laravel getClientOriginalName() on a non-object Error

I'm trying to upload image via Model such as :

use File;
use Image;
use Response;
use Illuminate\Database\Eloquent\Model;
/* -------------------------------------------- */
public function upload_image($filename)
{
    $destinationPath = base_path() . '/upload/';
    $fileName = time() . '_' . $filename->getClientOriginalName();
    $uploadSuccess = Image::make($filename)->save($destinationPath . $fileName);
    if ($uploadSuccess)
        return $fileName;
    else
        return false;
}

Controller:

public function store(StoreMerchantWebServiceRequest $request)
{
    $file = $request->file('photo');
    $data = new Merchant();
    $filename = $data->imageUpload($file);
    $data->company_name = $request->input('agent_company_name');
    $data->company_logo = $filename;
    $data->user_id = Auth::user()->id;
    $data->save();

    return redirect()->route('merchantsWebService.index');
}

Unfortunately i get this error:

FatalErrorException in Merchant.php line 59: Call to a member function getClientOriginalName() on a non-object

My form:

{!! Form::open(
[
    'route' => [
    'merchantsWebService.store'],
    'method' => 'POST',
    'enctype'=>'multipart/form-data',
    'class'=>'validate',
    'files' => true,
    'id'=>'xfrm_submit'
]
    )
!!}

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