Why You Shouldn’t Say Yes to Every Offer of Photography Work

By Mike Panic on 2 May 2010 in Guides[ 7 Comments ]

Starting a career in photography can be an exciting, exhilarating move. Most photographers have freedom unlike any other traditional job and can book appointments as frequently as they want. Amateur photographers, that is to say those who don’t get compensated for shooting, usually do so because they enjoy the hobby. Regardless of where you stand, there will be times when you need to decline an offer for work. Here are some examples of when and why you shouldn’t say yes to an offer.

Photo by Hamad AL-Mohannna

Professional Photographers

When you are a professional, it’s your business, even if only part time, you generate part of your income from shooting. This is an important fact that will come into play now.

Weddings that you are invited to as a guest and asked to shoot, probably a good idea to say no. I’m often asked this, even though I’m not a wedding photographer. If you invite me to your wedding, let me be a guest! I want to enjoy and remember the day, not work the event. It’s OK to decline shooting friends and family weddings and events.

Holidays are important, most people enjoy spending them with friends and family. If you are offered to shoot a job on July 4th (for American’s) or a wedding on New Year’s Eve, think about how that will impact your personal and social life. Do you want to work that holiday for strangers or spend it with people you care about?

Spec work, short for speculation, implies shooting something that a client might want to buy. Know your rates and have them agree prior to shooting. Rarely does working on spec ever benefit the photographer.

Trade work in exchange for pay. As a photographer who offers a service, you’ll often find clients who will offer you work in trade, rather than straight pay. Sometimes this isn’t a bad idea, but remember that trade doesn’t pay your bills.

Travel compensation is not payment for services rendered. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, If we pay for you to come to (insert fancy destination on the beach here), could you shoot our wedding? If they aren’t willing to pay for your services too, it’s probably a good idea to say no.

Working outside your normal area of expertise. I am not a landscape photographer, nor am I a wedding photographer. So far in 2010 I’ve turned down four wedding jobs because it’s simply not an area I’m great at. I told one person who found me through a mutual friend that I could provide good photography, but they deserve great photography. They completely understood.

Amateur Photographers

If photography is your hobby, and you do it because you love it, that should be the only reason you do it. Don’t get lured in by offers that sound too good to be true or deviate from your joy of photography.

Over your head jobs should be passed on. If you are asked to shoot something that you know you can’t handle, suggest they hire a professional.

When the line blurs between a fun hobby and a time exhausting job, turn the job down. Photography is a hobby, a passion, a form of expression. When it stops being fun, consider saying no.

Your goal is to become a professional shooter, so you’re working towards making that happen. Don’t represent yourself as one until you know the quality and expertise is on par with what clients should expect. If you are honest and upfront and decline a job that is out of your scope, you could very well get another job by the same client who respected your choice to not provide sub-par quality work.

All Photographers

Paid work or not, professional or amateur, time is a valuable commodity. Don’t take on more jobs then you can actually do, and don’t forget to factor in post processing times and commuting. I generally factor in about 30-45 minutes of post processing time for every hour of shooting time I do. There are exceptions to this, but that’s my general rule of thumb. Don’t take every offer because you want to satisfy every customer, friend or family member, you won’t be able to.

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7 Comments

William Manning:

Mike,
I can’t help to chuckle when I read your post. You are right on the money. I have come across these same situations many times. Maybe best said, know your strengths and know your weakness, and sometimes having no money is a strength. I say this because I know photographers who say they really needed the money and committed to a job they couldn’t handle. A very good article.

You might be interested in a post I written last week that sort of falls in this category, if interested visit: http://williammanning.com/blog/2010/04/business-matters/is-the-new-stock-photography-business-model-right-for-you/

May 2, 2010 at 4:57 pmReply
Dave Wilkinson:

Great post thank you. I particularly like your last point about the time it takes to process the photographs. In my experience it is somewhat longer than this. I have seen quite a few couples let down after the wedding by well meaning photographer friends who didn’t realize the commitment in terms of time they were entering into by agreeing to take the photographs until after the shoot.
On one occasion I know a couple who never did get their photographs!

May 3, 2010 at 10:36 amReply
Wayne:

The point you made about referring folks to someone else when you are not comfortable with the type of photography they want done, ie weddings, is super good advice. Not all of us are great people photographers. I made the mistake of telling an older couple I would photograph their 50th anniversary, and although they were quite satisfied with the pictures (the price of $0 may have had something to do with that) I was not comfortable with the project.
Anyway, nice post.
Wayne
http://www.betterphotos123.com

May 3, 2010 at 3:50 pmReply
Karl J:

I like the last part the best…time management is always difficult if you are not sure going in, or testing the waters for a new job. Hard to predict how long it will take but it is usually best to give yourself ample time, rather than say you can do something in 2 hours when you know it will be a tough squeeze to even do it in 3…good article.

May 4, 2010 at 2:45 pmReply
TonyJ:

Most excellent points. I factor in 2-3 hours for post/administrative work for each hour of shooting. This includes uploading, tagging, making multiple backups, filing….and don’t forget the pre-shoot work that you do. Even if you can’t scout locations prior to the shoot you will have planned your shots, the lighting and working up plan A, B and C before you even show up on the shoot.

I love the point about being asked to shoot pictures when you are an invited guest. I wonder if any accounts get invited to weddings and then asked, “would you bring a caluclator so you look over my books at the reception?

May 5, 2010 at 6:56 pmReply
Victor Augusteo:

thanks for the nice article. it serves as a reminder for me.

I have been doing event and some portrait photography as freelancer for quite some time. but recently, i got offered to do a huge corporate photography. the pay was good so i agreed in an instant. but afterwards, i realized that that is not my style and maybe i’m not good enough for corporate stuff. i changed my mind.

its true that we should only get the project that we know we can do and will satisfy the client and ourself.

May 20, 2010 at 6:33 amReply
Linda Dianne:

I appreciate this article on perspective thinking. I have never heard or read as great an article on how to think and follow-through when taking on projects. Thank you!

June 6, 2010 at 10:06 amReply