I was recently contacted past a rather large Museum (in Canada) and they would like to use i of my photos in their exhibit.
Term: permanent exhibit (20+ years).
Finished epitome impress size: 180 10 90 mm (approx 7 ten iii.5″)
I’one thousand an amateur, I have never licensed a photo to anyone. I’ve been contacted a few times in the by and always only let people use my photos for free, with a credit to my website (not a photography website, for outdoor adventures). If I were to accuse a licensing fee to use this photo, what would be a reasonable fee? I’yard just looking for a ballpark. I did a ton of google searching and could not find much.
Re: Museum wants to use my photo. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
February 6, 2022
You will not get much, I doubtable they will exist thinking under a hundred dollars.
Jonsi •
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Re: Museum wants to use my photograph. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
Feb 6, 2022
31
You want to accuse a museum a fee to use your picture?
Report dorsum when they say “Oh, never mind”.
Re: Museum wants to use my photo. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
February 6, 2022
ii
For me it would depend if it was for a good cause. A local pocket-sized-boondocks museum, I’d give it for free and even donate the printing and framing.
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Re: Museum wants to apply my photo. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
February 6, 2022
1
Also, to avert the headache and complication and enforcement of licensing, consider just transferring the copyright. Assuming you lot don’t plan to use the photo for annihilation else.
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tex •
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Re: Museum wants to utilize my photo. How much to accuse?
In answer to auser812 •
Feb 6, 2022
37
In that location are some curious things in your post, but hither’south how I encounter information technology—and I am doing professional photography for 2 museums, and have done work for a tertiary and an art press.
First, you are not a pro, by your own admission. That doesn’t speak to the quality of your images or skills; it does speak to the value of your services as they have been established in the marketplace. Take that into account.
The image they are using is quite small-scale, and so I’m guessing it’s part of something else, equally in a display or didactic or full general information panel, etc. It doesn’t appear that information technology’s to be used for merchandise or money making (?).
Based on the above, I’d ask for something very nominal, or gift it. If this museum has entry fees and/or memberships, why not inquire for a membership? That’s proficient volition and citizenship. But practice make sure you get the photo credit, and that you lot may truthfully say that your paradigm has been used for “x” purpose at the museum.
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Re: Museum wants to use my photo. How much to charge?
In respond to auser812 •
Feb 6, 2022
7
I’thousand an amateur as well. If a museum wanted to use my photograph all I’d want is a credit for the paradigm and my admission covered so I can accept a photograph of the display of my photo.
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techjedi •
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Re: Museum wants to use my photo. How much to charge?
In respond to auser812 •
February 6, 2022
1
auser812 wrote:
I was recently contacted past a rather big Museum (in Canada) and they would similar to employ one of my photos in their exhibit.
Term: permanent exhibit (twenty+ years).
Finished paradigm print size: 180 10 90 mm (approx 7 x 3.five”)
I’m an amateur, I have never licensed a photo to anyone. I’ve been contacted a few times in the past and e’er just permit people use my photos for free, with a credit to my website (not a photography website, for outdoor adventures). If I were to accuse a licensing fee to employ this photograph, what would exist a reasonable fee? I’yard just looking for a ballpark. I did a ton of google searching and could not find much.
Create a contract with your terms about how they are immune to employ the photo over those 20 years. You retain copyright and you define to what extent they are allowed to use it.
As far as how much, I would give it for complimentary bold your contract tightly defines the use case to just museum visitors seeing it and maybe marketing material to get people to the museum/exhibit. There may be some jurisdictions where charging even 1$ makes information technology a commercial contract that is more easily enforced. You should consult a lawyer.
Regarding usage considerations, retrieve about volition they print a volume with photos from their museum that is sold for $ in their gift shop? Should your image exist allowed to be included in something similar that? Should you expect extra compensation from those volume sales? What if the museum changes owners and they want to make prints of the photo to sell framed in their gift shop? Make certain everything like that is covered to the best of your prediction.
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mamallama •
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Re: Museum wants to utilise my photo. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
Feb 6, 2022
7
I think the fee should be based on the type and purpose of the museum. A community museum that serves a skillful purpose yous similar should get a free ride. A large well endowed museum that charges a hefty entry fee should be charged more than.
Re: Museum wants to utilise my photograph. How much to accuse?
