[tosh brown]

Guys –

Haven’t been here in awhile but read this entire thread with interest. The question asked several times about “how do you break in without giving some shots away” is a tough one.

When I started this gig back in the mid 90’s there were only about 20 fulltime photogs that were shooting hook and bullet stuff. There also weren’t many newcomers because pro film and developing were $17 a roll. With diminished barriers of entry, it is really tough to get noticed in today’s crowded digital field.

That said, there was a really good piece of advice handed down earlier in the thread about treating your photography as a hobby v. a business. The best advice I ever got was from Denver Bryan who said “things will start happening for you when you learn to say “no”.

At that point I divided my “client” list into moochers and players. The moochers dropped off my radar and the players were the ones I pursued. Now, this doesn’t mean that you should NEVER give a shot away for free/cheap, but you need to carefully weigh each decision. After a lot of years, very few of the clients that I did “exposure” work for ever came back as players. When the rat learns that he can avoid the shock AND get the cheese, he’ll never run the maze again. Free work leads to more free work, and most bankers don’t accept credit lines for mortgage payments.

If you’re serious about the business, then take time to learn the business and price your work accordingly. One of the biggest falsies I hear, these days, is “I’m just an amateur, my shots aren’t worth as much as yours”. There is no such thing as amateur pricing. If someone wants to pay you for a shot, then swing for the fences, and we will all benefit down the road.

Like someone else said earlier: these no-paying e-zines are a bad deal for the photography business, and they’ll continue to lower the industry bar and beg free work as long as we allow them to do so.

Thanks for allowing me a minute on my soapbox and my door is always open if someone needs help/advice with pricing, etc.

TB

[tosh brown]

Hey Guys –  

One more contribution to this thread before it dies away:

http://www.craigslist.org/about/best/aus/558260167.html

You gotta love a starving photographer with a sense of humor. By the way, I do live in Austin, but I promise this is not my ad…

Carry on…

TB

[tosh brown]

Hey Guys –

A friend told me about this site and I’ve enjoyed perusing everyone’s work. Some great shots, here.

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but I’ve been shooting for pay for about ten years, now, and I’d like to add my .02 to this thread.

Last week, I got some choice fish shots with a manufacturer’s product prominently displayed. I sent him the proofs (over the transom) this morning and he immediately replied with “great shots, but I can’t pay you anything to use them”. He wants to swap gear for images.

His previous catalog was filled front to back with shots that people had sent him in trade for his product. He’s planning to do the same again this year. I saw the 2007 catalog and some of them were nice shots—worth much more than the compensation the shooter got.  As someone pointed out earlier in this thread, if you’re getting his MSRP, he’s basically getting your photo at half-price (or less).

While it’s tempting to take him up on his offer, I’ve been doing this long enough to understand the tragic ripple effect it will have on the industry. I can’t pay my mortgage with rods, reels, and waders. If I sell the stuff on Ebay then all I’m doing is hurting my local shop, which is currently teetering on the edge.

Hold out for pay, guys. Learn what your work is worth, and demand compensation. There’s no category for amateur pricing versus pro. If someone wants your shot, then you’re a pro. Charge them accordingly.

Some of the best advice I’ve gotten came my first year in the biz from a respected shooter. He told me that there’s nothing we can do about undercutting and bartering for images, but if you hold out and present yourself as a confident and talented professional, then you’ll eventually be perceived in that way. I know it’s tough to get started, but if you make a habit of declining poor pay, then you’ll eventually attract better clients. Cheap work, leads to more cheap work.

My door is always open (send me an email through ToshBrown.com – not too good to openly discuss pricing here).

Take care, and keep shooting –  

TB

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