Photographer FAQ

What do I earn from booked photoshoots and purchased photos?
Our rates are competitive and enable you to make a living doing what you love to do! See the Blink Inc Rate Card.
How does payment work?
We pay your portion of money earned from booked shoots and purchased photos directly to the bank account you provide in your profile within 72 hours of any purchase. Sometimes funds will hit your account within 24 hours of a purchase depending on time of day and day of the week.
How do Customers purchase photos from the shoot?
Customers purchase photos directly from the app and they typically start purchasing photos during or soon after their shoot and continue purchasing long after their shoot.
What kind of cameras can I use?
We recommend that you use current DSLR cameras and lenses that are in semi-pro or pro model lines from Canon, Nikon, and Sony. You can even use your iPhone to shoot. But really all you need to shoot, connect, and upload your photos is a digital camera, a cable or card reader, and a laptop or computer to connect to FileZilla and our FTP client. If you use a camera that has built in FTP capabilities or your iPhone even better – you can connect your camera directly to the Blink app and photos will be available to your customer instantly.
How should I set my camera so that it works with the app?
Please make sure your camera is set to capture full size (L or M) JPEGs only. We do not allow for RAW image upload.
Do as much exposure work in the camera as possible. We do not apply any edit or sweetening to your photos. You know your style and your “look and feel” so it’s up to you to set up your exposure the way that best suits your style and your Customer’s needs. If you choose to upload your photos post shoot you can of course apply any editing to your photos before uploading. The choice is yours – either connect with a camera that’s FTP enabled or connect post shoot using FileZilla.
How do I connect my camera to the app?
There are 4 ways to connect and upload photos. The first, and the most commonly used, is to connect post shoot using FileZilla to connect to our FTP client:
After your shoot visit FileZilla online and also open the Blink app so that you can follow the steps for post shoot uploading using FileZilla. You can use a USB or other cable to connect your camera to your computer for direct image transfer, or you can use a card reader, or if your computer has a built in card reader you can use that. You can also point FileZilla directly to a folder on your computer making it easy to edit your photos before you upload them to the Blink app. Remember, no RAW images. JPEG files only please.
The second way to connect your camera to the Blink app enables importing photos directly from your camera to the Blink app on your iPhone post shoot. It requires using the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter Cable to connect your camera directly to your iPhone. After you complete your photo shoot you can plug the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter Cable into your iPhone and your camera so that you can import photos directly to your iPhone and then upload them directly to the Blink app. It’s intuitive and only takes a few taps. You can purchase the Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter Cable at apple.com. Remember, JPEG files only please.
The third way to connect is to use your iPhone for photoshoots. iPhoneography is becoming more and more popular and we make it easy for you to connect directly to the app and shoot with your iPhone. Capture photos using your iPhone and upload them directly to the Blink app!
The fourth way is to connect your camera directly to the app using your camera’s built in FTP capability and your iPhone’s hotspot. Your customers will love this method because it’s instant but we know not everyone has a camera with built in FTP capability:
1.Connect your camera to Wifi or your Hotspot.
2. Tap on the shoot you need to start.
3. Tap Begin Shoot to view your FTP Address, Username, and Password.
4. Follow the steps on your camera’s connection menu to connect to FTP using the codes provided to you.
5. Tap Next and start shooting!
6. Tap End to end the shoot.
How long do I have to wait to see my pictures after my shoot?
You are shooting in real time! That means instant gratification for you and your Customer. Connect your camera to the app and start shooting!
How do I make myself available for photo shoots?
In your profile, make sure your Notifications are set to “ON” (Green). This will enable you to be available for photo shoots.
Can I change my location?
Yes! You can set your location to wherever you are so that you are available for photo shoots in the area.
Does Blink do prints?
No. You shoot jpegs into your Customer’s account that they buy and send to print providers (if they choose) like Shutterfly, Walgreens, Costco and others.
Can Customers book back-to-back shoots?
Yes! But we encourage you to communicate with your Customer using our in-app Contact feature prior to their shoot to determine how much time they will need. If you determine that they need more or less time please advise that they book the appropriate shoot duration.
