The chart below lists reasonable prices for stock photo usage in newspapers. This is particularly true if the photographer does not work regularly for the newspaper, but has an image the newspaper wants for a particular story. Newspaper may tell you that they pay their regular contributors less, but that may be justified because the contributor is making a volume of sales. Stock photo agencies will often negotiate lower prices because they sell a volume of images to the paper. If the paper really needs your image insist on better than their "standard rates." In cases where you have an exclusive images of an important breaking news situation much higher fees are appropriate.
| Circulation |
1/4 page |
1/2 page |
3/4 page |
full page |
| 3 million |
340 |
391 |
452 |
564 |
| 1 million |
315 |
362 |
418 |
522 |
| 500,000 |
272 |
313 |
362 |
452 |
| 250,000 |
238 |
274 |
317 |
395 |
| 100,000 |
218 |
250 |
289 |
361 |
| 50,000 |
197 |
227 |
262 |
327 |
| 25,000 |
187 |
215 |
249 |
310 |
| under 25,000 |
170 |
195 |
226 |
282 |
Notes:
There is very little flexibility for basic news photos.
Double Page = full page times 1.66 (add 66%)
Front Page = base page rate times 1.5 (add 50%) at least
Negotiating Tips:
When a picture is used to illustrate the lead story it should be
command a higher rate. Such a use is very open to negotiation. In areas
where there is major competion amone papers (especially London) the
price is based on the importance of the image to the publication, and
whether there are other willing bidders for the same image. These uses
must be negotiated and are often much higher than the figures in this
chart.
CONSULTATIONS
In the event that you want to discuss the specifics of a particular use Jim Pickerell is available for telephone consultations at 301-251-0720. The fee for such consultations is $2.50 per minute. Most only take a few minutes.