Topic: Author photo question

[stuntfrau]

What is a reasonable amount to pay for an author photo?

My publisher does dust jackets for children's books and wants a full-color digital with photographer credit.

A friend of a friend is a photographer who does portraits, so I asked her how much it would be -- she quoted $750 with hair and make-up...(I am in a major metropolitan area).

My husband ( who is an actor and has had a few headshots in his day) thinks I should do this.  I think it's ridiculous.  I am not being hired on my looks like an actor, I just want to appear professional, thus do want a professional photo...

I know good problems...but my advance is modest.  I am feeling cheap (and if nothing else capable of wrangling my own hair and makeup).  What did you do?

[Vijaya]

I actually prefer the candid/natural shots ... but then, I'm not a marketing guru, just a book-lover-buyer. Perhaps you can have someone you trust take a variety of shots that match the tone of the book ... serious, professional, funny ... for a modest fee. I'm thinking under $200. My son (age 13) loves photography and has a great eye ... he'd do it for free

I think some of the best author photos are taken in natural light (outdoors). I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in.

Good luck and Congratulations on your new book!
Vijaya

[Artemesia]

I'm with you, $750 for a portrait is ridiculous. I don't understand why your friend would charge you so much...she'd get a photo credit on a published book. Maybe an up and coming photographer will be willing to do it for a lot less because of the exposure?

If you went to an art school and spoke to some photography students, you might even get a freebie and they get something for their portfolio. Win win.

[Christy]

That is crazy! I got my photos done by whom I thought was pricey but she's so famous in Orlando and I just love her because she's fantastic. I paid $350 for two shots. You can see them here: http://blog.ligaphotography.com/2012/08/the-worldly-young-adult-writer-christina-farley/

I also had a makeup artist do my makeup because I was at a loss since I don't usually wear much. I paid her $35. She does makeup here in Orlando and New York.

[Kell]

In my day job, I often work with photographers who charge that or twice that. I've also hired photographers for $175.

For my own author photo, I had my husband do it. My advance is also small and I couldn't justify photo costs. I'd love a more glamorous shot, but the quality a publisher requires isn't especially high -- with few exceptions, the author photo is intended to humanize the author, not glamorize them.

[TracyH]

I lucked out in that a girlfriend from high school is a photographer and she charged me $75 for six pictures. But she took over 500!

More normal is the $375 that our regular photographer charges. But she comes to our house and shoots the whole family. $750 is a bit rediculous for a headshot, I believe.

[Artemesia]

That is crazy! I got my photos done by whom I thought was pricey but she's so famous in Orlando and I just love her because she's fantastic. I paid $350 for two shots. You can see them here: http://blog.ligaphotography.com/2012/08/the-worldly-young-adult-writer-christina-farley/

I also had a makeup artist do my makeup because I was at a loss since I don't usually wear much. I paid her $35. She does makeup here in Orlando and New York.

um wow! hottie alert!  *woowoo*

[Christy]

um wow! hottie alert!  *woowoo*

You make me laugh Arty. Thanks though. I hate getting my pictures taken.

[Artemesia]

oh, me too! But I might not if I took pics like you do! *meow!*

[stuntfrau]

Thank you all. 

I was really confused about that quote.  I was wondering if there was some marketing or license fee or something that made that in some way normal. (But was actually kind of annoyed that our husbands work together on a monthly basis and instead of offering some reasonable options she started at her highest at that number.  I thought I was bringing her a little business, she would get a photo credit and it wouldn't take much time...she just seemed to see it as a money making venture.)

I like her photos.  She does weddings, business portraits and family shots, but it is not like she is a name or anything.  I reiterated to her that I only need a digital picture and she would get credit, so hair and makeup had never entered my mind.  Now I feel it will be awkward telling her I thik I will go elsewhere

[Kell]

It's not about the cost of making a print, it's about the rights. She is likely offering to grant you all rights to the photos, which is why it costs so much. Most photographic contracts are for limited rights, specified to a single or specific usage with a specific readership, often with a specified reproduction size, and the photo copyright is retained by  the photographer. It's likely you are requesting all rights, so that you can re-use the photo in the book and your website, send it to unlimited media outlets without requiring them to pay the photographer for reprint rights, display it in bookstores, publish it on bookmarks, without paying again. That costs more.

