Teaming up.
 

I had a photographer call me the other day; He wanted to discuss adding my services as a package deal with his.

This is new teritory for me. Any words of advice?

Well, he's going to want a finder's fee for any gigs he get you. So you need to decide how much the job is worth to you. If he wants to charge a higher price than you usually do, in order to cover his fee, all the better.

Also, future referrals are always a problem. When a guest comes up to you and says, "hey, I love the way you work, do you have a card?", whose card do you give him? This would have to be discussed in advance, because usually, if the gig is under his umbrella, you would give him the referral.

I would also worry about payment. The client's money would naturally to go him. When do you get your cut?

You want a contract.

Good stuff Vito, some I had not thought of. I'll keep thinking.

I have "agreements" with a couple of photogs and it works out quite well. They do not book the job but do however "sell" it when they make the appointment with the client to come into their studio. They let me know when the client is coming in and I try to be there so we both talk to the client OR as has been happening lately, they simply refer my name give me the clients info and tell them I'll be calling. I book some, I don't book some. That's business, but there is no monatery exchange-we have worked together for a long time, enjoy working with each other, like each others style and work and maintain a nice professional relationship. It's been working well for a few years now.

On the other hand I do know a couple of folks that have "in house" arrangments with photogs. The photog sells the video and they get a cut-about 15%-high in my opinion BUT they book one guy about 100 gigs a year. Of course he has some guys shooting for him so he's not doing it all himself. He's never had a problem collecting his money and frankly it's another outlet for him. He actually has 4 studios that he's set up with and has been for about 6 or 7 years and it's worked out really well for him.
It's a trust thing-they trust him an he trusts them, without it, you got nothin'.
Don