Article "I don't shoot for free" (Patreon)

I see this phrase in every model's profile when I start looking for models for my shoots!  Or they answer me - I don't do tfp, only commercials :)

Why does this happen and is it true?   

Let's think back to what TFP\TFP is. Is it really a freebie? TFP is a photographer/model or photographer/visualist mutual cooperation, there are a lot of various bundles, these are the most popular variants. Mutually beneficial cooperation, which includes the work of people to get high quality photos. These photos afterwards go into a portfolio, which in due course already begins to work for the person. 

So why isn't this a freebie? Because this creative process is solely about getting results, not about making money. That's why everyone works hard to get the best result Why does absolutely everyone, from beginners to the most professional models, need these shoots? Let's break it down.

When a model first starts out, she's trying out, she's experimenting, she's looking for something she likes! That's why her main goal is to gain experience and build up an initial portfolio in order to progress further.

So aspiring models who are just starting out in photography are almost all shooting TFP. And if you see a beginner model, feel free to call her out for TFP. Of course, there are exceptions! I've had a few girls in my practice who were just starting out and were already demanding money for it. Because of this, I always ask commercial models to show me their portfolios and it often happens that the photos are not perfect at all and you sit there and think, what does she want money for?

 Let's go further, let's take the average level of models, why do they also benefit from TFP shoots? It's simple, for the same portfolio, which needs to be constantly expanded and updated with new work. It must be admitted that it is not always possible to add a commercial shoot to the portfolio. Mostly because of the quality of such work. That's because it's not a work for the result, it's a work for the money. As we all know money always ruins everything. You get paid 150 bucks for a couple hours and you get such crappy work.

That's why it's very difficult to add this kind of work to my portfolio.

Take professional models, do they need TFP projects? 

Professional models, their faces constantly lit up on posters, who travel to different countries and work with very large companies, do they need such shoots? Of course they do! 

But there is a huge BUT, these models are usually very busy, because customers just tear them apart, and they have an incredibly busy schedule! They need these shoots not so much for their portfolios, as to get away from the hustle and bustle, get out of the hustle and get back to work! But of course, they need it to add to their portfolios! And there's nothing to put in the portfolio!

And so summing up. It turns out that TFG shooting is the kind of photography that absolutely everyone needs, regardless of professionalism. For some people it is an opportunity to start working in photography, for others it is creativity and fun! However, you have to understand that despite your professionalism, not everyone will agree to work with you. It's not because your work is bad. Because people want to make money :) And in this pursuit, they forget that the portfolio must be filled up, otherwise no one will bring you the money :)

The model in the photo is one of the first ones I shot tfp