Asked to do a trade show...for free. Should I?

[Living Daylight]

I am a new photog who hasn't really done any paying jobs before. I did one gig a while back where I traded my time for the time of the organizer (she is a tango teacher). But this time I would be doing it purely for "the experience."

My mom works are a company that has a trade show coming up. She suggested I come, photograph the speakers and everyone's booths for free in the hopes of getting some business from them in the future. The photographs would be in the hosting company's newsletter and I will be given credit.

The event is on Monday, and I don't have business cards, a website, etc. to sell any prints; though I am pretty tech savvy so I bet i could do one up pretty fast, if you guys think that would be wise (and if I do this at all).

My question is: is this worth it? If I don't go the manager will use his own "good camera" but I doubt he would do a great job.

[Nightstalker]

The question to answer is do you want to do it?

It is 99% likeliy that no follow-on work will materialise from this. That said you are not a pro and as such you do not need to be paid for this job - by this I mean that you will not lose anything if you don't do it.

If you do it consider it as doing your mum a favour - I'm happy to say this as by doing so you are not depriving a working professional of the work as there is not a paying job here for a professional anyway.

[Balliolman]

In principle no.

As a favour, maybe.

[Living Daylight]

Yeah I am leaning towards doing it this once as a favour. If they ask again I will ask for payment, because I don't want them to take advantage of me.

[sapearl]

You mention this is on a Monday - does that mean you will have to use a vacation day from work or take of from school?

Either way this will take a lot of your time. You will be shooting all day, and can easily spend as much time post processing depending upon how much you shoot, and if they want finished images or prints. As Nightstalker said you probably won't get any business from this, although your name may get out there a bit. It's up to you as a favor to your mom, but you'll need to make it clear to all this was just a one-time freebie.

[Living Daylight]

I am still in university, and I won't have to miss class to do this. You are correct that I will be PPing for a while.

Why is it that situations like this so rarely yield extra work?

[JeffreyG]

Why is it that situations like this so rarely yield extra work?

How will you be marketed to the people attending the event? Will they be handed materials linked to your business website? Will they get a pamphlet or card advertising your business? Will they have a clear link made for them between the photos and you?

People are not going to really notice or think about you while you are shooting. And even if your work is very good, it's not likely that they are going to think "Who took these great photos? I need to hire this person for X". They will look at the pictures in the pamphlet and the vast majority will probably not even read the photo credit. Do you ever really read photo credits in the newspaper or in pamphlets? I don't.

Finally - are the people attending this event likely to have a need for event photography in the near future? If not, you are marketing yourself to non-customers.

[Living Daylight]

How will you be marketed to the people attending the event? Will they be handed materials linked to your business website? Will they get a pamphlet or card advertising your business? Will they have a clear link made for them between the photos and you?

People are not going to really notice or think about you while you are shooting. And even if your work is very good, it's not likely that they are going to think "Who took these great photos? I need to hire this person for X". They will look at the pictures in the pamphlet and the vast majority will probably not even read the photo credit. Do you ever really read photo credits in the newspaper or in pamphlets? I don't.

Finally - are the people attending this event likely to have a need for event photography in the near future? If not, you are marketing yourself to non-customers.

All valid points.

[RDKirk]

The points made by JeffreyG are all valid. The only worth this will have to you is that it will make your mother happy and you will get practice at doing a job and delivering results. Neither of those is beneath consideration, but it depends on you.

[snyderman]

Here's an idea. Go and shoot the event. Give pics to the hosting company's newsletter. Also, pass out website link (36 to a page on word .doc) to every booth you shoot. WATERMARK those and see if any of the attendees are interested in a purchase for their publications.

dave

[Living Daylight]

Here's an idea. Go and shoot the event. Give pics to the hosting company's newsletter. Also, pass out website link (36 to a page on word .doc) to every booth you shoot. WATERMARK those and see if any of the attendees are interested in a purchase for their publications.

dave

That is a good idea. What is the best way to throw up a website quickly? Would a simple picasa album be sufficient? I could use tinyurl to make the link nice and short.

[snyderman]

That is a good idea. What is the best way to throw up a website quickly? Would a simple picasa album be sufficient? I could use tinyurl to make the link nice and short.

