Manchester Band require photographer for promotional photos

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captainmars

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Jon
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Hi, my band is looking for a competent amateur photographer, based in or near Manchester, to take some promotional shots for our website and our next CD. We don't need prints just high quality digital images. Our myspace page is www.myspace.com/captainofmars
 
Seeing as you'll presumably be selling the CD and tickets to gigs (which promotional photos will help you sell...), you will be paying for these photos, right...RIGHT?
 
My ears...........................

I could take the shots but I couldn't go to a gig..........sorry :).

PM me, I may have a little time for you, there are some extras though. :rules:

You will have to contact via my website as you can't PM yet.
 
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Im in Warrington and could be interested in shooting this.
 
to quote the joker in the dark knight:

''If you're good at something, never do it for free''



....my new sig i think :)
 
ha ha ok, money.

obligatory 'Age of the Amateur' we are not trying to rip you off spiel:

We are not going to make any money from the CD's they are strictly promotional (we are not even going to recoup any of our costs). Our whole budget is going to go on printing as many of theses as possible at as high a quality as we can afford. We are going to send them to radio stations, promoters and record companies. We don't sell cd's at gigs - we encourage people to download our tracks (for free) instead. We simply can't afford professional photography, so we are looking for someone who, like us, does what they do out of love of doing it (we usually don't get paid at all btw occasionally we might get some very cheap red wine and sandwiches if we are lucky).

What you get: you get to have your images on a high quality product that will be seen by "industry professionals" , you get a set of images for your portfolio, you get your images on our myspace (we have had 15000 or so hits), and our website and we will buy you a drink or three.
 
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captainmars said:
ha ha ok, money.

obligatory 'Age of the Amateur' we are not trying to rip you off spiel:

We are not going to make any money from the CD's they are strictly promotional (we are not even going to recoup any of our costs). Our whole budget is going to go on printing as many of theses as possible at as high a quality as we can afford. We are going to send them to radio stations, promoters and record companies. We don't sell cd's at gigs - we encourage people to download our tracks (for free) instead. We simply can't afford professional photography, so we are looking for someone who, like us, does what they do out of love of doing it.

What you get: you get to have your images on a high quality product that will be seen by "industry professionals" , you get a set of images for your portfolio, you get your images on our myspace (we have had 15000 or so hits), and our website and we will buy you a drink or three.
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Exactly what my terms would have been if you would contact me.........

You scratch my back I will ............well you know the rest.
 
Cool, do you have any samples of your work that you could send us? either of you/any of you. :)
 
captainmars said:
Cool, do you have any samples of your work that you could send us? either of you/any of you. :)
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Who?

Can't you look on my site, sorry to be abrupt but if you are using this forum you could do a search too.
 
captainmars said:
ha ha ok, money.

obligatory 'Age of the Amateur' we are not trying to rip you off spiel:
What you get: you get to have your images on a high quality product that will be seen by "industry professionals" , you get a set of images for your portfolio, you get your images on our myspace (we have had 15000 or so hits), and our website and we will buy you a drink or three.
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good stuff, you may proceed :P :D

sorry, wayyyy too many chancers out there have bred the cynic inside me...
 
tiler65 said:
Who?

Can't you look on my site, sorry to be abrupt but if you are using this forum you could do a search too.
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:D:D:D

You're supposed to bend over backwards for this amazing opportunity!
 
If you don't hear anything back from Matt, I'd be interested depending on when it is. I've done a couple of gigs now as well as a few portraits for friends, and will be doing my first paid for shoot sometime within the next couple of weeks, so obviously I'm quite an amateur still!
 
Thanks guys, i didn't think i would get this much interest. I'll just have a look at your work and get back to one of you. Ta
 
Look, here is the thing with bands and promo shots etc.

How much did your guitars cost? Your amps? Your leads? Your Mics? I would imagine it is a lot of money, right?

You want to be taken seriously in the industry, you need your stuff to shine through, you seem serious about going for this, so no doubt you will be playing all over the place for very little, probably spending your own money, so you are spending money on things to do with your band, again correct me if I am wrong.

You want to make it so bad, yet you want free images for your stuff? Have you ever heard, you get what you pay for? The pics you currently have on your myspace really do not do you any justice. You really need to get a professional set of pics done, and some professional live ones done as well, then you will have a nice series of images out there for potential promoters etc. to book you from.

These shots you are not wanting to pay for will be the first impression people get of you when your stuff arrives at the record company, but you don't deem it worthy to pay for it? This stuff is as important as your equipment and your songs, as it is what people see of you as a band.

Not trying to upset anyone, I just have a belief that bands should spend cash on decent PR shots, otherwise you end up with a standard band looking moody at camera shot, unless you are very lucky.

Just to give you an idea, A high quailty series of band shots and a live gig coverage, your picks of the shoot presented to you on CD at web size and print size would realistically cost £150 - £200. You may think I am fishing for business, but I am way too far away, just trying to make a point.

