How much does Time for Print : COST
“Time For Print” is an exchange of services, where the customer or models provide their time and the photographer provides the services, at no cost to each other. The photographer receives copyright to the images and the customer or model receives the right to use the images for their portfolio. This agreement implies that the value brought to the shoot is equal.
The concept provides each party something, in this case images (either print or digital copies) in exchange for time and services. Usually both parties use the images for their portfolios and negotiate rights to these images.
Inexperienced models want images to develop a credible portfolio and the photographer often requires the same in exchange. The photographer is the default copyright holder according to most regions copyright laws and may wish to utilize the images for additional purposes.
Time for print appears to be free for both parties, but in both cases it comes with costs.
The first thing to understand is that professionals earn a living working at their profession and provide professional results, while amateurs generally earn a living doing something else and are still practicing and provide amateur results and service.
The model must prepare before hand and often may buy new exciting clothing, cosmetics, get her hair done etc in order to look their best during the shot. All of this costs money and it is not cheap. The idea of spending money on wardrobe instead of acquiring professional services seems more practical and yet the money spent on wardrobe, and preparation is truly wasted if the results of the amateur photo shoot is not of the standards required. Clearly if both participants are amateurs the result will undoubtedly be amateur.
Each photographer may calculate a basic cost per shot. Digital cameras (no need to buy film) have a limited life and can only be used for a limited number of shoots before failure, and replacements are required. Keeping the photographic equipment up to date and in good shape with current technologies is also costly – even if film and processing is not used, not to mention the cost of studio space if it is used. Spending this on amateur models who at still learning to pose effectively, who may or may not show up, or show up ready to shoot, may not be a great investment nor is it a fast way to learn skills or produce the highest quality results. Paying a model that is experienced and capable of helping you with tips may be much more effective way to go.
Both parties spend time together in the pursuit of wonderful images they can each be proud of. Each thinks they only need to practice and not training, in order to get to where they might wish to go. If either wishes to reach a professional status they must practice with at very large number of shoots and subjects. If each only practices with amateurs they may never actually be `taught` the basics required to meet a professional status and may still only have amateur photographs and be unable to utilize them for presentation to agents’ media or possible employers.
There is a solution to this excessive time and monetary expense and that is to select only the very best photographers, or the very best models available. The dilemma is that the very best photographers and models are likely to want to charge you for their services. After all if they are not charging for their expertise then maybe they do not think their work has value to you, and maybe you should not think it is of value either. Depending on their prices this may be the cheaper way to move toward a professional status more quickly.
How do you know when it is worthwhile to pay for the others expertise? Add up your estimated costs of only 5 – 10 shoots (models and photographers this number may be $1000 +) with inexperienced people, producing images that have little value, and then compare this cost with the cost of a single shoot with a more skilled person to get the results you were after immediately.
Lots of young girls dream of modeling and but I have never yet met one that dreamed of being a free or the cheapest model. They all dreamed of earning money for their time and not of visiting countless photographers to obtain yet another set of free images. But hundreds of amateur photographers who have recently purchased cameras take advantage of this eagerness and many buy cameras just to do that. Yet if they were really serious they might be paying models with skills, rather than seeking free ones with promises they may not be able to fulfill. The only way to realize this dream is to approach your activities with a business like attitude as both modeling and photography are small businesses and only when a professional approach is adopted a professional result is achieved. Being enticed by flattering remarks and the ego boost that a TFP shoot may offer, may not be the best way to go if one is serious. After all how flattering is it to be selected as a model or photographer because you’re the cheapest and/or free and easy to schedule.
Models have historically been paid for their time and more importantly paid more for their skills. They can only learn quality professional skills with quality professional photographers who are skilled at teaching these skills and not with their brother or the friend with a camera. Ultimately this desire to provide free services maybe the main reason most who dream to becoming models, only get to play at the dream because they do not take the necessary steps to learn professional skills and seek the best for their time and investment, but are satisfied with mediocre results and the praise of peers rather then the praise of people in the business. Best to choose to learn from those who fo have a potential to pay for your time, and may provide paying work for you or provide the professional referrals you need in the future.
Your conclusion will be based on your own desires. Some wish to simply dabble and approach their craft as a hobby while others will be serious and driven to succeed. No matter which you are you may benefit from considering spending little on the quality of the shoot by utilizing the services of a professional and getting the higher quality images your time and effort should deserve.
The Bottom line is that your approach may COST you a possibly promising career or it may provide the groundwork and the basis for a promising and lucrtive career.