Probably Shutterfly.com would be the quickest in this case.

dave

[sapearl]

What you're considering doing Living is a generous and nice thing. You're helping your mom, that will please her, and you'll get a bit of experience out of it.

The problem with getting work.... in general, for many of us in similar "marketting" circumstances, is multifold. First, and don't take this personally, you will just be "furniture" as part of that event. People will just assume you're attached to it, perhaps on their payroll - unless educated to the contrary - and not give you a second thought.

People won't look at you and think "Wow, a good hardworking photographer - what can I use him for?" People hire a photographer when they NEED a photographer... for a wedding, anniversary, social event, portrait, that sort of thing. So you constantly have to DO things to stay on their mind. It COULD be events like this, greeting cards, referrals, advertising, and a myriad of other reminders.

I do pro-bono work for several local volunteer and non-profit organizations. They really do appreciate the coverage and it makes me feel good to be giving back in the community. I've made some decent networking contacts and good friends. But by showing up at these functions time after time, I'm "staying on their minds" for those instances when somebody will be getting married or in need of an event photographer. The hope is to say in their thoughts when the need arises.

I am still in university, and I won't have to miss class to do this. You are correct that I will be PPing for a while.

Why is it that situations like this so rarely yield extra work?

[Karl Johnston]

Do it, why not, networking is invaluable...do up some quick business cards. License the images afterwards to companies that want them. Have the newsletter or paper direct all usage inquiries to you at your phone number.

Licensing
licensing
and licensing....

[Living Daylight]

Lot's of great advice on this forum. Thanks to all.

I am setting up a shutterfly account now.

[FlyingPhotog]

This may sound like a really nasty point but I'm going to play Devils' Advocate for just a moment and ask: If you screw the pooch and don't deliver suitable results, what impact might this have on your Mother's job and her reputation?

You have to asses the bigger picture in some situations and consider the impact on others if something doesn't go as planned.

[Living Daylight]

This may sound like a really nasty point but I'm going to play Devils' Advocate for just a moment and ask: If you screw the pooch and don't deliver suitable results, what impact might this have on your Mother's job and her reputation?

You have to asses the bigger picture in some situations and consider the impact on others if something doesn't go as planned.

First off I seriously doubt that will happen, and even if it does I can't see them holding it against my mom.

[Living Daylight]

Probably Shutterfly.com would be the quickest in this case.

dave

I am messing with the site now, and I'm not sure how I should use it. When I create the share site the option exists for the viewers to buy prints direct from the site; which would be undesirable for me, would it not?

[zagiace]

There is a lot of great advice in this thread so I won't add to it but something to consider,
Most of the venues that cater to tradeshows require that you be insured. If you have connection to the tradeshow coordinators will you be covered under their insurance?
If not, then add that to your time and expenses (travel, parking which is never free, food) and request that as compensation.

[cdifoto]

The only worth this will have to you is that it will make your mother happy

This is very important. Especially if she is still doing your laundry.

[sapearl]

Wise observation Dan - and let's not forget about mom's home cookin' ;)

This is very important. Especially if she is still doing your laundry.

[Living Daylight]

Ha she doesn't do my laundry nor do I live with her anymore. It is still god to make her happy though, with luck she will make us some lasagna.

Not sure about the insurance thing, I will ask the question.

[pspwa]

I find this interview with Harlan Ellison a good insight RE: work for free or credits.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj5IV23g-fE
(Swap the word writer for photographer)

If they get paid, they use your images to generate some form of income.... YOU should be paid!!!

It cost you $$$ to put your gear in the bag...it should cost someone everytime you take it out to use. ( preferably NOT youself)

Work for nix or lowball figure and that is a price range that will come back to haunt you later if your making this business YOUR business!

Cheers

[Karl Johnston]

I am messing with the site now, and I'm not sure how I should use it. When I create the share site the option exists for the viewers to buy prints direct from the site; which would be undesirable for me, would it not?
They most likely won't want to buy prints..you're missing the boat. Licensing is what you need to do; sell them images of their event to use in annual reports, websites, corporate communication, their own catalogs and ads, to newspapers and letters who cover the story.

Stock images are what you need to sell, not prints. Hand out a quick card of where they can go to find the images from the event, watermark them in the gallery and then put up a contact form or an email where they can inquire about usage.

and this will help you immensely:
www.fotoquote.com

Read all of everything about licensing, how to do it and why it's so important:
http://asmp.org/tutorials/licensing-guide.html

[primoz]

I know I'm going to sound rude but what the hell...

