Happy Monday! I’m back with another business-ey blog post (because they’re so entertaining right?).

In all seriousness though, brand and model collaborations take up a large portion of my current business. Because of this, I wanted to outline the terms I have and things I require for all collaboration bookings. Below, you’ll find a step-by-step guide of how I handle all of these kinds of sessions – and maybe if you’re a fellow photographer, you’ll get some ideas of how to handle these same sessions for yourself. Clients – remember, no two photographers are the same and each process and their costs can vary. I recommend you “shop around” to ensure you’re booking with someone whose process resonates best with you.

Heads up – Ruhe Liebe Photography does NOT typically do “Content for Content” or free Collaborations due to the BTS work and costs for supplies/clothing/materials/studio rentals, etc. These types of bookings are made ONLY IF the scope of work is very minimal/straight-forward.

As always – grab your coffee and a blanket, get comfy, and learn a bit more about how I handle these types of clients/bookings! (Feel free to skip to the last two portions of the Blog for a quick, summarized version)

Charity/Free Collaboration Requirements

As I said before, it’s not too common for me to be able to accommodate all of the free events and shoots that I would like to. While I do make it a point to do monthly charity/free Collaboration shoots, I also need to ensure I have room for my potential paid clients as well (free doesn’t keep the lights on, y’know?). Because of this, Ruhe Liebe Photography has very strict requirements for any and all free events that are booked outside of my planned Charity events. To give you an idea of what those requirements are and if we would be a good fit for eachother, please read the brief outline below;

• Event/hours of coverage must be 3 hours or less.
• Client must accept a minimum of 30 final images per hour of event coverage.
• Event or scope of work must be simplistic with minimal setup, prep-work, or other materials needed.
• BOTH the booking Client and/or any other people or businesses who plan on using the photos must be willing to give Photographer credit (by means of tagging or post collaboration) on social media platforms and business websites unless otherwise agreed upon. Agreement must be in writing and/or will be added to your contract.
• All Contracts and Questionnaires must be completed within 24-48hours upon booking.
• BOTH the booking Client and/or any other people or businesses who are involved in the event must acknowledge and agree that the artistic style of Ruhe Liebe Photography must be maintained, and that I must be able to edit and work at my own pace and with the editing style that currently matches my business.
• If a “model” is involved, the shoot will only be eligible for free or at a discount if/when the model has any and all outfits and materials covered for the shoot, can handle their own travel/stay costs (if applicable), and can plan or do their own hair and makeup if needed or if a free vendor of those kinds are not available.

Description and Requirements of other Collaborations

Aside from free or Charity photoshoots, Ruhe Liebe Photographer puts it’s other Collaborations into 2 other categories. Below, you’ll find the difference between the projects and depending on their desired scope of work. These Collaborations fall under the category of either a “Base Collaboration” or a “Production Collaboration“. Here’s some details;

Base Collaborations

Simply put, Base Collaborations are simple branding, event, or lifestyle photoshoots with a minimal level of prep-work or materials needed. These are photoshoots that are as close to “point-and-shoot” as possible. An example of this kind of booking would be something like a local hairstylist’s branding photos, where they have all of their own props/materials, can style themselves, and have their own outfits planned. These sessions will often be discounted by 50% for local businesses, artists, and so on. However, please keep in mind that a studio fee may apply as well, and can vary depending on which studio/location/etc are available and fit the scope of work. This can apply to ideas brought forth by either myself or the potential Client and final costs may vary slightly between projects.

Production Collaborations

Production Collaborations are a much more involved type of project. In this industry, these shoots are sometimes considered “Styled Shoots”, but don’t always have to be. These Collaborations can also be for local business/vendor events, certain planned proposals, and more. To be more specific, these are shoots that require more intense planning, prep-work, and/or materials like backdrop setups or custom “printables” like flyers, signs, etc. During these shoots, I would be the one to handle all of these things (unless stated/agreed upon otherwise) as well as booking other vendors, a studio space when/if needed, and would be managing and/or directing all aspects of the session from start to finish.

I. Styled Shoots

By definition – a Styled Shoot is, “a meticulously planned, staged, and curated photoshoot designed to showcase a specific theme, aesthetic, or creative vision. It involves a collaboration of industry professionals (vendors) using models to produce high-quality, aspirational imagery for marketing, portfolio building, and networking. These shoots are not real events but, rather, controlled environments for creative experimentation.” per Google.

