Event photography - offer to shoot free with no takers?

cdifoto wrote in post #11419889
I feel for the guys who are struggling on the sidelines and count on every single sale of a print or digital download, but I have to question the sense in continuing to do it if it's not profitable anymore to the point of discouraging newbies and expressing continued frustration. Why not move on to something else?

I shoot racing because I raced motorcycles for a dozen years, and don't have a killer shot of myself, and I love being at a racetrack. But after having to battle the low priced crap togs, who subsidize their work with a regular 9-5, and can get to "Live the dream" of being a motorsports tog (in their mind)........I'm going to shoot some trains, and let the racers suffer the cruelest fate of all.........crappy pics.(insert evil laugh here)

I'd rather 3M my eyeballs shut then have a crappy photo of myself.

I just recently finalized a deal to provide an image for a product label and guess what I was competing against. Yes you guessed it, free images.

Whether they were truly going to use the free images is irrelevant because they were smart enough to bring it up in the negotiation, real or not.

I have the athlete as a friend on Facebook and see countless images put on his page, some quite good, so I knew the options were out there. After all it is a tiny little photo, anything would work to be honest.

They did pay a good amount but far from what It should have went for. Every image I have sold commercially or been in a magazines have started at "we don't have a budget and can only give you photo credit"

You assume that just because it is free that it is crap. I see stuff on these forums from weekend warriors all the time that is incredible. If they are giving the images away doesn't make the images any less incredible, but it does kill the market.

Dan-o wrote in post #11420114
After all it is a tiny little photo, anything would work to be honest.

Everyone is a hero at 800 pixels.

cdifoto wrote in post #11420037
I gotcha. I don't disagree that it's really tough when you don't get an up front paycheck, but that's why I don't do that anymore. I did my movin' on a couple years ago.

now you're talkin! I did the same about a year ago. made the promise to myself that I wouldn't do spec work without a VERY good reason and not so oddly, I've made more this year doing it that way and have yet to find that good reason to do otherwise. movin on too.

Dan-o wrote in post #11420114
You assume that just because it is free that it is crap. I see stuff on these forums from weekend warriors all the time that is incredible. If they are giving the images away doesn't make the images any less incredible, but it does kill the market.

this is a VERY good point Danny.

Bosscat wrote in post #11404456
+1 to the max

Last time I asked the guy at the gas station for free gas.....he suggested I eat beans

That's nice, but the parallel here would be offering somebody free gas...

Just because you aren't the best in the business doesn't mean you can't charge something. I mean look at McDonald's, they still make you pay for the food there.

You've probably already done this, but make sure everybody you know is aware that you take pictures. You never know who will find out about you.

mltn wrote in post #11420379
That's nice, but the parallel here would be offering somebody free gas...

You don't wanna be in the same area code when I offer that..........believe me.

namasste wrote in post #11420220
now you're talkin! I did the same about a year ago. made the promise to myself that I wouldn't do spec work without a VERY good reason and not so oddly, I've made more this year doing it that way and have yet to find that good reason to do otherwise. movin on too.

Amen. If I do spec, I curl up into a ball of GWC and have fun with it. I don't expect to make a penny, and I only do it if I feel like changing gears for a couple days.

mltn wrote in post #11420379
That's nice, but the parallel here would be offering somebody free gas...

Just because you aren't the best in the business doesn't mean you can't charge something. I mean look at McDonald's, they still make you pay for the food there.

You've probably already done this, but make sure everybody you know is aware that you take pictures. You never know who will find out about you.

Free gas would be awesome, but not the Bosscat kind. haha. Fuel is one of my bigger expenses.

Bosscat wrote in post #11407000
I'm going to show up at your place of employment and work for free, after which I will go home, take a nap and then work at my other job that pays me. I am sure your employer will be looking for as many people like me as he can find, and will replace you and your coworkers. Of course you won't like the fact you are out of a job and starving, but its OK for you to do that to others it appears.

Photography is not a profession that requires credentials, licensure, or any formal education whatsoever. If you are in a profession where literally anybody can compete with you, then you better be really darn good, know what I mean?

I'm a physician, and like many licensed / credentialed professionals, I don't have to worry about someone off the street coming into my place of employment and working for free. That's why I chose a profession with a steep 'barrier to entry.'

Bosscat wrote in post #11411371
And look at what the super bargain basement wedding tog has done to that market.

People need to stop and realize that when you value a photography at the price of $0, the average consumer will view any and all photographs as having the exact same value, no matter how good or bad they are.

But try buying groceries, paying the rent, or buying a car with $0 and get back to me on how that works out.

Here's the problem. None of these comparisons work because photography is a hobby that many people enjoy. For example, your groceries comparison: I don't know anyone who grows lettuce as a "hobby" and is therefore willing to give it away because they simply just enjoy the process of farming. Most other services industries don't compare either. Your accountant probably doesn't enjoy accounting as much as amateur photographers enjoy photography, so he/she probably isn't going to offer it for free just because he/she ENJOYS doing it so much!

I'm a physician. I generally enjoy what I do, but it's not my hobby. It's not what I'd choose to do with my free time. However, many people enjoy taking pictures during their free time. Professional photographers are in a tough position because they do something that many people enjoy doing for free! The same cannot be same for most professions.

NavyShrink wrote in post #14184894
Photography is not a profession that requires credentials, licensure, or any formal education whatsoever. If you are in a profession where literally anybody can compete with you, then you better be really darn good, know what I mean?

NavyShrink wrote in post #14184899
Here's the problem. None of these comparisons work because photography is a hobby that many people enjoy. For example, your groceries comparison: I don't know anyone who grows lettuce as a "hobby" and is therefore willing to give it away because they simply just enjoy the process of farming. Most other services industries don't compare either. Your accountant probably doesn't enjoy accounting as much as amateur photographers enjoy photography, so he/she probably isn't going to offer it for free just because he/she ENJOYS doing it so much!
.

that's the reality and the problem for photographers trying to make money. All these people giving away similar "products" because they enjoy it. I wish doctors and dentists would offer their services for free

Talk about giving new life to a 2 year old Zombie thread

sniper_md wrote in post #11404559
Wow
I see some people have some anger towards other photographers that offer free work in order to build portfolio. Then perhaps they can offer suggestions on how to build a portfolio?

Thank you

Join local photography meetup groups where you can network with more experienced photographers. Someone will invite you to come and shoot with them. Participate in the meetup groups activities.

www.meetup.com

philwillmedia wrote in post #14185351
Talk about giving new life to a 2 year old Zombie thread

yes, but the song is still the same after all these years