NUJ Rate for the Job: Photography / mags

Updated: 2025-07-09

These rates have been reported by members of the National Union of Journalists and others, and printed in the Freelance, newsletter of London Freelance Branch. They are sorted by publisher/publication, then by date (most recent first). TIP: Use the "Find in page" command under your browser's "Edit" or "Search" menu to be sure of finding all occurrences of a publication/publisher. AND do note the year in which the rate was reported! See also the Freelance Fees Guide, which gives general recommendations. And read the disclaimer and the key to exactly what the entries mean.

Photography / mags Photography - whether paid by the day, the hour or per picture - whose primary use is in a magazine. (Generic rates for publishing groups appear at the end.) If you are interested, the archived rates are here.
Tell us what you've been paid for Photography / mags		Freelance Fees Guide
Publication / Programme - details & terms	Group	Year		Total paid	GR	XXXX
Athletics Weekly 1 photo	_Descart	2015		15.00		XXXX
BBC Wildlife Magazine double page picture spread	_Immed	2014		150.00		XX
BBC Wildlife Magazine double page picture spread	_Immed	2014		150.00		XX
Bird Watching Magazine 2 x DPS picture feature	_Bauer	2014		250.00
Broadcast 5 photos one use	_EMAP	2015		250.00		X
Canoe Focus editorial photos		2016		50.00
Computer Weekly video - details unspecified		2018		250.00
Cyclist photography on location for feature, approximately 4 hours photography and 4 hours post-production - licensed for single issue and web	_Dennis	2020		400.00	GR	X
Daily Mail onine 5 exclusive images "skinflints"	_Assoc	2016		150.00		X
Der Spiegel day		2025		420.00
Der Spiegel (Germany) photography day rate - portrait / photojournalism	_Springr	2022		420.00	GR	O
Economist 3 images		2018		450.00
Fortean Times 9 photos, exes for train fare, but no mileage for cycling FBS	_Dennis	2014		200.00
Health Service Journal day expenses paid	_TU	2015		260.00
Health Service Journal Half-day expenses paid	_TU	2015		160.00
High Life Feature photography on location, single day, basic edi, no exes single print and digital use	_Cedar	2016		300.00
Homes and Gardens and Living ETC photography in London, terms: all rights - FULL release of all material for them to use and resell WITHOUT a credit	_Future	2021		800.00	GR	X
Housing Report per pic		2019		95.00
Jane's Airport per pic	_IHS	2014		35.00		X
Jane's Airport per pic	_IHS	2014		35.00		X
Le Monde day		2025		350.00
Lea (Swiss mag?) 50 per cent share of fee paid to agency		2020		5.29
Local Rider stock image, size unknown single use		2014		5.00		XXXX
Local Rider stock image, size unknown single use		2014		5.00		XXXX
Narratively three-hour shoot, 11 photos used Initial offer of US$100 rejected		2016		150.00		XX
National Geographic feature / photo essay for travel section (via #FreelancerPayGap)	_NatGeo	2020		1000.00
New Internationalist one photo		2019		65.00
New Internationalist quarter-page photo		2019		65.00
NOISEY (Vice media) photographing music festival online use unlimited worldwide		2016		150.00
Nursing Standard half-day expenses paid	_TU	2015		160.00
Outdoor Fitness 6 page feature photography on location, approx 4-6hrs, basic edit, exes £45 single use print/digital	_Kelsey	2016		300.00	GR
Outdoor Fitness shoot sports feature on location to brief, return unedited imagery by proof gallery online - prod/exes mileage 40p/p/m Bauer own you and everything you do for them.	_Bauer	2014		300.00
Outdoor Fitness shoot sports feature on location to brief, return unedited imagery by proof gallery online - prod/exes mileage 40p/p/m Bauer own you and everything you do for them.	_Bauer	2014		300.00
PCS People (trade union mag) half-day portrait shoot	_TU	2019		275.00		O
Positive News Day rate		2016		300.00
Record Collector photo used without prior agreement		2023		80.00		XX
Republik (Switzerland) 50 per cent share of fee paid to agency		2020		15.35		XX
Royal College of Nursing Campaign half day location shoots for campaign briefing to politicians , - copyright with photographer licensed for limited time exclusive online and print use (rates in Wales lower than would secure in London)	_TU	2025		450.00
Runners World photography for 8-page photo feature shot on location abroad, 2 day shoot, 1 day travel: licensed for single edition print only	_Hearst	2022		1400.00	GR	O
Soldier (Ministry of Defence) photo one use	_HMG	2015		40.00		X
The Journalist one photo for use in Story Behind the Picture feature + 300 words text - single use		2022		250.00	GR	O
The Rugby paper photos for centre spread		2020		50.00		XX
Which? half-day		2015		220.00
Balder group (Sweden) 5 photos		2017		250.00		X
Bauer publishers (Germany) 2 photos	_Bauer	2020		240.00
BBC, ITV, ITN entertainment video packs, per day (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		170.00
BP-or-not-BP.org video (details unspecified)		2018		150.00		XX
Buzzfeed previously-shot (stock) image, terms one time web use		2019		40.00
DOM publishers (Germany) photo		2020		125.00
German magazine 7 photographs , terms print use only		2019		623.00
Getty Images day (via #FreelancerPayGap)		2020		175.00		X
Large magazine company out-of-court settlement for unauthorised use of photo(s)		2020		1560.00
Major news weekly Use of one photo from US museum in news weekly - note online use is much more		2016		175.00
Mercury Group title 1 shoot		2017		35.00		XX
One member reports their minimum rate per photo, with credit		2020		195.00
One member reports their minimum rate per photo, waiving credit		2020		390.00
Online publisher out-of-court settlement for unauthorised use of photo(s)		2020		1040.00
Posh lifestyle mag commissioned garden photo feature, first UK rights		2014		750.00	GR	O
Prospect (trade union) member magazine half day	_TU	2019		180.00
Specialist online magazine out-of-court settlement for unauthorised use of photo(s)		2020		1500.00
Specialist online magazine out-of-court settlement for unauthorised use of photo(s)	_Bauer	2020		1080.00
Unnamed Swedish magazine (Balder) one cover + 2 inside		2017		250.00
Key to the rates, by column:
1 Publication / Programme, any details of work and licence
2 Owner at the time the rate was reported, where known	Group
3 The year in which the rate was reported		Year
4 Currency: either or or (US)
5 Amount paid (total of basic licence and extra licences for web use, database resale...)				Amount
7 "Going Rate" according to experienced NUJ members - do try to better it:					GR
or Minimum rate set out in NUJ House Agreement:					HA
8 Underpaid, in the fallible opinion of the Freelance editor:				50.00		X
or Just sometimes we're pleasantly surprised:				1500.00		O

Other rates:

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