"Can't You Do My Photos For Free? I'm A Struggling ...."

So back to the other question."Can't you do my photos for free? I am an upcoming model/singer/performer/actor, so you'll get loads of coverage".

In the last 72 hours I have honestly had 6 requests like this. Each one was met with a firm no, and an explanation of why. Of those six people two have bookings for a shoot with me.

Here is why I say no;

All over the internet you will see images which - on the whole read

"I am an artist. This does not mean I will work for free, I have bills to pay. Thank you for understanding"

Or pages giving a blow by blow account of why photographers charge.

Citation example 

While very true and extremely accurate these often fall on deaf ears, so I tend to get the individual to think about what they are asking me.

Career Investment

To do my job I invested heavily in camera bodies, lenses, insurance, software, computers, lighting equipment, storage cards, advertising, web presence, vehicle ... the list goes on. I spent years of my 'spare time' honing my skills, getting out there and talking to people, and working on my portfolio. In one case I even faced a fear and appeared on national TV.

For each and every one of us we must invest something in our own careers if we are to succeed. Be that time, money, effort or, in most cases, all of the above. I then ask what they are willing to invest in their career. Often I am met with;

• 'I have spent x years studying' - me too. 
• 'I have very little money' - me too
• 'All the other photographers I've spoken to will, but I like your work best' - ask yourself why my work is more appealing
• 'But you'll get loads of coverage' - In which magazine/art gallery/etc will that be?

Some times the person making the request calls me back, hours, days or even weeks later, telling me that they have thought about what I have said and am I still available to do the work - paid. 

Reasonable Enough

I consider myself quite reasonably priced. I don't display my prices on my site for one simple reason, I like to try and be as accommodating as possible for every budget. For example I did a very local wedding for £450 - a single photographer, venue in walking distance, and a handful of images on CD. The bride and groom were ecstatic. They had 2 weddings to pay for, one in the UK and one in the bride's home country. The wedding abroad was the 'big' one, so they wanted to keep UK costs to a minimum - no reception, no honeymoon, just simple service followed by the flight abroad. 

So, before you ask a photographer to do something for free for your career ask yourself this - What are you willing to invest in your career? And what returns do you expect to see on your investments?

"My Friend Has A Camera, So Why Should I Pay You?"

A frequently asked question, and ranks alongside "I am a young actor/model/singer/performer and have limited funds. Can't you just do the shots and give them to me? You'll get loads of exposure" (we'll address this question later)

This is a true account of a wedding which recently took place. It was sent to me by another photographer;

“A good friend of mine went to a wedding last Friday. The wedding was for 40 people, cost around £4200 for the venue. The bride spent over £1500 on a Charlotte Balbier wedding gown, she had a Jenny Packham hairpiece and amulet, she wore Jimmy Choo shoes of more than £1000.

The cake was “Amazing” and apparently there were “flowers and huge swags everywhere”. The earrings cost “an arm and a leg”. There was a horse-drawn carriage and fireworks at the end of the day.

However, the couple decided they didn't need a wedding photographer as a 'friend' had a camera and could do the job. First of all the camera battery died during the vows, but it was ok as she had a spare. Unfortunately she was using a 'cheap and cheerful' CF card which became corrupted leaving only 23 images available from the 'thousands' taken. All 23 images are of the flowers.”

This couple are left with no photographs of the people who shared their wedding day, but they do have some lovely photos of some flowers they once bought.

Moral of the tale?

Professional photographers offer a 'professional service', and as with every professional service there are charges. Those charges are there for very good reasons, but ask yourself this - “What price memories?” because in the end photographs are memories made tangible.

Back ...

Months of work, research and general rushing around has made sure that I haven't had any time to blog.

Finally last week I took some time out and got myself back on track.

Sitting in a rural garden in Buckinghamshire, surrounded by apple trees, watching a red kite circle overhead soon relaxed me, mind body and soul. In that garden I found my drive again.

Now I have two new book projects in the pipeline with target publishing dates of 2014 and 2015.

If you would like to be involved in these books then please contact me. I am looking for;

• Service personnel who served in any war/conflict in the last 100 years
• Family of service personnel who served in the last 100 years
• People with no military ties, but who have vivid memories of any war/conflict in the last 100 years
• Women working in 'male dominated' roles (mechanics, engineers, plumbers, etc)
• Pioneering women; those who were 'the first' in their field - i.e. first female firefighter in London
• Stay at home dads
• Males in 'female dominated' roles (Nurses, childcarers, etc)
• Pioneering males; those who were 'the first' in their field - i.e. first male midwife in Newcastle
• People born on the following dates;
• 11th November 1918
• 2nd September 1945
• 12th November 1975
• 9th November 1989
• 2nd December 1999

Interested? Contact books