2nd PHOTOG DOESNT DELIVER

[Mrsjperry]

I had a client who requested my services to shoot her wedding. Instead of charging her I opted to do it for free in exchange to use her pics to add new pics to my portfolio. I had her sign a service agreement/contract.

She then hires a beginner photog from CL that shows up to the wedding also. No problem. This was 7/4

I just now got an email stating that the bride hasn't heard back from the 2nd photog. The photog's not answering her calls or replying to her emails....now she's asking me what she should do.

I asked if she signed some sort of contract.....and she didn't. The photog didn't charge for her services.....now she's seeking my advice.

I advised her that sense she didn't sign a contract she doesn't have much recourse. However, if she sees that the photog is using her images for advertising and she didn't sign a release agreement she can demand a cease and desist.

What do you think?

[canonnoob]

yup.,. pretty much how it works..

[5artstudio]

I would respectfully like to say this:

Your porfolio should always represent the results of your professional career. If you do not charge for an event but include the photos in your portfolio it's a little like a commercial photographer who includes work that was not commissioned or paid for OR someone looking for a job and including on their resume, places they worked without getting paid. Volunteer work may credit someone's character but is not representative of the accomplishments in a professional career. When someone wants to see your portfolio, they assume that it represents work that you produced as a paid professional.
Even a model's portfolio can only include work they were paid for.

My suggestion is this: If you are a professional . . . get paid. Even if you give a discount, you can still consider the event as part of your professional portfolio.
The photographer who disappeared often proves the rule "You get what you pay for." or "You don't get what you don't pay for."

PS: When customers are offered a professional service for nothing they will won't hire those of us who need to make a living at our profession.

[kenshinvt]

I had a client who requested my services to shoot her wedding. Instead of charging her I opted to do it for free in exchange to use her pics to add new pics to my portfolio. I had her sign a service agreement/contract.

She then hires a beginner photog from CL that shows up to the wedding also. No problem. This was 7/4

I just now got an email stating that the bride hasn't heard back from the 2nd photog. The photog's not answering her calls or replying to her emails....now she's asking me what she should do.

I asked if she signed some sort of contract.....and she didn't. The photog didn't charge for her services.....now she's seeking my advice.

Nothing she can do there. Her oral contract is enforceable even without a writing, however, she wouldn't be able to recover damages because she wouldn't be able to prove any.


I advised her that sense she didn't sign a contract she doesn't have much recourse. However, if she sees that the photog is using her images for advertising and she didn't sign a release agreement she can demand a cease and desist.

What do you think?

This depends on the laws of your state. In VA, for example, that would be possible and there is a fine involved as a criminal (misdemeanor) offense. However, it is probably just not worth the time and effort --not to mention the difficult in locating the person.

[bigland]

I would respectfully like to say this:

Your porfolio should always represent the results of your professional career. If you do not charge for an event but include the photos in your portfolio it's a little like a commercial photographer who includes work that was not commissioned or paid for OR someone looking for a job and including on their resume, places they worked without getting paid. Volunteer work may credit someone's character but is not representative of the accomplishments in a professional career. When someone wants to see your portfolio, they assume that it represents work that you produced as a paid professional.
Even a model's portfolio can only include work they were paid for.

My suggestion is this: If you are a professional . . . get paid. Even if you give a discount, you can still consider the event as part of your professional portfolio.
The photographer who disappeared often proves the rule "You get what you pay for." or "You don't get what you don't pay for."

PS: When customers are offered a professional service for nothing they will won't hire those of us who need to make a living at our profession.

What would you recommend for an aspiring photographer who doesn't feel comfortable charging for services?

[Kaigler]

What would you recommend for an aspiring photographer who doesn't feel comfortable charging for services?

I'm kind of wondering about this myself. My plan is to get to a point where I feel comfortable with my own ability and post skills to charge something from the first job. I don't think that its too much to help a good friend out if you are just starting to think about going pro. Some weddings are simply done on the very cheap. It is not uncommon for a family member or close friend to help out in these situations. My sister's wedding was like this...and it was a disaster. Just because someone says that can take pictures doesn't mean they really can...

[Motab]

What would you recommend for an aspiring photographer who doesn't feel comfortable charging for services?

I had the same question when I was starting out. My wife pointed out that people generally feel obligated to compensate people for their work. If you carry and present yourself in a professional manner, and you're not just "that guy with the fancy looking camera," it will be recognized that you're working, and should be earning something.

My particular case in point... I did a few kid portraits for some coworkers, and asked for payment in the form of feedback. My value to them was pictures of their kids, and their value to me was feedback. How did I do, did they like the pictures, etc. Well even though I thought that was sufficient, on more than half of those jobs I ended up getting thank you cards with payment in them anyway.

My takeaway: Most people feel like they need to pay for pictures. This works well for those of us that like to make it our business! Even if you just charge something nominal up front, that elminates their anxiety over how much to pay you, when to pay you, etc. People respect that your training, and your tools, didn't come free.

-Andy

[SoccerRef]

Mrsjperry - Your advice is right on track, not much the bride can do other than that...

I would respectfully like to say this:

Your porfolio should always represent the results of your professional career. If you do not charge for an event but include the photos in your portfolio it's a little like a commercial photographer who includes work that was not commissioned or paid for OR someone looking for a job and including on their resume, places they worked without getting paid. Volunteer work may credit someone's character but is not representative of the accomplishments in a professional career. When someone wants to see your portfolio, they assume that it represents work that you produced as a paid professional.
Even a model's portfolio can only include work they were paid for.

My suggestion is this: If you are a professional . . . get paid. Even if you give a discount, you can still consider the event as part of your professional portfolio.
The photographer who disappeared often proves the rule "You get what you pay for." or "You don't get what you don't pay for."

PS: When customers are offered a professional service for nothing they will won't hire those of us who need to make a living at our profession.

I've got to say I completely disagree with this post, on several levels.

First, Most photographer's are artists, and SHOULD show off their best work, whether or not they were paid to produce it. I as a client do not look at a photographer's website and care whether or not he or she was paid to produce the image I am looking at.

Second, Models include work they were not paid for ALL THE TIME!! IN fact, Many models PAY FOR the photos that are in their portfolios!

Third, Your Post Script nags at me. Every time I hear a statement like that, I immediately get the impression that you are a photographer who is not confident in your own work. If your work is good enough and priced right, you won't be lacking for work.

Personally, I don't want to work for the client who wants my services for free. (I have offered my services for free on several occasions to friends and family, but those were by my choice.)

Now, IF someone is posting work that is NOT THEIRS, then we have an entirely different conversation, but that wasn't the premise here...

Sorry for the Hi-Jack...