Shooting for free....

<p>I have second shot several weddings for a local studio, and am trying to break into the market of newborns, and see where that takes me. But the problem is I cannot find any clients, even to shoot for free to build my portfolio (some say you should never shoot for free - but I need to make this start happening.) I finally got in touch with one person who just had a newborn. They were told I would do it for free, but they mentioned they may want to pay for family photos on the same day as well. Ok, so that's all fine and good. But upon talking to them, (about which only the free newborn session is for sure at this point), they seem set on making me drive TO THEM, an hour away. I have been planning a makeshift studio setup in my home and was looking forward to using that. Not to mention the obvious - gas money, travel time, etc. It's not that I'm being greedy, I just do not want to be taken advantage of. </p>

<p>Isn't it true that if I'm shooting for free they should at least travel to me? I have a feeling these may be the type of clients who want everything for nothing... even though that in this case IS LITERALLY nothing.</p>

<p>What do I do about this? Refuse unless they come to me? They are *potential* paying clients. Should I just never offer to shoot for free to avoid this kind of thing?</p>

<p>I'd say no to that deal. I shoot weddings and some other events free as favors for family and friends who can't afford to hire a pro (if they had the budget I'd recommend some good local pro photographers). And I've done so for one favorite local theater. Both are situations where the budget is tight or nonexistent. And the relationships are synergistic, including with the theater which often comps tickets for me. This isn't a one-way deal that doesn't benefit me in some way, even if only indirectly.</p>

<p>And I recently declined to accept any money from a neighbor whose small civil wedding ceremony I photographed on short notice. He's disabled, has COPD and needs his money for medical expenses. And I only had to walk about 50 yards total to take a few snaps in the apartment and a few couples portraits in the back yard. The benefit to me was getting some practice with posed portraits on short notice. Personally I don't think my photos were my best work and I'd have felt guilty accepting money for 'em anyway.</p>

<p>But I wouldn't travel on my dime to shoot free for the situation you described.</p>

<p>If you're anxious to build a portfolio, work things out with family and friends first. And if travel or other significant expenses are involved, be sure the agreement includes at least some compensation for travel expenses.</p>

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<p>"I have a feeling these may be the type of clients who want everything for nothing... even though that in this case IS LITERALLY nothing."</p>

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<p>Listen to your intuition. I've declined a few "opportunities" when I had the same hunch. And so far all the photos I have taken as favors for family, friends and that one favorite local theater were mutually satisfactory situations. No complaints, no followup hassles or recriminations.</p>

<p>I shot a lot for free when I was building my portfolio. But always on my terms. If I want to shoot it it's free. If you want me to shoot it, you pay. Simple as that.<br>

<br />The minimum charge is "gas money" which in these days means $100. Especially if you want me to drive an hour each way.<br>

I'd say, walk away. There'll be more opportunities.<br>

But look at this as a lesson in market analysis. If you can't find work to do for free, how do you intend to find work that pays?<br>

<Chas><br /><br /></p>

<p>You are definitely taking the right approach in shooting something new for free so that you can learn how to do it properly before charging for it. It's a much better question than to hear "I'm getting paid to shoot a wedding this weekend, what kind of camera should I use?"<br /><br />If you had a bunch of babies to practice on I might say take a pass on this one. But you say you've had trouble finding any at all, so I would go ahead and do it. If you have to throw in a family session, so be it. Sounds like you're still building up your portfolio and mabye it wouldn't hurt to have another family session under your belt. If they are offering to pay for the family session part, that's icing on the cake.<br /><br />As far as driving an hour, that's totally a non-issue IMHO. Personally I drive a round trip of 2 1/2 hours back and forth to my day job every single day (I live outside Baltimore and work in Washington; long commutes are just a way of life on much of the East Coast and many other places.) Shooting in your own studio at home would be more convenient, but again you've having trouble finding a baby.</p>

<p>Honestly, if there is nothing in your book for Newborns, why not just go? Charge them some money for the family picture, get some newborns in your book, and network with the family!<br>

If you are personable someone is bound to use you in the future or send you someone who will~</p>

