How much should I charge for a photograph?

Question

I am going to provide an author with a cover photo for their book which is to be published, and since this is my first time, I am clueless about what to charge for the photo. Can anyone help me? I have a deadline, so I need an answer quick. Thanks

Answer 1

Try to search here: http://www.net-art.it/photomonitor/html/professione/tariffari/index-e.shtml

Answer 2

I notice that nobody ever gives dollar amounts in answer to this question, so I am going to break the mold.

If you were selling an unframed print in a gallery, if it was a nice print and a good subject, you would ask $50 or so as a new artist. This would go on someone's wall to be viewed by family and friends.

If your photo is going on the cover of a book that will be self-published and self-promoted, it will not have very much influence on sales, but certainly should command at least as much as a gallery print. Since you are new, ask for $100 and settle for no less than $50.

If your photo is going on the cover of a book that will be sold in stores, it is the MAJOR factor (in my opinion) in attracting people to the book. This deserves proper compensation. To me, this would be over $200, so offer your services at $250 and hope for the best.

The lowest rate any independent professional should ever work for anything is $100 an hour and I mean ANY professional, whether you are a photographer, musician or a doctor. And this needs to be calculated AFTER expenses.

Now, maybe some respondants will have some criticism (from experience) about these rates and we will all learn something.

Answer 3

Think about how much the book will probably sell, a lot of that depends on the front cover. If someone is browsing through a stack of books they will pick up the one that catches there eye, if someone makes a sale based solely on your photo you'll want to have made some decent money from it. I don't know if people ever use royalty type payment with things like this but you could check into it, like they pay you a flat fee for the photo and then you get 1% from each sale or something like that. You might be able to find more answers if you look through some photography forums, there should be plenty to choose from if you just google it. Hope this helps a bit.
~Christen

Answer 4

There are several ways to go about this, but first, make sure you have a copyright release signed by you and the author/publisher (this can be a release relinquishing all rights to the photo to one that states how many times it can be used, and for what purposes). Your fees should be based on how the photo is to be used. In your case, maybe a fee per book up to x number of times (then subject to renegotiation). The actual fee may be set by the publisher, but is always negotiable (especially, if it is a good photo that the author and publisher want).

Good Luck!

Answer 5

This situation is a little different than selling a stock photo or a print in a gallery.

You have to consider usage, along with the fee for creating the work. A lot depends on how good the book sells. You should make more money for a cover that sells 2,000,000 books as opposed to 200.

Might be best to consult an agent or lawyer for designing a limited usage right to start with, or maybe the publishing company has a standard contract.

(This isn't too helpful, I'm afraid, sorry!)

Go to www.photo.net and search for publishing usage rights and contracts. Maybe look on the business forum there.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Mainly you need to factor in your costs and how much the photo actually cost you. After that I think you should charge what you feel the photograph is worth, and you think the author will pay. If the book is said to do well, charge more.

Answer 7

well being your first you can go low but not to low dicker with the author you mite be able to do more

Answer 8

depends on what the photo is, if it's a nude pic of you well charge a lot