A couple looks for a professional wedding photographer, pays with a chance to say “I’ve shot a wedding before”
Jun 26, 2017
Dunja Đuđić Kalinin
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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Weddings are expensive, and one of the big costs is certainly the photographer. So, why not ask a professional to cover your wedding for free? Which photographer wouldn’t be thrilled to shoot a strangers’ wedding in exchange for “eternal love and gratitude?”
It’s probably what one couple had in mind when they created this Craigslist ad, which caused plenty of reactions within the community. They look for not one, but three photographers with pro gear, experience, talent, portfolio and developed business. And in exchange – they offer love and gratitude, and a chance to say “I’ve shot a wedding before.” Wow, who would want to miss this?
This ad was posted on Craigslist and shared on Reddit, where it caused a flood of mainly sarcastic (and pretty funny) comments. Considering the requests, these guys are asking for someone who has a developed photography business, and of course – skill, talent, and professional gear. On the other hand, they don’t offer money, which is crucial for investing in all that gear they’re requesting. And the worst thing is – one out of three spots has been filled. But okay, it could be one of their best friends or a cousin who’s doing them a favor.
At first, I found it hard to believe someone would actually request all this in return for a chance to say “I’ve shot a wedding before” (notice how that was emphasized twice). But then, I remembered some of the offers I’ve had from acquaintances who happen to know I own a camera and take semi-decent shots. I also remembered this ad, which offers another unpaid once-in-a-lifetime gig. I still want to believe this is a troll, but then again – everything’s possible.
[via Reddit]
Dunja Đuđić Kalinin
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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29 responses to “A couple looks for a professional wedding photographer, pays with a chance to say “I’ve shot a wedding before””
Weed!
I refused of course…
I got rewarded for a photoshoot with a bullet, once…
“What are we eating tonight dad?”
“Exposure son”
My landlord doesn’t accept “exposure”
Someone offered to organize my bedroom closets for a family session last week…
If it was my garage, that would be about right.
Favors for headshot by an aspiring actress.
Got offered a male escorts services in return for promo images… that phone call was quickly ended.
What?! Oh my!
Dunja Đuđić Because I used to shoot boudoir and nude, people though it gave them the right to say all sorts of things to me.
Yea? So? Nothing to see here. If you don’t fit the criteria don’t answer the ad and move on. If somebody wants to take the gig it is their right to do so.
Nothing surprises me anymore. Uber/Lyft/etc. have hundreds of thousands of drivers willing to drive around in multi-thousand dollar vehicles for a chance to make a few bucks an hour – or more specifically, LOSE a few bucks an hour once operational costs are factored in. Millions of people via a couple of mammoth companies are willing to take advantage of a driver’s lack of business skills.
Just like people who take “rideshare” gigs the people who take this gig aren’t doing the math. They are acting on impulse, insecure in their own skills and inept at business. They will fail – just like most rideshare drivers. Unfortunately during that short window while they are failing they are taking up a spot previously occupied by someone who IS trying to run a sustainable business.
It’s nothing new in the photography business. Taking pictures is fun, being backstage is fun, being on the sidelines is fun, probably some people think taking wedding pictures is fun. As a result there is an endless supply of people willing to trade their time and buy lots of gear for a chance to have those experiences…and there are an endless number of people and businesses willing to take advantage of that fact.
There are people who will get rich from this – it’s the folks who start businesses like Uber. How many times since Uber made this model popular have you heard the phrase “It’s like Uber for xyz”? Someone will – if they haven’t already – do a business where people who are willing to shoot weddings for cheap are connected with clients who don’t want to pay $5,000 for a wedding photography team. A company with real accountants and business people will develop an app – with ratings, competitions, prizes, training, social networks and all of the other Vegas tricks to get photographers to participate. From the thousands of people doing work there will be the handful of “success stories” which are promoted in advertising as the norm – just like Vegas where jackpot winners hold enormous checks in front of oversized slot machines and payout percentages are hawked on billboards. It works. It’s a proven formula. It will be a successful app and the company will make tons of money. And one more niche where someone could eek out a living gets crushed. Just a modern day version of the general store vs. Walmart battle.
