on-site business arrangements

[Curtis Cunningham]

I have two opportunities coming up that I need some advice on. Both would see me bringing my gear (lights, camera, laptop etc) to do some on-site photography.

OPPORTUNITY #1: a pet shop here in town wants me to come in to do photography of dogs after they've been groomed. I'd obviously be taking up floor space (in his not-too-terribly-big store), and so I'm not sure if I am obligated to pay some sort of a fee (whether it be a percentage of sales I make, or just a flat fee/day) for the opportunity to be there and shoot and sell prints to the customers.

OPPORTUNITY #2: a hair salon inquired about me coming in and shooting models who've just had their hair styled by the salon's own stylists. Ultimately they want to have prints up on their walls highlighting their own work, and not just the stock posters they get from their suppliers. In this case the owner told me they'd probably do it on a day that they're not open for business to the public.

So my question is how I should go about negotiating with each of these vendors whether or not I would pay any sort of fee for the rights to be there doing the photography?

I can see where the pet store gig could be marketed as a promotional event, where people would come just to get their photograph taken with their clean and shiny puppy. So maybe that would be enough to negate my needing to pay the store owner any additional monies, but I'm not sure.

The hair salon scenario is a little more straightforward I believe, but nonetheless, I still would appreciate any feedback you can offer.

Thanks.

[michaelnotar]

#2 just sounds like a normal location commercial shoot. definatly no fees required of you to pay. hopefully get a hourly or average it per model + digital work+ prints (cheaper than ports since they pay for my time already). perhaps discount prints for putting your logo and website/p# at the bottom at a decent size, not microscopic, say 24pt font/ 1/2" tall characters.

#1 i would ask your question stated above to the owner. are clients having their pet groomed for a special occasion? because our dogs are groomed regularly...
perhaps the store is doing it to promote their store, they may give it away or charge just a few bucks literally.

[Curtis Cunningham]

Originally Posted by michaelnotar

#2 ... perhaps discount prints for putting your logo and website/p# at the bottom at a decent size, not microscopic, say 24pt font/ 1/2" tall characters.

I'll definitely look into this. I have some ideas already that I'll run past the owner.

Originally Posted by michaelnotar

#1 ... are clients having their pet groomed for a special occasion? because our dogs are groomed regularly...perhaps the store is doing it to promote their store, they may give it away or charge just a few bucks literally.

As far as I know the store is going to be offering this service on a regular basis. One idea that we did talk about was to set up an appointment-type system where we promote ahead of time that on such and such a day, after the grooming is finished, a photographer will be onsite to take photographs. Prints will be available for purchase bla bla bla...

Right now I feel that if this arrangement between the store and me is done as a promotional tool to bring people into the store, then I shouldn't have to pay a fee/commission to the store. But the very first time the store owner and I talked, the one thing that I know he mentioned was this idea of him being remunerated for the use of his floor space.

I think I can understand where he's coming from, so I'm thankful I have a bit of time to figure out a win-win situation for both of us.

[ChrisPerry]

I've done pet photos at a groomer at christmas time - they handle the space, appointments, advertising and print devlivery, and supply a handler on shoot days. The do no grooming on shoot days. They get 20% off the top, and 10% goes to the humane society. More people partake knowing it's for a good cause than would otherwise do it. With Christmas card sales and not limiting it to just pets we average $70 some per client. Without christmas card sales (the last day is too close to christmas) the average is 1/2 that. We're not charging full studio prices.
I've gotten a tiny, very tiny, bit of business out of it - some port sessions but nothing much else.

[Curtis Cunningham]

Originally Posted by ChrisPerry

I've done pet photos at a groomer at christmas time...

So Chris, did you just charge people for prints? Did you have a sitting fee?

[ChrisPerry]

I treated it a lot like school photos - packages and ala carte prints, no sitting fee.
The first year I did the shoot and a few days later dropped off paper proofs (color laser contact sheets)and sales were maybe $25/person. Part way thru the second year I switched to having an assistant that would show the images right away on a computer- sales jumped to $65/person.

[Curtis Cunningham]

Now to the core issue at hand...The owner of the store and I are now thinking that we'll do the photography outside on the day of the grand opening of his store next month. That pretty much rules out booking appointments, so I'm leaning towards a first-come-first-served basis for the photography. But I'm not sure how to handle the proofing of the pictures and/or how to handle the ordering. I can see where there may be lots of people waiting in line for their pictures, and if I have a big line up of people interested in seeing the photographs I made after the shooting is over, I'm not sure I can show the proofs (likely on my laptop), take orders/payments, and keep the line of people moving who are waiting for their photos all by myself.

So what would you recommend? How do I best show the people the images and then process any orders?

Another thought I had would be to give them a URL for a web gallery they can go to later to view/order prints. But if I do that it would likely add a bit to the price, as my website doesn't have that capability built in. I'd have to purchase a proof-to-web package from the photo lab I work with. The other downside is that this delays the whole process. I'd much rather have them choose and order images immediately.

What do you think?

Thanks very much for the help,
Curtis

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