Annie B Loc: Maryland

I'd like some opinions from all you seasoned photographers please...I've decided the only way I'm going to take better pictures is to practice so I've posted free holiday pictures on my local FB "free" yard sale website. I will be taking a few pictures and sending them thru email. They can choose to print them. I have explained I'm an amateur photography trying to get better at my craft. People have been very responsive to my ad but I'm worried they don't see that my pictures may not be as "professional" as they expect (some may not come out or be worthy to print out) even though I'm not charging for my services. How do I explain this to them without saying anything negative about myself?

Please don't tell me I should be practicing on friends and family. I am doing this to help interact better with people who are not friends and family. The only way I'm going to feel comfortable if I want to do street photography is to get used to working with people I don't know.

Before I schedule anyone it would be good to reiterate to them I'm taking this pictures to "practice". FYI, I posted on the ad that I was looking for people willing to take some time with their pets in hopes that I can take better pictures down the road. In the conversation though I also don't want to put myself down in the process. I'm not charging them, I'm just asking for a little of their time and their pet.

Jerry Coupe Loc: Kent, WA

You have been clear upfront that you are not a professional.

You could also create an agreement document stating this again, along with the fact that you are doing this for no fee. To help alleviate your concern about quality, you could add a clause that you will offer re-takes for "clients" that are not satisfied with the images.

Also, if your equipment allows you to shoot tethered to a laptop, "clients" could see the images right away and then extra shots could be taken to get an image that is acceptable.

Also, schedule plenty of time for each sitting, so you are not rushed to finish one client before the scheduled time for another client. Take a few minutes upfront to play or interact with the pet as well.

I think you have a good idea and will learn from it. Others will probably post that by offering free images, you are hurting professionals. Realistically, most folks would not pay for a pet image, so don't worry about the critics.

FL Pics

“People have been very responsive to my ad but I'm worried they don't see that my pictures may not be as "professional as they expect….” As is said, a picture is worth a thousand words, and so as to temper your potential clients' expectations, you could include some of your photos in your ad, or direct them to wherever you might have posted them. IMO, you should say how much time you are going/able to spend with each pet, especially if you are scheduling consecutive appointments. I gather you would be taking family photos that would include pets, and not just photos of pets? You might want to limit the number of pets a family can bring in, and emphasize that they must have their pets under positive control at all times!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

There is another alternative, and you will be doing the shelters a big service - contact the local SPCA, private shelters and fosters and offer them your services. I have been doing that myself for a few years - and it doesn't get more rewarding than when a dog or cat that you photographed gets adopted on the basis of the evocative image you created donated to the shelter. When your images are eye-catching, they will generate buzz and sometimes a pet can have a home in a few days - and you just might have made a life and death difference. I target the kill shelters more often than the no-kill ones for obvious reasons.

Usually shelters are more than grateful for the offer, and very welcoming and accommodating. One even let me bring a portable studio (background, lights, stands, etc) and gave me a room and a helper/handler.

I can think of no better way to get to where you want to be as far as your pictures are concerned, and at the same time do the adoption community a big solid.

Here are a few images that have resulted in quick adoptions. The MinPin below was adopted three days after the image was posted. It got over 200 likes.

You'll find that attempting to approach both parts of your dilemma, making better images and learning to deal with people - at the same time may result in some missteps along the way - unless you're the type that lives for challenge of it all. I suggest you get your photo skills solidly under your belt - regardless of whether you take documentary stuff like the images below - or you go for a more stylized and personal look, or the Kitty Kitsch look where you dress up the cats (or dogs) in outfits and use cute props. Once you have the confidence you need, you can then start charging what the jobs are worth. Check to see what others are doing in your area, and charge as much, or more, as they do. Charging more is a little trick that I use when I think there will be some pricing sensitivity - charging more implies better quality - and pet owners often respond to that with their checkbooks. Make sure you have liability insurance, your equipment is in good working order, you have backup gear, and your gear is insured. Having a good contract goes without saying, and collecting your shooting fee up front - half when they reserve the date, and the rest when you arrive with your gear to take the shot - will ensure that you won't get stiffed. Making watermarked, low res medium quality images available for viewing and selection can work, but it is always better to do that in person so you can guide them through the process and help them with any questions about what the will be getting.

Never ever do work for otherwise paying clients for free just because you are new at this. It will be hard to charge them or anyone else later. Never give stuff (prints, albums, coffee mugs, greeting cards etc) away either. Do not provide electronic versions of your images, for them to print poorly at Walgreens. You do want to maintain control over the finished product.

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Kuzano

The Marketing Law of "Perceived Value".

Be sure that IF and WHEN you decide to start charging for your work, you are not relying on the market you created for your free photos.

People will not PAY money for your images, if you shot free for them before, no matter how good your work was.

You will find your self having to build a market from scratch, when you start charging.

It's a well known law in marketing for professionals. Your work is worth what you charged for it, and no more. When you start charging, you must value your work by the pricing you want to receive. At that point you will be starting from scratch with the people you provided free images for.

If you do this for 3 years, yes, you may become better at the craft, but you will be wasting any time you had hoped to build a following to pay for your work.

Perceived Value... We all succumb to it when we buy. What's it worth? What has the seller been getting for his/her work? That's what it is worth?

tsilva Loc: Arizona

this, once you do anything for free, you will find it next to impossible to charge. just remember, for each "free" you do, they'll tell 10 friends, then those 10 will tell another 10 friends, and on and on

DO NOT DO FREE! And do not give files away!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Unless you do public service work - in which case people don't expect to get the same, and many will actually support your most charitable donation of time and resources to a good cause. It is a very powerful marketing tool, like when a restaurant donates to a local food bank, etc. It has the effect of increasing business and profits, BTW.

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

VERY CUTE SHOTS!!!
SS

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Annie, I think you are on the right path here to get experience.
I would be very careful though.
I would write up some simple agreement that spells out exactly what you are giving away at no cost. Don't set yourself up to put horrendous amounts of hours into trying to satisfy a picky client for free. It could get really out of hand.
Beyond the free agreement, you should state a charge per hour for going beyond that just to ensure that some people will NOT try to take advantage of your generosity...., it will happen!
Good luck with your project and above all, since it's free, it needs to be fun for YOU!!!
SS

bdk Loc: Sanibel Fl.

I tried shooting for free when I started. I also mentioned that a donation helps pay my expenses. Got lots of shoots got no donations.
Never heard back from anyone that I shot for free.
Never got a referral from a free shoot.
Like someone said , contact a local shelter you'll get lots of experience...
The shots attached I did when I was learning.
Trust me you'll learn a lot when trying to shoot 20 or 30 animals in a day

jim quist Loc: Missouri

It is next to impossible to raise your prices. Someone doing $100 weddings or $25 senior portraits is probably never going to get much more. Your initial fee needs to be what your goal is from the git go. There is a lot of money in good animal photography. Practice in the animal shelters if you can and when you are happy with your quality of work begin offering it for a profit.

korat Loc: Eastern Shore Virginia

Wonderful photos!

SharpShooter Loc: NorCal

Shooting for free is not to get referrals or more clients. It's SO YOU CAN BUILD A NICE PORTFOLIO, which is then used to source out paying customers. Paying customer don't care if your PORTFOIO was built for free or for pay. They just want to see that you have your act together photography-wise.
If you're offering for pay what a customer is looking for, in spades, they WILL pay you for it. But without a really nice portfolio that's pretty hard to do!!! So a nice portfolio needs to be built. Good luck
SS

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Thank you! I had some real cuties to work with!

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Thanks!