<p>Being generous, they may not want to go to someone else's home and would expect a more studio like environment. In any event, are they fully on board for your business promotion portfolio use? Even if such sample use of the child's likeness will be no problem there legally, having a written signed release may still be useful if complaints about it arise later. Subsequent complaints can still cause you problems even if you have a release and the value of the images may be diminished as a result. Usually this isn't a big deal especially with the additional factor of using other sample images if need be. Since this is your only potential set right now, however, and the people don't seem to find too much value in the photography, I'm not sure if the effort and expenditures here will be worthwhile. I'm not predicting problems but, I would be more comfortable if they seemed enthusiastic about the shoot. You're in the position to how much they they seem to embrace the whole idea.</p>

<p>If I had a newborn I wouldn't want to take the infant out if I didn't have to. But that is not really the issue. You want/need something and need to decide what you will pay (in effort, hassle, or whatever) for it. If you wanted to be a big time sports photographer, how far would you drive/fly if you got a press pass to cover the Super Bowl or the Olympics (or something)? Being in business for yourself is nothing but a long string of decisions to make and few of them easy. I knew a guy who had a tip that Elvis was going to meet with singer Tom Jones and he drove 200 miles at breakneck speed to photograph the two guys. In your case I would be tempted to go. For one thing the Mom and baby will probably be more relaxed in their home setting. And Mom might have the perfect outfit/prop for the photos, something she might not think to bring with her if she went to you.</p>

<p>Thanks for the advice.</p>

<p>Well, I spoke to Mom a little more and learned that according to her, the reason she wouldn't want to travel to me is because she is still recovering from a c-section. This makes sense and had I known this I wouldn't have doubted traveling to her. <br>

I told her I would do it, but we will see what happens from here. </p>

<p>Would be interesting to see how this works itself out.</p>

<p>In the meanwhile, my gut reaction is your travel expense and time invested is tilted out of proportion <em>not </em>to your favor. I've been in the business for years, although not your specific genre of work (people/events). Needless to say, IMO I don't feel the request is reasonable or fair.</p>

<p>To build your potential client base, my first thoughts are friends/acquaintances and family. Another idea is leaving your business cards at local healthcare offices specific to children. Birthing centers at local hospitals? I simply think these are places that provide opportunities that won't set you back $$ and time.<br>

Lastly, about the payment issue. I'm on board with never providing a service for <em>free</em>. That is unless your providing your time as a donation for great organizations to help people or an animal shelter etc.. That can be a very rewarding experience. In this case, I'm not even considering photography but just general help. I've been liberated by adding the word <strong>NO </strong>to my vocabulary! It took some practice, but I've perfected it :) </p>

<p> </p>

<p>I see no problem shooting for free as long as you can sustain your lifestyle doing so. Photographers who get angry at other who shoot for free are simply frustrated that a paying client will decide to go for the free shoot as opposed to paying high sums for their services. We all like free services until it comes to a point when those free services take money out of your pocket. Then it becomes sketchy business practice...<br>

You can offer up a free Swatch watch to a millionaire, but in reality they will most likely turn you down and decide to purchase a 10,000 Rolex watch.<br>

I never see photographers who offer free services as taking away potential paying clients, I see them as filtering out the clients who I don't want to work with. <br>

In reality thought you cant sustain a viable business shooting for free, but really to get started and gain experience go for it. Shoot for free as much as you can. <p>

<p> <br>

Interesting that anangryphotographer's blog has photographs that he did not take but are lifted from across the web. Obviously "free" is what he will pay. Also, don't "professional photographers" have photographs that they show?</p>

<p>I noticed the same thing Jeff did, as well as indiscriminate use of the "s" word. Why would any client seek out a photographer who writes like that, among other things. Of course it's all anonymous being on blogger, so you can say whatever you want.</p>

<p>To the OP, friends and family with new babies are a good place to start. </p>

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<p>Interesting that your blog has photographs that you did not take but are lifted from across the web. Obviously "free" is what you will pay. Also, don't "professional photographers" have photographs that they show?</p>

 

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<p>Confused about who this was directed to....?</p>

