Still don’t understand how photographers are doing this

kennymcrae69 thank you I have just ordered the book

Repzee Photography said

Sis Benedict thank you bro.

I always get the same advice, I didn’t want to put this on here, but I don’t have financial funds to pay models that’s why I offer TFP. I haven’t stated this before because I didn’t want to get the response “well if you can’t afford it then you shouldn’t be doing it” or “save then” I’m on minimum wage I’m not able to save money.

Every other part of advice I’ve tried maybe it’s worked maybe it hasn’t, I know I need to work on lighting as some of you know I had multiple triggers with my speed light couldn’t get them to work I’ve still got the soft box and stand. I’ve tried working with natural lighting and I prefer flash. With editing I know that needs improving too I do try an improve my editing I try different techniques of editing after every shoot.

I would try and identify a photographer whose work you like and that is local to you and ask them if you can buy them a cup of coffee and ask for some advice/tips, you may end up with a mentor (you may not but if you limit the initial meeting to a cup of coffee you are not demanding too much of someone's time).  In the creative industries people can be incredibly generous, particularly to people just starting out.  It's better than taking a scatter gun approach of using a casting call to find someone.  Despite what some people say there are people out there who will try and help you.

I would also just ask people you know if you can take their photo so you can practice rather than just relying on getting someone to TFP with you, there's no harm in casting for TFP but you are competing with alot of people that don't want to or can't afford to pay.  I admire your persistence, you are currently trying to run before you can walk but that's not unusual in all walks of life. Get your skills honed down and who knows where it will lead.  I started model photography because I don't like shooting inanimate objects, it's just a pastime for me but bizarrely recently I've ended up with a side hustle that has started to earn me money and because I had already established a friendship with a photographer who makes his living from photographing people (not models) I had a ready made mentor who has been extremely generous in sharing his commercial experience and knowledge in an area that I didn't have a clue about.

Keep going,  just try and be realistic about where are you now, there's no harm in having an ambition to do something but there are no real shortcuts.

Repzee Photography - I can't remember if I suggested this before, but have you come across Annabel Williams' book 99 Portrait Photo Ideas?  There are some really good suggestions in there on approach and technique. I have a used copy I bought on Amazon that I can let you have if you're interested?

Repzee Photography - we're twelve pages in, and (unless I missed it) you haven't yet told us who your intended clients are or what kind of photography services you plan to supply. It's difficult to get beyond the very general without knowing stuff like that.

Some of the contributors to this thread have assumed you're planning to provide portfolio building photography to models. If so, then I agree with a good deal of the advice given so far. But you haven't specifically confirmed it - and I find it troubling that your clients and your product aren't central to your questions and comments.

Gothic Image I think I seen you mention this book before but I do have it

Lee River portraiture and thinking of trying street photography again but I’d also try my hand at product photography

Repzee Photography how exactly are you wanting to make money from street/portrait photography? Like who's paying you?

Zella Whitfield no-ones paying me at the moment

Repzee Photography Yeah I think we've established that 😂😂😂

I'll rephrase - who are your intended clients? You need a product to sell and someone who wants to buy it. Who are you trying to market yourself towards? You can't just say "I want to be paid to take portraits" without some idea of who would pay you and for what purpose. You're just complaining that no one wants to pay you without any idea what you're selling.

Zella Whitfield I’m not complaining that no-ones paying me. Magazines and Websites would be my clients not so much stock photo that doesn’t interest me

Repzee Photography said

Gothic Image I think I seen you mention this book before but I do have it

OK - I couldn't remember if I had.  :-)

Repzee Photography said

Zella Whitfield I’m not complaining that no-ones paying me. Magazines and Websites would be my clients not so much stock photo that doesn’t interest me

Local papers would love to hear from you, but won't pay you. Proper magazines are already laid out for the next 18 months and have so much material flooding in you would have to offer them something extraordinary, or know somebody influential, to get a look in. A national magazine actually expressed interest in a submission of mine in 2017 and it has still yet to see the light of day.

Repzee Photography said

Lee River portraiture and thinking of trying street photography again but I’d also try my hand at product photography

Would magazines and web sites be your intended clients in each of these cases?

Edited by Lee River

Street photography just for myself. Only for portraiture

Thelema

The issue i find with model photography is a mismanagement of expectations, wanting to keep up with the joneses and hurt pride. Ego gets mixed up in there as well. I think it affects both models and Photographers. And I feel nearly every venting thread that pops up here features what I mentioned.

Everyone loves the end result. Be it the great pictures , money, career or whatever. But they hate everything before that which helps you achieve that (when done right).

What the model mentioned earlier speaks volumes. Before you think about the money you want to make...you kinda have to be a person worth paying for...

My dad's words keep ringing in my ears in threads like this: "people buy from people".

If OP is the kind of person who is unable to clarify with models in pre comms, has anxiety with street photography and has been in these forums asking similar questions but not taking on the good advice given. It doesn't feel like a solid base to get paid work in my opinion.

My comments sound blunt. Don't intend them to be.