Few weeks back an ex colleague approached me for few shots to be included in his assignment, a HR booklet. He work for a giant MNC… No I’m not gonna mentioned it!!
When I met him he shown the draft and similar booklet from their home country and other well known MNCs. He explained the shots needed and where to take it. He stressed that his boss got no budget for this and can only give me a small token. He mentioned how much roughly the token.. but I’m not going to tell you all.
Knowing their operation very well, I explained that the shots can only be done on weekdays at one of their business premise. I have a day job to pay my bills and put food on the table…. so I’ll need to take one day off. I told him that he’s one of the HR Manager in the company and he still can check how much I earn then. I was very open and told that now I earn 30% more. Whatever token in his mind must be able to offset my one day pay, petrol and meal….. at least.
After I walk away from that nasi lemak lunch… I didn’t hear anything from him.
I don’t mind taking photos for FREE……. I have been doing it and will keep doing it. I’ve shot at least four weddings for FREE. The bride/groom just pay for the photobook printing. Yes……. I’m not a pro wedding shooter.. but whoever I shot was very happy with the results and their friends were envy of them because they got reasonably good quality wedding photos for FREE. I can safely say my photos is much better than many of the wedding photographer who charge close to RM2,000 per day.
I believe many of us been doing that… ..
I think myself as a serious hobbyist. Being able to shoot is good enough. It also improves my skills. I have the intention of doing photography to finance the hobby. With the FREE wedding shoots I can build my portfolio. They also my relatives.
I also have been taking photos for client …my day job client. Not a small company, they just complete RM300M worth of property. Simple shots, but if they get a pro to do it will easily cost them few hundreds if not thousands. And I’m happy doing it. Not so much of trying to KIPAS them (they are my client, and I need to kipas them anyway!!) but being able to see your work being appreciated is much more satisfying. (Yeah!! I know.. I know. I can say that because I have a day job!!)
But I’m not going to do it for DIRT CHEAP….
