We are so excited that you are interested in helping support our cause! Operation Love ReUnited is a fantastic opportunity for professional photographers to help military families during deployments. Below you will find information about becoming one of our photographers. As an organization we have set up particular guidelines that all official OpLove photographers must adhere to involving our clients and sessions. Following these policies will ensure a smooth process for our families and our photographers alike!
General Info
Our photographers who submit an application to the organization will go through a series of levels to acceptance. First, photographers must be legally licensed to practice business in their state. Second, each photographer must have a well developed professional portfolio and/or blog, Facebook pages are not considered portfolios. Third, photographers must be using professional level equipment. Fourth, photographers must print with a professional photography lab. Lastly, photographers must be willing to provide OpLove services 100% free from charge – ALWAYS. This includes shipping, supplies, printing, and session fees. Photographers must agree to send a 4×6 printed album overseas to the deployed, and at the time of homecomings, provide an album or cd (depending upon their region) to the family.
STEPS TO AN OPLOVE SESSION
Booking the Session
You are contacted by a client via the OpLove Finder or put in contact with a family via your Regional Coordinator. You are REQUIRED to respond to EVERY email or phone call, even if you cannot schedule the session – PLEASE do not leave these families waiting for an answer. If you cannot make the simple obligation of returning emails and calls, please do not apply. Next, verify that they have a tangible date for their homecoming (even an estimate helps in your planning process) or decide on an agreeable date for a pre-deployment or deployed session.
Client Policies and Agreement
Send client the policies and agreement to complete and return to you, not OpLove Administration. The client can either fax it or mail it back beforehand, or simply turn it in (fully completed) at the time of the shoot. You may or may not choose to meet with the client beforehand if scheduling permits.
Verify and Log Your Session
Search your clients name in the Session Log to verify that they have not already completed their sessions for the year. Clients are allowed two (2) OpLove sessions per calendar year/per deployment. Once your session is complete, log it so that other photographers can verify the same. If your session unfortunately becomes a “no show, no call” you are advised to log the session in the database so that other photographers are aware. No shows, no calls are our biggest complaint from photographers about the clients. Likewise, the largest complaint from clients about photographers is not receiving their entitled, required album/cd.
Send Album, Offer Discounts
Once the session is complete, you are required to send a 4×6 album (or the equivalent) DIRECTLY TO the service member. For a homecoming, you are allowed to give them a CD of high-resolution images in conjunction with, or in lieu of an album, but this is for HOMECOMINGS ONLY! An album must be sent to the service member if deployed.
If you cannot meet this obligation in a timely manner, you need not apply.
You may offer additional discounts/incentives to the client. You may offer whatever you’d like to the families after you have given them their album and completely fulfilled your OpLove obligations. For example, some photographers offer an additional 50% off prints. All sales must be disassociated with OpLove per DoD policies. To do this, simply schedule an additional time to finalize the sale on your business’ paperwork, invoices, websites, etc. The OpLove Logo or name cannot be on any invoice of any sale at any time.
And Finally…
Our photographers understand that the following disclaimer, in whole and without modification, must be placed on any website or other media where any OpLove photos will be publicly accessible, or on the photo itself if it is published separately:
“The photos and other content of this publication do not constitute or imply any endorsement or recommendation by the Department of Defense.”
Photographers understand that should he/she, for any reason break this agreement, are subject to fines and other penalties under the Privacy Act.
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If you’d like to start the application process, please fill out the application, located at:
Operation Love Reunited Photographer Application
Contributed by Scott Russell
by admin
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