Do you allow film and photo shoots in your listing?

[Huma0]

I have a bit of experience with this but was just wondering what other hosts' perspectives were on the subject.

I've always had photo shoots at my home because I'm a magazine editor so have lots of industry contacts, plus the house has been listed with a location agency.

However, since I started hosting, I've also received quite a lot of requests for this via Airbnb. Most of these are not from professional photographers, but students, amateur photographers, people launching a new brand/product etc. who can't afford agency rates and are therefore trying Airbnb instead. I say no to the majority as they seem to expect to hire the place for the room rate (and some even expect to stay in the room to boot), not realising that I am in the industry and know full well what a shoot involves and what the going rates are! 

Still, if they are willing to pay a reasonable rate (much lower than agency fees, but higher than Airbnb rates) and willing to stick to any conditions I specify, then it is a good way to make some extra cash. I've only had one bad experience with this, which was with some film students (NEVER AGAIN), but otherwise it has worked out well. You get more than the room rate and they don't get to stay the night. There is cleaning involved but usually no laundry.

Often, they are just using Airbnb as a way to make contact and want to book direct, which I am not keen on. I don't want to be delisted for breaking Airbnb policy just to save someone a few pounds.

Another idea is to barter with a photographer who also has experience of shooting locations. I'd be willing to let them shoot here for a greatly reduced rate in exchange for a few interior shots of the house. I haven't tried this yet as it's difficult to exchange websites etc. on the message system prior to booking, and I'd need to be sure they know what they are doing as shooting locations is not the same as shooting fashion, product etc.

Has anyone else tried this and what has been your experience? I wonder what Airbnb would think about adding a category for photo shoot locations?

[Wendy117]

Wow!

[Huma0]

@Wendy117 

Yes, I know, and these rates are for ONE day, during the week, 9-6pm only. Any hours after that, or weekends, are charged double time!

Of course, you're genearlly not going to get the same rates via Airbnb because, as I and other hosts mentioned, the people usually requesting via Airbnb are amateurs or on a tiny budget, so I don't want to get anyone's hopes up here! However, a major TV channel is used to paying the going rates and will be very well aware that they are getting a massive bargain.

[Wendy117]

@Huma0  your right of course, but also right that i was happy with the arrangement (due to ignorance) so i will remain positive about the experience.  They did not stay overnight, or cook, or use the laundry, and they managed to complete the shoot in one day. I was also lucky enough to fill two of those days via another platform.  BUT i will definitely keep this in mind -  although i am not sure why anyone else would want to shoot in my humble home as it is not so special.  These guys were looking for a typical 1900 workers cottage. Thanks for that information - very enlightening.

[Huma0]

@Wendy117 

Well, as I mentioned above, film/tv crews are often looking for something more 'ordinary', not just glamorous locations. Think about all the TV dramas you watch and how many normal looking homes are featured.

Absolutely, if you were happy with the arrangment, then great. They paid for four nights and were only there for one day, plus you got to book the other days out anyway. If they did not break stuff and create endless cleaning for you, then it's win win. One thing to consider though is that film/TV crews can use an extraordinary amount of electricity, what with their lighting and everything else, but sometimes they bring generators for all of that.

So, with rentals via Airbnb, I would never charge the agency rates or close to them. I don't charge the room rates either. It is something inbetween, depending on what areas they will be using, for how many hours, how many people will be here and also what they are going to use the shots/film for. Everone has to personally decide what amount of £s or $s makes it worth their while.

[Stephanie]

@Wendy117 

When's it airring? Might make a cool addition to your listing, "as featured in the hit crime drama..." 🙂

[Wendy117]

@Stephanie  yes, i had thought so too.  Two years ago now.  But the crew did not know and when i searched for the name of the show they gave me (cant remember now) i only found an American show.  So not a well known TV show.

