Pro Bono is getting VERY old.

[katahdin]

I've been a second shooter at a couple of weddings shot by a friend to gain experience. The last time she slipped me a couple of hundred bucks even though I didn't ask for it. This was a nice gesture, but after thinking about the time spent traveling, shooting and post-processing I realized that the cost of this "experience" is quite high.
Next I was asked by a friend to provide some images for the local Chamber of Commerce annual publication for "the exposure and publicity you'll get". I don't need, want or seek exposure and publicity...I just enjoy photograhy! I reluctantly agreed because like I said, she's a friend and she told me that there was plenty of time to shoot because the publication isn't going to press until June or July.
A week later she started asking for images that she could look through. So now I have a few issues:
1. How much badgering should I put up with before I tell her to "pound sand"?
2. It's winter in Maine. A lot of white, gray and black and the area has almost exclusively white Colonial houses....not much color..and this time of year a little drab. I'm having a hard time coming up with local images (while trying to meet her demanding time frame) that have some good color in them and depict the beauty of our small town without being, well, boring. Any ideas along those lines?

[zona5101]

i'd ask your friend to define exactly she is expecting and when. You need to fully understand her expectations then you can decide if it something that you WANT to do since you're doing it for free...and if not then it sounds too much like WORK and work costs $$$.

[XxkmoorexX]

Originally Posted by zona5101

i'd ask your friend to define exactly she is expecting and when. You need to fully understand her expectations then you can decide if it something that you WANT to do since you're doing it for free...and if not then it sounds too much like WORK and work costs $$$.

This is good advice. I have a lot of friends who are artists and for some of them it is their livelihood. One of my good friends (painter) offered free work and I accepted the difference is that I told her that I had no expectations and she's had my piece for over a year and a half. I'm still patiently waiting and when I do get it will be wonderful. I have also paid for her art as well it's perfectly okay to say no without feeling guilty

[Vincent_G]

Doesn't sound like a fair barter arrangement to me, seems like your friend is swinging the stick. Explain that your time is valuable, worth ex amount and you'd like something in return worth about the same.

If you want exposure an advertisement in the local paper will do it for $15.
Would your friend expect a carpenter to build a deck just for the exposure?
If you asked your friend do a job that required their time and effort would it be reaonable for you to reward him/her with I'll wear a t-shirt promoting you?

[UlpilotSC]

I feel your pain. I became the unofficial family fauxtographer. I did three weddings before finally saying "ENOUGH!" I've done stuff at work but that's for work and I do get paid anyway (and photographing accident scenes IS a challenge- like doing a wedding but in the highway with cars going by).

I stopped doing any photo stuff for others outside of work, unless I'm getting something out of it. Free airfare, gifts, cash, etc. I think I'm done - all my friends and family are married off.
Senior portraits might be next - I need to find some trees, railroad tracks and other weird scenery that makes no sense.

[Jim Bryant]

This is one of the reason why it's hard to get paid anymore. People expect you get your photos for free without paying. You need to sit down with your clients and explain to them that this is costing you in not only time, but money and wear and tear on your car and camera equipment.

Here's some reading material that might or might not help you with info to supply her as to why you cannot work for free anymore. Happy Reading!

Everything you ever wanted to know about photography! On DPS!

Want to make $$$$! Educate yourself first
Building a portfolio
How to Shoot sports
How to become a professional photographer part 1
Cost of Doing Business
On being a photojournalist
How to build a website that sells to photo buyers and editors
making money with digital cameras

[katahdin]

Thanks, Jim. You're always there for us!!

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by katahdin

Thanks, Jim. You're always there for us!!

yea, I try not to burst folks bubbles, however, there's a certain truth and advice to starting a photography business that most here don't think about.

[katahdin]

Jim, you're not bursting any bubbles of mine! I'm 57 and have been a Land Surveyor for the past 25 years, the last ten running my own small business, so I'm way too old to start thinking about photography as a career! From now on, I'm going to simply say, "I take pictures for fun, when there is a dead line, it's no longer fun...unless I'm getting paid". My rant was about folks thinking that photography is all about pointing a camera at something and, voila, picture complete! In my own profession, I've set up my equipment and had people ask, "How long before the machine tells you where my property line is?" Lord, give me strength....

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by katahdin

Jim, you're not bursting any bubbles of mine! I'm 57 and have been a Land Surveyor for the past 25 years, the last ten running my own small business, so I'm way too old to start thinking about photography as a career! From now on, I'm going to simply say, "I take pictures for fun, when there is a dead line, it's no longer fun...unless I'm getting paid". My rant was about folks thinking that photography is all about pointing a camera at something and, voila, picture complete! In my own profession, I've set up my equipment and had people ask, "How long before
the machine tells you where my property line is?" Lord, give me strength....

Nowadays, even through there's a budget for photos, they would rather get them for free. Unfortunately, if you or I don't give away our work, they will find some other sap, who would just love to get a credit line. However, credit line doesn't pay the buys bills or put into a fund to purchase future gear.

That's why I call dSLR's phd cameras (press here dummy!).