I think I did the wrong thing here ...

[Mastamarek]

So someone at my car forum just offer a paid job to shoot his car. I got excited for the opportunity but I never ever wanted to get paid for it as I don't feel I would deliver the quality. (aka. my quality standards). so I PM'd him and offered him a free photoshoot but clearly stated that I can't do a rig shot as I don't have a rig. lol. I showed him my flickr and he loved it and said he wants me to shoot his car. I got excited as no one ever offered me any type of a shoot. now that I think about it, I just took someone a paid job. There are a lot of staff photographers on my car forum that would probably love to jump on this opportunity. I just wanted some experience shooting a nice car and doing a full photo shoot. I think though I did the wrong thing. I should have just offered anyone a free photo shoot for my learning purposes instead of taking a paid job from another photog ^^ ehhh ... I really wasn't thinking that far ahead. lol. I was just excited that he wanted me to shoot his car but now I feel kinna bad. so ya ... how much did I mess up!? ^^

EDIT:
:( :(:(
I feel stupid, you don't just offer a free service on a job opportunity :( but I really wasn't expecting him to take it.

[MJPhotos24]

SO...change your mind and say you don't feel comfortable doing it for free because it is undercutting others on the board, how you want to do it but don't think you can for free like first though, and see what he says. If he likes the stuff that much he'll probably pony up some cash. You don't have to charge an arm and leg, just what is fair for both parties while totally not undercutting anyone else.

Last thing you want to do is a job you regret, it leaves a sour taste in your mouth for awhile!

[photoguy6405]

So someone at my car forum just offer a paid job to shoot his car. I got excited for the opportunity but I never ever wanted to get paid for it as I don't feel I would deliver the quality. (aka. my quality standards). so I PM'd him and offered him a free photoshoot but clearly stated that I can't do a rig shot as I don't have a rig. lol. I showed him my flickr and he loved it and said he wants me to shoot his car. I got excited as no one ever offered me any type of a shoot. now that I think about it, I just took someone a paid job. There are a lot of staff photographers on my car forum that would probably love to jump on this opportunity. I just wanted some experience shooting a nice car and doing a full photo shoot. I think though I did the wrong thing. I should have just offered anyone a free photo shoot for my learning purposes instead of taking a paid job from another photog ^^ ehhh ... I really wasn't thinking that far ahead. lol. I was just excited that he wanted me to shoot his car but now I feel kinna bad. so ya ... how much did I mess up!? ^^

EDIT:
:( :(:(
I feel stupid, you don't just offer a free service on a job opportunity :( but I really wasn't expecting him to take it.
I disagree completely. You didn't take it away from someone else as you never solicited it. He came to you of his own free will.

[Namerifrats]

I say go ahead and do it since you said you would. You also offered to do it for free, so I would follow through completely. A person is only as good as their word. You get experience, shots for your portfolio, and possibly some word of mouth advertisement from the car owner. Just do what you said you would do, and learn from it.

[themadman]

To repent, you should give up on photography and send all your gear to me =)

[CTP]

To repent, you should give up on photography and send all your gear to me =)

Pass the leftovers on down, I will take them :)

It was said earlier, but if he came to you and you accepted, you only hamstrung yourself. If you sought him out and offered for free to get a job, you hamstrung someone else.

[danameless]

I think you should do the job. I don't think you did anything wrong here. He approached you and obviously liked your work enough to want you to shoot his car, so have confidence in your abilities. I probably wouldn't have offered to do it for free since he was a paying customer, but since you did I would keep your word and shoot it for free, but charge him for the prints if he wants any. If you do a good job, it's a good way to build a reputation and your portfolio and hope he tells all his car buddies too.

[gonzogolf]

You offered it for free, you need to follow through. At the very least you build your portfolio, it might lead to some more jobs, and its not unheard of for a guy to tip you some cash even though you didnt charge up front. The worst outcome is you back out of your promise, you get a reputation as a flake, and the guy goes elsewhere.

[WMS]

A rhetorical question to ask yourself; "Just how is this different than photographing a model on a TFP basis?"

TFP is an accepted method for both novice photographers and models to build there portfolios.

Wayne

[Frugal]

but I never ever wanted to get paid for it as I don't feel I would deliver the quality. (aka. my quality standards)

You get paid for the quality he needs. Your quality standards are irrelevant to the transaction.

[PhotosGuy]

There are a lot of staff photographers on my car forum that would probably love to jump on this opportunity. Probably so would I, but tough rocks, you got the offer, so go ahead & shoot it. you don't just offer a free service on a job opportunity but I really wasn't expecting him to take it. Are things different in Krakow? Everyone here buys free stuff, especially retired car guys. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v196/stubro2000/rofl.gif
The ones that I hate are the ones who ask me to do it for free, & say "I won't tell anyone." I usually ask them whenTF they ever bought me a beer? ;)

[IndyJeff]

To repent, you should give up on photography and send all your gear to me =)

LMAO That is the funniest post I have ever read on this board.

[EmmaRose]

NO you did the right thing. No sense feeling bad about someone who never got the offer presented. Its very right of you to not charge if you dont feel ready. I did the same thing with a toddler shoot (and im glad i didn't take any money because i didn't like the results at all)

[kenwood33]

i don't think you did anything wrong here
don't over think, just go ahead and get some experience

[Karl Johnston]

most people start by doing free work, i don't think it's a bad thing what you did at all.

also remember just because the time is free, doesn't necessarily mean the licensing is free, (if you haven't gone over that yet; as in, if the client really likes it and asks what you would charge to use it in multiple mediums or ads, etc.). or perhaps they want personal prints, if so mark up to make a bit on that.

[bryan k]

Agree with the majority here. I did holiday portriats for my wife's friends for free just for practice (and I enjoy hanging out with them), and it was a great experience. I would have been a bit more nervous if I was going in as a paid photographer the first few times. You do some work for free, build up your confidence, and you will soon feel confident with your shooting ability in no time. The best experience you are going to get is shooting events / environments where you feel comfortable and confident. If that happens to be a non-paying "practice" gig, then so be it. Don't worry about anything, go out there, pretend you are getting paid, get some good shots for your portfolio, and share them here when you are finished!

[PhotoJourno]

OP, do what you agreed to do. You accepted the paid job, and unless you know you cannot deliver the goods, just do it.

Best of luck.

[PhotosGuy]

i don't think you did anything wrong here
don't over think, just go ahead and get some experience Free experience: See the links in my Sig. ;)