These are typically ticketed events for local Photographers, Videographers, Vendors, and Stylists to have the opportunity to come together in a planned, luxury, creative experience. Depending on the Vendors involved, they may require full or discounted payments for their services, but often are working for exposure and/or a more high-quality and controlled display of their work. Regardless, there is almost ALWAYS a cost for materials, planning, and marketing of the Styled Shoot. Because of this, ticket costs can range from fully free all the way up to several hundred dollars. It is imperative that you are purchasing tickets to Styled Shoots that fit your brand and goals. Also, that inquiring models are doing the same.

II. Other Involved Shoots

Have an idea or upcoming event and need some help with planning or set-up? Romantic proposal coming up and no one to help make it happen (AND keep it a secret – we all have that one friend or family member who can’t keep their lips sealed)? Want a higher-quality set of Branding photos but aren’t too keen in the hair or makeup department? You’ve come to the right place. Luckily, I keep a list of highly trusted and preferred vendors all over North Carolina – and I love a creative challenge.

For these shoots, we will work closely together from start to finish to go over any and all details regarding your event or photoshoot. This can be anything from timelines, desired vibes or color palettes, necessary materials for props or backdrops, hair/outfit/makeup styling preferences, location scouting and/or studio booking, and so on. All of these details will be included when considering the final cost and invoice, but will start at the same 50% discounted rate as all of my Base Collaborations. Any further costs added to your session will be decided by the factors mentioned above and any other outside costs involved in the planning, production, and aftermath of your shoot. Once your retainer/invoice is paid, you’ll be able to sit back and relax while I handle all of the ordering, prep-work, and set-up for the shoot. All you have to do is maintain timely communication, show up, and trust the process!

Additional Details & Requirements

• Client must accept a minimum of 30 final images per hour of event coverage. All Collaboration bookings require a minimum of 1 hour in total shoot time.
• Event or scope of work must be communicated in a timely manner. This includes all details regarding setup, prep-work, necessary vendors, location/studio preferences, materials needed, etc.
• BOTH the booking Client and/or any other people or businesses who plan on using the photos must be willing to give proper credit to Ruhe Liebe Photography and any other Vendors involved (by means of tagging and/or post collaboration) on social media platforms and business websites unless otherwise agreed upon. Agreement must be in writing and will be added to your contract.
• All Contracts and Questionnaires must be completed within 24-48hours upon booking. Retainer or ticket fees (or total invoices) must be paid to secure your spot.
• BOTH the booking Client and/or any other people or businesses who are involved in the event/shoot must acknowledge and agree that the artistic style of Ruhe Liebe Photography must be maintained, and that I must be able to edit (if I will be the sole/primary Photographer) and work at my own pace and with the creative style that currently matches my business.
• Timely, professional, and effective communication is expected at all times. Any and all detail changes, cancellations, and reschedules are expected to be requested or completed a minimum of 7 days before your expected shoot date.
• To ensure the safety of everyone involved, all parties (including Vendors AND Clients/guests) ensure that they are behaving in accordance to the laws, regulations, or rules set by the location and/or owner of said location – and the state/county in which they are located. This includes but is not limited to; 1. The use of illicit or non-prescribed drugs during your event or shoot is STRICTLY prohibited. 2. Any and all consumption of alcoholic beverages must be done so only with written consent of the on-site location and by of-age individuals. 3. Absolutely no use of trespass-enforced locations will be tolerated without prior written consent by the owner of the on-site location.
• Failure to abide by these rules can result in the loss of both your booking slot and the possibility of an additional cancellation/rescheduling fee. Also, the loss of any payments made towards your invoice. To protect all Vendors involved (including myself), all fees and remaining balances must be paid IN FULL before your next shoot date can be secured.

Well, there you have it. Hopefully this post helps some of you know what to expect from Ruhe Liebe Photography when it comes to any Collaboration-type booking. The most important thing to keep in mind is that no two bookings are exactly alike, and that costs will vary between bookings depending on the scope of work, materials needed, if a studio is necessary, what other Vendors may be needed (and if they’re offering their services for free), and so on. Regardless of the intensity of your booking, though, just know you and your wants/needs are going to be heard and that your desired session will be executed with the utmost care and attention to detail.

If you have any further questions or are interested in booking your free consultation call, feel free to reach out to me directly by the contact form here on my website or by email at ruheliebephotography@gmail.com.

Talk soon!

Katelynn | Ruhe Liebe Photography