Freelance Photographer

How did you get your first few clients? I'm considering doing some freelance photography but not sure how to get the ball rolling on the client front...

Asked by marty greenleaf about 12 years ago

Start small. I started by photographing a couple bands and going "holy crap! You're giving me MONEY?!!?!?!" Then I realized that they were paying me a fortune in band bucks, but pennies in "real world/having to run a photography business" dollars. It's where I started and still do to scratch the more creative itch from time to time. As for procuring clients: there's nothing I can recommend more than doing a photo project on something you're truly passionate about. It can be about anything. Seriously, especially now, everything's been photographed, but has it been photographed in the way 'marty greenleaf' would photograph something? Showing that you have your own distinct vision goes a long way. When I was still assisting I did a project on a (pretty damn) weird subculture (to people who weren't exposed to that subculture). It got me work with many clients my parents knew. Thus: I had made it. Well, in their eyes.

If you're assigned a job, take a bunch of pics per the client's direction, but the client winds up not liking any of them, do you still get paid? Or do you have to go shoot all over again?

Asked by BrixyNixy about 12 years ago

It depends on a variety of factors. I've had instances where yes, if it was due to factors beyond my control I'll reshoot it and get paid for reshooting the thing. I've had instances where yes, if it was due to my own inept actions I'll reshoot it and not get paid for reshooting the thing. Sometimes I'll reshoot something someone else has shot or whatever. What it really comes down to is the contract. First rule of being a professional photographer: always get some sort of agreement in writing. Nothing's better than knowing what each side is looking for so you don't go mucking up a business relationship after some sort of misunderstanding. Every shoot I've done with some magazine or company has resulted in my getting paid for it. Heck, I've even shot stuff for national magazines that they liked but didn't end up using due to some other story coming in that they. must. cover. (See: the stock market crash of 2008.) Here's the thing: you'll find you have more issues with people not wanting to pay, or pay for as much work as possible, for jobs that are for small amounts of money. My photo friends and I routinely discuss horror stories for clients that want you to retouch 100 photos when they're only paying you peanuts, or expect you to make a big production out of something that would result in you losing money even before you hit the shutter. And then they wouldn't like how a subject was dressed for the shoot (which was out of your control) and then try not to pay you. That's fun.

Assuming we're not Ansel Adams Jr., can a freelance photographer earn enough to live comfortably?

Asked by JSB about 12 years ago

How long would you say it would take for someone w/zero photography experience to be freelance-worthy?

Asked by sayin' cheese... about 12 years ago

How do you protect your pictures from getting stolen and copied online?

Asked by S Fanning almost 12 years ago

Do you foresee a time when you'll be able to do a full-blown photo shoot with your phone?

Asked by Pixelspixelspixels about 12 years ago