Hi all, i know many of you disagree with how newbies like to work for free n spoil the market. And im probably one of those deemed insensitive one because i posted on this forum for volunteers for a charity event in a club setting. But forgive me as im new here n try as i might i so did not see the post about not being able to ask for free stuff even if its for charity.
I do disagree with the mentality and believe the newbies sometimes have to work for free but should be discerning about who to work free for. How many freelance newbies have time n chance to be paid as a photog trainee or intern? this also depends on your connections. What if u dont know anyone? Didnt u as a now experienced photog used to offer free services to your gd friends b4? What is the difference now that the definition of friends is slightly distorted? When i started out as a young dancer i too had my fair share of working for free or very lousy perks before i went semi pro.
I certainly dont think is right for newbies to charge rates higher than what they think they will be in the future. Thats just plain ripping off the consumer. Sure the economics of demand n supply may correct the problem but imagine the law of large numbers if every photog acted this way n consumers have no choice but to accept.
That said one must be very discerning who to work for bcoz there are a lot of vultures out there.
Instead of simply stereotyping all free jobs as vultures, u should consider what are the merits of working free for that someone? Is it for a longer term collaboration potential? Or for greater publicity. Not everything is about exposure.
Although the jobs maybe listed free, but sometimes all you need is to ask to be minimally covered for food n drinks or transportation or some insurance coverage for photog equipment. For non vulture like human beings - all you really need to do is to them.
For experienced guys worrying abt newbies spoiling market. Come on do u think they are really at your level?? An experienced one will be able to cover all angles give perfect photos in almost any condition. Can a newbie do that? Obviously someone w a tight or no budget is willing to risk that and potentially get very free gd photos. As an experienced guy you should differentiate yourself from them and educate the consumers.
Food for thought everyone.
You have your points.
Sure, if an event worth helping, it is ok to do it free of charge for the sake of helping. But generally, you can tell between the genuine intention for getting help free of charge then the one who just want to get free service.
Most of the charity events that I help do offer to pay at my rates, but it is up to me to donate the money back to them. I don't like to work for free, but I don't mind donating my pay back to them. At the end of the day, they are still not paying one cent to engage me, but they know my point of being professional photographer.
It is easier to charge for it and do your part later then the other way round to be honest. If your point about the event worth sponsoring is correct, I am sure they can see where you are coming from.
As a professional photographer, I don't worry about competition who is doing their best to stay in front, this is a healthy competition and you need this as otherwise you will soon sit in your "comfort zone" and it is detrimental, but I generally don't like the so call amateur call themselves professional and over claim and over charge and continue getting bad name for the industry. Sure, one should charge as much as you can get away with, but make sure, you can get away from it every single time.
I generally fire up when I have fierce competitions in the market to go back to the basic and rebuilding my brand like how I just started.... very hungry to get ahead.
Even professional charge quite differently from one to another, so it is a fact that if the company who is hiring for photographer to find one who fit the bill with understanding about the photographer's skills.
We can't expect everyone to be an award winning photographer, and we can't expect everyone charge the same as someone else...
I always say, charge a fee that you know you constantly getting the job so there is a good stream of income and try to raise it so you can make some profit. I don't agree that you should come out and look at an establish photographer, ask about their rates and add or minus a percentage and try to sell your service.
If you are capable of producing the same image quality, will you be able to match them in getting the business?
Having great images help, but to be successful in business, there are more to it...
2012 isn't an easy year, despite business continue grow for us, I know the market demand a lot more for the same money and a lot more hardwork you need to put in in bad economic times.Those just blame the bad economy, suffers.
So if the perks is porfolio building, you can be assured that they are just trying their luck of getting something for free.
Photographer, like any other profession, we do need to eat and maintain our lifestyle.
Regards,
Hart
