Usage - The Rental Car Analogy

It seems the item on my estimates I have to explain the most is Usage. So, hopefully this analogy will help explain.

When you rent a car, you sign a contract. On that contract you put yourself down as the driver. The daily rate in which you are charged for that car is based on you as the only driver.

If your spouse or business associate also may need to drive the car at some point, you put their name down too. However, that also increases the rate.

The contract is also for a specific amount of time. After that, you either have to return the car, or pay an additional fee.

If you have ever read the fine print on a rental agreement, you actually agree to only drive that car certain places. One of the places you agree not to drive typically mentioned is driving on "unmaintained roads." It also says you agree to abide by posted speed limits. You agree to keep the car in the United States.

Now, you have the car… but, just because you physically have possession of the car, that doesn't mean you own it. You can't sell it. You can't give it to someone else. You can't lend it to someone else.

So, by signing that contract you have agreed that you are the only user of the vehicle, you will only use it certain ways, you will not sell or give it away, and you will use it only for a certain time.

Believe it or not, in a general sense, this is a "Usage agreement" nearly identical to Usage on your photographer's Estimate.

By signing the contract you have agreed that you are the only user of the images, you will only use the images in certain ways, you will not sell or give away the images, and you will use the images only for a certain time.

Sound familiar?

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506

Continuing the Alliance

Congratulations, you have found a photographer you like their work, their prices, and most likely, you like them. How do you stay in touch with them?

- Stay in Contact

- Join their mailing list

- Follow their blog

- Invite them to send in new work

- Future Project Estimates - Try to give the photographer as much lead time as possible for a project to ensure they can provide a thorough Estimate as well as give you priority scheduling in their calendars. By having them provide Estimates against other photographers your like their work will also ensure the pricing you are receiving is on standard with the industry.

Really Like Them - Consider a Multi-Project Contract

This will ensure they are there for you.

How to Get More “Bang for your Buck”

Provide Feedback.

Be sure to provide the photographer feedback on his/her images. These are business people the same as yourself, and if you, the customer, isn’t happy or would like to try a different approach, the photographer should be open to your suggestions.

Scrapbook

As you go through your business day/weeks, there are bound to be images of other projects that an angle catches your eye, a time of day/lighting, anything. Show these to your photographer. It will help him/her gauge your tastes and preferences, leading to increasingly successful projects in the future.

Whether you were there or not, and whether we are your photographer on a project or not, if you have any questions or comments about commissioning architectural photography, please feel free to drop us a line anytime. We'd be happy to help!

Kimberly Blom-Roemer
Photographer
R2 Photography, LLC
r2-photography.com

866-722-9506