Offering free shoots to gain experience...is this 'okay'?

[lobsteriffic]

I am a beginner. Right now I have an online ad that I am an amateur looking to gain experience taking portraits, so I will do shoots for free and provide the person with a CD with some images on it. I thought this was a great idea and I have been getting a lot of responses. However, somebody thought that this was 'stepping on the toes' of the pros in town and that I was taking away their business.

My thought is that if somebody wants high quality pro photos, they will pay the pros. I clearly state that I am an amateur with not much portrait experience.

Thoughts?

[MindRaider]

I don't see a problem in what you are doing and if someone feel worried than he is not justifying his price...

[ReenaG]

I am just starting out and offered my services to friends/neighbors with no charge for the shoot....and offered a free print. Well one set of friends took me up on the offer, I spent at least 45 mins at the photoshoot, not to mention the time it took to post process those prints...and all they took was the free prints I offered. They really wanted a shot of the boys together, but the hubby didn't want to even pay the cost of the print (it was priced at $10).....I am sure he didn't consider the time I put into the whole thing! I was really disappointed.

BUT, I know they want to do family portraits and the wife has already shown the prints to her friends and gave out some of my business cards. Also in good faith, I gave them the print of the boys together which made both of them really happy! Money out was minimal; time was hours but if it gets me some extra work, it will be worth it!

vs. another friend I did a free session for....she bought $100 worth of prints.....so it's all relative and I enjoy getting the experience and seeing how happy everyone is with their photos!

[Swisstony10]

Originally Posted by ReenaG

...but if it gets me some extra work, it will be worth it!

That's the way to look at it. Just be careful though that you don't end up with a whole bunch of people booking you for family portrait sessions and then not bothering to buy any prints because their "..friend who told them about you got a couple of free prints - don't you do that for everone?"

[BigVinnie]

My recommendation is be selective.

I don't know how old you are, but for a young person I would suggest starting with friends from school. You will be more relaxed around them and they are going to be more patient with you as you try out things.

Maybe like the tips and tutorials post today do some social media shots. Maybe offer up something for facebook. That way you are only committing to a couple of keeper shots from the session. The idea is that you get more practice time with average people. I would not recommend doing a full out Time For CD (TFCD) shoot unless you have a lot of time to give up. The last thing you want to do is put out a low quality product or take too long to deliver. Both of those will kill any good will you are trying to create.

The number one complaint I've heard from models is TFP/TFCD shoots take too long to get images back.

[lobsteriffic]

Thanks. That makes sense. Although I'm far too old to go photographing teens in school, but that's good advice for someone younger.

I'm trying to be honest and upfront about my skill level and what I can deliver. So far people seem to be cool with a handful of shots that turn out.

[RuthieMae]

I think this is definitely how you should do it. I did it this way too. I offered free sessions with one free 8x10 print. I ended up with some wonderful clients when I did eventually start my business plus a ton of great experience.

[lisakathleen1961]

I'm in the same boat. Just starting out. I'd love to get more experience in portrait photography, but my 16 year son just won't cooperate! I have a few friends who have recently agreed to be my guinea pigs. I'll let them make their own prints this time around. Another thought I had was to offer a free sitting (again, namely for friends and friends-of-friends) just to gain some experience. If they like any of the photos, they pay me a reasonable sitting fee and I'll provide them with some prints (we'd agree on the details first). Maybe offer packages for an additional fee -- or let them buy the jpeg and let them do their own prints. Again, this is just to get experience with no one feeling taken advantage of in the process.

[lisakathleen1961]

Originally Posted by RuthieMae

I think this is definitely how you should do it. I did it this way too. I offered free sessions with one free 8x10 print. I ended up with some wonderful clients when I did eventually start my business plus a ton of great experience.

We posted around the same time. I like the free sitting with an 8x10. I think it's fair to everyone. Good to hear I wasn't too far off base with my idea. Thanks.

[ReenaG]

Ruthie Mae and LisaKathleen

That is exactly what I am doing and that each person that is getting the free sitting/prints will then pass on my name as a referral Which is why (if you see my post above) even though the one family didn't buy any prints, even though they really wanted one of their kids together, I went ahead and gave them that one.

and maybe one day when I grow up I will be as good as Ruthie Mae and SusanH1970