It's expensive but some photographers are expensive and set their own prices. If she's an established photographer, a photo credit means much less than the money. The same with writers, right? If you're unpublished, you'll write for free or cheap for a byline. If you're established, you won't.

Her husband works with your husband -- that's a business contact, where business rules are in effect. She named her price. You can negotiate it, or choose to go elsewhere.

[stuntfrau]

Yes, that licensing fee is what I was unclear on.

And it is not really a "business" connection.  They are both working actors, but the show they do monthly is more for fun (not paid) and we have hung out socially fairly regularly.  Based on her portfolio online -- her rate is high, but I am only comparing this to my knowledge of actor's headshots.  (we paid more in NYC for my husband's, but it was far more shots/locations than I will require.  The photographer was also quite established and has a book of photography out.) Headshots are also sold with use rights, but no photo credits...

What I am saying is that the relationship is friendly enough to make me feel odd about haggling price.  If that is her rate, more power to her, but I wish she would have told me a range of options as a starter when I asked what her rates were.  I wasn't asking for a favor or anything, like I said, I want professional, so I expect to pay, but now I am sorry I asked someone we see socially...live and learn.

Thank you so much for your insight. 

[Kell]

It's awkward, but if you see her often, it's better to have asked. Otherwise, she might have wondered why you didn't. Sometimes you can't really win.

Why not just tell her you can't do it because you only have X budgeted? That gives her a chance to change her price without your specficially asking, and if she doesn't offer, she'll understand that you can't afford the price she quoted.

Good luck! This should be exciting and fun -- don't let it stress you out.

[dewsanddamps]

Last year I had a wonderful agent  (who retired abruptly--sigh), and we were about to sub, so I needed a head shot. Had a good local photographer do it. I asked the price up front--cheaper than what you all are paying, but then again we live in the dead center of nowhere. After the shoot, he added an oh-by-the-way: I owe him a percentage of my book income.

Say what?

Just if the book's successful--if I get big.

Say what?

I asked for a copy of the contract--which did NOT say this, and which I at NO point agreed to. He just kept giving me release forms. The percentage he named was small, but still--would I have to show this guy my tax returns for the rest of my life to prove that children's writers don't make as much as he thinks? We know them socially, too--really awkward.

Is it standard to owe the photographer a % of your income for use of the photo? I can see that for a photo that carries content, say if I used a photo of shocked troops at Normandy in a nonfiction, but nobody's going to buy my book because of the photo. Trust me on this. Guess I got him, though--no agent now. So ha.

[Kell]

It's not normal to pay royalties for an author photograph. If you don't have full rights, the license/permissions fee is usually limited and specific -- even in the example of the Normandy photo. Fees are negotiated based on projected use -- how many copies, the distribution, the reproduction size, etc.

Stuntfrau and Dewsanddamps, I'm wondering if these hefty prices are based on one of two misconceptions: That the average advance/royalties are much higher than they are, or that the publisher themselves foots the bill for author photos, not the author him or herself. If photographers think a multibillion-dollar-media corporation is paying, they will ask a higher fee.

[217mom]

with few exceptions, the author photo is intended to humanize the author, not glamorize them.

I so agree^^^.

I thought I’ve seen it all. Are we seriously discussing glamour shots for authors, which they pay for *themselves*?
Actors are in the business of getting work with glamour shots. Some best seller authors (especially of certain genres) earn enough and are selling a persona. But as to the rest…
I have no qualms about a photographer charging whatever the photographer can get. That is their business. I just don’t see how glamour shots belong in our business. What are we selling?
 

[Mara]

Is it standard to owe the photographer a % of your income for use of the photo?

Never, never, never. That is totally ridiculous.

[Kell]

To play devil's advocate, 217, sometimes the author is part of a brand. I write MG, and I don't think my young readers will care how I look, but for some genres, that's not true. One of my friends is a multiple NYT bestseller, and she IS a brand. Her photo sometimes is used as a bleed on the back of her hardcover jackets -- no copy, just her almost lifesize face. Her image is part of what the publisher is marketing -- she's the embodiment of her books. 

[Vijaya]

Please don't feel stressed ... just thank your friend for the quote and tell her you cannot afford her services right now.

