Reposted Via letter2self. To see full post, click Never Bend Over and Grab Your Ankles for Anybody….
I was given some Pretty Amazing advice from a wise Business owner a few years ago. She said:
Never bend over and grab your ankles for anybody. No matter how attractive the offer.
While she obviously was not speaking literally (although that is also good literal advice )… She was speaking of those who will try to take advantage of you in business. This is especially good advice for unseasoned and new models. New models are particularly eager… and incredibly easy to spot. Often times they are willing to take any job with any designer or photographer to get more experience.
Of course, when you are starting at the bottom you have to do a lot of trade and free gigs in order to build the experience and the Skill level… however, you must know your own worth. (and the Skill Level of the person you are trading with.)
TF is a common term thrown around in the industry, it means TRADE FOR… Originally it was trade for prints, but now it would be trade for images, a CD, digital files… etc. TF jobs can be very rewarding. I recently shot with an extremely talented photographer who didn’t have any Plus Models in his portfolio. He needed me and I needed some new test shots. We had a similar level of experience and skill. It was very beneficial for both of us. Had I been so much more skilled than him, or visa versa, it wouldn’t have been a good trade… unless the sole goal was to help out the other person. So, when looking to trade, make sure that both parties will be mutually benefited…
That being said, it’s also important to be selective about the amount of trading that’s going on. This is a business where after your ‘dues are paid’ there is a substantial amount of Money that could be made. My new rule of thumb (rules always have exceptions, but unless it’s for a friend or GREAT publicity, I stick to this); I will not TF with a designer, or a company that will make money off of the shoot. Depending on the situation, I’m willing to make a deal… but if they are making money, there is no reason why everyone else should be working for free… and I would have the same courtesy to other models/MUA’s/etc if I were putting the shoot together. There is one designer who comes to mind… I’ve shot with her twice for trade and walked a runway show for trade. She kept coming back and wanting more and more for free. After the runway show I saw that this designer had hired other models for a pretty amazing shoot. I was very upset and I learned my lesson. There are many people who will take WHATEVER they can get for free…And sadly there are many new models who will continue to work for them, for free. It’s one of the few industries in the world that expects so much labor to be done for nothing.
I absolutely agree with the “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours” philosophy… if we can help each other out, great! I’m in! Not everyone has the cash flow to be able to pay someone’s full rate, I know I don’t! And not every trade has to be about money or photos. There are plenty of things you could offer! Some that have worked for me:
- Marketing Advice
- Social Media help (setting up Facebook accounts, etc)
- Writing blogs
- Yelping someone’s business
- Styling for a different shoot
- Business contacts
- Attending/Helping out with events they may have in the future
- Being an extra model for a shoot where a model fell through
- Assisting/Retouching a shoot for them
- Referring them more business…
You’d be surprised at what you could offer someone that would be helpful, and you might be even more surprised that people are willing to work something out if you suggest it. Just know your worth… know your skill level. If you are just starting out and you don’t know an “S” pose from a hole in the wall… then maybe work with some beginner photographers to practice, work behind the scenes, or HIRE someone to teach you… ask questions and advice… but don’t be naive and don’t sell yourself short.
Hope that helps! Feel free to ask me model or industry questions, I would be happy to answer them here, on my Facebook page, or on Twitter!
