Author Topic: How Much Would You Sell The Copyrights To Your Images For? (Read 16452 times)

Ed · « **on:** February 29, 2012, 15:19 »

I just ran across an agency, run by a former Getty art director, that will buy your images outright for $50 per image. If you're selected as a contributor, you cannot sell "similar" images at any other agency. You must provide RAW files and all releases. You can still use the images on your website, but you can no longer license the images to anyone else.

Would you do this for $50? I reveiewd the talent contributing and I was really shocked at how good the images were.....oh...and the images that are being purchased....they're getting re-marketed by this "agency" on the main Getty collection.

P.S.....I'm not naming the agency or linking it to this site becaue the thought of this makes me absolutely shutter and I really don't feel like promoting them....but you may find them advertising for talent on your local Craig's List.

cthoman · « **Reply #1 on:** February 29, 2012, 15:32 »

$50 doesn't seem like much on the surface. I wouldn't take a freelance job for that. But, if they were buying my whole portfolio, it would be $250k for a 5000 image portfolio. If they kept buying images year after year as well, then I could easily produce thousands of images a year and maybe make $100k. It would basically be getting paid to what I do now only more like a salary or quota based instead of based on royalties or sales.

It really depends on what the offer is and the sustainability of what they are offering.

Ed · « **Reply #2 on:** February 29, 2012, 15:36 »

Quote from: cthoman on February 29, 2012, 15:32

$50 doesn't seem like much on the surface. I wouldn't take a freelance job for that. But, if they were buying my whole portfolio, it would be $250k for a 5000 image portfolio. If they kept buying images year after year as well, then I could easily produce thousands of images a year and maybe make $100k. It would basically be getting paid to what I do now only more like a salary or quota based instead of based on royalties or sales.

It really depends on what the offer is and the sustainability of what they are offering.

They are offering to pay $50 for all rights per "usable" image from each photo shoot. If you're good, you could sell them 20 images...if you're average, you could sell them 10. Keep in mind these must be RELEASED lifestyle images. They are offering nothing more, nothing less. You must fund your own shoots.

cthoman · « **Reply #3 on:** February 29, 2012, 15:38 »

Edited: I guess it would still depend on how many of your images they buy. I could see a system like this working, but it could be risky. I guess the same can be said about speculatively creating images to sell as RF.

Anyka · « **Reply #4 on:** February 29, 2012, 16:09 »

No way!
Accept 50$ per accepted image and then miss all the keywording and submitting fun? No way!

lisafx · « **Reply #5 on:** February 29, 2012, 16:34 »

First off, $50 for an image, and a prohibition against using any unpurchased images from the shoot, is a great deal for them, but a terrible one for any contributor with the talent to make any money in microstock.

Also, I think it would be unethical to do it unless you contacted each and every model you had a release from and asked their permission to transfer copyright of their image and personal information. Just a wild guess, but I suspect most models would say "no way".

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #6 on:** February 29, 2012, 17:04 »

$50 used to be the placement fee that Getty would charge for one of its uncurated collections - I think it was Photographer's Choice. The opportunist offering this deal probably figures that if he/she picks the images right, they could probably make it work as well as those who paid Getty to place their images in the past (better when you consider that this outfit has no other costs as they didn't shoot anything).

Seems like a lousy deal when a good image can earn hundreds and a really good one thousands via microstock.

cthoman · « **Reply #7 on:** February 29, 2012, 17:16 »

I'm still not seeing the horribleness of this deal. You would only need to sell them 1000 images a year to make $50k. Depending on your RPI, those same images could take years to earn the same amount (if they ever do). If it is not an exclusive deal, then you could use it as a quick cash supplement (like doing contract work). Maybe even hold on to the shoots that you think are going to be better sellers.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #8 on:** February 29, 2012, 18:10 »

My images make me more than that would be worth. Btw, Lisa, I don't think models get a say in it, as long as the releases stand.

aeonf · « **Reply #9 on:** February 29, 2012, 18:15 »

Quote from: sjlocke on February 29, 2012, 18:10

My images make me more than that would be worth. Btw, Lisa, I don't think models get a say in it, as long as the releases stand.

YOU aren't really a good example for just about anything...

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #10 on:** February 29, 2012, 18:28 »

I beg to differ! Sean is an excellent example of how to make a living as a full time stock photographer

cardmaverick · « **Reply #11 on:** February 29, 2012, 20:28 »

Quote from: aeonf on February 29, 2012, 18:15

Quote from: sjlocke on February 29, 2012, 18:10
My images make me more than that would be worth. Btw, Lisa, I don't think models get a say in it, as long as the releases stand.

YOU aren't really a good example for just about anything...

