Parts for shots? anyone done this?

[Jacob Leveton]

I just picked up a new car (used, but new to me), and want to get a few things done to it. I already lined up suspension from a company who needs to prototype some things on my car, so that's taken care of. But I was thinking about doing some product shoots / product reviews for some companies in exchange for some free parts. I know that with tech articles, the parts are usually given to the magazine in exchange for the editorial space. That's an option I'm looking into, but I want to have some back up plans. I've shot product stuff before (i have strobes) and i've also done posters and other feature-type work for companies.

My questions:
- who have you worked with who was good to work with?
- how easy was it to arrange this? I'm thinking about cold calls / emails for most of the part stuff.
- Think it's easier to work this out than to get paid from said companies? i'm thinking these companies would be more likely to give away some product than to pay me, so they might seal the deal a bit better.

[Paul Hansen]

All in all, work for pay, not parts. I know of the parts/editorial bit all too well, as I work with an automotive aftermarket company (AVO), but while such things may get you free parts, it doesn't improve your reputation much. OTOH, if you offer your services for cold, hard cash, then they usually know other companies that may have no parts you are interested in, but are also willing to pay cold, hard, sexy cash to shoot their products.

See, both plans will get you parts, but the second is more likely to get you more parts, or pay the bills.

OTOH, if this is related to your eZine, well than you don't have much choice, since they are not going to pay for editorial space. ;)

[Jacob Leveton]

Unfortunately, the new car I picked up is AWD, so it's not related ;) Anything i'd put up there, i'd expect to just do a straight trade - parts for editorial, the good ole way. One of these days, I'll actually pick up a car for that. But my daily driver took a dump, and this car was dirt cheap, so I plan to fix it up a bit and slang it.