In Germany, published freelance rates for a photographer are €19.50–€75.50 an image.
Freelance
€19.50–€75.50 an image
Sources
3 documents
What photographer work in Germany pays, according to the documents that set rates there, each quoted as printed. How the pay guide works →
What the published rates say
Image
Four-column photo, circulation over 200,000, first print rightDJV · Joint pay rule · 1 May 2013
€75.50
Photo as a stand-alone contributionver.di · Collective agreement
€51
Bildbeiträge, Erstdruckrecht, Auflage bis 10.000DJV · Collective agreement · 1 Feb 2026
€49.20
Photo smaller than one column, circulation up to 10,000, first print rightDJV · Joint pay rule · 1 May 2013
€19.50
Each published rate as a day's pay
No figure here can be turned into a day's pay yet.
Every figure, as printed
Open a row for the wording in the document and its dates.
Printed
49,20DocumentDaily-newspaper agreement for employee-like freelance journalists (§ 12a TVG), 2025 · Collective agreement StatusIn force · 1 Feb 2026 Black-and-white photo; includes technical production costs.
Printed
für kleinere als einspaltige Fotos bei einer Auflage von 10.000 ein Honorar von 19,50 Euro bei ErstdruckrechtDocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance photos at German daily newspapers, 1 May 2013 · Joint pay rule StatusIn force · 1 May 2013
Printed
75,50 Euro für vierspaltige Fotos bei einer Auflage von über 200.000 ExemplarenDocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance photos at German daily newspapers, 1 May 2013 · Joint pay rule StatusIn force · 1 May 2013
Printed
Foto als eigenständige Leistung 51,00DocumentWDR fee framework for freelancers, Jan 2026 edition · Collective agreement StatusIn force
Printed
Print: Aufl. bis 100.000, Abb.-gr.: ab 4 spaltig EUR 95,00DocumentMFM picture licensing fees, worked examples from the Sep 2015 workshop · Survey StatusReplaced or expired · 24 Sep 2015
Printed
Ausstrahlung TV, Vollprogramme EUR 125,00DocumentMFM picture licensing fees, worked examples from the Sep 2015 workshop · Survey StatusReplaced or expired · 24 Sep 2015
Printed
Bereitstellung Online für 7 Tage EUR 60,00DocumentMFM picture licensing fees, worked examples from the Sep 2015 workshop · Survey StatusReplaced or expired · 24 Sep 2015
Printed
19,50 €DocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance photos at German daily newspapers, 2013 · Joint pay rule StatusReplaced or expired · 1 May 2013
Printed
75,50 €DocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance photos at German daily newspapers, 2013 · Joint pay rule StatusReplaced or expired · 1 May 2013
Printed
14,50 €DocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance photos at German daily newspapers, 2013 · Joint pay rule StatusReplaced or expired · 1 May 2013
Printed
56,00 €DocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance photos at German daily newspapers, 2013 · Joint pay rule StatusReplaced or expired · 1 May 2013
Printed
Erstdruckrecht 12 - 22DocumentJoint remuneration rules for freelance text at German daily newspapers, 2010 · Joint pay rule StatusReplaced or expired · 1 Feb 2010
Questions people ask
In Germany, published freelance rates for a photographer are €19.50–€75.50 an image.
BDZV, DJV, MFM, ver.di, in 6 documents.
About this data. These rates are compiled from publicly available sources and quoted as printed, with their date. We do not guarantee the accuracy of any figure. For information only: Journalist.net does not recommend or set rates. How we count