Let's chat about Cost-Sharing.

Cost-Sharing is something that comes up a lot with my clients and in the world of commercial (non real-estate) interior/architectural photography. But what exactly is it?

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What is Cost-Sharing?

Cost-sharing is when multiple parties—like you (the client) and any additional vendors involved in the project—team up to hire a photographer, and split the cost. By inviting others who contributed to the project (such as builders, suppliers, etc.) to share the investment in photography. These agreements are always arranged before the shoot takes place. The more collaborators who join in ahead of time, the more cost-effective it becomes for everyone involved.

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How does Cost-Sharing Work?

Cost-sharing means that multiple people or companies—who all want to use the photos—split the cost of the shoot before it happens. Each party pays a licensing fee to use the images, and then the total cost is divided among everyone involved. This results in savings for each person.

 

Here’s an example:

Let’s say you’re an interior designer and you’ve hired me to photograph a project. Before the shoot, you know the builder and the cabinet company also want to use the photos. You invite them to join the shoot as cost-sharing partners. They agree, and we add a licensing fee for each of them. Now, instead of you paying for the full shoot on your own, the total cost is shared between you, the builder, and the cabinet company.

You get the same great images—at a much lower cost—because you're sharing the investment with others who also benefit.

 

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Why would I want to use Cost-Sharing?

It's advantageous to share the project up-front for two reasons:

1. You as the initial party are getting a discount for a project that you're already paying for.

2. It saves additional parties money by being part of the project before it happens vs. purchasing the final images at a higher rate after the project is complete.

 

Who could I resource for Cost-Sharing my project?

Anyone that you work on a project with and who you believe would be interested in having access to legally use the images: Interior designers, architects, builders, furniture vendors, material vendors, suppliers, sub-contractors, etc.

 

What if someone wants to Cost-Share a project after-the-fact?

I do not allow third parties to come in and cost share after a project is complete. Why? Out of respect for you as my client. You assumed all of the risk of our project up-front without seeing the finished product and it's unfair to offer the same reward to someone who purchases the images after-the-fact.