Field Staff Content Compensation Program
Whether you’re rowing through a rapid or prepping gear in the warehouse, you’re there for the moments a professional camera crew, or even our marketing team, would never catch. The Field Staff Content Compensation Program is a way for you to help tell the OARS story and get paid for it.
Participation is completely optional. That said, we want to encourage and reward staff who share content that captures what makes OARS trips so special.
Guest experience always comes first. Creating content should never take priority over time with guests or detract from the quality of their trip.
How to Submit
- Click the “Submit Photos/Videos” button below.
- Upload your best high-res photo and video files using the [+Upload Files] button on our submission portal in Canto. See “What We’re Looking For” below for specific content guidelines.
- Fill out the required metadata info:
- File Description – Include a brief caption with name of rapid, camp, guide(s) featured, landmark, etc. Pro tip: Upload one file at a time.
- Author – Enter your full name (so we know who to pay!)
- Asset Type – Select photo or video
- Destination – Select state from dropdown menu
- Trip Name – Select trip name from dropdown menu
- Save File: Hit the “Apply” button to submit.
- Accept Terms: By submitting, you agree to OARS usage rights detailed below.
Payment Tiers
The program is for submissions made on or after April 1, 2026, and is not valid retroactively.
| Category | Description | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| High-Res Photo (Digital Use) | High-quality, on-brand images for social media and/or web purposes | $5/per photo, per use |
| High-Res Photo (Print) | High-quality, on-brand images for print usage – catalog pages, print ads, mailers, etc. | $10/per photo, per use |
| Video | Unedited vertical video clips of rapids, camp life, wildlife, etc. (15-60 seconds). | $15/per clip, per use |
| Social Media Collab Post | 15-60 second reel, or Carousel post featuring multiple high-quality photos/videos, with a thoughtful caption and posted to a personal Instagram account with OARS tagged as a collaborator at time of publishing. | $25/per reel accepted and published to OARS feed |
| Viral Reel (BONUS) | If a Collab reel gets more than 1M views, staff will be eligible for a content bonus, in addition to the base rate above. | $100 |
| Cover Photo (BONUS) | Photo selected to be used for the cover of the OARS Adventures Catalog, or cover shot for a mailer | $250 |
Payment Terms
- Payments will be made monthly based upon usage of submitted assets, which will be tracked and approved by the Content Marketing Manager.
- If your content is selected for use, you will be paid separately from payroll through ACH direct deposit once the payment threshold of $50 or more is reached.
- For those who do not reach the $50 payment threshold, all outstanding payments will be made at the end of the fiscal year.
Usage Rights
The OARS Marketing Team reserves the right to determine what constitutes “usable” or “on-brand” content. Submission of media does not guarantee payment or publication.
By submitting media through this portal, you confirm that you own the rights to the content. You grant OARS a non-exclusive, worldwide license to archive, edit, and use these assets across our digital and print platforms on a per-use basis as defined in the Payment Tiers section.
Pay-Per-Use Agreement
- Digital/Video: A “use” is defined as a unique instance of the asset being published to OARS social media feeds or website. Please note, photos and videos posted to Instagram and syndicated through Facebook count as a single use.
- Print: A “use” is defined as the inclusion of the asset in a specific print run (e.g., the 2027 Adventures Catalog).
- Re-use: Should OARS choose to feature the same asset in a future distinct campaign or a new annual catalog, a new payout will be triggered at the current tier rate.
What We’re Looking For
- High Res Photos – Vertical is preferred for social media, while horizontal works well for the web.
- Vertical Video – Keep clips between 15–60 seconds and please do not use filters.
- The Big Moments – Epic whitewater POVs and “hero” shots of sights and hikes that define the OARS experience.
- Insider POV – Camp cooking, golden hour, wildlife encounters, and “behind-the-scenes” guide life.
- Just for Fun – Costume nights, impromptu talent shows, jam sessions, and unexpected joys.
- Partner Features – Showcasing YETI, Chaco, Chums, and Goodr products in use in the field.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for examples of the type of content we post.
Brand Guidelines
To be eligible for payment, content must meet OARS safety and brand standards. We cannot use content featuring:
- Guests and guides in rafts without PFDs or improperly worn safety gear (unbuckled PFDs, missing helmets when required, etc.)
- Unsafe or questionable practices on the river or in camp (barefoot guests, improper Leave No Trace etiquette, etc.)
- Embarrassing or disrespectful guest or guide moments
Blog Contributor Opportunities
If you’re a great storyteller and have a talent for the written word, we occasionally accept staff-submitted stories for the OARS blog, The Eddy.
Blog contributor rates are based on experience and scope of work, but generally start at $200/post for stories in the 750-1,000 word range, plus additional compensation for use of personal photos within the post (as outlined above).
Payment terms are determined on an individual basis and are agreed upon prior to the assignment of work.
To pitch your story ideas, or if you have any questions about the Field Staff Content Compensation Program, you can reach out to Cari Morgan, OARS Content Marketing Manager, at [email protected].