Hey I need some advice.
I’m photographing TFP and recently had someone with whom I shot before rather I could do a photoshoot with a friend of them and some other guy.
They’ve send me some pics of them but honestly they just looked kind of didn’t really fit into any kind of style of what I shoot.
And I just don’t want to waste my time with people I don’t want to shoot with while I could photograph other stuff (I’m also photographing Concerts, Documentary, street and other genres ) but on the other side I feel bad for turning people down just because they ,look boring" or something
So my question would be: Is it morally fine to just turn not shoot with people because you think they are ,boring" or just not fitting your ideas and shooting stil? (Not just related to that situation but in general)
Of course it’s morally fine - with TFP you’re giving up your time and effort in return for something useful to you, as well as the model and anyone else involved. If the shots aren’t useful to your portfolio then you’re wasting your time too. Those sort of jobs you do for pay not for free portfolio work.
It’s your time, do whatever you want. Just don’t be a dick and say you are busy or something.
Sure, yea, morally fine and all that. But, the same techniques you’ll learn to make people who “look boring” interesting will be the same that will make good subjects really stand out.
Let them know that you appreciate the expression of interest and if you have any future projects where they would fit in you will reach out.
And then never reach out.
No one is ever entitled to your time or TFP, but being kind in the process of evaluating those you want to create with will make more connections and have a better word of mouth than saying ANYTHING about why you’re not pursuing a specific connection.
Nothing is wrong with that, but if you depend on people to look interesting or attractive to make your photos appealing, then it might point to a deficiency in your style or technique.
Not saying this is the case of course, just intending it as food for thought
Thanks for the thought. I tend to also photograph more ordinary people from time to time since I kind of want to fight beauty standards for myself.
But in this case thinking more about it is less about the person and more about the time I would spend since I don’t have too much time for shootings (only on weekends due to school) and those are usually really packed while the person lives like 2 Hours or so away.
But generally thanks for the advice, I’ll consider it a little more often from now :)
If they were willing to pay, I’d do it and consider it a point of pride of making good photos that are outside my norm. But that’s just me, I enjoy challenging myself and trying different things with different people.
Are you really so busy every day that an hour or two long shoot is going to ruin other shoots opportunities? Must be nice but also sounds exhausting if you are that busy.
Yeah the problem is I also got to school and mostly just have time on weekends which are all full with appointments related to photography. And I’m not that mobile while that person lives in a town like 2 Hours away (if that person would live in the same city I wouldn’t mind doing it but in this case other people probably just fit better into my ideas)
And yes it’s stressful. I don’t really have a private life but that’s fine. It might sound weird but while I’m still a hobbyist yet (I want to make this my career tho) I feel like photography is so much more passion, obsession, love and life sense. It’s worth the time and money invested.
Ha ha. So this makes me wonder why even mention their look? Unless of course they did have a look you prefer so you’d feel like a 6 hour (4 to drive 2 to shoot) would be worth it. I don’t think I’d drive for 4 hours to do a photoshoot unless the money was really good. And if it was, I wouldn’t care about looks I’d be enjoying the good pay.
I think this should have been mentioned in the original post because a 4 hour drive for a model you aren’t that enthusiastic about is very different from a 30 minute drive to the same person.
Fair. I should’ve mentioned it tho.
It’s fine
But isn’t it the photographer’s art to make the ordinary look good?
It’s not like every celebrity is a beauty or has facial features that the camera just loves. I’ve been on fashion shoots where a model walks in looking quite plain, but photographs incredibly well and you’d hardly believe it is the same person.
Even the ugliest, most boring among us deserve to have a decent photo taken at least once in our lives!
It’s fine to turn down anyone. But sometimes there are people with boring looks that are great in front of the camera. Just saying.
Nothing wrong with that. On that note it’s also true the other way around if they think the photographer is boring. That’s the point of collab, both having mutual interest.
Just don’t be a dick about it when turning them down. Too much honesty is also not a good thing.
Read you are two hours away from them, No, TFP Photos, they have a two-hour ride to get to your location. People who are challenging to photograph? Now I would have something new to figure out. In a situation like this, I would say I have the perfect location to photograph them, in a Botanical Garden in my City. The fee to photograph there is $75.00 for the photographer, all their gear, and two subjects. Any additional subjects are $16.95 each, They pay these fees. My service is free. We will have a 2-hour session (Longer if I am having a good time, and I always do) in the garden, I have never had a session in the garden where I could not get good photos of everyone. Maybe not 30 or more, but never less than 10! Good luck, however, you proceed, but just know I can make a gorilla look in the Botanical Garden in my City! You can too!