Re: Photo payments

**"James Allison" j*@compuserve.com**

On 27 Sep 2002 at 12:00, gardenwriters-request@lists.ibiblio.org wrote:

> I was asking photographers about how they are paid (and how
> much) for single photographs used in a book 

Marty,

I'm only a part-time photographer but specialise in a niche market (water 
gardening).

I have been paid up to £70 GBP (c.$110) per picture by UK publishers for a 
licence to use photos inside gardening books, on a world rights basis for that 
edition. UK publishers usually pay less well than US ones. Some will not pay 
again for future editions if they have only minor modifications (e.g. a new 
cover and title but otherwise identical). Payment usually comes a month or 
so after official publication, and most publishers require you to invoice them.

I've spoken to professional UK photographers and the prices on offer vary 
considerably. One garden photographer mentioned typical prices in the £60-
£120 range ($90 - $180) another would not supply anything for less than £50 
($75). Some publishers try to get away with offering much less.

Cover shots usually demand higher fees. 

I found the book 'Negotiating Stock Photo Prices' by Jim Pickerell, to be a 
useful overview of the stock photo market. It has detailed lists of guide prices 
for different photo useages e.g. posters, packaging, web sites etc. In general 
he notes that editorial book use is one of the lower paying markets. His 
starting guide price for this use was $175 with notable increases for larger 
usages (e.g. half rather than quarter page sizes) and books with larger print 
runs.

I've heard others say that his prices are over-optimistic but he is wise in 
encouraging photographers to negotiate a price rather than just take what is 
first offered, and he discusses these skills in some detail. He also makes the 
point that the way the photo is to be used does affect the value, and that 
sticking rigidly to a set price is counter productive.

Giving away your photos for too little just depresses the whole market. If you 
have the photo that suits the needs of the editor of a book or magazine it is 
worth making sure that you are paid a fair price for it.

James Allison
Aquapic Solutions

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