HOW TO GET STARTED (FOR HOSTS) 

FILTERS

1.     Click POST NEW LISTING. Select filters based on AESTHETIC. 

-       This means that if it’s an area that would be used for a FOREST SCENE, even if it’s technically a part of your yard, you would want to select NATURE and NOT YARD. 

-       Or if it’s an interesting architectural feature, even at your place of business, you would select ARCHITECTURE, NOT BUSINESS. 

-       A BUSINESS category listing would be a space where the shot would show things like office cubicles, or a warehouse, etc. 

-       Think of what the actual image will look like as you choose filters.

2.     To MAKE YOUR LISTING SEARCHABLE, any KEYWORDS MUST BE IN THE DESCRIPTION ITSELF. 

-       The search bar on the website ONLY searches text you have written in the description including things like:

o   CITY AND STATE 

o   moods your location could be used for like “creepy” or “romantic” or “epic,” or aesthetics like “farm” or “trendy.” 

o   You may even want to include keywords for industries that might like your space, like “influencer” or “senior photos” or “product photos.” 

-       The easiest way to guarantee you include the keywords you want is to simply add a list at the bottom of your description that says, for example, “Related Searches: horse, ranch, cowboy, country, farmer, senior photos, engagements, barn, quiet, large space, field, meadow, grass, …” etc.

If you want a nice template for your description section, we've made one you can copy and paste below! 

- The pound signs (#) will not be visible but will make the titles (The Location, etc.) bold, so that it's easier to read when your listing is posted. So you can leave those there.

- The information between the parenthesis () are prompts for you, so you can simply delete those and replace them with your text when you're ready! (Just read the calendar instructions carefully)

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### The Location

(Add details about your location here, including what city and state it's in, even though you'll also add that info on the map at the end. It's also a great idea to add things like "This location is perfect for family photos, halloween shoots, business photography, etc." You can also add what time of day is best for certain lighting situations or what time of year looks best for this location. The more specific you can be, the more helpful it will be for creatives trying to find their perfect location)

### My Availability Calendar

[Calendly Link](YOURLINK) 

(If you decided to create a Calendly calendar, replace "YOURLINK" with the actual link to your Calendly calendar, including the https:// and KEEP the parenthesis around it. The text in between the brackets is what your viewers will actually see when your listing is posted.)

Related Searches: (Add keywords here that creatives might search for in order to find a location like yours! You can separate them with commas like: rocks, waterfall, old, western, etc.)

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3.     You may have MULTIPLE SPACES LISTED all under one account and even on the same property! 

Get creative! 

-       You may have created an account to list your beautiful garden, but do you also have a rundown, abandoned shed? A film crew might LOVE TO FILM THERE for a creepy movie scene! Or perhaps you’ve just renovated your bathroom with some trendy wood panels and maybe a skylight? There are ABSOLUTELY influencers near you who would JUMP at the chance to get some photos in that kind of setting for their social media! Be open minded and you’ll be amazed what you’ll find!

PRICING

1.     You can either post your listing as “free” or “renting”.

-       If you post it as “free”, that means people don’t have to pay in order to come, you’re just letting creatives know that it’s available. This option does not allow you to have the calendar function, although you’re welcome to create an availability calendar using www.calendly.com. Then you can add your calendar link to the description of your listing.

-       If you post it as “renting”, your hourly rate CANNOT BE LOWER THAN $15 PER HOUR. (This is due to transaction fees that get complicated if it’s lower than $15.) We also suggest that you create an account with www.calendly.com to give you more flexibility with your calendar. You can then add the link to your calendar into your listing description.

-       Scouter charges 3% of your listing price, so be sure to keep this in mind when you decide how much to list your space for.

-       Don't worry about the option that says "Info Only". That category is for Scouter Admins only. For now, hosts are not able to post any locations that they do not personally own. If you have a public location that you would love to share with other creatives, give us the details along with some photos and we'll do our best to get it listed!

2.     To get an idea of a normal price range for your type of location, you can look around at other listings before you get started.

ACCEPTING BOOKINGS

Once you have completed your listing, creatives can find your space and start booking immediately! But, you are a crucial part of that process. This is how it goes.

1.     An interested guest can view your availability calendar and once they choose an open space, they request it by clicking “BOOK.”

-       AT THIS POINT THE SESSION IS NOT YET BOOKED. You, as the host, must first review their request, and then ONLY AFTER CONFIRMING THAT YOUR SPACE IS AVAILABLE at the REQUESTED TIME and for the INTENDED PURPOSE, you may accept the payment.

-       DO NOT accept the payment before you and the guest are both agreed fully on both the appointment timing and the nature of the shoot. 

-       If the payment is not accepted within 3 days of the guest requesting it, the funds will be returned to the guest.

-       Accepting the payment will result NON-REFUNDABLE transaction fees, even if you both decide to cancel or alter the session timing or agreement.

2.     After the photo/video session at your location has been completed, the guest must select “COMPLETE” in your message thread to complete the contract and finish the transaction. 