[Huma0]

Oh, and in case anyone is interested, here is the rate card the agency sent me for photo shoots (stills):

PHOTOGRAPHIC SHOOTS – (Hours 9am – 6pm, weekday hires)

Editorial Publications                                                                                              £550 - £750

(fashion/lifestyle/celebrity/interiors/food/gaming/sports magazines)

Advertorial                                                                                                                 £650 - £850

(a sponsored shoot displayed in Editorial Publications)

Look Book                                                                                                                 £800 - £1000

(online and/or printed ‘catalogue’ providing insight into new looks)

Catalogue / Advertising                                                                                          £900 - £1500

(online/print catalogue, pr, marketing, advertising)

Behind the scenes filming – handheld                                         extra fee:       £100 - £250

(to be used alongside any of the above. As a means to record the background work that goes into producing the shoot in question. Normally used for social media)

[Jonna-Margaux0]

 First I must mention that from sunny Southern California the BRITs certainly have a dry sense of humor that is most enjoyable. second I wonder if you could host a photo shoot as An”experience” rather than as a rental of a sleeping room.   We did engage with Sony pictures entertainment at one point to do an entire reality TV show in our home in Huntington Beach and for that we needed a contract with them stating a daily rate and giving them seperate places for equipment, editing and approval from our HOA to film the grounds, park and helicopter shots of our neighborhood. We also each had separate contracts for our compensation as we were the subject of the show including the kids. They even sent a film crew with me in the front of our Range Rover while I picked up the kids from school for B role.   I wouldn’t do the acting parts again but I’d rent the house.  Funny but there was a lot of sand to clean up from these weighted bags that the film crew used.  

[Huma0]

@Jonna-Margaux0 

That's an interesting idea to list shoots in the experience category, but they would need to have different prices rather than one fixed price per person for the experience, as a photographer shooting a model portfolio with a small crew is completely different than a full on film/TV crew with trucks and tonnes of lighting. It could work though if there was  a staggered pricing system.

[Ian-And-Anne-Marie0]

@Jonna-Margaux0 Certainly - I can think of some great photoshoot "experiences" which may be accomodated, but one would need to be selective in what type of "experience" is actually provided or might indeed be perceived  🙂

Something like... A family portrait, could be beneficial to guests as well as potentially lucrative. It is something which we have thought of,  but not yet initiated. In our particular case we have families staying often meeting up from across country so there is a specific opportunity especially as families are not always together. 

Like the previous link provided: https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Hosting/Just-missed-that-one/m-p/974459#M244283 there could be scope for more for hosts. Landscape, Night and Wildlife photography experiences could also be viable.

[Helen427]

@Jonna-Margaux0 

@Neil131 

@Monique497 

@Brandon-And-Robert0 

As contributors to this earlier discussion, 

What are are your views on the most recent ABB interface change and update  in relation to the provisions of Services including Commercial Services in and on your property with regards to Filming/ Photography?

[Neil131]

I recently had an enquiry for a midweek booking. Some questionsa bout early check in and late check out which I agreed to  and then a third email asking do I mind if they film some scenes from an independant film while theyre there almost as an afterthought.  I said no thats a totally different proposal and I doubt my insurance would cover it. As a professional photogrpaher for over 20 years I was surprized at the naivetly from the sender. Ive been around enough film crews to know most dont care about the condition of the location once theyve got their take. So i would be asking for a signifficant deposit upfront if considering accepting a similar proposal.

[Alon1]

@Neil131 

All the inquiries I've had are straight forward. I've never had a btw (by the way....).

All those I've accepted have had Insurance / Public Liability.

Another condition is that the rooms to be used are photographed beforehand to ensure everything is returned to it's proper place. -- Moreover, I am at home in attendence, discreetly out the way, but available if need be.

I've only had one case of damage, and one of the crew happened to be  a very capable handyman, and repaired the chair.

[Huma0]

@Neil131 

I've only had one enquiry where the person was not immediately upfront about doing a shoot. A young lady wanted to book for a couple of people for a couple of nights but asked if it was okay to take photographs/videos on her phone while she was here as the place looked so lovely. I was immediately suspicous of this because she was based in London, so it seemed odd for her to book an Airbnb here.

Anyway, it turned out that she wanted to take marketing photos for her jewellery brand, thought she could do this for the Airbnb room rate and get to stay a couple of nights in a fancy room as a treat! I very quickly corrected her and explained that she would need to pay a higher rate to shoot here and that that rate did not include sleeping in the room too. There was a lot of back and forth over rates, T&Cs etc. but in the end she did not book.

Yes, I think there are probably a lot of naive people out there who think that Airbnb is a simple and cheap way of booking a location. Luckily, most of them do mention from the outset that they want to book it for a shoot though so I can get down to the nitty gritty of it without a lot of investigation.

[Monique497]

great.