Sure do it. Nothing beats spending your time, using your equipment... for someone, who will make profit out of it, while you won't get anything. And yes, byline doesn't mean a shi**. Noone reads them, so it's not reference, it's not payment, it's just excuse to get your photos for free. So sure go ahead and do it.

[canonnoob]

DO NOT DO IT- At Least not for free... That only opens your photography as a "free business" and people will come after you asking for free stuff, only for you asking for payment later. Start the payment now and you wont have to work hard for them later

[Tom Reichner]

Why is it that situations like this so rarely yield extra work?

Well, think about it - how many people/businesses attending the event will ever need the services of a photographer? Probably very, very few. I go to trade shows quite frequently, and most of the businesses represented simply do not use photos in their marketing package. Of those that do, most are small, struggling businesses, and hiring a photographer for just one day would eat up several weeks worth of profits (many of these businesses don't have any profits at all, actually showing a loss at the end of most years). So, if they can get some photos for free from a friend or family member, they will use these images. If they can't get photos for free, then they simply just won't use photos on their brochure or website. It sucks, but it is reality.

[Living Daylight]

Thanks for all the tips. The "don't do it" side of the argument is seeming more logical to me now, however I have already committed and can't pull out now as a matter of honour. I will not work for free in the future.

[JayCee Images]

Here's an idea. Go and shoot the event. Give pics to the hosting company's newsletter. Also, pass out website link (36 to a page on word .doc) to every booth you shoot. WATERMARK those and see if any of the attendees are interested in a purchase for their publications.

dave

X2

Shoot it for free...charge for the prints.

Alot of becoming a professional photographer is getting your "foot in the door", building a good base of clients and making your name known...which often requires you to do some freebies every now and then.

[Living Daylight]

Well the event was a bit different than I thought. It was just a brief awards ceremony with only one company in attendance. Probably not worth my time. I suppose there is a chance they will license the photos but I don't think so.

[sapearl]

I imagine they'll use it for their newsletter or other internal publication which is always nice - get a sample or tear sheet from them - and I agree there probably won't be any licensing.

But - this gave you some good experience at an event, which in and of itself is a bit unpredicable - which is always valued. It will get your name out a little, made your mom happy and proud (which can never be discounted) and shows you as a hard worker. Who knows what good may come of this. As Jeffro said, it's a foot in the door ;)

Well the event was a bit different than I thought. It was just a brief awards ceremony with only one company in attendance. Probably not worth my time. I suppose there is a chance they will license the photos but I don't think so.

[Living Daylight]

I imagine they'll use it for their newsletter or other internal publication which is always nice - get a sample or tear sheet from them - and I agree there probably won't be any licensing.

But - this gave you some good experience at an event, which in and of itself is a bit unpredicable - which is always valued. It will get your name out a little, made your mom happy and proud (which can never be discounted) and shows you as a hard worker. Who knows what good may come of this. As Jeffro said, it's a foot in the door ;)

Thanks for that, I should look on the bright side.

[sapearl]

Absolutely - just about every situation in life offers you "take away's." That is: "what can I take away from this experience that will help me in the future." True, a little green in the wallet is always nice, but wealth & profit come in many forms: that's why we always look for those instances that will impart wisdom and experience.

I used to 2nd shoot for a local character - quite good in what he did - but a bit of an ogre and major prima dona. People either fell over themselves at his feet, or despised him. I did neither..... just shot with him when he was in a jam, and we really got along quite well. Of course, I am quite charming..... anyway....

The point is, as abrasive an SOB as this guy could be at times, he could pose people like nobody's businss. He had the knack, and could really take control - diplomatically - of a large group, or small group, and BEAUTIFULLY pose them. And this talent, along with his technical skills was reflected in his work. I just made it a point of tuning out the crappy part of his behavior and paid attention to his tips and suggestions. Those were "my" take-away's. :D - Stu

Thanks for that, I should look on the bright side.

[Living Daylight]

The manager of my mom's company has asked what it would cost to buy the photos to put in this publication: http://www.upalong.org/index.asp

What would be a reasonable price? Is there a way to figure this out easily?