TFCD ettiquete?

[kamekaze]

I am about to start trying to put together my first portfolio and have a make up artist and the manager of a local gentlemans club looking for TFCD work. Is this a good idea? I am a little wary about working for free, but I don't have a real port yet and I'm kind of excited to get some work in.

[Tom]

Its pretty common when learning the tricks of the trade.

[texxter]

Originally Posted by kamekaze

I am about to start trying to put together my first portfolio and have a make up artist and the manager of a local gentlemans club looking for TFCD work. Is this a good idea? I am a little wary about working for free, but I don't have a real port yet and I'm kind of excited to get some work in.

You can make this work to your advantage by getting full model releases that can be used for stock photography. You can also limit the usage rights you grant by spelling out in writing what the client can and cannot do with the images.

I don't think of TFCD as working for free if I get images that have commercial value and I can sell. But if you create images just to satisfy the model and with no practical use to you, then it's just a learning experience. Not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you need a portfolio.

[kamekaze]

Good info ya'll, are there any sites out there with stock releases/contracts that cover this stuff? I am guessing not...

[WarrenG]

I would agree. TFCD is pretty common, but from my experience, there are 2 different types of people you encounter in the process. Those that expect a photoshoot to get images beneficial to their needs, and feel they can compensate you by giving you the "privelage" of shooting them, and those that realize that Time For CD is just that, a mutual exchange of time, for the right to use the images mutually.

Make sure you spell everything out with a simple (or your standard) contract identifying who can use the pictures and in what manner, what the compensation is (use of the images in exchange for TFCD) and any other details that may need to be recorded. This ensures that all parties are aware of the expectations and use up front. This will assure your not shooting simply for practice.

Good Luck,

W

[J Eddington]

Originally Posted by kamekaze

Good info ya'll, are there any sites out there with stock releases/contracts that cover this stuff? I am guessing not...

You would be oh so wrong.... This should get you started.

Business and Legal forums by Tad Crawford, Crawford Explains why the contracts say what they do.

Photographer's Tool Kit | Wedding, Portrait and Associate Photography Contracts

www.keep your copyright.org

Texas Wedding Photographer contract - Contracts, Agreements, Warranties Forum | Free Legal Advice | Lawyers | Attorneys | TheLaw.com

"Professional Business Practices in Photography" A compilation by the American Society of Media Photographers. American Society of Media Photographers Also has photography business forms.

"Best Business Practices for Photographers" John Harrington Washington DC Photographer

"A Digital Photogrraphers Guide to Model Releases" Dan Heller Dan Heller's Stock Photography and Business Resources

"Photographers Market" Writers Digest Books.

[kamekaze]

Wow, thanks for the links!

[texxter]

Here are the ones I use

Getty model release

Usage rights

[danchez]

that's a great usage rights pdf Paco, ok if I borrow the language?

[texxter]

Help yourself, Dan, no problem.

[danchez]

cool, thanks.

[kamekaze]

thanks for the info guys, this has helped a lot.

[ShaneKislack]

Can't imagine you're going to get much stock use out of "gentlemen's club" employees. That's not usually the genre stock is looking for.

You need to think about what genre you are wanting to make a career out of. If you want to shoot weddings or commercially...then maybe you are shooting the wrong girls (I'm assuming you're shooting girls with restricted clothing). If you want to shoot glamour...then you've probably found a good connection.

Also, don't think of TFCD as shooting for free. It's not. Many models get paid to do their job. They provide something you need. Infact, if you don't have any type of portfolio yet, it is them that is working for free.

[texxter]

Originally Posted by ShaneKislack

Can't imagine you're going to get much stock use out of "gentlemen's club" employees. That's not usually the genre stock is looking for.

You need to think about what genre you are wanting to make a career out of. If you want to shoot weddings or commercially...then maybe you are shooting the wrong girls (I'm assuming you're shooting girls with restricted clothing). If you want to shoot glamour...then you've probably found a good connection.

Maybe, or maybe not. It depends on what you photograph and how your photograph it. You can do the shots the club owner wants and also do the ones you need for stock, assuming you want to do so.

There are no wrong girls, only wrong images

Here are some examples *** MOSTLY NOT WORK SAFE ***

Beautiful woman - licensed > 2900 times

Party girl - licensed >2300 times

Dancing girl - licensed > 1300 times

Hot sexy blond with guns and bullets - licensed >800 times

[ShaneKislack]

Thanks, Paco. You've expanded my imagination:)

That last shot is a direct rip off of the sin city Jessica Alba image. I'd be embarrassed.