Comments on: Why shooting for free almost always pays off http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/ A collaborative online community that brings together creative professionals of all disciplines, working together to keep our professions relevant, respected, and profitable Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:36:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: smalldogs http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6864 smalldogs Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:33:55 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6864 When I started my full-time photo business a few years ago, I got involved with shooting for local animal shelters and rescues for free. This led to a few shows, and lots of referrals. It also led to a paying gig with the shelter. The animal rescue world is very small; everyone knows everyone else. So, in just a little over two years I've built great name recognition, and a big fan base. On the commercial side, I'm currently doing a few shoots for free for a local musician. She's well connected and I'm pretty sure this will lead to paying gigs. I think it's a great idea. Too many photographers are focused on just making money. my volunteering came from a desire to help these organizations (and people). Since that was genuine, i think other people picked up on it and word grew from that. When I started my full-time photo business a few years ago, I got involved with shooting for local animal shelters and rescues for free. This led to a few shows, and lots of referrals. It also led to a paying gig with the shelter.

The animal rescue world is very small; everyone knows everyone else. So, in just a little over two years I’ve built great name recognition, and a big fan base.

On the commercial side, I’m currently doing a few shoots for free for a local musician. She’s well connected and I’m pretty sure this will lead to paying gigs.

I think it’s a great idea. Too many photographers are focused on just making money. my volunteering came from a desire to help these organizations (and people). Since that was genuine, i think other people picked up on it and word grew from that.

]]> By: Richard Baker http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6838 Richard Baker Fri, 21 Aug 2009 11:01:11 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6838 The picture is really piece of art the baby girl looks so cute in the image moreover the color contact is excellent. By Richard Baker HR Manager Recovery Bull http://www.recoverybull.com The picture is really piece of art the baby girl looks so cute in the image moreover the color contact is excellent.
By
Richard Baker
HR Manager
Recovery Bull
http://www.recoverybull.com

]]> By: Greg Phipps http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6834 Greg Phipps Fri, 21 Aug 2009 01:54:12 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6834 Some people just have a completely different philosophy on life than others. Who cares about business models, tax write-offs, and good publicity. Why not just use your abilities to give back and do something nice for people in need because you can? Thanks to Gustavo for doing something to make a difference in the world. Another good organization is called Flashes of Hope. It's centered around free portraits for children with terminal illness and life threatening diseases. www.flashesofhope.org I would also encourage photographers to find something that fits your personality as a way to give back in a unique way. I give away a wedding a year to couples in hardship, give a percentage of each session to a charity of my clients choosing, and various other things. Find a way you enjoy and try to give back seeking no reward. Some people just have a completely different philosophy on life than others. Who cares about business models, tax write-offs, and good publicity. Why not just use your abilities to give back and do something nice for people in need because you can? Thanks to Gustavo for doing something to make a difference in the world.

Another good organization is called Flashes of Hope. It’s centered around free portraits for children with terminal illness and life threatening diseases. http://www.flashesofhope.org
I would also encourage photographers to find something that fits your personality as a way to give back in a unique way. I give away a wedding a year to couples in hardship, give a percentage of each session to a charity of my clients choosing, and various other things. Find a way you enjoy and try to give back seeking no reward.

]]> By: Gustavo Fernandez http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6831 Gustavo Fernandez Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:38:32 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6831 Thanks Lou for a wonderful write up! You rock! Thanks Lou for a wonderful write up! You rock!

