Turning down a job

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petemc

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Pete
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I'm currently debating some things in my head. I got a call today from a guy wanting me to photograph 80 solicitors in Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham and London on a white background. Not an easy job. It would require me renting the background stand, at least 1 lamp + softbox to reduce the shadows and travelling the country visiting various Calumet stores to get the stuff. Then of course setting it up all and getting the shots. By the time I'll have set it up I will already be fairly knackered I bet :D So its a bit of hard work, which I shouldn't be afraid of doing really. The other thought that occurred to me was do I really want to be touring the country photographing solicitors? Well, no not really. Its dull, corporate image work. There's no realism, drama, character. I'm slowly starting to find areas of photography that I do want to focus on. Its taking its time, but I am getting there.

So anyway, I think it all comes down to me either feeling a bit scared of such a large scale job and trying to find an excuse to skip out of it, or me being lazy, or me feeling like its just not an area of photography that interests me at all. Sure I could do with the money but it does seem really dull and while I do portraits I prefer them to be interesting and about the person. This is just generic "Next! *Snap*" Bah, I dunno :(
 
Depends on how much you need the cash.....it's not selling your soul to the devil, it's about doing something tedious to have the cash to then do something creative/exciting. A means to an end. Why not suggest they pay for the hire of a fairly centrally based studio, and the solicitors come to you? If they want you, make them work for it!! Good luck!
 
Hmmm, being on the other end of the scale Pete right now, I know what I personally would have done.
Surely sometimes it is worth taking the rough with the smooth?
Maybe an opportunity to take some HDR shots in alternate areas of the country? It may be dull image work, but then again it might be bread and butter for a few years. I don't know your personal situation with your clients, but to me I'd do it. But then I'm in a completely different situation :)
 
I wouldn't skip out of it just because it's not something you enjoy.

Food on the table and all that...
 
If you want to make a real living at this Pete you need to take jobs offered even if you dont like them, they may lead to much better things and speed up your passage to what you want to do, we all have to do stuff in our daily working lives that bores us to tears!
 
Yeah I know what you're saying. I guess its just a bit of fear after my last studio session and the size of the job at hand. A studio would be so much easier to do instead of all the setting up in an office.
 
Can you recommend me for this then? :P

Seriously though, it's a great oppurtunity! It might not be what you enjoy but you will come away with alot of contacts, and solicitors are a good contact to have just incase you get sued for taking some 'naughty' photos. Word spreads, they tell some friends about you, or the photos might be seen by someone which leeds to another job which you might enjoy.

As for the equipment, why rent when you can buy a good travel studio kit at warehouseexpress for £400-£600 ??? Donno what you have been offered money wise but I bet that figure is small in comparison. Sell the kit afterwards if its not something you would use again.

So basically to sum it up. Take the job! Live, learn, move on to bigger and better things.
 
It's a tough call, and only you can make it. If I was struggling for money, I would take it, but I also know my best (non photography work) is when my heart is in it. We'll all have opinions which are in essence what we would do, but only you can decide!

Good luck, whichever way.
 
If you want to be a succesful Pro you cant say no just because its boring/tedious, nothing stops you trying to get good portraits still does it? I mean nobody said you have to have a passport line 1 shot and move on to next person. I would be scared faced with it myself but any contacts/work are good and is what will build your name and reputation and may lead to more stimulating work. I think its a big challenge which you should embrace :)
cya on IRC
Dave
 
Are they covering all your expenses, hotels, fuel, time etc to give them all the images they require? If so, do it! Put the profit to use for more interesting projects.

Also, what about having a backdrop created with their logo so that these images are different and not just on a white boring background. Can you not do creative mug shots - making it a more personal photo shoot for them?

Just my 2p
Carl.
 
Work = income! Simple arithmetic in my opinion.....

Other thought(s) 80 solicitors, 80+ business cards? You don't know what it would lead to.... can you afford not to do it?

Then there are the locations, gonna be some 'legal' type buildings surely (London, Old Bailey?). All those architectural opportunites you like.

I bet a solicitor somewhere in the country is just aching to be HDR'd Pete style :lol:
 
Once heard an interview by the Darkness, saying how they even wrote jingles for Ikea in order to make money to allow them to do what they really wanted to do.

so i'd say take the money if youcan put up with the driving and setting up etc...
 
I think you need to have your studio, and then have them come to you. :)

If you are going to them, ask them to change to photos at their environment / on location. Then all you need will be a couple of soft boxes, a reflector and your camera with their office as backdrop (out of focus of course). Will look better personally speaking.
 
chuckles said:
Other thought(s) 80 solicitors, 80+ business cards? You don't know what it would lead to....
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80 lawsuits :eek: :eek:

I'm joking ;) :D Like chuckles says, it's work and income. It's well within your capabilities so think about it as advertising AND getting paid for it.
 
