How to Partner with Photographers to Grow Your Baking Business
Creating partnerships with other businesses can help you grow your baking business.
But working with others can be a draining and confusing task.
And often, bakers get the short stick in many partnerships, if strong boundaries are not set up early.
One of the most popular partnerships is between photographers and bakers, due to the famous “cake smash session” and large events like weddings.
Because working with reliable bakers makes their job easier, photographers truly appreciate partnering with a baker they know and trust.
If handled properly, these collaborations can be very beneficial for your baking business growth.
If handled poorly, you as the baker, are normally left with the most risk.
Read up on the steps below, so nobody gets mistreated in the collaboration process.
1. Locate and agree to collaborate with another business (in this case, a photographer).
Meet in person to get acquainted and share business materials, to make sure you are a good fit BEFORE proceeding with any orders.
It is possible your vibe, values or schedules may not match up, and these subjects need to be discussed in full before any customers are involved.
2. Construct an agreement that benefits both parties.
Make sure you feel like the deal is worthwhile for YOU, before agreeing. If it seems like too much hassle NOW, it will definitely be too much hassle during the actual process.
Draw up and sign a simple contract, and make sure to save the this in writing.
My experience: I gave a photographer an exclusive referral deal (not offered for any other photographer), where her clients could get 10% off their order if it was for one of her shoots.
NOTE: I made sure clients still ordered directly through me and paid me at my normal prices, and I personally applied the referral discount.
The photographer also liked this set up because she didn't have to pay out of pocket, and still felt like she was helping her clients, by giving them a trusted referral.
No order details should be funneled through the photographer, this gets messy FAST!
If for some reason, the photographer wants to include the items in their photo package pricing, you could standard items and have strong boundaries on what it can look like or size. Maybe give a few photo references for the clients to choose from, and list the elements allowed.
(Example - all buttercream, no drawings or decor over 30 minutes, etc.)
PLEASE do not let anyone bully you into offering more than the original agreement for the set price. in these types of situations, Often bakers get asked to go overboard for no extra paY.
3. No matter who is placing the order, make sure you treat this like any other order.
Get the deposit or full payment in advance, have them fill out the order form and sign the contract, etc.
Who ever signs the contract is ultimately responsible for the order, and that is the person you deal with on the specifics.
4. Require that the photographer or the customer PICKS UP the order for the shoot, NO DELIVERY.
Photoshoots get cancelled and rescheduled constantly, and this can be a real pain for you, as a baker.
If the shoot gets cancelled, they can still come get the item and place it in their own storage, until the shoot reschedules. If they ask you to hold it, I would suggest charging them a space rental fee for storage, (since it will be in your way for days until they come to get it).
DO NOT refund an order because of a cancelled event, and have this in your policies inside your contract, that they sign before ordering!
5. Offer to post about the photographer and their services, in exchange that they do the same for you.
Mention them and their services on your social platforms or on your website, or link to their page. Ask that they do the same for you.
This is going to help both of your businesses flourish, and as your businesses become foundational in the community, it will bring credibility to everyone involved.
If you would like more ideas on marketing and growing your business, click here.