Content Retainers
Monthly photo and video on retainer, for brands that publish consistently.
Some brands need a steady drumbeat of content rather than one big shoot a year. Content retainers cover regular shoot days, ongoing editorial collaboration, and a consistent deliverable cadence — so your social calendar, website, and ad creative all stay fresh without scrambling each month. The same eye behind every shoot means the brand visual identity gets stronger month over month, not diluted.
What every retainer includes
- Monthly or quarterly shoot day(s), scoped to your content plan
- Ongoing editorial conversations — what's coming, what's working
- Mixed-format deliverables: photo, short-form video, behind-the-scenes
- Quarterly content audit and rolling plan adjustment
- Priority booking — your shoots get scheduled first
Starting points.
Every Spoonbill project ends with a custom quote. These tiers give you a starting point for the conversation. Final pricing is set once we've talked through the specifics — every job is a little different.
| Tier | Starting at | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Half-day monthly — photo or video | Starting at $800/month | 4 hr shoot each month · one medium |
| Half-day monthly — photo + video | Starting at $1,200/month | 4 hr shoot each month · both on one shoot day |
| Full-day monthly — photo or video | Starting at $1,440/month | 8 hr shoot each month · one medium |
| Full-day monthly — photo + video | Starting at $2,240/month | 8 hr shoot each month · both on one shoot day |
| Quarterly — one shoot per quarter | Starting at $900/shoot | 10% off the one-off rate · any shoot format · 4-shoot annual commitment |
| Brand partner | Quote on request | Multi-day monthly · dedicated production for brands with multi-channel content needs |
Retainer pricing is the brand-content shoot rate with a commitment discount — 10% off on a quarterly cadence (4 shoots/year), 20% off monthly on a 3-month contract (shown above), 30% off monthly on 6 months.
A 50% deposit confirms and locks the date. Remaining 50% due the day before the shoot.
What makes this work different.
Brand consistency
Same eye, same color grading, same direction. Month-over-month content reads as one brand voice rather than a patchwork of one-off shoots.
Lower per-asset cost
Retainers discount the one-off shoot rate by commitment: 10% on a quarterly cadence, 20% monthly on a 3-month contract, 30% on 6 months. Volume + planning efficiency.
Strategic content partner
We work from your content plan, not in a vacuum. Quarterly check-ins make sure each shoot earns its keep against your marketing goals.
From first conversation to final delivery.
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Quarterly plan
We start each quarter with a working session on what your team needs — campaign anchors, evergreen needs, social cadence, ad creative pipeline. The plan sets the next three months of shoots.
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Monthly shoot day
One half-day or full-day shoot per month, scoped to the quarter's plan. The deliverable mix can flex month-to-month as priorities shift.
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Ongoing editorial
Between shoots we stay close to what's working — what's getting engagement, what your team needs more of, what's coming on the calendar.
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Mixed-format delivery
Each shoot produces stills, short-form video, and behind-the-scenes. Files delivered within one business week, organized by use case so your team can deploy fast.
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Quarterly audit
At the end of each quarter we review the content cadence, what landed, what didn't, and adjust the plan for the next three months.
What people ask before they book.
How is a retainer different from booking individual shoots?
Retainers reserve monthly shoot capacity, lock in a lower per-asset cost, and build brand consistency over time. Individual shoots are better for one-off campaigns; retainers are better for brands publishing weekly or more often.
Can the deliverable mix change month to month?
Yes — we work from a quarterly plan with monthly flex. Some months might be photo-heavy, others video-heavy, depending on what your team needs.
What's the minimum retainer commitment?
Monthly retainers start at a 3-month contract (20% off the one-off shoot rate); 6-month contracts take 30% off. The lighter option is a quarterly cadence — one shoot per quarter on a 4-shoot annual commitment at 10% off. After the initial term, retainers continue month-to-month with 30 days' notice.
Do retainers include the cost of editing?
Yes — every retainer tier includes the edit pass on the deliverables produced from that month's shoot. The per-asset cost reflects shoot day, edit, color grade, and delivery.
Can we add a one-off shoot on top of a retainer?
Yes — retainer clients can book extra shoot days at a discounted retainer rate. Common reasons: a product launch, an event coverage need, a hero campaign that doesn't fit the regular monthly slot.
Who owns the content produced under a retainer?
You do. Spoonbill retains the right to use deliverables in our portfolio and case studies unless you specifically opt out, but ownership and full usage rights transfer to your team on delivery.
Don't see your exact cadence? We scope retainers to what your team actually publishes — weekly social posts, monthly campaign assets, ongoing product content, recurring brand films. Tell us about your content plan.
Tell us about your content retainer.
Send a note with scope, dates, and what you have in mind. We'll come back with a quote within one business day.