In reply to auser812 •
Feb half dozen, 2022
one
auser812 wrote:
I was recently contacted by a rather large Museum (in Canada) and they would like to use one of my photos in their exhibit.
Term: permanent showroom (twenty+ years).
Finished image impress size: 180 ten 90 mm (approx 7 ten 3.5″)
I’m an amateur
That’s sounds really weird. They contacted you? I would call up it normally works the other way unless the photographer is already a household word. I’k guessing that your photo shows something of special historical significance. Possibly you can analyze. If non that, why
exactly are they interested in your photograph?
If I were to charge a licensing fee to utilize this photo, what would be a reasonable fee?
Depending on the details, the answer could be anything betwixt null and a considerable sum … or they might desire to accuse yous.
Free. As long equally you are visibly credited and retain all rights.
In respond to auser812 •
February 6, 2022
You are probably going to exist one of many, so don’t push button the friendship. Start worrying when they start making postcards out of it, or putting it in books for sale. Ask ’em if they want the story backside the pic, as well; y’all might go a judgement in. who knows ?
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Re: Museum wants to utilize my photo. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
Feb 6, 2022
3
Without knowing all the particulars here I tend to side with the folks advising allow them use it. Perhaps a year’s family membership or complimentary access and for certain photo credit. Basically something that really won’t cost them anything but creates value for you.
If they are planning to use it to straight generate revenue (ie advertizement campaign, selling prints of the image, etc) so it’southward a horse of a different color. However, if they are simply including it in one of their display exhibits, I’d be inclined to allow them utilize information technology. Yous go along the rights to the image in case you want to sell it.
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Re: Museum wants to use my photo. How much to charge?
In answer to auser812 •
Feb 8, 2022
5
Donate this time, go on the copyright and brand it clear that if it appears on anything sold you’d exist looking for a modest share. Insist on a credit readable from where the punters stand and an invite to the opening.
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nevada5 •
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How much what?
In reply to auser812 •
February 9, 2022
6
auser812 wrote:
I was recently contacted by a rather big Museum (in Canada) and they would like to use one of my photos in their exhibit.
Near 15 years back I got a telephone call from the human who was curator for the planned Zion NP Human History Museum. He said he wanted a picture of mine that he saw, for permanent display there. Before I could ask whatever questions he went on to explain that in exchange for the rights I would be invited to the private opening ceremony at the museum.
I said, “Of grade” – who wouldn’t?
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RUcrAZ •
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3X the Museum Director’s Monthly Bacon
In respond to auser812 •
Feb 9, 2022
….just kidding….requite them the tiny picture show, and as several others accept noted, extract a gratuitous lifetime laissez passer into the museum (with accompanying friends, maybe) so you lot can show them your fine work. Throw in an extra picture as a bonus to them.
Some pragmatic, real world advice from someone else with experience dealing with museums
In reply to auser812 •
Feb 10, 2022
3
auser812 wrote:
I was recently contacted past a rather big Museum (in Canada) and they would like to use one of my photos in their exhibit.
Term: permanent exhibit (20+ years).
Finished image print size: 180 x 90 mm (approx vii 10 3.5″)
I’m an amateur, I have never licensed a photo to anyone. I’ve been contacted a few times in the past and always simply let people utilise my photos for complimentary, with a credit to my website (not a photography website, for outdoor adventures). If I were to accuse a licensing fee to use this photo, what would be a reasonable fee? I’m just looking for a ballpark. I did a ton of google searching and could not find much.
You lot need to ask them what the budget is. They have separate budgets for fine art acquisition, some have budgets to commission work, and they accept budgets for Public Relations and Marketing purposes.
Since they are discussing a licensing period this sounds like it is for the latter.
My perspective:
I have had prints purchased by a museum, I have had work commissioned by museums, and I have been hired to do public relations and marketing photography for museums.
Bottom line:
It never, ever hurts to enquire.
You demand to ask what the upkeep is and you demand to keep in mind that uniqueness adds value. By uniqueness I mean that if your photo is truly one of a kind because yous captured a moment in fourth dimension and from a perspective that no ane else had, or made a portrait of someone famous that truly defines an aspect of that person.
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Chikubi •
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Re: Museum wants to utilise my photograph. How much to charge?
In reply to auser812 •
Feb 10, 2022
4
Your all-time bet is to try and compare pricing for like usage for other photos out there that are up for sale. Yous can often do this by running prices from some of the many stock sites that sell images. Average out the results and then get from there.
