TF…

For years, I have harboured a secret.

Because of the nature of the images I create, some of my clients are unwilling to share those shots on the internet. Not all of them, but some of them. Enough of them, in fact, that I feel the need to supplement the images on my website.

Because one of the most important elements of creating a relationship with a client is a sense of trust. Showing intimate images of people without their permission? Does not create that sense of trust. So rule #2 (after “everything is guided by consent; you and you alone decide what poses, outfits, settings, themes, etc you want to shoot), is that you have final say over which images are shared and how they are shared. Some people are comfortable with an image as long their face isn’t shown. Some people are comfortable being identifiable in an image, as long as there’s no nudity. Some people say yes to everything. Some people say no to everything. Some of the best images I’ve ever taken will only be seen by my client and whomever she decides to show the image to.

Photography is a skill learned by doing. I don’t want to try out new techniques with paying clients. I want to make sure that I know what I need to know before I go into a mission critical situation.

Equally important is being able to show you, the potential client, what I, the photographer, can do. You need to see my style, my approach to creating images, my ability to see light and use light. You need to be able to look at my images and ask yourself “do I see myself in these images?”

That becomes harder than it does with other photographers. Some photographers have a studio that they shoot in. Who always shoot natural light.

Because of this, I will frequently work with established or aspiring models to build out my portfolio. Many of the images you see on my website are of actual clients, but many are shot with models.

The photo above, for instance, is of Lily. She’s not a client, but a model down in Vancouver.

Now, we both work in the creative industry. I need to be able to show images of people on my website so that when people look at my page they don’t just see my extended homilies on why I shoot the way I shoot, but can actually see images.

And she, as a model, needs to have images of herself to show other photographers and potential clients her look and range, too.

In one world, she would charge me for the pleasure of taking her photo, because she’s a talented model. In another world, I—as a talented photographer—would charge her to create images that she can use for her portfolio.

But in this world, there’s a third option: TFP.

TFP stands for, depending on who you talk to, time for print, trade for print or talent for print. In this option, she exchanges her time and talent for images that she can use for her portfolio, and I compensate her with a series of images that she can use. We both mutually benefit, yet no money has changed hands.

I mention this because this idea of trading services is common between creative professionals.

But when it comes to clients? Then for some reason it is all about making money. And my goal with this is not about “making money.” I got into this business as a way to support myself while creating art. And money is a great shorthand for being able to support myself, but it’s not the only way.

I’ve seen a few other photographers who have started to offer TFS, or trade for service. Instead of selling clients sessions, they are willing to exchange service for service. For instance, maybe you are an accountant. Instead of charging you for photos, a photographer might offer to shoot your session in exchange for you doing books for them.

Or maybe you or your S/O are/is a mechanic, and instead of paying for a session, you offer instead to fix the photographer’s car what hit a deer and is currently missing the headlight on one side and the bumper cover. You know, purely hypothetically.

My uncle owned a fiberglass shop when I was growing up. One of his clients couldn’t afford to pay him, so traded him an old boat that had been damaged in a fire. My uncle rebuilt that boat, and many of my memories of my childhood are being out on the “purple scow”. Barter and trade, while not as common anymore, are perfectly viable ways of doing business.

So here is an invitation to trade service for service. I am willing to shoot your session in exchange for…well now, that depends on you, now, doesn’t it? What goods or services are you willing to barter? Food is always a great place to start. But maybe you are an expert marketer, and want to help me find my next client. Or maybe you have a really great space that you’d let me use for free for my next photoshoot. Or…? You’ll never know unless you ask.