Question for shooters and professionals alike

Moogle PepperMoogle Pepper Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
edited May 20, 2008 in Mind Your Own Business
Alright I am starting out my photography business, wah hoo! :barb

So I have been putting advertisements out where I am allowed to, through different venues, and I have gotten a response from a guy [via email].

He asks me if I could do portraits of him. I replied yes I can for such and such price.

He then said he wanted to do portraits in the nude. And I replied, well I have never done a nude shoot before, and I am kind of unsure how I would be able to do that artistically. And then he fwds me a naked picture of a guy in black and white. To me the photo he fwded to wasn't very artsy or classy. So at this moment I am not sure I can help him with what he is looking for.

That kinda of imagery wouldn't do well to aid me in my portfolio, at least to my knowledge.

Was there jobs when you first started out that you turned down, even though it was a job?
Food & Culture.
www.tednghiem.com

Comments

  • SloYerRollSloYerRoll Registered Users Posts: 2,788 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2008
    Alright I am starting out my photography business, wah hoo! wings.gif

    So I have been putting advertisements out where I am allowed to, through different venues, and I have gotten a response from a guy [via email].

    He asks me if I could do portraits of him. I replied yes I can for such and such price.

    He then said he wanted to do portraits in the nude. And I replied, well I have never done a nude shoot before, and I am kind of unsure how I would be able to do that artistically. And then he fwds me a naked picture of a guy in black and white. To me the photo he fwded to wasn't very artsy or classy. So at this moment I am not sure I can help him with what he is looking for.

    That kinda of imagery wouldn't do well to aid me in my portfolio, at least to my knowledge.

    Was there jobs when you first started out that you turned down, even though it was a job?
    This is JMO...

    I wouldn't take it. If it doesn't add value to your business or portfolio. Why do it? If your a starving artist type and need cash to eat. That's a different story.
    You may also end up being referred all over the place to people that you don't really want to shoot. You have no idea how well this guy may be connected.

    I'd just tell him that your honored he'd think of you for such artistic shots (whether they be artistic or not). Then tell him that you don't shoot nudes. Check around and see if there are any other decent photogs in the area that would shoot this. Just make sure you tell the person you've never personally worked w/ them, but have heard good things (plausible deniability).
  • ChatKatChatKat Registered Users Posts: 1,357 Major grins
    edited May 19, 2008
    No
    Anyone I am not comfortable with, I say it's not my style of photography. You have to be careful. Who knows what you can open yourself up for?.
    Where would a shoot like that take place? I would only do nude photography for people that I have a relationship with already and never genetalia. I want to design the finished product. If I haven't done it before, then as a professional, I won't do it. And I (even though I am female) wouldn't do a nude shoot regardless of sex without a third person there to protect me from a potential situation or an imagined one too.

    SloYerRoll wrote:
    This is JMO...

    I wouldn't take it. If it doesn't add value to your business or portfolio. Why do it? If your a starving artist type and need cash to eat. That's a different story.
    You may also end up being referred all over the place to people that you don't really want to shoot. You have no idea how well this guy may be connected.

    I'd just tell him that your honored he'd think of you for such artistic shots (whether they be artistic or not). Then tell him that you don't shoot nudes. Check around and see if there are any other decent photogs in the area that would shoot this. Just make sure you tell the person you've never personally worked w/ them, but have heard good things (plausible deniability).
    Kathy Rappaport
    Flash Frozen Photography, Inc.
    http://flashfrozenphotography.com
  • AngeloAngelo Super Moderators Posts: 8,937 moderator
    edited May 20, 2008
    Alright I am starting out my photography business, wah hoo! wings.gif

    So I have been putting advertisements out where I am allowed to, through different venues, and I have gotten a response from a guy [via email].

    He asks me if I could do portraits of him. I replied yes I can for such and such price.

    He then said he wanted to do portraits in the nude. And I replied, well I have never done a nude shoot before, and I am kind of unsure how I would be able to do that artistically. And then he fwds me a naked picture of a guy in black and white. To me the photo he fwded to wasn't very artsy or classy. So at this moment I am not sure I can help him with what he is looking for.

    That kinda of imagery wouldn't do well to aid me in my portfolio, at least to my knowledge.

    Was there jobs when you first started out that you turned down, even though it was a job?

    dude, walk away!

    this guy's offering a job alright but not a paying photography type of job. eek7.gif

    move along before you get yourself in trouble. deal.gif
  • Moogle PepperMoogle Pepper Registered Users Posts: 2,950 Major grins
    edited May 20, 2008
    Yeah, I declined after his latest email which was really creepy. I took SloYeRoll's suggestion and sent him an email that I declined and gave him some links to phtoographers who are more experienced in artistic nudes. Even though it certainly didn't sound like it was just the photos he wanted.


    Were there any jobs that you guys and gals turned down?
    Food & Culture.
    www.tednghiem.com
  • wa8ruowa8ruo Registered Users Posts: 2 Beginner grinner
    edited May 20, 2008
    Good choice!
    You chose wisely. Aside from the previously mentioned possibility of drawing the 'wrong' customers, you may have violated some laws. (The guy may have been an older-looking juvenile.) With the new federal obscenity law about to come down (which could make it illegal to even photograph your baby taking a bath), you might have ended up with 'advertising' of the unflattering kind. ("Local Photog Under Investigation...")

    With the proliferation of digital cameras, I can't help wonder why he would pay a pro for photos that would have such limited use... then again, maybe I don't want to know!

    Good luck with the new business!

    ...Charlie
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