Comments on: Proper Invoicing for Sold Photograph?

Question: Proper Invoicing for Sold Photograph?

Coherence Panda — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:36:11 -0800

I recently sold a photograph (of dragonflies copulating, no less) to an Italian publishing house. They asked me to send an invoice and appropriate tax information. This is the first time I've ever sold something like this; can anyone tell me what forms, et cetera I ought to use or make? Thank you!

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:51:36 -0800

You can find a sample invoice here and some more advice here. If you have a tax ID number, you should include it on the invoice, but often freelancers just provide their SSN in lieu of a tax ID #. You should stipulate that you be paid in US dollars. Can I ask which publishing house?

By: staggernation

staggernation — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 11:56:14 -0800

If they don't have a US arm or affiliate to pay you through, you could consider asking if they'd be willing to pay via PayPal. The PayPal fees would be offset by not having to pay international check fees to banks on both ends, plus the convenience.

By: Coherence Panda

Coherence Panda — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:01:12 -0800

Thank you both very much. The publishers are Adriano Salani Editore

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 12:19:51 -0800

You should ask that you be paid in US dollars.

It's also important that you clarify the copyright issue. Do you maintain the rights to the image and they get to use it in their book/magazine, and you can use it elsewhere? Or do they now own the image and you don't get to use it for anything (excepting portfolio/expos/etc.)?

By: nakedcodemonkey

nakedcodemonkey — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 13:11:05 -0800

Or do they now own the image and you don't get to use it for anything (excepting portfolio/expos/etc.)?

If they bought (not licensed) it, I'm not sure you'd even be able to show it in your portfolio without their permission. Make sure your invoice states very clearly which rights are being granted/reserved in exchange for said fee.

By: davidmsc

davidmsc — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 18:15:13 -0800

Dragonfly sex...never really thought about it, but now that you've raised the issue, I'm curious about the picture!

By: thebarron

thebarron — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 21:55:06 -0800

Must be some image. Yeah, let's see it!