For example, at Getty a single downloaded minor royalty-complimentary prototype is $175. For a rights-managed use you can get through their pricing reckoner for any random image and become a cost based on most the exact usage that your situation calls for, which in the instance I ran was $545 (see attchd screenshot). And so, based on this site alone a decent range is apx. $175-545.
At present what you do with this info once yous have it is up to you. Amature or Pro doesn’t matter. People telling you to just give information technology abroad for complimentary for credit or feel are fools. Your photo has value or the museum wouldn’t accept bothered to contact you.
If the museum is doing a legitimate public service and it’due south something y’all desire to support charitably, not bad, practise so, but brand sure that yous request they give yous a confirmation of your donation. Agree upon a price, so have them provide documentation of your donation with that agreed value listed. This becomes a win-win for everybody because that manner they don’t pay anything for the photo, you lot get a charitable donation that can be used for a deduction when taxes roll around, you did a practiced turn for something y’all believe in, and y’all didn’t put other photographers’ piece of work in a position of dimished value.
If you experience it’due south not something you want to support charitably, then y’all need to negotiate a off-white price with them based on the pricing information you lot have generated. I would probably commencement somewhere in the middle of the range and become upward or down depending on the size of the museum, its affiliations, usage, etc. Also, like some have mentioned, it’s best to inquire them what their budget is upfront as it’s very possible they may be willing to pay more than what you’re initial offer might have been. If the figure you quote them is too much, than give them options regarding reduced length licensing terms and then on. Most times, they don’t really need what they think they do and there’s room to adjust accordingly to bring the price down. If they tell you there is no budget, just credit, then talk to them about a donation as higher up. Y’all could as well possibly make a barter for services in return even – i.e. say a few years of gratuitous membership of comparable value, or costless merchandise, or costless classes etc. – assuming they have something of value to you to offer. If they nonetheless say no, then myself personally, I’d walk because at that point they’re only trolling for freebies and for anyone who knows how non-profits work, just because they are non-turn a profit doesn’t hateful most of the people working for them are volunteers or receiving minimal compensation.
At the end of the twenty-four hours though, don’t give away your piece of work for costless. Even if you lot don’t get difficult money, you should get something of value in exchange – heck, I even received a printer once that I still use regularly today, for example. Anything else though, and you’re but being taken advantage of and continuing to promote the notion that artists’ and creatives’ work is of low value, which of course information technology isn’t. Being an amatuer doesn’t mean you lot and your work have macerated or no value. Always call back that.
Sample quote for RM usgage @ Getty I ran based on the info in the OP.
Re: Museum wants to apply my photograph. How much to charge?
1
Bobthearch wrote:
As well, to avoid the headache and complexity and enforcement of licensing, consider just transferring the copyright. Bold you don’t plan to use the photo for anything else.
That is i really bad thought. A photo hanging in a museum will accept greater value due to exposure, and it is exactly the sort of photo that should be specifically registered for copyright. Call up, if y’all don’t annals your photo, you will non be able to sue for penalty and will have to prove damages.
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Re: Museum wants to apply my photo. How much to accuse?
john isaacs wrote:
Bobthearch wrote:
Also, to avoid the headache and complexity and enforcement of licensing, consider simply transferring the copyright. Assuming you don’t program to use the photo for anything else.
That is one really bad idea. A photograph hanging in a museum volition have greater value due to exposure, and it is exactly the sort of photo that should be specifically registered for copyright. Remember, if you don’t annals your photograph, you lot will not be able to sue for punishment and will have to evidence damages.
That’due south a huge headache y’all avert
by transferring the copyright. If someone steals the photo, information technology’south not your trouble.
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Re: Museum wants to use my photo. How much to charge?
two
Bobthearch wrote:
john isaacs wrote:
Bobthearch wrote:
Likewise, to avoid the headache and complexity and enforcement of licensing, consider just transferring the copyright. Assuming you don’t programme to use the photo for anything else.
That is one really bad idea. A photo hanging in a museum will accept greater value due to exposure, and it is exactly the sort of photo that should be specifically registered for copyright. Remember, if you don’t register your photo, you volition not be able to sue for penalty and will have to prove damages.
That’s a huge headache you lot avert
by transferring the copyright. If someone steals the photo, information technology’s not your problem.
You don’t have to defend your copyright if you don’t want to. But if you transfer it, you have nothing to defend.