Licensing:
Before we talk about photography packages and pricing it is important to understand the licensing structure as it impacts the pricing and package options.
Usually working with leading hotels there are two photo license options, a “buyout” and “usage/time”
Buy-Out: A Buyout license is pretty straight forward, the hotel request from the photographer to “transfer all the rights to the images” allowing the hotel to use the photos how and when they want to including transferring the photos to 3rd party.
In most cases, most hotels prefer this option as they don’t want to reach out to the photographer to renew the license or to negotiate future usage or transfer of photos to their vendors and partners.
This option is the most expensive as it eliminates the photographer future royalty fees and option to sell the photos to other vendors (designers, architects, construction, linen and other companies involved in the project)
Usage / Time: Is pretty straight forward, you are paying for what you are planning to use the photos, for example: photo usage for 3 or 5 years in any media, not including 3rd party usage.
It is a great way to save on licensing as most hotels and resorts renovate every 3-5 years and require new photos anyway, also they should not “sponsor” commercial use of their vendors on their “dime”