What if I’m running late?
Please arrive to your shoot location on time. If you’re more than 10 minutes late, we may need to credit your Customer for the lost time. If you know you’re going to be late, please use our app to contact your Customer or to reschedule the shoot.
What if my Customer is running late?
If your Customer is more than 10 minutes late, they can be charged for additional shoot time. Please advise your Customer to extend the shoot when the shoot extension pop-up notification appears close to the end of the original shoot time.
How much time should I suggest?
You know how much time you need to get the shot. We encourage you to work efficiently and quickly. Headshot and Profile Customers usually need 30 minutes. Families, Kids and Content, or a Few Outfit Changes usually need 60 minutes or more. Office shoots usually require 1.5 hours or more. Birthday Parties, Fashion Lines, Products, Events, Large Groups, Entire Offices and Teams will require 2 hours or longer depending on the number of products to shoot, length of event and number of people in the office. Feel free to use our in-app Contact feature to communicate with your Customer about how much time you think is required for their shoot.
Can I be booked for a 1 hour+ shoot for an event?
Yes! Most Customers book much more than an hour for special events, weddings, birthday parties, sports games, products, and even fashion and shoots that require more set-up or involved art direction and styling. Please advise your Customer that hair and makeup and other prep done during the shoot time is part of the shoot time.
What if my Customer wants a background or seamless?
If you can provide a specific background or seamless, let your Customer know and accept the shoot. If you cannot provide a specific background or seamless, let your Customer know and do not accept the shoot.
What should I wear to my photo shoot?
Look your best! Your Customer will look their best and also be relying on you for direction and capturing them at their best. Most of your Customers will not be professional models so please mind the details of their fashion, hair, and makeup.
Can I photograph babies?
Yes! We take great pride in our natural, candid, elegant approach to photographing babies. We’re also proud to work with families from maternity photos through growing up! Contact your Customer and suggest a few items for your Baby photo shoot: favorite blanket, sheepskin, onesies and caps, binkies, bottles and booties. Feeding your baby right before the shoot leads to happy and content babies, and results in better pictures!
Can a Customer bring pets to the photo shoot?
Yes! We do pet photography of dogs and cats, and any animal that is safe to bring to the shoot location.
Can my Customer take Behind the Scenes (BTS) pictures during the photo shoot action with their cell phone?
Sure. We ask that they are mindful of others around them, including you, because this can be distracting. We encourage you to share ask that they share on their stories, feeds, and snaps.
Can I share my own BTS shots?
Yes! Please share your BTS shots on your feeds.
Can I cancel or reschedule a shoot?
You can reschedule and cancel photo shoots. Please know that if you accept and cancel too may shoots you may get bad reviews. Please contact your Customer to cancel or reschedule.
How many pictures should I take during a 10-minute Profile shoot?
Shoot a few “looks” and typically more than 80 pictures in a 10-minute Profile photo shoot.
How many people can my Customer have in a photoshoot?
It really depends on the shoot location. We love to work with large groups and large families, and depending on the location, you might get as many as 40 people into the picture.
Extended families are a good example. Many companies use us for larger groups for single profile/about page pics and team/group shots.
How does my Customer view their photos?
On the app, on their phone. Simple!
How does my Customer save the photos they’ve purchased?
After a photo is purchased it can be saved to Photos by tapping it and clicking Save To Photos.
Why are there watermarks on the photos?
Watermarks protect your photos from being used before they are purchased and downloaded.
The watermark disappears when your Customer purchases photos.
How long will photos be available for my Customer in their account?
Currently, unpurchased and purchased photos are available to the Customer forever! Should Blink Inc change its policy, Customers will be notified.
May I use images that I’ve taken for my own portfolio?
Yes! You may use images that the Customer has purchased in your portfolio.
What background checks do you perform?
Before we can activate you on the app, we will perform a standard background check. This helps your Customers feel safe and secure. We will use a service to perform a standard ID/SSN verification, criminal record search and national sexual predator database search.
Contact: info@blinkinc.com