90% of my art is for the love of the art, a gift to the community, and the participants. Thus, 90% of the work I do is trade. See more about my TFT/TFP philosophy below.
TFP/TFT: This is a term that has been used for years in the photography industry. These mean:
- Trade for Pictures
- Trade for Prints or
- Trade for Time
Now that we’re in the digital world, each of these essentially means the same thing, but make sure to verify that with the participants of the trades.
Be aware and clear about usage. Many trade arrangements are for portfolio use. I hate to limit the participants like that. With me its so much more than personal & portfolio use. If you find ways to make money, feel free to do almost whatever you can to promote and profit from our product. However, if you make more than $100 from a sale, I ask that you share that revenue/profit.
Just remember the one rule: give credit! If your name is on it, the other participants should be, too. The general industry standard is to use a byline and/or tag. This is usually true even for $1000+ sales. Granted, for $1000, the image can be tagless, and only a byline or credits page added. (Add a whole give credit post?).
I understand trades are not always a 100% trade. Often a stipend is in order. I will often either cover or ask for gas, lunch, material costs, etc. (See: ‘how much is a trade worth’ below)
Am I a little different? I like to have full rights for all involved, and that often includes being able to edit. However, as mentioned above, if you’re going to sell for “big bucks,” I. E. 100-150+, then share.
What’s a good split for big sales? I won’t list a specific percentage here as it depends on the project. However, the one doing the sale did the legwork and thus typically gets the larger percentage.
I’m not a seller, I like creating.
That said, I do photos, but given I have more to my art, I often prefer to have another photographer on set so I can do my creative thing with them being the official photographer and external eye.
That said, even with a dedicated photographer, I still reserve the right to take some pictures/video
Multiple photographers: Designate one of the photographers as the official photographer. Typically, with me, the “rigger” and them the official photographer. I am only taking “B-Roll.” Essentially, never look at my camera! The problem with multiple photographers on a set is that the model randomly looks back and forth at various cameras, and none end up with “the shot.” Thus, it is up to you to keep in mind who’s taking the shots.
Who’s directing? That is a tough one. For the photos, follow the photographer; for rigging, listen to the rigger, and you, the model, must speak up. Not only do you know your needs and potential, but you are also a creative cog in the day’s event. Remember, we can always adjust, pause, or end things. In the end, if it’s a collaboration, everyone should have a say in at least one shot in each set they direct.
The why? Signing away rights is coveted, but if you’re TFP/TFT, you both gave for the project and thus, you both benefit. Giving rights to each other upfront prevents the need to play tag later. You can do the legwork without running everything by me to micro-manage. Get a money-making opportunity? Go for it, and give me a cut. Keep all the money if you’re selling $20 portraits, magnets, coasters, etc., out at events—the same with online sales. Keep the $10+ even if it is 100 sales; say who did it if asked, or better yet, make sure there is a spot to include it. If I’m not the editor, clarify who the editor is when you give credits! Remember, significant sales, i.e., that $250-1000+ print or rights to magazine, movie, etc., must include compensation for all.
It is hard enough playing phone tag when setting up a shoot, trying to make arrangements 6 months or a year later is a real nightmare especially when you are under a time crunch to get the sale done.
TFP/TFT vs paid? Everything changes when there is money involved! Instead, with trades, are you or they paying? For TFT/TFP, what is the cost and value? It’s tough to say, but there’s no need to worry about it; each participant is a complete owner. On the paid side, you also kinda give up a lot because when paid, you’re usually asked for a full release and given limited copies for portfolio/publicity use only. If done in a trade, I believe the latter is a little restrictive and goes against the goals of “creating” & “collaboration.” I mean, WTF, why are you collaborating on something that will never appear outside a limited portfolio?
Reverse that; if you’re paying, you get a significant say and more property rights! But really, there are two sides to paying.
As a model, if you’re paying, unless it’s thousands of dollars, you’re only getting a few pics and limited rights in their use. You don’t get to edit or publish or have limited publishing rights. Plus, additional limitations frequently apply! It becomes piecemeal as the photographer typically considers the creative work their property.
However, as a producer hiring a model, they are expecting a fully signed release and full rights to the creative works.
It depends on what your contract says. In the end, this is all that matters. If you don’t put it in writing, what each party “Means” is extremely up in the air. Remember. There are two parts…
A: what rights do you have, but also
B: what limits/restrictions do you have.
Who has the power there? Technically both, but in general, the one paying sets the scope, the one receiving accepts that scope. You want more scope, the one receiving may require more cash before accepting. Wait, but aren’t we trading?
How much is a trade worth? If you think you’re worth $1000, you agree that the other person is worth $1000, too. Hence trade. Don’t be “doing me a favor” to take advantage of me. Trade is equal value, even if one of us isn’t as “good.” Don’t do a favor; have fun and create great things! Finally, back to the beginning: if we’re trading, let each get full rights, and if something is to be made, make it happen.
IF IT’S PORTFOLIO ONLY: MAKE THAT CLEAR UP FRONT!
Finding the perfect photographer doesn’t mean a perfect “skill” level. It means finding a photographer who shares my morals and work ethic. Finding a photographer where we both mutually care about what the other person needs or is looking to get from the shoot. Not everyone is perfect, and we’re all working on improving.
