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Freelance Photographers

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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
Just seeing if anyone on here is currently working towards being a "pro" freelance photographer? I have been picking up well paying assignments the past few months and am really excited to dive into it. This weekend, I am shooting a massive gingerbread house event downtown. Freelancing always seems to bring something interesting.

What kind of gigs are others getting into?
Any creative ideas, tips or tricks into working this type of photography for years to come?

I guess the hardest part of all this is, the uncertainty of always getting assignments aka $.




Nov 19 2010 10:39AM
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MatRich
Posts: 4789 - Karma: 1,812
Im getting into freelance video and photo a bit right now. Its sketchy starting off but it can be good. I have been the photographer for a hockey tournament which payed 300$ like I have filmed a party in exchange for a ski trip. right now the big thing im getting into is a project for the french language in quebec which would pay pretty well and be a regular thing.
Nov 19 2010 12:42PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
I have done some, but most of what I do is design work.

It's important to figure out the pricing thing. When I started doing design work professionally, I had a book called "The Graphic Artist's Guild Pricing and Ethical Guidelines". It was a big help, but the number one thing I learned is that if you aren't charging what the work is legitimately worth, you are undercutting the industry as a whole.

If you can, do some research on pricing guides. It will help a lot, you will have the knowledge of the greater industry behind you. Try to find a fairly recent one (within the 2-3 years) if you can.

Hope that helps you out!
Nov 19 2010 12:46PM
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dergblerp
Posts: 1303 - Karma: 77
I do freelance photography and videography.  I still have a few more months of college left so I'm not working full time or anything, but it's picking up.  I'm not entirely sure what I think about it.  A part of me likes, "doing what I love," as people would say, but sometimes it becomes all about "the client,"and it's easy to lose sight of the fun part/ why you started doing it in the first place.
Nov 19 2010 12:47PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
the other good thing about books like that is that they often include legal forms that you can use for your business. It's really helpful to have someone hand you a template for a legally sound rights contract!
Nov 19 2010 12:49PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
ah true! I kinda forgot about that part.

I started off charging industry prices(lower end to start), I would say that was the best thing that I did. None of the "work for free/cheap to build my portfolio" stuff. I could build a portfolio without them, like most decent photographers.

If you work for free/cheap, you can continue to expect clients who expect cheap/free work. These are the ones who will give you headaches/haggle money/non-payment consistently. Are you sure you want to build this kind of client base for yourself?


/rant

Just got done browsing craigslist and the "build your portfolio" shit just gets me pissed haha.
Nov 19 2010 2:45PM
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h.yfoskett
Posts: 285 - Karma: 219

+k for this so true

once youve given people "free" work its expected next time never a good way to do it

im getting some work, winter sport and stuff, got a few publiscations but no really big money stuff, how do you guys get the money out of it? from the mags or companies/ brands?

Nov 19 2010 3:10PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
website is important. You've got that checked, its pretty much your "resume/portfolio". Business cards are nice and I find myself handing those out to important people, alot more then I thought I would. I shot a wedding as a 2nd shooter(gat dam wedding photography is where the $$$ is at, pays great), learned so much, got wedding images into my portfolio, got a professional photography company on my resume, meet numerous people at the wedding interested in my work. It was a HUGE help to me.
Nov 19 2010 3:48PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
forgot about this!

ANYONE is a potential client. For example, tonight I will be in downtown Pittsburgh for the holiday "Light up night". My assignment is to photograph large masses of people viewing the gingerbread house exhibit. My client is a non-profit who built the exhibit. I did discount my rate, but come on...its a non profit that feed candy to kids...i couldnt pass it up haha.
Nov 19 2010 3:53PM
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1337
Posts: 31038 - Karma: 29,002
I'm currently getting into it and couldnt be more stoked. The money is a huge bonus, but having something to shoot all the time is what is really awesome.
Nov 19 2010 4:17PM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
When i've done work for non-profits, I usually say "here's what this job would normally run you, what does your budget allow?"

then you can easily negotiate a discounted price both of you are fine with. You can adjust by doing less work, or they can re-adjust their perception of what photography is worth (education of your clients is key to getting paid).

then, you can write the difference off on taxes.
Nov 19 2010 4:40PM
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Blandct
Posts: 1858 - Karma: 37
good site with some good info for freelancers.

http://freelanceswitch.com/

if you scroll down on the right hand column it will say "explore the blog" and a little lower "Resources" lots of good things like contracts and stuff can also be found on that site.
Nov 19 2010 4:58PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
bingo! :)
Nov 19 2010 5:06PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
few samples from my light up night gig this weekend

http://www.pittsburghactionphotos.com/Events/Pittsburgh-Light-Up-Night-2010/14271178_NLx8V#1098397603_QgBE7

Nov 21 2010 5:59PM
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tspanagel
Posts: 440 - Karma: 385

I would realy like to get into this but dont know where to start.  Im a senior in High School and will be studing Photography in the fall at the Art Academy of Cincinnati.  I shoot small events for my school but dont realy know how to get into it shooting more stuff for bigger clients than "school"

Any help would be nice.  How did you start?

Nov 22 2010 10:48AM
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TWoods
Posts: 10014 - Karma: 8,385
start with school. Don't jump into doing actual work before you REALLY know what you are doing, and you have the gear and/or skill to produce truly quality work. Try shooting events just on your own, when you aren't expected to deliver not only is it less stressful, but you have more time to think, self critique and do better work.
Nov 22 2010 1:25PM
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NMA
Posts: 314 - Karma: 37
Learn, shoot, critique, shoot, study, shoot, critique, shoot.

Get a job, preferably something that either teaches you photography (studio, assistant, gallery, store, magazine, etc) or gives you time, money or access to shoot more. Study and learn as much as possible. Develop your own style and point of view. Learn how to put that on paper (or a computer) and produce a portfolio. Then worry about making money.

All this talk of shooting shitty events or free photos for someone who obviously doesn't care about quality or whatever it is for very little money will ultimately distract you from shooting the photos that will make you successful in the long term. Shooting for your own aesthetic development is way more important than shooting for money because once you develop your own visual voice, people will hire you.

Good shooting.
Nov 22 2010 2:34PM
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1080ski
Posts: 4424 - Karma: 191
hit up your local newspaper and see if they will let you string for them. Basically, when their photographers cant cover an event, they call up stringers and pay them by assignment. Its pretty fun and you get to go to a lot of really cool events for free!
Nov 22 2010 4:28PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
I can agree to some point.

But I take ANY assignment willing to pay my rates. And since my rates are current with the market, so why would i pass up any event? just because its not cool to me? I'd rather approach it with an open mind, learn as much as i can shooting that venue, and NETWORK with others for future work.

Plus taking paying gigs taught me tons about photography business, and lets be honest....if your going to freelance, you sure as hell better know a good amount about small business/practices/taxes/contracts/legal/etc.

Plus it opens many opportunities for getting an images published.

I guess the point I am making is, I would NEVER pass up a FULL paying gig, regardless if its a shit event. Too much to learn & too many potential clients to meet.

My 2 cents and what has personally worked for me. Maybe other will chim in.



Nov 22 2010 6:19PM
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FreeBallin
Posts: 1845 - Karma: 17
this too!

although you will find that many of them no longer pay, they get enough "user contribution" nowadays, and some feel giving you "credit" for the photo is enough for your work.

It is an EXCELLENT way to network and enter into the field, i just wouldnt do it for too long.
Nov 22 2010 6:22PM
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