Tag: TFP Shoots

Staying Motivated In Photography

photo walks
Photo walks and TFP shoots are great ways to network with other photographers

Staying motivated to take pictures is harder than it seems just sitting around thinking about it. When you first get a new camera, like many of you will this Christmas, taking pictures is easy. You’ll want to shoot everything in sight.

A month or two after the holidays, once the newness has worn off and the demands of daily life reassert themselves, your motivation will get worn down. It won’t happen all at once, it will be a gradual process that will sneak up on you. One day you’ll need your camera and the battery will be dead. It will dawn on you the camera has been in the closet for two years. That’s how it happens.

Whether you can keep your motivation for taking photos will determine if you make it as a photographer. There’s no better teacher than experience.

Here are some tips to maintain your motivation after the holidays.

Get Together With Other Photographers

Many local and regional photography professional associations have regular meetings where you can get together with professional photographers in your area and talk about equipment, technique, and the realities of the business. I would strongly encourage anyone thinking of going pro to do this. You will get a much more realistic idea of the realities of the business.

Many cities have photography clubs that meet regularly to take pictures.

Photo Walks

Photo walks are really just people getting together and walking around taking pictures. They can be free, group walks sponsored by a local club or the type you pay a guide to show you around.

Paid guides offer a lot of advantages, especially if you’re in a new city. They’ll know the best places to shoot and the right times to get the best looks. They’ll also sometimes know people and can get you into places you wouldn’t otherwise have access.

Photography Vacations

There are companies catering specifically to photographers for special events and photography vacations. Some combine the vacation with workshops to make it a learning experience.

Many times photography vacations can be had in exotic locations and come with accommodations and a local guide. Sure, it costs more but the peace of mind is invaluable. If I’m out taking pictures, that’s all I want to think about.

Take a Class

Another way to keep your motivation up is to take a class at a local university or community college. Many offer photography classes as adult education at night and on weekends. You’ll learn a lot and, in the process, meet other photographers in the area.

You might not need these tricks to keep your motivation up and, if you don’t, good for you. Otherwise, get out there and mingle with other photographers and you can help one another.

Learning The Photography Business

photographers on TFP shoots
It's not unheard of to have 10 to 12 photographers sharing TFP models

Photography is one of those fields that requires a certain amount of study, whether that comes out of books, online, or in a classroom, combined with practical exercises in order to grow in the field.

There are lots of ways to get that experience. You can strike out on your own with the equipment you can cobble together and slowly build your portfolio. Another approach is to partner up with other photographers in the area and pool your resources.

TFP Shoots

TFP stands for Time For Prints and it’s how poor photographers starting out get to work with poor models just starting out. The basic arrangement is an exchange of the model’s time for your pictures.

When it comes to a commercial release, some TFP models will sign them, but many will not. Usually a commercial release comes with a price tag. Some photographers will insist on a commercial release for a TFP contract, and more than a few get them. To me it seems a little unfair. If you’re going to sell the photos, the model should get something, even if it’s on a contingency basis. That’s my philosophy anyway, not everyone agrees.  You don’t need a commercial release to use TFP photos in your personal portfolio, you may when using them on a commercial web site or for promoting your business.

It’s not unusual for two, three or more photographers to team up for a large shoot involving several models. When I say “models” most people are picturing women in the 18-24 demographic, but don’t get tunnel vision when it comes to picking talent. There is a big call for older and middle age models and don’t pick all women, either. Mix it up. The more diversity in your model selection the bigger chance you have of making a sale.

tfp model
Make diverse choices when selecting TFP models and don't forget to consider men as well

Studio Rentals

I know successful photographers who do not have their own studio. They rent studio space when they need it, sometimes scheduling several portraits on one day. It makes sense in many instances. You can rent fully equipped studios with high end lights by companies like Paul C. Buff and Bowens that even include the radio triggers and backgrounds. In some cases you’re just renting lights, space and supplying your own backgrounds.

Until you have the business to justify your own studio and equipment, this may be your only option for getting started.

This is another area where partnering up with other photographers can save money. Two photographers splitting a studio rental may be able to work with high end lighting equipment for as little as $20 an hour.

You can find other photographers in your area on Flickr, through professional associations like PPA, or just running an ad in Craigslist. Obviously, you’ll want to spend some time checking out potential partners and agreeing on the ground rules of shoots beforehand.

By looking around and working with other photographers, you’ll be able to encourage one another, learn from one another, and cast a longer shadow than either of you could alone.