What Is Your Focus?
What are you looking to accomplish? What could we create that would be beneficial to your portfolio? What can you sell? What can you have fun doing?
And similarly…
What Is My Focus?
Great question. My goal is to create my version of the vision or idea that you/we have.
Style
My preferred style of image includes clothing and being covered. I’m not interested in nudes or implied nudity.
Timing: This Week or Next
In my younger years, I would book TFP shoots 3 and 4 weeks out, only to find myself missing out on paying opportunities. It’s a tough pickle. Following through with a nonpaying TFP shoot, when a paying opportunity is available during the same day/time window. It bites for me, and I imagine it would bite for you, too. As such, I believe the best time to schedule a TFP shoot is between tomorrow and the 5-7 days to follow. In other words, when is good for you? Do you have any time this week or next?
Mon or Tues?
Most weeks, I have Mondays and Tuesdays open. These are the best two days for me to schedule a shoot, since my work rarely falls on these two days.
The product and event marketing that I do, it primarily falls on a Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun, so I typically shy away from committing to TFP shoots on those four days. The best I could do for shooting on one of those days would be like if on a Wednesday we were to discuss a Thu/Fri/Sat/Sun shoot.
10:30am – 2:30pm
Best time of day to shoot? I’d say non-rush hour traffic times. If we can dodge the rush hour traffic, all the better. Shooting between 10:30am to 2:30pm is almost a guaranteed yes. I love shooting between these times.
Image Selection
In shooting with around 100 photographers, I’ve learned that we will rarely like the same, exact images. For a shoot to be beneficial to both of us, I think it is only fair for us to both select our favorite images.
You selecting your favorites, and me selecting my favorites.
While together, at the end of our shoot, for us to view the images from our shoot and star our favorites. Deleting any of the ones that I really, really, really don’t like. And likewise, deleting any of the ones that you really, really, really don’t like. Such as pics in the middle of a blink. Images that we know, without a doubt, would not be beneficial to either of us.
Turnaround Times
I had a shoot a little over a year ago. After 6 months, I still didn’t have the images from the shoot.
Initially, I waited 2-3 weeks, before reaching out to the photographer to ask how things were coming along. They were busy, and I respected that. More time passed, another few weeks. They had a large paying client, which I understood. Another month later, they were on a trip. Eventually, I gave up, and wrote it off as a waste of my time, and a shoot that I would probably never receive the images from. Or perhaps eventually I would get the images… hopefully I would still look the same, or at least look a little bit like the images. It was a bummer and it was frustrating.
But in trying to find the positive, I think perhaps the person was just overwhelmed. They had so many images to go through, I think they wanted to pick the perfect images. But perfect to them and perfect to me, who knows if we would have liked the same ones?
Ideally, the one request I would have, is the ability to receive (and post) one image from our shoot… while still excited. Typically receiving one image within a few days, that would be perfect! Certainly not an expectation, but to me, that would be really cool. That would keep me totally excited. Literally, just one picture. As in while we are shooting, I pick one of my favorites, and you send it to me within a few days. Again, not an expectation, just something I think would be really cool. It would make me feel important.
How Long To Shoot?
I like brief shoots. One hour or less.
Shooting for 10-15 minutes, then changing outfits. Fitting in 3 wardrobe changes. Or 4 if time allows.
How Many Pics to Trade For?
This is your call, but I personally am partial to shoots where I walk away with at least 3 images per outfit. When I end up with less than 3 images per outfit, it can make me feel less inclined to shoot again. Nothing personal, just a preference. When I have that inkling to where I feel like I’m going to end up with less than 3 images of an outfit… I’m less inspired to spend the time getting ready, and I’d rather “save” the good outfits for shoots that are more… tailored to my preferences.
Image Usage
Web versions. I rarely print images, and am focused on receiving images that I can use here on my website and on social media platforms. However, I am still looking for the ability to print and make physical things.
Money
In the event we end up with a lot of great images, I am willing to pay. For this reason, we should try to capture as many great images as we can. Say we shoot one outfit, and we end up with 4 or 5 stellar images of that outfit. I would then be open to discussing your rate, per image.
Watermarks
When I Pay. For any shoots or images which I pay for, watermarks would need to be removed. I am not interested in paying for watermarked images. #NoWatermarks
When TFP. When working together on a TFP basis, I understand the need for watermarks, marketing and linking, tagging, image credit. #YesWatermarks
When I Charge. For a fee, as in you paying me, I am willing to promote your work and your services, directing traffic and potential audiences to your desired website or social media page. #YesWatermarks
If I Were To Summarize
- Goal: 2-3 Poses/scenes, usually with a 4th option/backup if time allows. (i.e., 3-4 outfits). Depending on the project such as a photo bomb, we might have a single one n done set, but again have a backup in case the first doesn’t feel right
- 10-20 minutes per outfit/scene plus setup and cleanup. Rope sets may take 10+ minutes to tie/untie, and even longer to set up and clean up the scene.
- Total shoot time 1-2 hours. Less if needed, and more if we’re on a roll having fun
View images at end of our shoot and I select my favorite 3 images per outfit, while we are together
Receive one image within 72 hours of our shoot
Other images within 2-3 weeks
Web versions