When you commission photographs, you’re paying for two things: my time making them, and the right to use them. That second part is the licence, and it confuses almost everyone the first time.
Who owns the photographs?
Under UAE copyright law (Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021), the photographer owns the copyright unless a contract says otherwise. You don’t need to own the copyright to use the pictures; you need a licence that covers the way you want to use them.
What my standard licence covers
- Your website, social media and email newsletters.
- Press and PR about your business.
- Printed brochures, menus and packaging up to 10,000 copies.
- For as long as you like, with no renewal fee.
When you’d need more
Paid advertising (billboards, paid social campaigns, print ads), packaging beyond 10,000 copies, or selling the pictures on as products. Extended licences start at AED 1,200 and I’ll always quote before the shoot, never after.
If you can tell me how you might use the photos in the next two years, I can price it fairly up front.
Editorial commissions
Magazines and newspapers usually license first publication in print and online, after which the photographs return to my archive. Other publications can license them later from the archive.
If you’re not sure what you need, ask. A five-minute email now is much easier than a conversation after the campaign has gone live.