-       It’s not a bad idea to remind your guest to complete the contract as you’re thanking them for coming. YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE PAYMENT until the contract has been COMPLETED, so this is a very important step. 

-       The transaction will automatically be marked as complete 2 days after the scheduled date has passed.

-       If a problem arises, you may contact Scouter to arbitrate the dispute. (But their payment is already in escrow, so this should rarely be a problem.)

3.     After contract completion you both have the opportunity to rate each other. 

-       Remember to be gracious and positive during the session, and also to be understanding but clear in your rating of the guest. They will be doing the same for you.

4.     If your listing is SEASONAL or for any other reason will be TEMPORARILY unavailable, but coming back, you can feel free to CLOSE your listing without deleting it and all your information will be saved to put back online by simply reopening the listing when you are ready.

GETTING PAID

1.     In order to get paid for your listings, you’ll need to fill out your bank information in your profile.

-       Hover over your initials (or photo, if you have one) at the top right corner of your screen.

-       Click on “Settings”.

-       Click on “Payments”.

-       Enter in your personal and bank information.

-       That’s it! You are now ready to accept payments!

2.     Once the transaction is marked as “complete” by the guest (or 2 days has passed from the scheduled date), you will get paid within 7 business days.

And last but not least...

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

1.     The BEST way to bring more power to the Tribe, including more locations, variety, and availability is to tell your friends about us! Know someone with an AWESOME SPACE? Tell them they could be MAKING MONEY with it just by listing it on SCOUTER! We even have a handy button at the top of the page to shoot them an email ;)

2.     AND, don’t forget, YOU COULD HAVE ANOTHER LISTING, TOO! Rundown barn, dusty attic, trendy bathroom, beautiful wood paneled wall? We’ll take ‘em! Take a look and post it!

HOW TO GET STARTED (FOR CREATIVES)

HOW SCOUTER WORKS

1.     Scouter works just like other P2P (peer to peer) marketplaces, but is created solely for creatives like photographers and filmmakers! 

2.     Hosts simply create listings on our website to rent out their personal locations, and creatives book the space through us to use for their photo/video shoots.

USING FILTERS

1.     The key to the search filters is to search based on LOOK.

-        If it’s a cool staircase you want and it happens to be attached to a business, you’ll still search the ARCHITECTURE category, not the BUSINESS category, because THE LOOK you want is cool building shapes, not office cubicles, warehouses or coffee shops.

BOOKING

1.     Once you find the perfect location, you can check the hosts calendar, pick a time and day, and book! 

2.     At this point the site will ask you to “confirm payment” but  your payment IS NOT official yet.

3.     Once you click “confirm payment” the request will be sent to the host. The host has to ACCEPT the booking, but is NOT to do so until you and the host DISCUSS THE NATURE of the shoot. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. 

-       To avoid confusion and misunderstandings YOU MUST be clear with the host about shoot details BEFORE THE SESSION, including, but not limited to: 

o   whether shouting or other LOUD NOISES are involved.

o   whether your models or actors may at some point wear LESS CLOTHING than usual.

o   whether there may be scary or DISTURBING IMAGES, etc. 

-       This is all fully allowed so long as you and the host are in agreement, and most hosts are more than happy to just give you space and let you create, but the beauty of Scouter is that anyone can host their PRIVATE property for you to use, so it’s simply important that everybody be on the same page. 

-       If the host does not accept the payment within 3 days of being requested, the funds will automatically return back to you.

4.     Once accepted by the host, your payment enters the system and is held by Scouter until you mark the contract as complete.

-       VERY IMPORTANT NOTE – DO NOT mark the contract as “COMPLETE” until AFTER YOUR SESSION. This is the ONLY CHANCE YOU HAVE TO DISPUTE THE CONTRACT in case something goes wrong with the host. If you mark the contract complete early, your payment is finalized and sent to the host, and we cannot recover it. 

-       So again, WAIT until AFTER YOU HAVE FINISHED YOUR SHOOT to mark the contract as complete.

5.     DON’T FORGET to mark the contract complete after you are done shooting! 

-       This is how you say thank you and authorize us to pay the money you’ve given us to your well deserving host! 

-       If you do not mark the contract as “complete” within 2 days after the event, it will be marked “complete” automatically and the host will receive the payment.

6.     If the CONTRACT WAS NOT FULFILLED as agreed upon, CLICK DISPUTE instead of complete, and Scouter will arbitrate the dispute.

And last but not least...

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

1.     The BEST way to bring more power to the Tribe, including more locations, variety, and availability is to tell your friends about us! Know someone with an AWESOME SPACE? Tell them they could be MAKING MONEY with it just by listing it on SCOUTER! We even have a handy button at the top of the page to shoot them an email ;)

2.     AND, don’t forget, YOU COULD HAVE A LISTING, TOO! Rundown barn, dusty attic, trendy bathroom, beautiful wood paneled wall? We’ll take ‘em! Take a look and post it!

3.      If you have a public location that you would love to share with other creatives, give us the details along with some photos and we'll do our best to get it listed!