‘In Hong Kong for two weeks’: how to write a travel shoot announcement
- Put the city, your dates, available time slots, price and currency, and booking deadline in one announcement.
- Settle a rain plan and a local indoor place in advance so shoots don't slip on a short trip.
- Many countries restrict working for pay after entering as a tourist. Check your residence status before you go.
Photographers often post on Instagram: ‘I'll be in Hong Kong for two weeks from October. Get in touch if you'd like a snap shoot.’ It's a chance to reach both travellers and locals, but the trip is short, and a thin announcement brings lots of questions and few bookings.
What to include
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| City and area | Hong Kong (Hong Kong Island, Kowloon) |
| Dates | October 6 to 19, 10 shooting days available |
| Time slots | Two slots a day (early morning, before sunset) |
| Package and price | Couple snaps, 1 hour, HK$○○○ (₩○○○,000) |
| What's included | 20 edited photos · all originals · delivered within 3 weeks of returning home |
| How to book | 30% deposit, deadline October 1 |
| Language | Korean and English |
| If it rains | Move to an indoor studio (rental extra) or reschedule within the stay |
Before you leave
- Residence status — Many countries restrict foreigners staying as tourists from working for pay. Japan's Temporary Visitor status does not allow paid activities, and in Korea foreigners need a residence status that permits employment in order to work (Korea's Immigration Act Article 18). How a travel shoot is treated varies by country, so check with the embassy, the immigration authority or a professional.
- Location permits — Rules for shooting in parks and heritage sites differ by country and city. Check the rules for the two or three places you'll use most. Some places, such as Hawaii's public beaches, require permits for commercial shoots (snap shoot spots in Hong Kong and Hawaii).
- Indoor backup — Line up one local studio or rental space and check whether it takes same-day bookings.
- Payment — Decide which currency and method you'll take deposits in. Stating the exchange rate date as well heads off disputes.
- Gear — Spare batteries often have to go in carry-on luggage. Check the airline's rules and the local voltage and plug type.
Planning the schedule
- Shoots per day — In a city with long travel times, two slots a day is manageable. There's only one sunset slot a day.
- Spare days — Keep the last two or three days of your stay free to fit in shoots postponed by rain.
- Delivery deadline — Set the delivery deadline allowing for editing time after you get back.
Make it findable for locals
If you write your announcement only in your own language, local clients won't find it. Adding English or the local language for even the first line, with city, dates and price, widens your reach. Show prices in both the local currency and your home currency (won, for Korean photographers).
Put your travel cities and dates on your photographer profile too. Clients search for photographers by the city they'll shoot in, not the country they live in.
Japanese residence status information is based on descriptions of the ‘Temporary Visitor’ status in Japan's immigration system; for Korea, the Immigration Act Article 18 (restrictions on employing foreigners). Actual application varies by country and case, so check with the relevant authorities before you leave.