I would have to agree with Sean... $50 really is giving away the farm if you know what your doing.

gostwyck · « **Reply #12 on:** February 29, 2012, 20:42 »

Quote from: cardmaverick on February 29, 2012, 20:28

I would have to agree with Sean... $50 really is giving away the farm if you know what your doing.

Just ever so slightly! One assumes that whoever's doing the buying knows what he's doing too. He'll only be investing in images he expects to make $500+. He certainly won't be buying the entire mediocre output of a journeyman stock photographer who thinks this is his new 'day job'.

dreamstock · « **Reply #13 on:** February 29, 2012, 22:02 »

$50? and cannot sell similar images from the series? NO way i would agree to that!

qwerty · « **Reply #14 on:** March 01, 2012, 04:59 »

I'd sell all my photos for 10x yearly earnings. All of them not cherry picking the best ones.

cidepix · « **Reply #15 on:** March 01, 2012, 08:26 »

If they offer $5000 per image, we could start talking..

aeonf · « **Reply #16 on:** March 01, 2012, 09:03 »

Quote from: cidepix on March 01, 2012, 08:26

If they offer $5000 per image, we could start talking..

Why not $50,000 ?

lisafx · « **Reply #17 on:** March 01, 2012, 14:01 »

Quote from: sjlocke on February 29, 2012, 18:10

My images make me more than that would be worth. Btw, Lisa, I don't think models get a say in it, as long as the releases stand.

I know you're right, legally. I still view it as unethical. I'd feel it was a betrayal of their trust.

Perhaps if you state up front when they sign the release that the image copyright may be sold or transferred in the future and you would have no control over the usage anymore, then it would be okay, but I can't see any of my models agreeing to that.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2012, 14:03 »

I don't see why it would be unethical, as long as the new distributor holds to the terms.

Hmmmm.....

lisafx · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2012, 14:05 »

Quote from: sjlocke on March 01, 2012, 14:03

I don't see why it would be unethical, as long as the new distributor holds to the terms.

Hmmmm.....

Once you've sold the rights, you have no way to control what the new distributor does with them. Or am I missing something?

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #20 on:** March 01, 2012, 14:17 »

I guess your contract would need to stipulate that they are bound to the restrictions in the image releases. Or something. And that breaking those terms, they would be liable.

lisafx · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2012, 14:53 »

Quote from: sjlocke on March 01, 2012, 14:17

I guess your contract would need to stipulate that they are bound to the restrictions in the image releases. Or something. And that breaking those terms, they would be liable.

That sounds doable. At least it would ensure some protection for the models.

cidepix · « **Reply #22 on:** March 01, 2012, 18:08 »

Quote from: aeonf on March 01, 2012, 09:03

Quote from: cidepix on March 01, 2012, 08:26
If they offer $5000 per image, we could start talking..

Why not $50,000 ?

I haven't had an image that made me $50.000

But I did have a few images that made me $5.000 or over..

that's why..

wut · « **Reply #23 on:** March 01, 2012, 18:20 »

Quote from: cthoman on February 29, 2012, 17:16

I'm still not seeing the horribleness of this deal. You would only need to sell them 1000 images a year to make $50k. Depending on your RPI, those same images could take years to earn the same amount (if they ever do). If it is not an exclusive deal, then you could use it as a quick cash supplement (like doing contract work). Maybe even hold on to the shoots that you think are going to be better sellers.

Your logic is flawed. Since they only accept the best images, they'd probably buy only around 100 out of 1000 images from you, if they're really good that is. That's 5k for you, I'm pretty sure you'd get a lot more selling 1k at regular ms agencies

cthoman · « **Reply #24 on:** March 01, 2012, 18:48 »

Quote from: wut on March 01, 2012, 18:20

Your logic is flawed. Since they only accept the best images, they'd probably buy only around 100 out of 1000 images from you, if they're really good that is. That's 5k for you, I'm pretty sure you'd get a lot more selling 1k at regular ms agencies

That's why I said it would depend on how many images they are buying in my first and second post. It's economies of scale. Not too much different from micro. Obviously, there would be a lot of questions you'd need answered, but it doesn't really matter. It was more of a hypothetical.

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Author Topic: How Much Would You Sell The Copyrights To Your Images For? (Read 16452 times)

Ed

cthoman

Ed

cthoman

Anyka

lisafx

Jo Ann Snover

cthoman

Sean Locke Photography

aeonf

Jo Ann Snover

cardmaverick

gostwyck

dreamstock

qwerty

cidepix

aeonf

lisafx

Sean Locke Photography

lisafx

Sean Locke Photography

lisafx

cidepix

wut

cthoman

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