This comes from an email I recently received from someone who is trying to build up their portrait photography business. One of the best recommendations I can give to a beginning photographer when starting is to shoot friends and family for free. The question was essentially, how do you get people to go along with this whole concept and get them more excited about the shoot.
Most Photographers, including many top level professionals I have seen have a hard time understanding that your “people skills” are more important than your actual “photography” skills when shooting people.
Your subjects will reflect whatever it is you project.
If you are nervous, they will be nervous.
If you hesitate, they will hesitate.
If you are laughing and joking, they will laugh and joke with you.
This is very powerful stuff. Unless the subject is a professional model, it will matter how you act behind the camera.
Lets assume we have a great looking friend whom we want to use to build up our portfolio. The goal and outcome of these 2 questions are the same, however, taste the vibe of each and try to feel what they might feel:
1. Hey I was wondering if you could help me. I am building my portrait portfolio and need some pics. Im not really sure what I am doing, but I need someone to sit and like….practice on? If any of them come out, you could have them.
2. Ive never told you this but I think you are absolutely beautiful and would really like to give you a free portrait shoot. It will be a lot of fun, plus you will have tons of great pictures- its free. What do you think about this week at 7pm?
Always speak to your clients and subjects in their perspective and what the benefit it will be to THEM (not you).
Very interesting subject. I’m in this position, and it’s definitely a case of what to say when a freebie is being offered…because I want to pick who will most show off my photographic skills! A cute kid or a gorgeous subject will make me look even better! I think one of the tricky aspects then becomes, what if a freebie turns into multiple requests! Once people know you shoot for free, how do you then shift gears for follow-ups, or for people they refer? For example, maybe someone wants a shot of their child’s birthday. If you do a good job, they’ll want shots the next year! I guess it comes down to being honest, "I’ve started making this my livlihood, so I can’t shoot for free anymore, but I’ll make you a great deal since you helped me out when I was getting started."
LOL…I can vouch for the fact that #1 does not work. I’ll try the other approach from now on. Off the subject a little, but my biggest struggle when I do have volunteers is what to do with them…and HOW to capture them where they look natural. I’ve taken some great shots of some really tense, akward poses. Is this something that just comes naturally with time or are there special tricks or courses that teach it?
I respectfully disagree with doing free shoots. In my limited experience, free clients are more prone to cancel and undervalue my time and work. I always charge, even if it’s just a nominal fee and include a couple of prints in exchange. You will get more respect, eases the awkward transition Scott mentioned, minimizes the amount you undermine pricing of professionals around you and by having them pay for prints you get some practice color correcting the output of whatever lab you use. Oh, and it makes you work a bit harder too.
Scott- This is EXACTLY what you want. You want it to be infectious and for them to be so thrilled that ALL of the friends will ask you to take their pictures. Eventually, they will just offer to pay you. I promise you it will work. You want them walking away from a great experience thinking. "..wow…that was awesome, when we need new pics, we will hire him".
Kathy- There are tricks to this. The quickest thing I can say is to get your subjects "doing" things. If they are kids, get them to play. If they are a couple, get them to interact with each other. "Doing" makes for great pics!
Hi Phat- Its ok to disagree with me, I appreciate you posting. Even now, I still try to do 2-3 free shoots a month just because I enjoy it so much and for beginners with zero experience, I still cant think of a better way to learn.
I agree with Michael on this.
When I first started to work on computers, I would help out friends or co-workers with problems. After about a month or so, I would get calls from them asking "Could I give your number to a friend who is having problems. They will pay you to get it working".
I don’t see how different it would be in this case.
Michael – it’s definitely a great way to learn and it seems to work well for many of the readers here.
So Rob – does that mean I can get some free tech support?
hi Phat P- I get what you are saying. I think what Michael and Rob are talking about is for beginning any new potential business, once established then its more preferance than anything. Michael does offer free tech support in his forum for all levels of photographers. Check it out.