Raymond Lin said:
I think you need to have your studio, and then have them come to you. :)

If you are going to them, ask them to change to photos at their environment / on location. Then all you need will be a couple of soft boxes, a reflector and your camera with their office as backdrop (out of focus of course). Will look better personally speaking.
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IF.... you think that might better the look of the shots for the client then suggesting something totally different from your brief can be OK. In many cases though companies just need plain shots of the staff and the key is often continuity. Hence the white BG probably.

You gotta do it Pete, it just doesn't do to turn away a big job for a new client.

On of my favourite pics is of Ansel Adams shooting class photos at a school with the caption, "everyone needs to earn a living".
 
I would of turned this down too. Its too much in for what I feel would be not enough out.

I strongly agree you made the best choice.
 
Have I missed the bit that says what's in it?
 
You have to do it if you want to get known - it's that simple. If it involves a camera and money, that's all you can ask for. If you ever reach the stage where you can afford to pick and choose your jobs, that will be another matter, but there aren't many pros who can ever afford that luxury. Photography as a job is just as much a slog as any other sometimes. :shrug:
 
If you accept the job, take the opportunity to flash your portfolio. Might be a few sales of HDR and other images for the corporate wall. And there's an immense PR/network value.
 
Ok I'll call tomorrow and setup the meeting. I think I'm just a bit anxious and nervous about such a job. It'll be the largest job I've done. Its not something I do every day and it would be around £2k or so for the quote. A fair bit of pressure on me to get it right and I don't want to annoy 80 solicitors ;)

They basically want this sort of thing.

businessman.jpg


Of 80 people so they can be placed on a white background on a website. Now I could get lucky as I did the other day on a shoot. The client had a nice white background in their office and I just used my 430ex + lightsphere. It worked perfectly and I got this shot...

IMG_5947.jpg


That would save on all the hassle of a "portable" studio. However, I doubt I can take such a chance.
 
Rather than hire the gear can you not buy it and cost partly into the quote?
 
chewyuk said:
How about asking each office to see if they have an white screen you can use ?
I'm pretty sure each office would have one of these .. just a thought .
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Its full length shots. Head to toe.

ppp said:
Rather than hire the gear can you not buy it and cost partly into the quote?
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I don't use studio lighting enough to justify it. If I need studio lighting I can rent a studio for £40 for 2 hours.
 
Guess it would depend on the size. Not sure if it would be very professional to steal a whiteboard though :)
 
what about a white sheet, £6, just make sure its ironed
 
Actually Ive read the job description wrong.

London is the only thing that would bother me now.
 
Sounds like the job is an opportunity to earn enough money to pay for the equipment you might need and as you are visiting other parts of the country you could fit in time for your architectural work.
And that solicitor was surprisingly attractive - what are you waiting for? :lol:
 
HIMUPNORTH said:
And that solicitor was surprisingly attractive - what are you waiting for? :lol:
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Hehe she was just another client, not a solicitor :) Meeting is next week. More details are that I may have to visit one office just to shoot 2 people. It won't be all on one day, it'll be a lengthy process. Just gotta think of the money I suppose :)
 
Never turn a job down cos it scares you a bit - those are the ones you really learn from. ;)
 
CT said:
Never turn a job down cos it scares you a bit - those are the ones you really learn from. ;)
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Aye. I thought I had got to the point where I knew this, where I had accepted it and was able to move on. I mean I was out the other week happily taking photos of strangers on the streets of Liverpool. Scary but worthwhile. Ah well :) Thanks for the support and the kick in the arse guys :D
 
kissfoto said:
Pete
If you ever need lights I have a full set you could always borrow.
Ian. :thumbs:
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Thanks mate, I might take you up when I know more but it could be a constant thing. I have a job next week that would cover the cost of a decent enough set I think. I was hoping to blow it all on shoes though ;)
 
Feel the fear and do it anyway. By the looks of things I'm involved in a magazine article this weekend (not photos though) and I'm dreading it. So much that could go wrong in theory. Sometimes I think I should back out of it, but then I'm trying to force myself to try the things that scare me. Which reminds me, I should really make myself go on an aeroplane pretty soon!!
 
Aeroplanes aren't scarey Ian, they glide. Real fear is getting into a helicopter!



Do it Pete, if you have to spend the money from the next job on lights for this one just think how many shoes you could get with £2K!
 
Screw getting into a helicopter! As you say, at least a plane will glide if the engines cut out!!
 
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