Calling BS on Craigslist Brides
January 7th, 2008
PhotoDude writes: I used to use Craigslist to get work once in a while doing wedding photography but over the past year this has degraded into such a pile of garbage as to be completely worthless. The problem isn’t Craigslist, its people who think they are doing photographers a favor by allowing them to shoot their wedding for free. These numbskulls have no clue what is involved in doing wedding photography and can’t fathom that it is an insult to think that you are so hot that you alone are going to make my photography business simply by having you in my portfolio. Continue reading for more of this article.
Look people, I have invested well over $10,000 in equipment, the wedding shoot you want I typically charge $2,000 for, this is going to take an entire day of shooting and several days of post processing to deliver the high quality images I strive for and you have the balls to think I should do all this for FREE just to help “build my portfolio”. How successful are you at getting your auto mechanic to do work for free so that they can say they have experience with your Toyota Celica? Do you barter with your gardener so that he can have pictures of your lawn? Do you pay your pool guy with the “opportunity to gain experience”? But you want to turn over the photographs for the single most important day in your life to someone with so little experience that they would be willing to work for free? Come on people.
If I took my car to the shop for major repairs and he said he would do it for free because he has never worked on an engine before, I would run away from there before he could finish the sentence. But you devalue photographers and would work with someone that thinks so little of their own work that they can’t bring themselves to charge you.
In case I haven’t made this clear enough:
- No, you aren’t that hot
- If I wanted to make less than I was worth, I would go work at Carl’s Jr.
- Why would anyone do work for anyone that puts zero value on their investment and costs
- Having you in my portfolio is not going to jump-start my career
- Did the minister do his job for free?
- Did the flowers come free?
- Was the DJ free?
- Was the cake free?
- Did the designer give you the dress for free?
- Did you get the rings for free?
So, to all you cheap bastards on Craigslist who want photographers to work for free….I call BS on that!
Well said! I especially love your mechanic example. The worst ones are those that state that you’ll have great photos for your portfolio because their ceremony/reception will be held in the most sought after $$$ place in town.
Comment by ZVP — May 10, 2008 @ 12:23 pm