Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

photostein · **requesting photographer for pro bono job -** 07-08-2010, 09:20 AM

I have a good friend that is looking for a photographer to cover a high school reunion on July 17th (yeah, less than two weeks away) on a pro bono basis, but where people can purchase the photos from, so essentially the pro bono part is the labor.

I don't have many other details, but if you provide contact information, I can have them contact you.

Thanks for any help and feel free to contact me at pflanakni@gmail.com

texkam · 07-08-2010, 01:39 PM

I have a bit of a problem with the use of the term pro bono. Pro bono = "for the public good". IMHO that really doesn't fit in this case. Too many good causes deserving of pro bono work. How 'bout just calling it what it is.... Requesting a photographer to shoot an event for free with the chance of selling images. Certainly nothing wrong with that. Good luck to you Pat. : )

L Stegall · 07-08-2010, 01:55 PM

All I can say is another photographer and I volunteered our time to take images at our last high school reunion 5 years ago and planned to donate the proceeds made from any print sales to the school's library fund. We had very, very little in the way of sales, since anyone and everyone had their own P&S camera and were busily shooting away with them. While we were happy to donate our time for the event, it was an awful lot of work for little in the way of a charitable contribution to the school. Lesson learned, loud and clear.

Funny, but it's reunion time again - mine is this weekend. Last night, I was asked if I would "edit" the images by the two "official" photographers, who are classmates. I'm scratching my head over what they think I'd be doing to "edit" them, but I declined that request very graciously. For one, I wouldn't want someone else editing my stuff and I sure don't want to edit someone else's. Then I found out the "official" photographer will be shooting with a S90 Powershot (this was a rather hastily organized "reunion" because whoever is supposed to plan these things apparently forgot to do this year). So, uh, no, not interested in trying to fix straight flash "deer in the headlights" images from anyone.

Howard Barlow · 07-08-2010, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by L Stegall

I'm scratching my head over what they think I'd be doing to "edit" them...

Oh, we don't expect you to do much with them. Just, you know, make them look like we had a professional photographer.

texkam · 07-08-2010, 02:06 PM

Quote:

donate the proceeds made from any print sales to the school's library fund.

Now that fits.

Quote:

We had very, very little in the way of sales, since anyone and everyone had their own P&S camera and were busily shooting away with them. While we were happy to donate our time for the event, it was an awful lot of work for little in the way of a charitable contribution to the school. Lesson learned, loud and clear.

Yeah, these can be tough gigs both to shoot and to sell, but can offer some valuable experience for the right person.

L Stegall · 07-08-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Howard Barlow

Oh, we don't expect you to do much with them. Just, you know, make them look like we had a professional photographer.

Exactly!

photostein · 07-08-2010, 02:13 PM

Not meaning to get too technical, but the term pro bono should not get confused with pro bono publico:

pro bono
/proh' boh"noh/
done or donated without charge; free: pro bono legal services.
Also, pro-bono.
[1720-30; < L pro bono for (the) good, rightly, morally]

pro bono publico
/prddoh boh"noh pooh"bli koh'/; Eng. /proh boh"noh pub"li koh'/, Latin.
for the public good or welfare.

Regardless, thanks.

L Stegall · 07-08-2010, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texkam

Now that fits.
Yeah, these can be tough gigs both to shoot and to sell, but can offer some valuable experience for the right person.

Yes, I'm sure it could give someone some good experience at just shooting event candids, but whoever responds should just be aware that there is likely to be almost nothing in the way of print sales. Timewise, it's a huge "volunteer" undertaking.

photostein · 07-08-2010, 03:59 PM

I will ensure to reminder whomever inquires that these gigs are time intensive and usually people now days for these events are looking for digital copies, not prints.

texkam · 07-08-2010, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Not meaning to get too technical, but the term pro bono should not get confused with pro bono publico:

It is quite often. : )
Pro bono - Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
Pro bono - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

DEMDeepEllumMusic · 07-08-2010, 08:09 PM

I think they would probably want some sort of background set up with studio quality strobes to shoot posed photos-so they want you to use your time, your equipment and you get maybe squat? If you post any of the shots on line, which they probably would want, you can pretty much expect them to show up on facebook pages-copyright/shmopyright- so unless you put honking big watermarks across the online "proofs" you won't get any sales there either but a lot of photos distrubuted and abused. Don't expect a lot of large gallery wraps or prints on metal from this!

photostein · 07-09-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

I think they would probably want some sort of background set up with studio quality strobes to shoot posed photos-so they want you to use your time, your equipment and you get maybe squat? If you post any of the shots on line, which they probably would want, you can pretty much expect them to show up on facebook pages-copyright/shmopyright- so unless you put honking big watermarks across the online "proofs" you won't get any sales there either but a lot of photos distrubuted and abused. Don't expect a lot of large gallery wraps or prints on metal from this!

Before speculating too much, perhaps anyone interested should air this with the reunion coordinator first.

Additionally, it has been my experience when doing jobs for those I am not receiving a fee from do not expect squat, but again, this should be aired with the reunion contact.

texkam · 07-09-2010, 03:41 PM

Quote:

it has been my experience when doing jobs for those I am not receiving a fee from do not expect squat

Yes this is very true, however when it comes to picture ordering time it's amazing how high customers photo quality standards are. The way you are going to set yourself apart from p&s snaps is to provide a better quality image, so you are basically obligated to find a way to get a better image (framing, lighting, backgrounds, etc.), then hope enough people really care to pay for that quality.