But hey, at least you can get a “cab ride” for $5 without flailing your arm around, right? And your wedding photos will only cost you $300. Maybe the photographer will even bring bottled water. :-)
Got offered sex for a boudoir shoot…. Ummm how bout a big fat nope to that. Been offered the usual exposure cause they have lots of contacts rubbish too, plus they then got pissy cause I knew they paid for the models for the shoot and I asked why would they not pay the photographer too
A similar, band-related ad made its way to Craigslist a few years ago. It stated that a restaurant was looking for a band for free, and (again) it would be a terrific oportunity to get exposure from future patrons.
Except this ad got a reply, which was something in the lines of: “How about we invite you to our house and you bring some of your best foods? Of course, you won’t be paid a dime, but this will great exposure to get future clients”.
Doesn’t feel so good when the shoe’s on the other foot ?
I was offered “Props” that I could keep after the shoot. I thought okay that’s interesting and asked for a picture of said props. It was maybe $10 worth of plastic junk from a dollar store.
Like others I’ve been offered “services” for doing sexy photo shoots.
Two spots left means one sucker fell for it
Would have shown up all geared up and ready to go. Then, proceed to shoot the entire wedding making tiiiiny deliberate mistakes in every.single.frame.
Are they having their first dance? Oops, cut off thr bride’s head.
Walking down the aisle? Thumb on flash (old but gold). Etc
Then, I’d deliver all said photos in low quality, poorly compressed jpg with a huge cheeky watermark on them and a legally binding document that makes it impossible to remove.
I mean, if they don’t like ’em, I can always refund ???
I took some food pictures for a co-worker (not a photographer). He’s going to sell frozen dishes. We didn’t talked about a payment, I assumed he would make me a small payment, but the payment was the food itself, after taking a picture, they microwaved the dishes and that was it… (at least it wasnt fake food)
If they were local, I’d reply and tell them “I’ll do it”, and then not show up. Or show up, drink their alcohol, eat their food, grind their granny on the dancefloor, and not take any photos. Then when they complain, tell them “you get what you pay for”!
LMAO for the ‘granny grind’…
really bad home made jewelry…beads on string
I was offered home made wooden signs for my garden in exchange for my photography services….so I shoot a wedding for 9 hours and get a couple of veggie signs for my imaginary garden?
A professional (someone making a living at this) would pass it by, but a beginning professional to an advanced hobbyist would do it. But I would stipulate no prints, provide only jpeg digital photos and have everyone sign a release form.
Then I’d shoot the heck out of everything with my mind set for stock image sales. And then when home, touch out and do a minor adjustment of best photos and deliver low res images with a PDF pricelist for print and high res professional touched up packages.
Though their would be no payment at least I would have ownership assets to sell/do as I want.
Justine Ungaro Gustavo Fernández
Uhmmmm, couple, would you bust your ass white carrying 10-20 lbs of gear on you for 8-10 hours for free? Yeah don’t ask me to.
I would advise anyone else to
(1) not take this gig
(2) give a big fat middle finger
(3) literally ask if they would work for free.
Deuces.
Really we should be paying them for the exposure.
In a german speaking Facebook group for photography, a couple spoke up recently, telling that thei unpaid photographer fucked up their wedding pictures and now they were looking for another photographer on TFP basis to redo some “wedding shots” to have memories once they were old.
They also got a lot of sarcastic responses but again – it’s possible that they really found someone who has done it for love and fame….
I only hope that they will call a professional one for the third time…. >:-)
Reply with interest, find out the date and location, then reply again with, “All is good but hope you don’t mind since I don’t like Japanese rifle and don’t those high caliber but I will bring all my American guns from 9mm to 0.50 and shoot your wedding.” ;)