Freebies

[Charlieorca]

Does anyone else have the problem with close family and friends? I don't mind doing the odd portrait, but when others find out , they ask too. I just did a portrait for my sister inlaw. Then my other sister inlaw said "Oh I would like some family pictures doing" then she waited for me to say " oh yes I will do them" But I said nothing and she went on to saying " yes it would be really nice..................................maybe you can help me out there!?"
Grrrrrr why do people just expect! Don't they realise it takes time and money to put it all together in the end.

[ctgoldwing]

I guess it's all perspective. Since photography is a passion of mine, I am flattered when someone asks. However I do make it VERY CLEAR that I am not a professional & you get what you get.

Hey, the toughest word to say is no. But if you really feel put upon find a nice way to say it.

[Conk]

Well, family is family. Gotta take the good with the bad.

[loveridger]

Charlie

You're obviously a good man, and keen to help, but yes you have a life.... c

Can I suggest you either say

1. yes, but I can't do it till xx/xx/xxxx
2. yes, but I'll do a trade with you... cooking, ironing, childcare... something she has to offer you.

Seems fair.

Best wishes Rik (UK)
PS I've learnt to give this second answer to my 4 kids, and it normally works...!

[Laziferous]

I always say yes, but they have to pay for the prints (I use a lab, I don't have a good enough printer). I don't mind taking the shots, or doing the processing. As ctgoldwing said, I always let them know I'm not a professional, and to keep that in mind.

[numbers]

Same happens here......take a few shots and its appreciated and then further down the track it seems that it is 'demanded'

I too am flattered when I get asked to take photos, however the one thing that I also do now is to be re-imbursed for my out of pocket expenses.

It is amazing how it quickly sorts out the genuine requests from the 'we can get it for free'.

Happy days!

[RichardtheSane]

I rather dislike doing shots for familty and friends. Being a computer techie I also get the 'while your here, my pc is broke' problems too. Can't get out of that one too easily.
My avoidance method was a bit harsh, if anyone phoned me asking I'd say I'll be happy to come over, and I'll even give you a discount.... don't usualy get asked again unless they really have a problem, or really want the shots doing.
I found a lot of it is just something like 'Oh you are a photographer, you can do a few shots for me...'
In the end it works like Rik said,you do a trade for your time and skills.
:D

[J___]

Charlieorca wrote:
Does anyone else have the problem with close family and friends? I don't mind doing the odd portrait, but when others find out , they ask too. I just did a portrait for my sister inlaw. Then my other sister inlaw said "Oh I would like some family pictures doing" then she waited for me to say " oh yes I will do them" But I said nothing and she went on to saying " yes it would be really nice..................................maybe you can help me out there!?"
Grrrrrr why do people just expect! Don't they realise it takes time and money to put it all together in the end.

oh... for one thing, their ur family. i dont think u should have second thoughts about helping them out. if u do then ur a cheap cheap man. afterall, they are the closest ppl to u and will no doubt aid u wen u need help the most. well thats just what i think, maybe the world has changed...

[J___]

Charlieorca wrote:
Does anyone else have the problem with close family and friends? I don't mind doing the odd portrait, but when others find out , they ask too. I just did a portrait for my sister inlaw. Then my other sister inlaw said "Oh I would like some family pictures doing" then she waited for me to say " oh yes I will do them" But I said nothing and she went on to saying " yes it would be really nice..................................maybe you can help me out there!?"
Grrrrrr why do people just expect! Don't they realise it takes time and money to put it all together in the end.

oh... for one thing, their ur family. i dont think u should have second thoughts about helping them out. if u do then ur a cheap cheap man. afterall, they are the closest ppl to u and will no doubt aid u wen u need help the most. well thats just what i think, maybe the world has changed...

[RichardtheSane]

Doing things as a favour for family is one thing, I've not problem with that.
When family or anyone else takes your skills for granted it is totally different.
The world is a changing place :)

[charlesu]

Hi Charlie,
Yes, I've had the same situation and I think most people just don't understand what goes into this. I like some of the ideas I have seen posted such as trading time for time but....my guess is that it's gonna make you seem cheap and difficult, unless there's an easy/obvious trade.

So if you love your family and they're really worth something to you.....you already know what you have got to do. Of course, you can always put a stop to it. Just like Ann Landers always suggested getting a hotel reservation for in-laws that want to stay 2 weeks, you can always suggest a local pro shooter.

What cracks me up is when acquaintences don't understand why you cannot do prints as cheaply as Wal-Mart. Does anyone else get this? People find out you shoot and they want a 50 picture package for $9.95.

[MediaMagic]

The way I deal with this issue is to take the shots for them out of focus, underexposed, overexposed, shake the camera, and then pretend they are the best shots in the world!

heh, kidding of course or maybe not! I may just try that.

I don't mind taking some shots but I'd NEVER in a million years shoot something like a wedding, or other seriously photo important event for a friend or family member. There is too much emotion involved with those pictures and results is always subjective. If it doesn't turn out perfect, there can and will be hard feelings.

Family portraits, yeah fine, I don't mind doing that, and like others have suggested, mentioning something that I need as well, like "yeah and you know what, you are a great mechanic and I need someone to look at my car and let me know how much I should except to pay for the repair, we can work out a trade!"

Even if you don't really need it, ask for something bartered in return, that way when the word travels around the family, they will say things like, "Yeah, he took these great family shots and I helped him replace his starter motor, it was a great trade." Then other family members will offer something *when* they ask most of the time because the idea of a trade makes it easier to ask in the first place. It becomes a win/win situation. Also, make sure to mention in casual conversation what you normally get per hour for a contract (or at least what you think you are worth) so that even though you are offering your service to them for a trade or even for free, they know they are getting your valuable service that does have a price rather than simply buying pieces of paper with ink shot into them.

This barter method works great from YOUR end as well with family members or even other professionals. I can't count the number of times I've needed something and went into an establishment and showed the manager examples of my work and suggested a trade for whatever service they offered that I needed. About 50% of the time I got the service and they got great shots for catalogues, brochures, family portraits, etc. That's not a bad barter ratio.

Family is a great medium for the barter system, just make damn sure you are not doing something that if the pics are screwed up (whether your fault or not) there will be hard feelings later. I can't emphasize that enough. Just be willing to say "I don't do weddings (or whatever) for family members. I'm sorry. "

David