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, the Recording Academy, and the Television Academy.
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.
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 30 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.
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.
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.
When agents apply to join the platform, they undergo an ID verification and background check process. Accepted agents are then required to complete a series of training modules, which include tasks such as editing photos within a specified timeframe.
From the agents’ perspective, the app provides an engaging interface that allows them to start their daily missions or requests by pressing a green button and conclude their session by pressing a red button. According to the founders, the app aims to introduce more gamification, such as offering agents an extra $100 incentive for completing 10 missions.
In terms of safety, users are provided with a security code that agents must share upon arrival to verify their identity. Additionally, both parties have the option to report any concerns if something feels off during their interaction. Agents are rated out of five stars based on their performance.
“Social Agent is focused on really building trust between agents and clients,” Jammal said. “The trust factor is everything, and we’ve really done a wonderful job thinking through every detail. We know it’s a great privilege to be invited into someone’s intimate space, whether it’s B2B or B2C.”
The app launches on the App Store in June and will initially be available in Los Angeles. Edits for user-generated content will be available across the U.S.
According to the company, Social Agent has onboarded nearly 100 LA-based content creators, many of whom come from backgrounds in photography, videography, and digital content.
The company also plans to roll it out to New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia, Las Vegas, Nashville, and Scottsdale. In addition, plans are in place for future international expansion.
The long-term roadmap includes the development of in-app editing tools, which will be part of a $10 per month subscription that also offers unlimited storage and other premium features.
Social Agent has secured a total of $2 million in funding from family and friends.
This story has been updated to clarify that agents cannot set their own prices, and to correct the delivery time for unedited content from 15 minutes to 30 minutes.