Pricing Images for Professional Sports Teams

RBrogen

Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone out there has and will share an info on what type of setup might be appropriate for selling images to a pro sports team (lacrosse) in my case. Long story short, a friend got me a media pass and I was introduced to the team marketing person who I volunteered to give my first set of images to for use as a thank you for letting have a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot the team. Well, they liked my images and said that if I was interested in shooting another game then they would set me up with another media pass. Of course I said SURE, and at the game the marketing person introduced me to the team's creative director who told me what he was looking for in shots. Well I have the shots and my first inclination is to share this set with the team at no charge but to say to the team as well that I'd be happy to shoot other games in the future if they had a need but I need to have some numbers to start from. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Randy

tdinardo

Don't give away photos to a business. They have a budget to pay for professional photography. Don't treat them like a charity just because they gave you a media pass. It devalues the profession. <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
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Do yourself a favor and buy a copy of fotoquote. That will help you get an idea what the value of your images is.

You need to ask the client questions about what their usage will be and quote for that usage. Since you're doing all of this on spec, you have very high risk (of incurring significant costs without any return on investment) and you need to price accordingly for that. You're pricing needs to incorporate your total cost of doing business plus your profit. I see from your site that you're doing this on the side. Do yourself a favor and price your services as a full time professional with all the costs that someone in that position incurs. Failure to do this at the beginning will result in you setting a "guy with camera" rate for yourself which you'll never get rid of, and it devalues photography in your market area making it even harder for pros in the area.
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All of that being said, if you've not already done it, make sure you have sufficient liability and equipment insurance. Shooting pro sports (and sports in general) has a very high risk factor. Plan for the worst case scenario for your liability insurance. It's not if it will happen, it's when it will happen. Your personal liability insurance policy won't cover you if you're shooting as a pro.

I know this doesn't give you a price to charge, but I hope it helps you figure out how to come up with a price.

Scott293

RBrogen wrote:

Hi All,

I'm wondering if anyone out there has and will share an info on what type of setup might be appropriate for selling images to a pro sports team (lacrosse) in my case. Long story short, a friend got me a media pass and I was introduced to the team marketing person who I volunteered to give my first set of images to for use as a thank you for letting have a once in a lifetime opportunity to shoot the team. Well, they liked my images and said that if I was interested in shooting another game then they would set me up with another media pass. Of course I said SURE, and at the game the marketing person introduced me to the team's creative director who told me what he was looking for in shots. Well I have the shots and my first inclination is to share this set with the team at no charge but to say to the team as well that I'd be happy to shoot other games in the future if they had a need but I need to have some numbers to start from. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Randy

I would not shoot for less than #150.00 to $500.00 per game. Plus I would only shoot if you keep the copyrights to the photos. Try to get a contract that spells it out for you, if they like your work that much they will pay!!

PhotoLasVegas

It sounds like there's a problem in this case, though... you already accepted the 2nd free pass and gave the photos away the first time.

What you should have done is when they offered the free pass, up-front ask them.. "Well I appreciate that, and I'd love to shoot more photos, but is there a budget to purchase my work?"

I think you need to shoot the 2nd one N/C since I think that's the assumption on their end, due to your lack of communication... but after the game, what I'd do is hand them the disc and ask, "I see you like my work, do you have a paid position available for future games?"