What to charge for exclusivity?

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click

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In another thread I talked about having the experience of a show and one of the pieces was sold to a man who asked me if he could have the one and only print. He offered to pay me if anyone approached about printing it again.

I've bounced this idea off a few friends and loved ones and they've said to not undersell myself and make him an offer on a lifetime of exclusivity. I'm not famous, I'm just a simple film photographer who loves to create images (probably just like most of you) I make my living from photography as my only source of income.

It is plausible that I would make more money across my lifetime with this negative. So what would be a fair price for him and for me for exclusivity? I don't want to take advantage of anyone or be unreasonable or most importantly alienate anyone with outlandish demands.

The guy was amazingly nice and has a position in life where he could be rude to everyone and get away with it. What I'm trying to say is that I was very impressed with his character, very impressed considering who he is. I also met his girlfriend who was equally sincere.

We've communicated several times. He does digital photography on a completely amateur basis for fun and I like his work as it is 180 degrees from mine. He has offered to make his resources available to me, he has a 2500 square foot studio and every studio gizmo known to man. So this is yet another reason not to alienate the situation.

He bought two prints and drove two hours to get them, which is pretty impressive to me. Lots of people say "Oh, I'm buying that" rarely do they go out of their way to do so. I'm very appreciative.

So what is fair?

Thanks,

Click
 
Ask yourself how much money you could make in the future selling more prints of this negative. A middle ground would be to agree to sell only a certain number of prints of this negative - a numbered series. He would have to pay some extra to have print number 1 of X (however many you decide). You would be free to sell the remainder of the series.

You could actually present him with the option. That way he can see the value of future sales to you, and pay accordingly.
 
I did suggest to him the idea that I had planned on printing ten of each but he didn't seem keen on the idea of having even ten out there. I'm pretty sure he wants the only one.

How many prints in a numbered series do Photographers typically make?
 
Print ten, he gets them all for the relevant cost, and can hide nine of them ?

This is at least a way to reasonably illustrate the potential amount of income which you need to be discussing.

Edit: And how does he feel about you making sales of the image NOT as prints, as a book illustration for example?
 
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I would want to keep the option of using it for advertising and other purposes as well and I imagine he would want me to make it visible to increase the value as well.
 
Those links are a must read! Thanks for posting that.

I would never, ever give up a negative. Even if it was just for my own enjoyment of printing and putting it up on my refrigerator. I love my pictures, well some of them, and couldn't imagine limiting myself to not be able to enjoy it.

He doesn't want the rights to the negative, he just wants to have the only fine print of it. I think he's just the sort of person who wants something one of a kind. I don't think he has any intention of using it in any foul way.

The foolish photographer in me thinks it would be worth a lens. I've been saving (read: eating ramen) for a long time for a 1.4 lens and would gladly trade it for two more stops above what I have now. Photographic possibility is important to me. Would that be completely crazy? Two F stops for a picture. I shoot in low light a lot and am constantly annoyed by the lack of shadow detail and being hemmed to a wall. Though I've no idea how I would present this idea to him.
 
How much do you like the photo in question?

Do you feel it is one of your best?

Do you anticipate making a lot of money off that image or is that not realistic?

How would you be binded to not making more prints from the negative...your word or a contract of some sort?

Is this someone you want to (or will) know in the future (and is that studio really going to be accessable to you)?

Do you know his intentions with the image?

Can we see the image? :)
 
To have another angle on it, I would also take into balance the added value of not having to actively sell this print anymore and the value of having his studio facilities available (which is something you would probably like to elaborate a bit more with him).
 
It sounds like developing a positive relationship with this guy may be beneficial to your photography future. At the very least, charge him the amount for a second print for his exclusivity, just to value your work (they say that if you don't, no none will) and to cultivate a positive relationship.
 
What is your reasonable expectation in future sales potential? Five prints? Ten? It's not the same answer for everyone, obviously, but if you're at all inclined to consider the offer, be serious about how many you think you might ever sell of that print. I'd then consider between 1-2x the price of the total of your expected future sales as a decent price for exclusivity for a buyer (again, depending on who you are and your station in life).

It's a rare Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel that truly give away the farm early in their careers, to much regret and future litigation. If you become super-famous as a photographer someday, then you'll have plenty of other photos that got you there, and limits on this one should not matter so much, and this guy will come back and you'll probably have more lucrative interactions with him. If you can reasonably ask for a deal that he'll take, and that matters for you right now, then I'd do it, definitely, and not look back. Life's too short for dithering and regrets.
 
