Thank you for the responses!
The stock site would be perfect if I were in the States, but I'm not sure how to translate those prices to the African market.
Skip, you definitely gave me a great list to help me make sure I cover everything. Thank you for that! It will come in handy over the next few weeks!
This has all happened very fast, so I don't have all the details of everything yet. I definitely plan on getting as much information on these shoots as I can. I'm also an obsessive researcher, so I should be able to figure out all my costs and what I will need to make everything worthwhile, as well as a bunch of information that might affect the shoots in even the slightest ways : )
I'm leaning towards saying that I want to be paid per assignment, not per image used, just in case a project gets sacked before publication. But then I keep thinking that I could ask for more for each image used because when it gets closer to publication, I will have a better idea of how big the runs will be.
Hmm, I guess I'm still on the fence about that part. |
|
|
|
07/08/2010 05:50:05 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by geinafets:
I'm leaning towards saying that I want to be paid per assignment, not per image used, just in case a project gets sacked before publication. But then I keep thinking that I could ask for more for each image used because when it gets closer to publication, I will have a better idea of how big the runs will be. |
stefanie, this is a tough call, but i think you're on the right track. definitely do all your research, because, at the end of the day, it's going to come down to simple numbers - and those numbers have to be something that you can live with.
keeping it simple, look at it like this. you've got to get enough to cover your time and effort, as well as cover the value of what you are producing. they've got to balance you and a whole host of other costs in determining what they can afford to spend and make a profit. they have to look at you in terms of your ability to produce and you have to look at them not only in their ability to pay, but their ability to sell what you produce. include in your research (as best you can) their past performance: how many books, how many runs, how much distribution. try to track down other photographers that have worked for them and see if you can get some ideas from them.
after covering your short term costs and value, the main thing is to manage your rights. it's very easy to wind up in a situation where you're getting paid ok to simply feed their inventory. i have a hybrid arrangement with a number of my clients where i get paid for an assignment, shoot as much as i want, only turn in the images necessary (usually 1-5, but sometimes 15-20), and i keep the rest; the client has exclusive use for 90 days of what i turn in (this is known as an 'embargo' period) and i have immediate use of the rest. (also, i make sure i turn in the best of what they need so they don't come back to me complaining about me holding back on them!) this is why having a shot list is critical: you and your client will be on the same page as to what to expect when you come back. this also has the added benefit of you being able to fill your own stock inventory with off-the-list images (you just have to be careful that you don't make available to others images similar to what you turn in until the delivered images are no longer under embargo).
lastly, do not over-complicate your conversation with the client - that will make you seem difficult to work with. as i mentioned, at the end of the day it will come down to simple numbers: someone will produce a certain number of usable images and will be paid $xxxx.xx for their work, regardless of how the payment is structured. that $xxxx.xx just has to be acceptable to both parties... |
|
|
|
Current Server Time: 08/11/2025 07:27:16 PM  |
Home -
Challenges -
Community -
League -
Photos -
Cameras -
Lenses -
Learn -
Help -
Terms of Use -
Privacy -
Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2025 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 08/11/2025 07:27:16 PM EDT.
|
