A little bit discouraged

[DoctorWu]

I don't post much but was hoping to commiserate with some other photographers.

Having had a passion for photography almost my entire life and taking a lot of classes in college (but not majoring in) and working in a completely unrelated field for the past 18 years, I decided last year that I wanted to get more serious about this. Went out and bought a new camera, lights etc.

I have taken this year to -try- to build up a decent portfolio mainly doing shots for family and friends, co-workers etc. I still wouldn't consider myself "great" but I feel like my photos are worth charging for. Still though, I have a standing offer with my close friends and family to do their holiday pictures for free and they'd pay my cost for prints. So here is what's got me down today.

I've been bugging one of my closer friends who I also work with (his wife is my wifes best friend from college), for a while (months) to take his family pictures. They have 2 girls who are adorable and I need more families and children in my portfolio so I really want to take these pictures.

So they keep putting me off and putting me off and finally last night my wife asks me if I’ve taken a look at my friends blog lately. I hadn't checked it in a while since he doesn't update it often and usually emails us when he's updated.

So I go and pull it up and sure enough he's got new family pictures on there, obviously taken by a "professional", that were taken just before Thanksgiving. The pictures aren't really that impressive by the way, I could easily have taken pictures just as good.

I feel a little hurt by it and I'm not sure if I should confront them about it or not. I don't even know what to say to them for that matter.

I'm not angry, just a little hurt. These are people we see often, we go out with them, have dinner with them, our kids are friends with their kids, I just don't get it.

Anyone else experience this kind of thing from friends and relatives? I feel like they must think my work totally sucks to have done this. Pretty depressing.

[tc82742]

that sucks.
keep asking other people.. and family members.
someone will be willing to let you practice.

[elbe]

Just blow it off! They passed on a good deal from you, maybe next time they will see the light.

[princessmocha]

Yea, they didn't know what they missed by not having you to photograph their family portrait.
But at the same time, I really think you should learn to deal with these kind of situation if you really think about getting into photography biz.
You will get a lot of "yes" and "no" from people. I took it pretty hard at the beginning but I know this is pretty common and I have to deal with it. Not every single person like my work my style. They have the choice to choose who they like and what they like.

just my opinion

[LWimages]

Without talking to them, you'll never really know why.
1. They may feel like they would owe you too much if they took advantage of you.
2. It was a gift from someone else to get this done.
Too many maybes to list...

Brush it off. It was their lost that they didn't take advantage of you.
Every now and then, this happens to the best of us.

[DoctorWu]

Thanks for the replies and advice. Being in sales all my life, I definately used to and prepared for a lot of rejection, just not from close friends like this. Wasn't trying to sell them something, just wanting to take their picture.

Thanks again!

[photobykim]

Cliff,

Tell them look guys I know that you already had your pictures done, but I could really use the practice and the images for my portfolio, so would you mind helping a friend out and sitting for me. If you're really just wanting them to sit for you, then make it about you, not about them and what they do and dont like or about how they feel about your work, but make it about what you need. Let them know that you need them to help you out. That you'd love to have them sit for you to be in your portfolio cause they're a beautiful family, etc. not about doing something for them. whether or not they like them it doesn't matter. It's about learning, practicing and getting those images.

hope that helps.

[Bill]

You were harassing("bugging") your friends on a business deal. They did not want to pay and you refused to accept their answer. They have no obligation to your career. You do not have to buy their Girl Scout cookies, either. Be sure to show him future work that is really good so he will know what he missed. Could be a great motivator.

If a friend turns you down, offer the pix for free if you are trying to build up your portfolio. Be sure to get releases, of course.

If money is involved, even at an out-of-pocket loss to you, it is a business deal. Even if money is not involved and you are going to use the pix commercially(your portfolio), it is a business deal. As has been noted, sometimes you hear yes, sometimes no. If you cannot get the sale with reasonable effort, don't start bugging the prospect. Go to the next prospect, instead. Keep selling and show good results, more will say yes.

The shoot may have been done by someone with a tighter relationship, such as a sister-in-law. Or another friend may have offered to do it for free, to test a new camera. The loss may not have been about you or your work. Keep plugging away.

Bill

[123canon]

consider it a blessing, some people will accept crap from photographers with a sign on the post yet turn around a crucify a higher quality product from someone they don't deem professional. if these people are your friends and you like them, drop it. it will most likely save a friendship. once they see the quality of work you do, they will come to you.

[wjmphoto]

Are you offering to do this for free for your friends? If so, they will place the value upon the offer that you are charging them - $00.00.

Set up a pricing structure and let friends know you are in business. If you feel the need, you can set up a friends and family discount but I would still not give the work away. The simple truth about this or any other business is that if you don't place a value on the work you are offering to do for people, they will not value the offer and definitely will not take you seriously.

And as for telling them you need the shots for your portfolio, they won't care. Just let it slip that you are in business and then if they come to you, throw them a bone, just don't work for free.