"Exclusive Photographer"

Here is a question for you all...

I just spent 30 min on the phone with a company who wanted us to be the "Exclusive" photographers for a 5 star resort... well.. for the employees of the resort. We would offer a discount on our services... they would advertise us out to 1500 employees.. The employees would have a discount card for 20 businesses ...with us in the mix. This would be a year contract...

The catch... we pay $1K to be the "Exclusive" photographers for a year.

So... has anyone done something like this?

I looked at it as the company is the middle man... they make a commission off of promoting the resort.... the resort passes on the discounts to the employees... we get more exposure...

Just curious if anyone else has worked out a deal like this? If so... how did it go?

Would you do it if you were offered something like the deal above?

Thanks,
Hatch

It's common in other businesses, the "exclusive baseball for MLB" - well they are paying for that right.

In photography, Getty having the exclusive commercial photo deal with MLB/NHL, AP with the NFL - both are paying for that right knowing they'll make back the fee because anyone wanting the photos has to go through them or hire their own photographer to shoot it for them, usually they'll pay for one image through an agency as it's cheaper than hiring someone to get one they want. So to them it works because the demand is there.

The problem I see with this is simple, the employees don't have to hire you. The hotel can advertise you to the employees all they want, but in the end of the day if they choose to go to KMart and have their photo taken they can. So it's "exclusive" in that you'll be the one they promote to the employees, but not exclusive for the employees to use your services. Also have to think of what type of employees, highly paid, underpaid, struggling with families or well off, etc.

Also, are they going to help with guests, or is it something the guests may want? I was just in Florida and headed down to the shelves where they have 8000 fliers for different businesses. Now there was no exclusives, but there was a photographer there advertising to capture the peoples vacations, beach portraits, etc. Is that something that could be done here - high end beach resort clients, is it a family vacation place, a golf resort, is it something people may want to hire you if they knew about you, and is the resort going to help with that as well??

I think Mike pretty much nailed it.

I'd definately disect things eight ways to determine what the potential return on investment can be.

I think you nailed it as Jay mentioned... and this is what we (my partner and I) discussed... nothing against the hard working people at the resort.... but... I can market to them without having to pay $1K

We paid to be the exclusive photographers at a bodybuilding event or events... a few years ago... By the 3rd show... and with an audience full of pro shooters and amateurs with pro gear... and no support for the person putting on the event to not allow cameras in... we had to drop them. It was not a good experience. So ... when we were contacted today.... it was all unicorns and rainbows for 30 min and then at 31 minutes... she informed me to be the "exclusive" photographer... it would cost $1K.

We passed on the deal... I was just curious to know if anyone had done something like this and if it was worth their time.

Thanks for the info
Hatch

$1K is a serious upfront investment that is very unlikely to pay off. The company makes out like a bandit offering its employees a benefit at zero expense. Paying a commision would be a far better situation. Other discount options like Groupons, etc would be a far better business investment with less risk.

sspellman wrote in post #11268259
$1K is a serious upfront investment that is very unlikely to pay off. The company makes out like a bandit offering its employees a benefit at zero expense. Paying a commision would be a far better situation. Other discount options like Groupons, etc would be a far better business investment with less risk.

I agree... this was just a random contact... not something we were seeking.

I checked in to a company here in Phoenix... a Groupon clone... http://www.doozyofadea​l.com

They wanted to push a super discounted photography package... in the $69 range for $400 in services and prints...

The kicker... it's a 55/45 split. So... out of the $69 you get to keep $37.95 to go out and shoot for an hour or whatever terms you come up with.. and you have to consider the prints you were offering....post time...travel...etc.

For our business... it was a losing situation. You can come up with any package/deal you would like... they just suggested the above from previous sales.

I'm not a fan of working for free or at a loss been there... done that... isn't much fun.


So... back on track... we passed on the $1k to gain access to the employees of the resort. I want the clients that are vacationing at the 5 star resort...

Thanks for the comments.
Hatch