Information for trade for print/photos: how it works, and how the model and photographer each benefit
Welcome!
Thanks for your interest in working with me on a trade arrangement! If the idea of TFP is new to you, I’ll give a brief description of the idea, and how the arrangement benefits all contributing parties. If you’re already familiar with TFP, you can skip ahead to read my Shoot FAQ and download my TFP contract. Once you’re ready to work together, drop me a line with your shoot ideas, questions, and availability, and we can start planning a fun shoot together!
What is TFP?
“TFP” stands for “Time for Print”… or sometimes “photos” or “product” … and I’m sure I’m forgetting some other acronyms. TFP is an arrangement where two or more creatives get together to trade their time, their expertise, and the use of the tools of their respective trades to create a body of work that each of them can use for their respective portfolios. TFP doesn’t have to be limited to model-photographer arrangements; TFP can include fashion designers, set designers, hair and makeup artists (HMUA), you name it. And with that, the final deliverable might not be strictly photographs; final deliverables might include video, audio, physical prints, digital images, etc.
So what’s the benefit? It’s a great way for creatives to build their portfolios while also honing and practicing their crafts. TFP arrangements are usually a limited commercial agreement: both parties walk away with something tangible that they can use to show the world what their creative capabilities are, but neither party walks away with something they can license or sell to a third party. TFP is a collaborative process!
TFP Shoots with Patrick
If I’ve got you enticed to do a TFP shoot with me, here’s a few things about my shoots that I’d like to share with you, including answers to some common questions that come up.
How do I line up a TFP shoot with you?
Drop me a line below! Tell me about your idea for a shoot, send me a link to your port, and give me an idea of your near-term availability. Also, be sure to skim through the text below, and read over my TFP Contract & Model Release.
Who do I shoot with?
I’m game for shooting with pretty much everyone! Really. Bodies of all shapes, sizes, and configurations can make fantastic images! That said, since I also use my photography to pay the bills, my availability for TFP shoots is limited to fellow creatives that I feel share a similar creative vision and general level of skill. Don’t hesitate to reach out with your ideas, though! Inspiration is everywhere, and your creative vision may well overlap with mine.
All TFP models must be over the age of 18, or accompanied by a parent who will remain in the studio for the duration of the shoot. All models – or their guardian in the case of minors – must agree to a contract and model release prior to the shoot. More on that below!
Can I bring a friend?
Absolutely! But a few caveats… Please identify guest attendees well before the day of the shoot, and please please please ensure that you are bringing someone respectful and professional. It doesn’t do either of any good if we have to scuttle a shoot because a third wheel doesn’t take our work seriously. Furthermore, all attendees at the shoot will be required to sign a liability waiver.
Compensation
It’s TFP! In lieu of monetary compensation, we’re trading our time and talents for awesome images that we each get to use to promote our brands. When we finalize the concept for the shoot, we’ll discuss our expectations for the amount of content we can expect from the shoot. Some artistic media results in more content for a given amount of time than other media. For instance, if we’re doing a portrait session shot with a digital camera, we can produce a lot more content than we can if we spend the same amount of time shooting large format film.
Print Releases & Model Releases
What’s the difference between a print release and a model release? The really quick version is that each party has rights to the images produced. The photographer holds the rights to make copies of the images (hence the term “copyright”), but the model holds the usage rights! In practical terms, that means neither party really has much ability to do anything without each party granting some of their rights to the other party. As the photographer, I will give to the model a limited print release – basically, a document that specifies the ways the model can use and reproduce the images for the purposes of promoting their brand, but does not give the model permission to license or sell the images to a third party. Likewise, the model grants to me, the photographer, a model release that effectively does the same thing. You can read my print release and model release in my contract. If you have a TFP model release that you prefer to use, you can forward that to me for discussion before the shoot.
Feedback & Constructive Criticism
OK, for me, this is by far the most valuable part of a shoot! I absolutely love getting feedback on the images I take, the process during the shoot, the delivery of the content…basically any constructive criticism I can get from the start of the process right through the end. This is how I improve at my craft. I ask questions and solicit feedback throughout our entire time working together.
When it comes time to selecting the final images, I’m definitely going to want to hear which images you find most compelling. It’s almost guaranteed that my favorite images from a shoot aren’t going to perfectly overlap with yours, and this is one of the most exciting parts of the process for me! This back-and-forth is when I learn the most, and learn how to “see” like my subjects “see.”
My TFP Contract & Releases
Whew, ok. Finally! Here’s a link to my standard TFP Contract & Model Release. Like any contract, it’s full of very boring and bland words – but hopefully not too many! Also like any contract, this is not written in stone. If you’ve got questions on something in here, or want something changed, we can probably work something out.
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