Licensing tool
Image Licensing Fee Estimator
Enter a per-image base fee, the number of images, and whether the use is one-time or annual. The tool multiplies those values and shows the arithmetic. Everything runs in your browser — no image, figure, or field is uploaded or stored.
How the estimate is calculated
The total is the per-image base fee multiplied by the number of images. For an annual basis, it is multiplied again by the whole number of years. For a one-time basis, the year field is ignored and the total is the base fee times the image count.
The tool validates the inputs before it shows a total: the fee must be at least $0.01 and no more than $1,000,000; images must be a whole number from 1 to 100; annual years must be a whole number from 1 to 10.
Every result is arithmetic from the values entered. It is not a quote from Practical Photo Notes, a licence, a market rate, or evidence of ownership.
Third-party reference rates (example only)
The figures below are published by Chris Sidoruk Media and are reproduced here as one attributed third-party example. The calculator does not load these figures, and they are not rates offered by Practical Photo Notes.
| Use | Published starting rate | Term described on the rate card |
|---|---|---|
| Artist / EPK / press use | from $300 per image | 1 year |
| Merchandise / physical media | from $750 per image | Confirmed in the quote |
| Commercial campaign | Custom quote required | Confirmed in the quote |
| Retroactive use (past use) | from $500 per image | One-time fee |
| Continued past use | from $750 per image | 1 year |
Source: the third-party rate card published by Chris Sidoruk Media onlicensing and image use. Rates can change at the source; this page does not control them.
If you approach the rights holder
A written licence from the rights holder needs enough detail to quote the actual use:
- The specific image or images, with links if you have them.
- What the image will be used for and where it will appear.
- The organization or publication name.
- Placement, such as a cover, article, social post, or product.
- How long the use will last.
The published rate card describes a narrow personal, non-commercial social-sharing carve-out for music artists. Treat that as the rights holder's policy, not as permission granted by this site.
What this tool does not do
- It does not produce a quote, a contract, or a licence.
- It does not verify ownership or clear third-party claims.
- It does not accept payment, upload images, or store your input.
- It does not recommend a fee, a market rate, or a distribution scale.
- It does not represent the rights holder or grant permission to use any photograph.
Common questions
Is this estimate a quote or a licence?
No. It is arithmetic from the base fee and term you enter. It is not a quote or licence from Practical Photo Notes, and it does not grant permission to use any photograph.
How is the total calculated?
Multiply the per-image base fee by the number of images. For an annual basis, multiply again by the whole number of years. A one-time basis uses the image count only and ignores the year field.
Does the third-party rate card set the fee?
No. The published rates shown lower on the page are an attributed third-party example for context. The calculator does not load them; you enter the base fee you want to check.
Why does an invalid field clear the previous result?
A total, copied breakdown, or download is only valid for the fields that produced it. When the current fields are invalid, the old success state is cleared so stale copyable output is not presented as current.
Check the reference at its source
Rates and terms are set by the rights holder. Open the third-party rate card to confirm current terms, or browse the other guides and tools on this site.