Photography business · Licensing
Photo usage licence fee estimator.
Start from your creative fee and apply rule-of-thumb multipliers for use, term, territory and exclusivity. An estimate, not a rate card.
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How this is calculated
Estimated fee = creative fee x use multiplier x term multiplier x territory multiplier x exclusivity multiplier. The multipliers are rules of thumb built into this page (use: 1.0 to 2.5, term: 1.0 to 3.0, territory: 1.0 to 1.75, exclusive: 1.5), not a published standard. The range shown is plus or minus 20% of the estimate.
Worked example. A $1,500 creative fee licensed for paid advertising (x2.5), 2 years (x1.4), nationally (x1.25), non-exclusive (x1): multiplier 4.375, so $6,562.50 in total. That is $5,062.50 for the licence on top of the creative fee, with a range of $5,250.00 to $7,875.00.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for a usage licence?
There is no published standard. Fees depend on the client, the use, the value of the images to them and your market. Treat this estimate as a starting point for a negotiation.
What is the difference between a creative fee and a licence fee?
The creative fee pays for the work of shooting and delivering. The licence fee pays for the client’s right to use the images in a specific way, for a set time and place.
Does exclusivity cost more?
Usually yes, because you cannot license the same images to anyone else. This page applies a x1.5 rule of thumb.
Is this legal advice about copyright?
No. Copyright and licensing terms depend on your contract and the law where you work. Put the usage terms in writing.
Sources
Checked
No published standard sets licence multipliers. The multipliers on this page are common rules of thumb chosen by TNAADO, not a published standard, and they are not attributed to any trade body.
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Estimate
Estimate based on the numbers you enter. It is not financial, tax or legal advice. It is not legal advice about copyright or licensing.