Ah-someone sees what art is.

If more than one print exists-anywhere-then his print is just a print. If he has the only one, and the negative is gone, then he actually has a "work" of art.

My thought, anyway.
 
I love the picture. I feel like it has a very romantic quality and other than there's no people in the shot it is very indicative of my work. I spent a lot of time revising the print and printed twelve full size revisions of it to arrive at the final print.

I've had a lot of interest in the image. even the people in the gallery all said it was their favorite.

If I gave my word I would not break it.

I would want to know this person in the future. He appears to me to be a person of excellent character. I've no idea if the studio thing would work out and frankly I don't really use a studio much, even if I had one it just isn't my thing. The studio work I've done in the past seemed contrived to me but who knows where my camera will take me?

I trust that his intent is sincere. I'm reasonably certain that he has no ill intent.


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thanks for showing us. Id be surprised if someone so dead set on exclusivity is not going to want this in writing if he is to pay a premium. Though, if he did, it means he trusts you.

Since you clearly want to maintain a friendly relationship with this individual, then you don't want to price him so high as to alienate that chance. But ive found wealthy people sometimes want to pay a lot because they feel the item is then worth more. If he is very comfortable financially, I would actually consider the higher end than the lower end. Sounds backwards, but that is what ive come to find with at least some individuals.
 
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Check why he wants exclusivity. Does he want to resell it ?

You might have found yourself a sponsor and there might be more in this relationship than this one time sale. I recommend to explore a bit further over lunch or similar ....

Good luck,

Roland.

PS: the picture is great.
 
if your original intent was to create and sell only the ten prints then charge for all ten and destroy the other 9.
i like the idea of attempting to create a relationship with him if for no other reason than he likes your work and has offered his studio for your occasional use.

friends in high places...
 
I see a f1.1 Nokton or f1.4 Summilux in your future... Plus enough money to buy yourself a dinner. You have to make it worth it for both of you.

How did you create the picture? I like everything about it.

You should certainly not charge any less than you would of gotten out of how many prints you intended to sell.
 
I would have no problem signing a contract but either way the boy scout in me would never go back on my word.

I think he enjoys the idea of it being the only one. He sent me an email asking if he could post a photo of it on his personal webpage and he told the story of meeting me. I was shooting a band in a very low light environment and checking my film speed by the light of my cell phone and it piqued his interest because (obviously) there's no display on my M6. On the page he talks numerous times about the fact that the print is one a kind. I seriously doubt he has any intention of selling it. I'm certain he has no want for money.

The biggest obstacle to me is not to offend the guy or take advantage of him in any way. I suspect that people in his shoes get hammered by people wanting things from them and I don't want to make anyone feel like that. I consider myself an excellent judge of character and this guy has it and was even more impressed that I knew that he didn't have to be nice to anyone. He was just intelligent enough to know that life is better that way. He mentioned that some photographers in the past had not been nice to him and was surprised when I told him my methodologies for making the print. He makes 3D images and highly surrealistic digital images where people are floating in mid air and I encouraged him to have a show, he's good at what he likes to do but it's a hobby subservient to a very demanding job. He asked me if I could teach him to use a film camera and I obliged to do it in the future. Anyway, back to the point of not being the lecherous photographer. 1.4 would mean a new world for me and he wants the exclusivity... I have no problem with making that print his. The problem lies in the realistic value of it and my moral compass pointing to not making anyone feel like they're just an ATM.

In an email before he bought the print I mentioned that I appreciated him and that each print sale helped me get closer to a low light lens. So he bought two, that in itself is something that I'm very appreciative of and while I don't want to sell myself short I'm almost inclined to just make the print his on that fact alone. Remember that I live in Arkansas, not a whole lot of people are into photography here, I only know one other person who does film.

On the other hand, I'm a Photographer for better or worse and seriously doubt I'll ever do anything else for a living. I'm not saying I'm the greatest but my pictures sure seem to inspire strong emotions (good and bad) in people for some reason? So it is likely that I will sell more prints. I don't really think in terms of making any real money, I think in terms of gas, film and paper to get out and find epic real life things happening. Probably exactly like most of you which is why we're on the same forum. I feel dizzy now.

You guys are like my internet photography psychiatrists!
 
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