Good luck to you anways.
 
Carl, have you read the whole thread or visited their website?

I am more than happy to help them out. Free shoot for them, free advertising for me.
 
id do it :)

depends where about though :) as its not actually paid - petrol costs would need to be considered if its do-able.

im 15-20 mins from manchester :)
 
Hello, Different band member than previous..

Yeah whilst we can't afford to pay for a full blown shoot, we aren't gonna take the ****, we'll totally get you some pints/pay your train fare whatever.

The whole point is, that whilst we could pay someone who's already doing it proffesionally and making money from it.. well the proffesional bands who are making money can do that, we want someone who might not be as great as them yet, looking to futher their portfolio. Just as much a chance for them to shine as much as we're trying to :-) these CDs are gonna be given out at plenty of gigs for free, so your website and name is gonna be getting promo all over the country.

Been looking at the sites and flikrs, they're all brilliant! I'm excited, gonna chat with the guys about it and we'll let you guys know.

Thanks for all the responses :-)
 
captainmars said:
Hello, Different band member than previous..

Yeah whilst we can't afford to pay for a full blown shoot, we aren't gonna take the ****, we'll totally get you some pints/pay your train fare whatever.
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good luck with the band guys.... what you're asking for is absolutely bob on, not got a problem with it at all and you've come to the right place to ask for a photographer to help you out.. i like to see people being pro-active and it paying off.
 
ding76uk said:
Can I ask those of you who think this is fine, how many would say the same if it was a free wedding shoot?

Sorry but being on a Myspace is not really great promotion is it, the only thing you will get is more bands wanting it for free in exchange for the same thing.
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with a lot of music things you get a real collaborative vibe going, everyone is doing it for love and to make something great. With weddings you are never on the same wavelength if ya think about it
 
ding76uk said:
Can I ask those of you who think this is fine, how many would say the same if it was a free wedding shoot?

Sorry but being on a Myspace is not really great promotion is it, the only thing you will get is more bands wanting it for free in exchange for the same thing.
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Look, some people do photography for a hobby and the chance to take swap photos for some free name dropping on CDs etc is fine for them.

As for free weddings, I have done one free post wedding shoot and tomorrow I've am the unofficial 2nd shooter at another. They are both good friends and I wouldn't dream of charging them.

However, those photos from the post wedding shoot have already had 3 further couples contacting me for paid wedding shoots at the end of the year/early 2011.

Sometimes, when starting out, you may need to do a little for free, the point is, the photographer has to know when they hit the point they can start charging :)
 
ding76uk said:
Can I ask those of you who think this is fine, how many would say the same if it was a free wedding shoot?

Sorry but being on a Myspace is not really great promotion is it, the only thing you will get is more bands wanting it for free in exchange for the same thing.
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the_doctor199 said:
I read through this thread and was going to post exactly this.
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It is not a wedding shoot, I reckon I could have this tied up within an hour, a wedding will take minimum of 4 hours for the most basic of all shoots.

Please do not send this thread into the abyss of the 'paid or not' genre or you may well scare these people away and then nobody gains anything.
 
ding76uk said:
Can I ask those of you who think this is fine, how many would say the same if it was a free wedding shoot?

Sorry but being on a Myspace is not really great promotion is it, the only thing you will get is more bands wanting it for free in exchange for the same thing.
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I think its a great opportunity , if I were closer (and better at photography ;)) I'd jump at the chance , this could be a very good way of getting in to this kind of photography and also on a social level an opportunity to meet people and watch a band

its win win in my book
 
I'd also be interested in giving this a go. Never done band shots but I'd like the challenge. See my flickr below
 
Im with Tiler on this.. theres more than one way to skin a cat as they say, it is a good way to get a little more exposure, and something different for the folio, but for an Amateur, its great experience! something that will go onto their CV too.. its not like the band is big time or anything like it.. AT THE MOMENT!! if they DO make it big, people will be looking at their first publicity shots forever more! that alone would be great Kudos.. who knows where it could lead.. you have to speculate to accumilate as they say..

If they were an established band, then im sure their label would be arranging the shoots with paid pros.. not Amateurs, thats the difference i think.
 
I can see both sides of the coin as a photographer.

I do agree that the band need to get quality. As has been pointed out the image on the cover will be the first exposure that the music execs/pr people have. Now these people will be used to recieving the full gamut from handwritten notes to properly produced sleeves. As someone hopefully selling a product to these people you should take a moment to put yourself in their shoes. How are you going to get their interest? They can't yet see how good you are on stage, all they have to go on at that split second is what they have in their hand. So make it good, make it a statement. Do it right.

