Cost Sharing Explained: A Practical Guide for Industry Professionals

What is Cost Sharing in Photography and Videography?

Cost-sharing is a smart way to save money and still get amazing photos and videos of your project. It works by having everyone who helped with the project—like architects, designers, builders, and landscapers—share the cost of hiring a professional photographer or videographer. This way, you get beautiful pictures or videos that highlight everyone’s work, without having to organize separate photo shoots.

Let’s break it down step by step!

Step 1: What is Image Licensing?

When you hire a photographer or videographer, you don’t actually own the photos or videos. You’re paying for a license, which is like permission to use the images in certain ways, like on your website or in advertisements.

Under Canada’s Copyright Act, photographers own the images they create., just like architects own their designs. In a cost-sharing plan, everyone gets the same rights to use the pictures or videos. This keeps things fair for everyone.

Step 2: Working Together

Cost-sharing starts when someone takes the lead—this might be the architect, builder, or designer who wants the project photographed. They invite others who worked on the project, like landscapers or engineers, to join in and share the cost.

This works best when everyone needs photos of the whole project. If someone only needs one or two pictures, they can choose to pay for those separately later.

Step 3: Figuring Out the Costs

We’ll create a quote based on what the project needs, like:

- Which spaces or details to photograph

- Any special requests, like close-ups of certain features

- Planning for things like travel or setting up the shoot

Each extra person who joins adds a small licensing fee (30% of the total cost). Then, the total amount is split between everyone.

Step 4: Example of Cost Sharing

Here’s an example with four people sharing the cost:

- Starting project cost: $2,000

- Extra fee for each contributor: $600 (30% of $2000)

- Total extra fees (four people): $600 × 4 = $2400

- New total cost: $2,000 + $2400 = $4400

- Cost per person: $4,400 ÷ 4 = $1100

Instead of everyone paying $2,000, each person pays $1,100. This saves almost 50% while still getting the same high-quality images.

Step 5: Planning the Photo Shoot

Once everyone agrees to share the cost, we set up one photo shoot. This saves time and avoids the hassle of doing separate shoots. We’ll work with you to plan things like staging, lighting, and timing so everything looks great.

Step 6: After the Shoot

After the photos are taken, everyone gets to see them in a gallery and pick their favourites. Once all the images are chosen, we edit them to make them look professional. After editing is done and payments are finished, you’ll get a link to download your photos.

If someone didn’t join the cost-sharing plan earlier, they can still buy a license for individual photos later. But joining the group plan is the best deal.

Why Cost Sharing is a Great Idea

- Save Money: Share the costs and save more than 50%!

- Tell a Better Story: Everyone gets consistent, high-quality images to show off their work.

- Save Time: One photo shoot is faster and less disruptive than multiple shoots.

- Reach More People: Everyone shares the photos on their own platforms, getting more attention for the project.

Let’s Work Together!

Cost-sharing is a simple way to save money and show off your project in the best way possible. From custom homes to office spaces, it’s a great way to create beautiful marketing materials while keeping costs low.

Talk to your team and collaborators today about cost-sharing. If you have questions, visit our contact page - we’re here to help!

ABOUT

MATT ANTHONY PHOTOGRAPHY

Matt Anthony is a Squamish-based architectural photographer and videographer with a passion for capturing craftsmanship and design.

Known for his collaborative approach, Matt works with architects, builders, and designers to create visuals that elevate their projects and tell their unique stories.

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Ready to make your work shine?

Let’s capture every detail beautifully.

Recent Clients

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"Matt was a pleasure to work with on our recent architectural project shoots. He was highly responsive and organized pre-shoot, and on-site he worked efficiently with a professional, calm demeanour. His creative eye brought out the best in the design, and he easily adapted to changing conditions. If you need a talented photographer who combines professionalism with artistry, Matt is an excellent choice. Highly recommend!"

- Kyle Paisley, Summerhill Fine Homes

Frequently Asked Questions

What types of projects do you photograph?

I specialize in architectural, interior design, and construction projects, capturing everything from completed builds to progression shoots and team portraits.

How long does a typical shoot take?

It depends on the scope of the project. A standard shoot can take 2-6 hours, while larger projects may require a full day or multiple sessions.

Do you offer retouching and editing services?

Yes! All final images are professionally edited to ensure they highlight the craftsmanship, details, and unique features of your project.

Can you work with us on staging and styling?

Absolutely. I collaborate with you to ensure every space and detail is staged perfectly to align with your vision.

How do I book a shoot?

It’s easy! Just contact me to discuss your project details, and we’ll set up a discovery call to plan your shoot.

Matt Anthony Photography

Hours: Monday - Sunday 8am - 6pm

Phone: (604) 210-4254

We acknowledge that we play, live, work and gather on the unceded territories of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) nation.