This guy gets it

had this sent to me today.


http://atlanta.craigsl​ist.org/atl/tlg/261334​2389.html

Nominated for best of. q

Yeah but those who the jab is aimed at , well lets just say all they will hear is the whirring sound going over their head and continue to ask for freebies.

haha - nice one.

That is great. Poignant, as I am going through this debacle with a friend of mine right now.

Perfect timing as this posting went up on our local CL today:

http://nh.craigslist.o​rg/crs/2633396613.html

Posting original text in case listing gets flagged for removal:

Cheap azz photographer (Southern NH )
Date: 2011-10-05, 6:02AM EDT
Reply to: serv-tfthh-2633396613@craigslist.​org [Errors when replying to ads?]
Take your cheap as, no pro gear. Not legally registered photography company somewhere else.

You people know who you are. You wanna do pro work.

Buy pro gear
Get insurance
Get registered

You don't wanna do those three things you don't deserve the clients.

* Location: Southern NH
* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

great idea!
I need my carpeting redone... maybe someone will do it for free, in exchange for pictures of their work so they can show their work to others!

SMP_Homer wrote in post #13213601
great idea!
I need my carpeting redone... maybe someone will do it for free, in exchange for pictures of their work so they can show their work to others!

And at the same time, they are also showing your work! Clever marketing technique you have there.

SMP_Homer wrote in post #13213601
great idea!
I need my carpeting redone... maybe someone will do it for free, in exchange for pictures of their work so they can show their work to others!

That's actually bartering, so it's good for everyone involved....assuming your photography services have a similar market value as their carpet and/or installation.

When I use a location that's a business or borrow props from shops for example, I mention them in photo captions and such to send customers their way. Sometimes I'll shoot photos of the location itself if it's for sale and provide those to the owner or realtor. I don't have actual cash out that way, and word of mouth advertising is beneficial to them.

Nice find!

Haha!

cdifoto wrote in post #13216667
That's actually bartering, so it's good for everyone involved....assuming your photography services have a similar market value as their carpet and/or installation.

When I use a location that's a business or borrow props from shops for example, I mention them in photo captions and such to send customers their way. Sometimes I'll shoot photos of the location itself if it's for sale and provide those to the owner or realtor. I don't have actual cash out that way, and word of mouth advertising is beneficial to them.

Just be sure you're not trading with an IRS (or state income tax) agent, or state sales tax agent.

You're still required to report the value of the services performed as revenues to you, and it's very possible the work you received won't be a DEDUCTIBLE expense, since it could be personal in nature (i.e. someone painting your house). If they performed a service for your business, then that part would be an expense to you.

Stugotzo, CPA (licensed in NY since 1991).

The CL ad is funny, but keep in mind that there is a reason people ask for free photos but not free painting or work on their car or whatever. If you are trying to make a living as a photographer understanding your potential customers (instead of simply denigrating them) is critical.

Actually he doesn't get it. Here's the sad reality:

John Doe wants to become a photographer by trade because his desk job sucks and because photography is fun.

John Doe needs to build a photo portfolio to impress future clients so he volunteers to shoot for free to gain the experience and interesting subject material

John Doe, after years of hard work, is now an expert and has a nice portfolio. So he wants to do it for a living now, but nobody will pay him because Jane Doe, a novice, just got off the bus from Kentucky and is willing to work for free to gain experience just like John did in the beginning.

So John Doe curses Jane and tells her what a loser she is for working pro Bono.

John Doe is a hypocrite and hasn't figured it out that if the job is fun there will be 100X more people eager to do the work than there are people willing to pay for it.

Moral to the story: don't quit your day job.

I think we all have worked for free at some point. Im fine with people telling me "Well John Smith said he would do my wedding pictures for $100" My response is simply "If you pay $100 expect a $100 job" and I smile.

Then I get the confused look from the client. Then we talk business....