And yes there are some very talented amateur photographers out there with an interest in band/gig photography, I've seen some great stuff on here :)

So my little piece of advice to you would simply be to not restrict yourself to one shot at this. Hopefully you have some time to work on this so you may have to do it three or four times and then choose which image you want to put in that music exec's hand.

Hope that helps.
 
Considering the cost of Guitars, amps, drums etc will run into several thousand at a time ( I know how much my Les Paul was, and it's more than a new D3) a few hundred on a pro shoot would be a drop in the ocean and could make them seriously stand out from the crowd of other bands with "free" photo's.

Image is Everything.

Or does the band not associate any value to their image, and hence images of themselves?
 
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its not a wedding and the advantages are totaly different.

i was invited by one of the groups i photographed down to see them perform the other night.
we are friends now,they may be signed soon,its all hush hush.
my pictures will be on the next CD [out soon] and they are sending my photos out as promo material,they have used them on gig posters etc.
i charged a nominal ammount.

lots of groups ask me for pictures,i get to see a lot of great concerts which i enjoy.
now i have decided that as i have so much to do i wont send so many free ones and ask for a nominal sum if its a concert i shot on spec.
i allready have had one well known indie band use my photos on a CD release [paid],and numerous publications.
people ask me all the time and about 50% of the groups expect to pay.

if you like music go out and do it and enjoy it,you will have started on a path that is fun all the way.

ps. and a lot of the groups will help you out as well.i came out the hospital on crutches after major knee surgery coudnt walk or drive.one of the bands gave me a call came around drove me to the concert, set up,played,packed up and took me home :)
 
straycat said:
its not a wedding and the advantages are totaly different.
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That is my point it is not. You are doing a shoot for no money. Just because it is Rock and Roll, then everyone jumps at it. A paid portrait shoot then if you don;t agree on weddings.

The difference is with a wedding, the likely hood of getting paid work is a lot higher.

Those who said they could wrap it up in an hour. This is the problem. You need 2 - 3 locations min, possibly studio stuff too, plus at least one live gig, so in terms of hours you really are knocking on 4 hours min.

I am not arguing there are a lot of talented amateurs out there, and the band will get their free shots, but it just riles me the stance some people take on this type of thing, and a professional would give you a better quality final product, in the same way someone who specialises in car photography would do a better car shoot than someone who shoots macro and wants to give it a go.
 
Well i think its really good for the band and the photographer, i think its really great to give amateurs a chance to experiment, and seeing as its not hurting anyone else then what the hay!! I think it would be awesome for the band to pick top 2/3 that they like and have a go with all of them, theres nothing to lose seeing as they wont be paying and i know for one that being an amateur as i am i would jump at any chance to have a go at getting my camera out, whether it be a band, wedding, first birthday or your grannys 90th, its all fab experience!! and you never know they may be the next Damien Lovegrove of the music photography world! Good luck to the band and all that take part i say :D
 
straycat said:
i was invited by one of the groups i photographed down to see them perform the other night.
we are friends now,they may be signed soon,its all hush hush.
my pictures will be on the next CD [out soon] and they are sending my photos out as promo material,they have used them on gig posters etc.
i charged a nominal ammount.
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Great good for you, but you will probably not be used when they are signed as the label will have togs they use. You also charged, which is the argument I am making, so this is a moot point

straycat said:
lots of groups ask me for pictures,i get to see a lot of great concerts which i enjoy.
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Yes, but you are not there to enjoy them you are there to work. Most unsigned bands gigs are free to no cost anyway.


straycat said:
now i have decided that as i have so much to do i wont send so many free ones and ask for a nominal sum if its a concert i shot on spec.
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So you would not do this shoot for free then, again my point is that you should charge.


straycat said:
i allready have had one well known indie band use my photos on a CD release [paid],and numerous publications.
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I presume for the well know indie band you got paid full day rate and paid in accordance with standard NUJ rates? Did you also get paid by each publication for use of the shots?

straycat said:
people ask me all the time and about 50% of the groups expect to pay.
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So 50% of your work is still free work?

straycat said:
if you like music go out and do it and enjoy it,you will have started on a path that is fun all the way.
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Yes it can be fun, but also a nightmare when the lighting is terrible and you still need to produce the shots needed. There is stress in it, it is not all a bed of roses

straycat said:
ps. and a lot of the groups will help you out as well.i came out the hospital on crutches after major knee surgery coudnt walk or drive.one of the bands gave me a call came around drove me to the concert, set up,played,packed up and took me home :)
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Nice of them, but should you have been photographing? and of course they would do that for a free tog. Most bands would.

I fear I am outnumbered on this, as everyone sees it as a shortcut to go backstage with the biggest rock bands. Myspace is not really a major method of promotion, unfortunately most bands will not end up signed and the fact that if they do get signed, the chances f you getting work with them again is very low.

Not trying to put people off, but just being a realist.

Think I'll leave you all to it as we will never see eye to eye.
 
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