And wowza, Christina ... that first shot is gorgeous!
Vijaya

[TracyH]

Hmmmm. We're in Los Angeles and our regular family photographer is pretty successful - she does celebs, etc. And she still only charges $375 and hands the whole shebang over to us when she's finished. She also gave permission for me to use one as a headshot if I wanted. Maybe there is so much competition here, photographers have to be competitive with their pricing?

I'd definitely do what others have mentioned - thank her for the quote, but let her know it's out of your budget.

[stuntfrau]

Tracy:

We are in LA now too.  Like I said, I was comparing to a very established photog from NYC and I thought it was really high, but wondered if I was missing something, so was glad I could come here to ask.  .

217mom:  I'm not talking a glamour shot in any way, which is why I was taken aback by the idea that I would want to hair and makeup.  I wrote back and said in no uncertain terms no hair and makeup.  I want a simple, clean representation of how I look... I wasn't sure if there was some fee that was standard or something that I was missing.

I mean I could probably find a friend who understands lighting and correct shutter speeds who could just do it, but her husband is always in my facebook feed promoting her blog, so I thought I would contact her...I wasn't sure I would see her with the next month  until the deadline my publisher set to send the picture.

But like you said, Kell, I wonder if she thought maybe the publisher paid it, despite what said.

I realize this is kind of silly, and more newbie than pro talk, but I appreciate pros breaking it down for me.

[TracyH]

If you're in LA, then I highly recommend Karen: http://www.karenrayphotography.com/# She captures personalities so well. The photo at left of my kids is one she took some years ago. Check with her on price - she may have gone up slightly. Have fun and good luck!

 

[dewsanddamps]

Thanks everybody for the answers on my question, too. Sorry to hitch a ride on your thread, Stuntfrau. 

[stuntfrau]

The more the merrier!

I am bashful about posting here, so actually love that you had a related question.

And thank you Tracy, I will check out that link.

[Marissa Doyle]

I had some professoinal author photos done this past summer at the RWA national conference, and it cost me about $375 for three photos (both B&W and color) with complete waivers to use as I wish (with proper attribution, of course).  But you know what?  The best photo that I use for promo was taken by my best friend in my backyard with a garden variety digital camera.  It really isn't necessary to spend a large wodge of cash on this.

And Dewsanddamps--that's outrageous!!

[217mom]

stuntfrau, it occurred to me that in all of that^,  I forgot to congratulate you on your... UPCOMING RELEASE!
 

Now that is a big deal over here. Don't be shy about celebrating. We are good at it.
P.S.
Now you have us looking forward not only to your book, but to the author photo you will choose! 

[Andrea B]

Sounds like you've gotten some excellent responses, so not sure if this will be useful or not.

I'm not a pro, but it sounds like that quote was to cover the commercial license. Our wedding photographer is excellent and I may use shots on a blog, etc., as I choose. But when someone approached me to use some of the detail shots as background for a video, her first question was were they going to profit from the video. She would sell them a different license, basically, if so. She generally charges $100-$200/hr for photography + photo editing and then for portraits an individual digital image (non-commercial use) was something like $85 for 2-3 photos, I think? Even so, we spent $1k on photos for an entire wedding. (A huge value from her; her typical packages started at $2.5k, but we skipped the album and prints and just got digital images. And like Kell recommended, we knew she was out of price range but wanted to work with her, so we told her what our budget was and that we weren't looking for her to do us a favor, but what could she do for X amount? Hence, no albums or prints.) So, unless you're getting hundreds of images and requiring a half-day for the photo shoot, or her commercial licensing fees are high, $750 for a a couple of shots sounds high.

I'd keep looking around, but if you really want to use her, maybe you could clarify what the $750 covers; she might be including the hiring of hair and makeup artists. In which case, maybe this also covers $35-100 for hair (depending on what is done and where you live) and $60-100 for makeup?

[AnneN]

A friend did my author photos for free, outside in a pretty park a few blocks from my house!  I'm writing middle-grade, so I think the emphasis was definitely on "humanizing" and not "glamorizing".....

And I like the fact that a friend's name is on the book cover as the photographer!

[AnneB]

All I know is, I wanna look as good as Christy on that back cover. {off to start a thread seeking referral to a body transplant service...}

[AnneN]

Oh, gosh, yes--AnneN here, totally agreeing with AnneB!!

Christy, those are amazing photos!