<p>Sorry if it wasn't clear Holly, it was directed at "anangryphotographer" whose blog is filled with copyright violations. Makes it pretty clear his message is worthless since he says "free" is bad but is perfectly happy with "free" especially when it is taking away from other photographers.</p>

<p>I see "angry" has already deleted their brand new account. :)</p>

<p>Back to the original convo - let us know how it turns out, Holly. As someone who was in infant land less than 2 years ago, I probably would have avoided taking my baby out as well--especially an hour drive. I would have offered someone gas money for an hour drive, though, for sure! I think that is fair. </p>

<p>A good friend of mine also put a note up in her local pediatrician's office and got a fair number of inquiries, but I'd probably avoid going to anyone's house alone in that sort of situation. Call me paranoid. </p>

<p>Good luck getting the start of your portfolio! And someone had key advice above - definitely get a signed permission form allowing use of the image in any way. A quick Google search provides several templates. </p>

<p>Hi again everyone,<br /> Well, I did drive out there and I was very disappointed that the session was somewhat of a mini-diaster. She knew it was my first time, but still, I thought it would have gone a little better than it did with all the research, planning, and preparation I'd done. Nothing replaces actual experience I guess. Firstly, I had asked the family if they had a space heater- I told them I had one but it might be too big to fit in my car with my other things. They replied back that they thought they had one somewhere. Ok, so I didn't bring it. (Maybe should have confirmed they found one.) I get there and there is no space heater, but at least they listened to me in cranking up the heat to about 80. I guess that still wasn't enough though, because for some reason or another, the baby didn't sleep AT ALL the entire 2+ hour session. Her mom tried everything to get her to sleep, and I wanted to help but she seemed reluctant to let me do so. I offered to turn on some white noise at least, but she weirdly turned that down (?). Bizarre. Looking back now I guess I probably should have taken more control and explained that I should try to do it myself.<br /> Baby did fall asleep shortly after I got there, and appeared to be in a deep sleep, but pretty much as soon as I began positioning her her eyes popped open and she was wide awake and wanting to nurse again. It seemed all she wanted to do was nurse and look around, wide awake making awful faces, twisting her legs every which way, and shoving her fists in her mouth. <br /> Sooo for all that time all I could think to do was take wide awake shots, I got maybe 10-15 good/decent shots because I also haven't purchased wraps yet. I know wrapping is recommended if they won't sleep, but I truly have never done this before and was told newborns at 10 days are pretty much always in a deep sleep. Hah! <br /> And then I learned she fell asleep for 4 hours shortly after I left. Oh my. <br /> This is probably the best image I got, and I'm not crazy about it at all. So that's a pretty crummy feeling <br /> <img src="http://postimg.org/image/nv0p10dm1/" alt="" /><br /> http://postimg.org/image/nv0p10dm1/</p>

<p>I now realize that there certainly IS a time and place for photographing for free - when you truly need the experience...like me... and therefore shouldn't be charging for your time until you get it. I could have never charged for that session. Shooting for free just to "work on your portfolio," I think, is bad.</p>

<p>I must say, though, that I don't totally regret it - I learned quite a bit. But I was very disappointed that they didn't at least offer a small tip or something for all my drive time (a little over an hour and the house was just about impossible to find.) But what can ya do...no other clients anywhere to be found. :\</p>

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<p><em>"I must say, though, that I don't totally regret it - I learned quite a bit. But I was very disappointed that they didn't at least offer a small tip or something for all my drive time."</em></p>

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<p>Holly, although you weren't paid, you did make a contact for potential future (paid) business. <br>

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The baby will grow rapidly and no doubt the parents will want to document these changes. It wouldn't hurt to keep in touch for possible holiday, family or another baby gig, and the good will will help nudge her to spread the word; let's just hope the mother doesn't decide to get her own camera. :-) </p>

<p>I like that photo you posted. It is crisp and clean and has great color. A new parent should love that picture. As one's children grow older, one has a hard time remembering everything they said, and did, and every look they had. A photo like that one will remind those parents years from now of how that child often had that expression as a baby. </p>