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07/07/2006 09:24:45 AM · #1 |
A good friend asked how much I would charge to give her an electronic copy of a photo, to be used as a background basically for photos in a photo album. I've never had this kind of request before. I'm definitely going to ask for a brief usage contract (I do trust her, but better to cover my bases and she's not the type to be offended), but I have no idea where to start. My "business" is so small as to be pretty much nonexistent and I don't feel right charging a friend a whole lot of money when I know that it's for a personal one-shot no distribution use. What would be reasonable?
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07/07/2006 09:30:58 AM · #2 |
background for a photo album...
With this album make money for the friend?
Is it a personal Album?
First two questions that need to be answered.
Second. Yes limited usage contract is in order here. Could say,
may only be used for "Name of album" for 'XX' Timeframe. All other
uses are restricted.... Type of thing.
Second... does she want exlusive useage?
Basicly, the more it takes away from you being able to use the image, the more you charge. If she will make money from the context of it being used, the more you charge.
yet, if its just for personal use, and its a friend... tell her you will throw a tagline on the bottom and let her use it for free. or a modest 3 dollar disk fee. ( pay for the disk and burning) |
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07/07/2006 09:32:30 AM · #3 |
| If it's a good friend I'd just give it to her as long as it's for personal use. As a goodwill gesture it may do more good than the small amount of income you could receive from it. Just my opinion, of course... |
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07/07/2006 09:38:16 AM · #4 |
| I wouldnt give her an electronic copy... I'd ask her what size she wants the photo in.. and go with her to kinkos, walmarts or a scrapbook store to print the photo the size she wants... she can pay for the copy, and she gets the background paper, and you do it without giving her the photo on disk |
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07/07/2006 09:40:25 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by mad_brewer:
If it's a good friend I'd just give it to her as long as it's for personal use. As a goodwill gesture it may do more good than the small amount of income you could receive from it. Just my opinion, of course... |
Rebecca... I agree with this. Obviously you are talented and your photography is worthy of a handsome fee. That is not the issue. The issue is friendship and what that is worth.
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07/07/2006 09:49:24 AM · #6 |
| Yes, for a good friend I would just let her use it, and maybe casually say "you can buy me dinner" and have a nice girls night out together. |
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07/07/2006 09:52:46 AM · #7 |
Originally posted by stdavidson:
Originally posted by mad_brewer:
If it's a good friend I'd just give it to her as long as it's for personal use. As a goodwill gesture it may do more good than the small amount of income you could receive from it. Just my opinion, of course... |
Rebecca... I agree with this. Obviously you are talented and your photography is worthy of a handsome fee. That is not the issue. The issue is friendship and what that is worth. |
Right. However, she didn't just ask if she could use it, but how much I would charge, and knowing Amity she probably thinks she's helping me out since she can afford to spend a little cash on something a bit frivolous like this while my own finances have been rather rough lately. It would not surprise me, if I were to fire back with "I'll just let you have it", that she would very sternly inform me that she's not asking for it for free.
Other questions answered: No, she will not profit from it. Her brother's wedding was peacock-themed, so she wanted to use bits of the photo to frame the wedding pictures as a gift for her brother. It's actually unclear to me if this is an album or a decoupage picture frame sort of deal, but that's a moot point.
Eh, I'm thinking $10 and a usage contract to satisfy her sense of charity is a good token fee for a friend who isn't going to be profiting from it.
Message edited by author 2006-07-07 09:55:30.
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07/07/2006 10:32:23 AM · #8 |
it has been an interesting trip for me, from the mindset of "i HAVE to be paid MONEY for EVERYTHING" to being able to tell the difference between what to charge for and what not to charge for.
when i got started, i went to a very successful, retired businessman for advice. he told me the key to long-term success was to make sure that i made a profit on everything i did. he went on to say that i needed to learn to measure profit not just in dollars and cents, but in goodwill and in-kind trades.
it's one thing if you are running a full-time photography business (or if you are working towards building a real photography business); it's a completely different thing if you are simply dabbling at the business side.
for something like this, for a friend, i would give her a simple invoice for $1 that states "for personal use only, not to be duplicated or distributed", and then i'd let her take me to lunch. |
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07/07/2006 10:37:34 AM · #9 |
seems like you know the situation, and are making your choice on your knowledge which is all you needed from the start.
But, it is always nice to hear what others have to say. And very good advice from them too.
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07/07/2006 10:51:00 AM · #10 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
it has been an interesting trip for me, from the mindset of "i HAVE to be paid MONEY for EVERYTHING" to being able to tell the difference between what to charge for and what not to charge for. |
How funny... I seem to have the opposite problem. Most of my customers are friends and family, and I have a hard time charging any of them more than the cost of production and mailing when they give me the choice. Most of them have stopped giving me the choice and started ordering through the website instead, so I'm slowly learning that they enjoy supporting my little fledgling side business.
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07/07/2006 10:58:06 AM · #11 |
Originally posted by karmabreeze:
Eh, I'm thinking $10 ... |
That is an insult to your talent. Just my opinion.
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07/07/2006 11:07:46 AM · #12 |
Originally posted by skiprow:
for something like this, for a friend, i would give her a simple invoice for $1 that states "for personal use only, not to be duplicated or distributed", and then i'd let her take me to lunch. |
Given your feelings on this and what you've posted so far I think Skip's suggestion is by far the best one.
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07/07/2006 11:41:31 AM · #13 |
You stated she is ... not 'was" a good friend that wanted it for personal use. What better friend is one who gives, especially something that really didn't cost you anything. Think of it this way, if your good friend had a flat tire and asked you to drive her home, would you or would you consider a payment needed for the services. Or if you were walking through the mall and you stopped for an ice cream cone, she forgot her purse, would you buy her a cone and worry about getting paid back. That's what friends are for. I've learned in business that a good deed is worth more than advertising can possible buy you. A bad deed can destroy a business. Now if your good friend has a friend that is not your and she sees your photo and wants to use it, then it is only natural to charge the friends friend.
If the photo is really worth $100 then don't discount it for $10 cause then it is only worth $10.
Forget the contract, don't go into business with your friend over a single photo, heck if she wants an 11x14 glossy print, go make it and give it to her. Friendships never last with contracts. Don't worry about if she gives it away. In the business world there is a marketing strategy called "trial". This is where you give your complete product away, no strings attached so others will see it.
Just be friends and then really screw her friends who want some of your other great photos ;)
Message edited by author 2006-07-07 11:43:51.
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