Event Photography, royalty rates to fulfillment shops?

Hi,

I posted this as a reply to a previous post but there weren't any responses so I'm creating a new thread.

I'm planning to do some event photography, I am in the process of developing a relationship with a new franchise coming up in my area which is specializing in digital event photography with an emphasis on printing and fulfillment.

They want me to shoot some events they find and coordinate and will give me a percentage of the gross. They are willing to give me a higher percentage on any event I am able to acquire and/or coordinate.

I have no idea what a fair percentage should be. Can anyone tell me what is standard/typical?

For the events I am able to acquire, I know I can use some of the online sites to do the fulfillment and retain a large percentage of the order. But I think working with a local printer might provide some benefits, including probably better results (I am currenting using dotphoto. They are convenient but their prints are mediocre). They also are willing to let me use their D1X for events and are interested in doing onsite printing for various events.

Can anyone comment on this? I'd like to jump in and get started but want to know what others are doing/receiving. Also, who typically does the post process editing and how would that affect the percentage, either way?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Mike,

Since they set up the shoot, process and deliver it .. you
basically are a paid employee, you show up and click
the shutter. If thats what you want to be, then go for it.

Do you have to pay to become a franchisee? If so,
then your paying them to become their employee ..
if so their in the photo and employment agency
business too!

If you want to be your own boss .. do the work yourself
and keep the profits in YOUR pockets.

I would damn sure I read the contract VERY carefully
though .. I have read other post that some of these
franchise operations have clauses that can keep you
from working an area if you decide to part ways ..
among other things.

I don't know if thats a fact, just what I've read on other
forums. Just be sure what your getting into.

RonB

mikebigkid said:

Hi,

I posted this as a reply to a previous post but there weren't any
responses so I'm creating a new thread.

I'm planning to do some event photography, I am in the process of
developing a relationship with a new franchise coming up in my area
which is specializing in digital event photography with an emphasis
on printing and fulfillment.

They want me to shoot some events they find and coordinate and will
give me a percentage of the gross. They are willing to give me a
higher percentage on any event I am able to acquire and/or
coordinate.

I have no idea what a fair percentage should be. Can anyone tell me
what is standard/typical?

For the events I am able to acquire, I know I can use some of the
online sites to do the fulfillment and retain a large percentage of
the order. But I think working with a local printer might provide
some benefits, including probably better results (I am currenting
using dotphoto. They are convenient but their prints are
mediocre). They also are willing to let me use their D1X for
events and are interested in doing onsite printing for various
events.

Can anyone comment on this? I'd like to jump in and get started but
want to know what others are doing/receiving. Also, who typically
does the post process editing and how would that affect the
percentage, either way?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Click to expand...

Dear Mike,

I can think of a lot of ways to waste money, but paying someone to set you up in the event photography business and becoming their employee takes the cake. Over on the event photography forum, some photographers were incredulous that there are companies that are actually charging nearly $100,000 for a "digital event photography franchise." You had better look good and hard at what you are getting for your money. You will be much better off spending some time with some digital event photographers (not necessarily in your market) and learning the ins and outs of the business.

This advice could save you years of aggravation and thousands of dollars, if you heed it: Go to the PPA in July in and meet some successful event photographers. You will also get a chance to review various digital event photography systems and software. I would also suggest that you attend the event photographers conference in Dallas next January. You will meet (and learn from) the most successful event photographers in the country who specialize in all types of events, and I guarantee you that not one photographer there will be someone who paid a "franchise fee" to get started.

I don't mean to sound harsh, but if you are going into business, you need to spend you money and time in areas that make sense. Paying a franchise fee to someone is not a wise use of your money. Not to mention being honored by a "higher percentage of the gross" on events that you find yourself. It reminds me of the old joke my father once told me about sharecropping in the South: "We got to share, the land owner got all the crops."

In response to some of your questions:

RonB said:

RonB said:

I'm planning to do some event photography, I am in the process of
developing a relationship with a new franchise coming up in my area
which is specializing in digital event photography with an emphasis
on printing and fulfillment.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Keep your money. Purchase your own camera, software, laptop and printer, and print onsite. People buy what they see, and will pay a premium to get their photos "in the moment."

RonB said:

RonB said:

They want me to shoot some events they find and coordinate and will
give me a percentage of the gross. They are willing to give me a
higher percentage on any event I am able to acquire and/or
coordinate.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Insane.

RonB said:

RonB said:

I have no idea what a fair percentage should be. Can anyone tell me
what is standard/typical?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

A fair percentage is you keeping 100% of the gross. The only legitimate relationship would be if you paid them a "finders fee'" for any event they found for you. That's the difference between being an employee and a business owner (or even worse, an employee who paid for the privilege of working for them).

RonB said:

RonB said:

For the events I am able to acquire, I know I can use some of the
online sites to do the fulfillment and retain a large percentage of
the order. But I think working with a local printer might provide
some benefits, including probably better results (I am currenting
using dotphoto. They are convenient but their prints are
mediocre). They also are willing to let me use their D1X for
events and are interested in doing onsite printing for various
events.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Online sales are gravy, not the meal. With most events, at least 90% of your sales will come from on-site printing.

RonB said:

RonB said:

Can anyone comment on this? I'd like to jump in and get started but
want to know what others are doing/receiving.

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Don't jump in, take the time to learn. It may save you from jumping off a cliff.

Good luck,

Nate

P.S. - I wouldn't worry about it when the company tries to pressure you into purchasing a "franchise" in your area because "locations are going fast." Take your time, learn what you are doing and you will be in business long after the sucker that purchased the "franchise" has filed for bankruptcy.

Hi,

I think I did a poor job of explaining my situation... A few guys I know have purchased a franchise license and are starting a store in my area. I met one of the guys in a class I took, he liked my work and has asked me to get involved either taking shots at events or using his service to fulfill my events. I am not purchasing a franchise!

I think establishing a relationship with them could be beneficial to both of us, I could gain experience, get paid for events I help them with, use professional equipment, make contacts, etc. For the events I manage to cultivate, I could use them as a local fulfillment agency, whether that would be in processing orders or setting up an onsite printing booth.

So perhaps my questions might make more sense now? They have offered me a percentage of the gross of the shots I do that sell in their events and we are trying to figure out a fair arrangement for the events I find and coordinate and just who will do what. I realize I can do it all myself or in conjunction with an online service and retain most of the gross. I'm just not sure I'm ready to do that or ready to tackle onsite printing.

I am trying to get into this business slowly as I have a fulltime job but enjoy photography tremendously (especially action type events) and would eventually like to transition to it fulltime. There seem to be many aspects of this business besides just taking good pictures, the marketing side, sales, operations, etc, etc, etc. It will be great experience learning.

So I'm just looking for some feedback to determine what a fair arrangement would be in various scenarios. (me editing, them editing, etc).

Also, I realize that onsite printing is ideal. But how often or how successful is creating a book of thumbnails and distributing or displaying them towards the end of a multiday event and taking orders that way?

Thanks for any and all feedback!
Mike