Frustrated..

[LauraM]

So...

I got emailed a few weeks ago from this girl who wanted a couples session. She was very vague about the type of shoot she wanted. I basically had to pull it out of her, and she tells me at the last minute it's a couples shoot. Since I'm building my portfolio, even though I got a funny feeling from the way she was acting, I took the shoot.

I know the girl from high school. She was a friend of a friend. I've since lost touch with the guy I know her through, but he's my friend on facebook. So she shows up to the shoot with that same guy. I'm shocked because I know he's never been interested in her even though he and I aren't close. I blurt out, "Wow! I didn't know you guys were together!" (Trying to sound excited to them but secretly more surprised than anything.) And they proceed to tell me that one of them had citizenship issues so they got married last month. So they are married and they live together but they're not really together, and they were asking for romantic/couples pictures.

Shocked, and not knowing how to react, I just decided to get through the shoot as fast as I can. I was so nervous due to the issue that I shot 1000 images in 2.5 hours. Normally I would have shot about 125-200 per hour. I got some good shots considering they kept grimacing when I asked them to so much as put their arms around each other.

Overall... it was horrible. I feel dirty. I feel like they pulled me into their crime. It was an awful experience.

Since I'm so new to this, I was hoping I could at least use some portraits of them individually I did for my portfolio, and bring SOMETHING good out of this experience. They even signed a release before the session. When I emailed her today to get her address to send her prints and dvd to, I told her her sneak peek would be up tomorrow, and she asked me not to put anything online... even though she signed the release and I explained what it was.

Thoughts? Should I just send off her prints and pretend this never happened? SO FRUSTRATED! I feel like scum. :( Should I have walked away after we were all there and ready to shoot when they told me what happened? ICK!

[PhotoByLeal]

So, did you do this ALL the SHOOTING for FREE?
Did you edit anything or everything?
What did you tell them, they were going to get?

WOW, 1000 images in 2.5 hours? WHY soo many?
50 is enough or even too many, jus IMHO..........

later...

[LauraM]

I told them they would get 50-75 edited images on a DVD with personal print rights, and a mini album. (24 4x6 prints in a little album.) I only charged them $150. I'm building my portfolio and I'm still trying to decide what exactly I want to offer in packages. I've narrowed it down to 260, but there's no way I'm giving them that many images. I shot that many because I was uneasy after they told me their 'situation' and the guy kept looking around like a toddler, plus they were so uncomfortable posing together romantically since they weren't together, so I was afraid I wouldn't have enough pictures of him actually looking at the camera and them not looking crazy uncomfortable, so I just went shutter crazy.

[PhotoByLeal]

IMHO, you gave them the WORLD!
Lesson learn, give them what you told them and don't put them up because there telling you not to, even thou they sign your contract, unless you want a bigger headache.... put them up!
Just use the images as digital images on Ipad or laptop or print!

And run from them as fast you can Forest.....
It won't be the first or the last, trust me!

good luck...

[LauraM]

Haha, yeah, I am thinking the same thing. Just annoyed that the whole thing turned out to be such a bust since every shoot is needed so badly to build my portfolio. Oh well!

As for giving them the world, what would you say was an ideal offering?

[texkam]

You were hired for a photo shoot. You entered into a business agreement. When you found out this info you had a decision to make. Either fulfill your business agreement, or excuse yourself from the job and accept the consequences. You've let your personal feelings affect your work. I totally understand why. At this point you should do what you need to do to fulfill your business agreement and charge up as a loss being able to use anything for your portfolio. Sux, but move on. : (

[texkam]

every shoot is needed so badly to build my portfolio

Agreed, but you need to cull down your online portfolio (gallery). It's certainly OK to show all these images to a client, but for a portfolio you want range not redundancy.

[reader0428]

Originally Posted by LauraM

As for giving them the world, what would you say was an ideal offering?

During portfolio building, I offered three free digital files with print release, and if they wanted to make a purchase, 25% off anything they ordered. (And I charged sales tax.)

Now I still offer "model sessions" with no session fee to people I think would be interesting to photograph for my porfolio. I've still been offering three printable files but I'm going to cut that down to two, maybe one.

[LauraM]

Mark, I actually do not have a portfolio online yet for that very reason. So far I've just posted a few images in a few categories and an example of images from a full session.

Amanda, these people actually paid me though. They didn't pay me much, just $150 for 2 hours, but they paid. So that is why I offered them 50 images and 24 4x6s. Do you think that was too much to offer? I plan to raise this session to $250 once I have my portfolio together.
Did you get a lot of people who were willing to do a shoot with you for the 3 images? Did you offer this to friends or somewhere else?

Thanks for your thoughts, guys. :)

[texxter]

Just a quick suggestion. You don't need to build a portfolio with images from paying shots. Grab a relative or friend and use them as models. Time for Images is a fair way to build your portfolio quickly an with full control over everything.

[carrbowl]

Laura, if everyone on here was honest, we have all had learning experiences. At the beginning we had wwwwaaaaaayyyyyy more than we wanted to have. I learned that these are the times that we actually learn the most. Maybe not the things to do, but the things we don't want to do, and the things we want to make sure we do in the future!! So don't worry about it, don't make it more difficult by putting the pics up somewhere and just remember next time, if you feel weird at the beginning, don't take the job. : ) It won't be the last time, you learn a lesson the hard way!!! Some of us are still learning them the hard way the second time!!

[Nikonfan]

Wow, what an awful situation they put you in. That wasn't right of them!

One thing is for sure. No matter what business agreement you have with a customer, whether or not payment has already been received, you have absolutely no obligation to assist in breaking the law. That being said, I have no idea how I would have reacted in your situation. I very well might have done the same thing as I suspect many others would too. So don't beat yourself up too much. Now, it might not be a bad idea to get some legal advice just to make sure you are protected.

[BenE]

Originally Posted by LauraM

===========I shot that many because I was uneasy after they told me their 'situation' and the guy kept looking around like a toddler, plus they were so uncomfortable posing together romantically since they weren't together, so I was afraid I wouldn't have enough pictures of him actually looking at the camera and them not looking crazy uncomfortable, so I just went shutter crazy.

Sounds ike it.....2.5 hours; 1000 shots = just over 6 shots per minute, or 1 every 10 seconds on average.

Kenny Rogers said it best...
"You gotta know when tho hold them, and know when to fold them."

There is no law that forces a photographer to photograph everyone who walks in the front door.

[rab3rd]

Wait a minute here. Am I missing something? You helped them portary a marriage in efforts to gain citizenship? I would be destroying those pictures and giving them their money back toot sweet....

[ggeen]

Now it is unlikely that CIS will pay you a visit but if they do, just answer all questions honestly and to the best of your recollection. The couple should never have told you their situation. In doing so, they made you an accessory. If what they told you is true, then it sounds like they intend to use your product as evidence. If they do, then you may receive a phone call or a visit. Again, just answer they questions the posed honestly and to the best of your recollection. Do not volunteer any information.

Example of volunteering information...
CIS: Do you have a watch?
YOU: Yes, it's 10:00 AM.

All that out of the way, I would honor their wishes and not post the photos on the web but otherwise fulfill your contract by delivering the prints, photo book, and electronic copy of the images. I hope that the images came out as you expected.

By the way, when they do backgrounds checks, guys and gals, yes the government actually sends people out on foot to talk to people who may know the subject. I've talked with the feds on three different occasions about three different people.

Thank you for sharing.