]]> By: Connie http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6829 Connie Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:28:27 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6829 I wanted to bring to your attention the most amazing organization. "Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep" Our family had the misfortune to need their services last Friday when my daughter's baby was still born. They came with pure grace and compassion to give the family visual memories for ever. Maybe think of them with a donations or service or just let other photographers know of them. Read More; Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org I wanted to bring to your attention the most amazing organization. “Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep” Our family had the misfortune to need their services last Friday when my daughter’s baby was still born. They came with pure grace and compassion to give the family visual memories for ever. Maybe think of them with a donations or service or just let other photographers know of them. Read More; Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep
http://www.nowilaymedowntosleep.org

]]> By: kristina gill http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6825 kristina gill Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:03:05 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6825 dont think you can deduct "time" (billable hours) on taxes, but i think you can do the market value for the photographs you donate. Im not sure I disagree with doing "free" photography for charitable reasons you believe in. Maybe you wouldn't do a commercial shoot for free. But if you pick the cause closest to you and develop a relationship and are involved... What's the problem??? I'd think it *worse* to _discount_ your prices than to donate for a worthy cause that you are involved with. dont think you can deduct “time” (billable hours) on taxes, but i think you can do the market value for the photographs you donate.

Im not sure I disagree with doing “free” photography for charitable reasons you believe in. Maybe you wouldn’t do a commercial shoot for free. But if you pick the cause closest to you and develop a relationship and are involved… What’s the problem??? I’d think it *worse* to _discount_ your prices than to donate for a worthy cause that you are involved with.

]]> By: Seshu http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6823 Seshu Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:42:08 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6823 May I plug my project, Phases + Faces: The Kids of Connecticut. Essentially, these are portrait sessions to benefit Connecticut Children's Medical Center. For more info, check out this link - http://seshu.net/blog.cfm/postID/144/Phases-Faces-The-Kids-Of-Connecticut It's a great way to connect with people in the community, get your business known AND of course help a hospital raise much needed funds for their various projects. May I plug my project, Phases + Faces: The Kids of Connecticut. Essentially, these are portrait sessions to benefit Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. For more info, check out this link – http://seshu.net/blog.cfm/postID/144/Phases-Faces-The-Kids-Of-Connecticut

It’s a great way to connect with people in the community, get your business known AND of course help a hospital raise much needed funds for their various projects.

]]> By: Helen http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6821 Helen Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:35:09 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6821 I think it's a great idea, full of benefits for everyone. Dominican children and their families get support. The charity gets attention. Families get an outstanding photographer for a lot less than it would cost them normally, allowing families on low incomes to have high quality photos they could otherwise not afford - all for a few hundred dollars a year, and letting the photographer stay with you. Gustavo gets press, a trip across the US, improving his skills even more and a warm fuzzy feeling from helping a charity. Call me Pollyanna if you will, but I can't see a single bad thing there. I bet he'll be even busier with bookings now, as a result of the airtime. Remember the saying you have to spend money to make money? He spent time doing this, and it'll attract even more people - another benefit. I think it’s a great idea, full of benefits for everyone. Dominican children and their families get support. The charity gets attention. Families get an outstanding photographer for a lot less than it would cost them normally, allowing families on low incomes to have high quality photos they could otherwise not afford – all for a few hundred dollars a year, and letting the photographer stay with you. Gustavo gets press, a trip across the US, improving his skills even more and a warm fuzzy feeling from helping a charity.

Call me Pollyanna if you will, but I can’t see a single bad thing there. I bet he’ll be even busier with bookings now, as a result of the airtime. Remember the saying you have to spend money to make money? He spent time doing this, and it’ll attract even more people – another benefit.

]]> By: John Lee Pictures http://blog.livebooks.com/2009/08/why-shooting-for-free-almost-always-pays-off/comment-page-1/#comment-6819 John Lee Pictures Thu, 20 Aug 2009 17:14:08 +0000 http://blog.livebooks.com/?p=12746#comment-6819 maybe... but i wouldn't make it a habit of shooting regularly for free. yes, pick a charitable organization and donate your time (good fringe benefit tax-wise as an in-kind donation as well). but i don't completely subscribe to the whole chris anderson, give everything away for free crowdsourcing model. when you start giving too much away, you cheapen what it is that you're giving away. maybe… but i wouldn’t make it a habit of shooting regularly for free. yes, pick a charitable organization and donate your time (good fringe benefit tax-wise as an in-kind donation as well). but i don’t completely subscribe to the whole chris anderson, give everything away for free crowdsourcing model. when you start giving too much away, you cheapen what it is that you’re giving away.

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