Photographers - What are you paying for? (Part 2)
Be open minded about your camera gear
You can make a tripod for only a few dollars, tracing paper makes a great diffuser and a trip to a hardware store will give you very bright lights. Yes, there are downsides, and for the technically perfect photographer, these suggestions will be a very funny joke. The point here is keep and open mind and try new things before forking out $100 for a piece of shiny material that resembles a $5 dash board cover.
Unless you use a biscuit tin to take photos, eventually you will want to buy a new camera. Shop around, get advice, try out a friend’s and when you walk into the shop, don’t spend hundreds of dollars on accessories that you wont’ use. It doesn’t hurt to haggle a bit either. When the salesman tries to close the deal, my typical response is “what else are you throwing in?”
Studio Hire
So the first question you ask yourself is “Do I know anyone who already has a studio set up?” If the answer is yes. Skip the rest of this section, suck up your pride and ask them if you can visit and have a play.
The rest of you, ask yourself what you are paying for. Is it the chance to get a professionally lit shot? Maybe you could try a lighting course that will not only give you many opportunities to work with professional lights, but will teach you the theory and science of lighting. Often these courses are much cheaper than a similar amount of time in a rented studio. Do you want to try shooting in more controlled conditions? Try clearing out a room of your house and setting up a few scenes. The results may not be brilliant but it will give you a sense of how much time you can spend setting a shot up before you get to click the button. If you are certain that a proper studio is for you, consider hiring it out through a camera club for a discounted rate, or hiring it out with a couple of other photographers to minimise your expense.
Models and TFP
Models and photographers have one thing in common – they both need a portfolio of photos to proceed in their career. This is why Time For Photo shoots have become so popular. But before you jump up and down about using a free model take a second think about what is fair and ethical. At the end of the day, both you and the model should be happy with your arrangement. If someone feels short changed, you should consider modifying your approach.
This is my rule of thumb. If a model approaches me to take shots for her portfolio, and I am working to her brief, she should pay me. If we have put our heads together to come up with a project and proceed on equal footing where we both use the images, then neither should pay. And if I conceive and art direct the shoot and have priority over the image rights, I should pay the model. Basically whoever comes out on top should be paying the person who is doing them a favor. Then there are test shoots, these are almost always done on a time for photos basis. These shoots are a bit like ‘warm up’ shoots for the model and photographer to see if they want to work together properly. They are also a chance to test new ideas or equipment. Often the images taken in test shoots are less than great, and if they do turn out, they are most commonly shared equally between all parties. If you are requesting a model release form because you intend to profit from the images, in my opinion, the model should be paid or you should have an arrangement to split any profits.
My plan of attack is to put out a call for models. Then I will do a test shoot with the model who has contacted me and we either have equal rights to the shots or split them down the middle. If the test shoot goes well we may arrange to work together again. This might mean doing an even split of “her ideas” and “my ideas” for no payment, or it may be paid work if I am contracted to produce shots for a commercial job.
~ Ademac
Well written Jo…......thanks.
Steven Lippis
Some great advice, and I especially think taking a lighting course is a brilliant idea. Hiring a studio is all well and good, but a waste of money if you don’t know how to best utilise the equipment on hand.
Not only do you get to use professional equipment and learn the concepts behind lighting, but having an experienced photographer on hand to answer your questions is great. And for the most part they’d have done it cheap at the beginning of their careers too, so will know plenty of little tricks and ways to save money.
jim painter
“haggle”?yeahyou’re a hard woman Jo,but that said good advice my first reflector was a car dashboard sunscreeen about 5$ from target, my first studio reflectors were used election campaign postersrippped offfl ocal power poles, saved the candidates hours of work, but never any thankscheeers, Jim.
Stephen Mitchell
I like this bit:
If we have put our heads together to come up with a project and proceed on equal footing where we both use the images, then neither should pay. And if I conceive and art direct the shoot and have priority over the image rights, I should pay the model. Basically whoever comes out on top should be paying the person who is doing them a favor.
Bevsimages
Great advice…I bought a new camera last month ( well hubby bought & family put towards it, but I’m the saleswoman so figured I’d do the talking!!) I got it from Newcastle airport so was £60 cheaper than online or similar models anyway…An Olympus SLR…Now I went in first expressed an interest, felt the weight, tried camera round my neck, asked for help from the 2 young men & proceeded to act very interested…Then I found out the individual price by asking of each item….camera, lens, battery, spare battery, camera case etc…Ok then asked for total price all in…at this stage you discover what they can & cant throw in or discount…the battery being one of the items they werent making much on so couldnt discount…Then I focused on the items they could discount that were marked up i.e; camera, lens, bag….Then I told them I was planning on spending only “X” amount in total ( always a little lower than your real budget )...Still with me…? Lastly I walked away thanking them very much & giving them & me time to reflect & digest all that…Half an hour later I confidently marched back in with my husband, the 2 lads immediately gave me attention, smiled & asked what I thought…at this point I knew they wanted the sale & they knew I was interested seriously…win/win…After much chatty, friendly banter & haggling I managed to get a further £60 off the total all in price…Already £60 cheaper than seen online after pricing up & a better speck…So the moral is…do haggle, don’t be shy & dont think just because youre in a classy shop or an airport shop where they initially say “no discount as its already in the sale” That you cant ask & ask & be polite & see what happens….Oh lastly works best very early morning or about half an hour before the shop closes….
Cheers Jo & if you want to copy & paste my comments above with a mention I dont mind…. heehee ;D
Bev x
www.bevsbook.co.uk
Lisa Hill
thanks jo, some great advice there. I have always said you dont need expensive equipment if you have the eye for it. Thanks for sharing the advice – Lisa x
pryere
Thanks for both parts Jo, very handy info and advice.
I came across this yesterday, lighting tips etc. strobist
JimFilmer
Great Jo, thx very much for sharing your thoughts and experience. I totally agree with your philosophies in deciding who pay from who profits
Missy Miss
thanks jo – i found the model release form advice most useful! confirmed my thoughts!
xx
Srdjan Nikolic
Jo, there is a good case here about writing part 3 that could cover the “don’t hire studio, offer your services as an assistant” – continuing from your comment suck up your pride and ask them if you can visit and have a play.
Bring your folio and talk to some studios/photographers about your aspirations. It maybe daunting initially, but benefits are obvious.
Rosina lamberti
Well written and informative Jo,
Peter Hall
One imoportant thing I’ve noticed with camera buying Jo, is the feel of the camera. If a camera is uncomfortable in the hand, you have a tendency to not want to use it. I have come a cropper like this before, where I got a good deal, with extras, but the camera was awful to hold and operate. It just didn’t fit. I ended up selling it and the bits and pieces for a loss.
So play with the camera in the shop, even take your own mem card to take test shots. Then go back and play with the camera again, and then on another day do it again. If it is comfortable, buy the the thing. :-)
Great articles Jo, I learned alot from them, thankyou!!!