There’s an unspoken pressure nowadays to share all your special moments online, whether it be birthdays, graduations, or engagements.
However, not everyone has the skills to take high-quality pictures, and people often find themselves too distracted to snap the perfect shot. While hiring a professional photographer is an option, it may not always be feasible on short notice.
This is where Social Agent steps in. The upcoming location-based gig app opened its waitlist on Wednesday, allowing users to sign up for its service, which is designed for last-minute photo requests.
The app connects users with trained photographers, videographers, and content creators for same-day needs, ensuring their special moments are captured. Additionally, the company targets beauty, fashion, and hospitality brands that need short-notice product shots.
The major promise? Social Agent’s gig workers or “agents” will arrive within 30 minutes, much like calling an Uber.
Social Agent is the brainchild of Lisa Jammal and is supported by co-founders Brooke Levy and Jeff Tobler. Jammal is the founder of Social Intelligence Agency, which works with high-profile clients, such as Disney Channel, the Recording Academy, and the Television Academy.
Image Credits:Shawn Kaleky/Cosmic Design
What distinguishes Social Agent from its competitors is its on-demand service. Imagine sitting at brunch with friends and wanting to hire someone to deliver professionally edited photos before you’ve finished paying the bill.
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When hiring an agent, users can book sessions starting at $65 for 30 minutes and $120 for 60 minutes. The packages offer options for photo or video content, including 10 to 15 images or 5 to 10 short videos ideal for platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok.
Raw, unedited content is delivered within 15 minutes after the event, and users have the option to purchase editing services, which start at $30. Editing takes a few hours, the company claims.
There is an additional service fee of approximately $5, as indicated in the demo we observed.
Other features include the ability for users to upload their own photos for on-the-go editing, the option to reserve an agent in advance, and a “share payment” option that makes it easy for friend groups looking to split the cost.
Image Credits:Shawn Kaleky/Cosmic Design
The key advantages of this service are its speed and affordability. In contrast to traditional services that often charge over $100 — and in some cases, even upward of $1,000, depending on the duration of the shoot — Social Agent offers a more budget-friendly option.
For comparison, its closest competitor seems to be Snappr, a marketplace that allows users to book a photographer with just two hours’ notice. Snappr promises to deliver edited photos within 48 hours, with prices beginning at $60 for a 30-minute session.
However, Social Agent’s low starting price might upset some people. When Uber first launched, taxi drivers were frustrated by having to compete against a new company that offered similar services for significantly less and paid drivers lower wages. Photographers might have a similar reaction to Social Agent.
Nonetheless, the company says that the app is only designed for side hustles, allowing agents to fill their downtime and get paid quickly. Plus, they can set their own prices, giving them more control over their earnings.
Apps like Social Agent are entering the market to capitalize on the growing gig economy. This shift is happening as the full-time job market slows down. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that around 4.9 million people are working part-time gigs because they can’t find stable work.
Image Credits:Shawn Kaleky/Cosmic Design
When agents apply to join the platform, they undergo an ID verification and background …