Good Exposure

I believe every artist has heard the words "We can't pay you, but it will be very good exposure" or... something along those lines.

It is the year 2015, I have now been creating in the area of photography for around 4 years. I know that's nothing in comparison to some - but where is the line between working for free and being paid for jobs? When do you suddenly have the confidence to not need to work for exposure?

I absolutely love working on creative projects, and I intend to shoot some projects I have already started working on, and no I cannot pay the people who will be involved. 

TFP* shooting is okay (in my opinion) when everyone involved on the shoot is in it for the same purpose, weather it be to be published or just to create new work and fulfill creative need. 

An instance where TFP work is not acceptable is when, for example a charity posts on a photographers/creatives forum asking for someone to work for free when the charity had a budget for the venue/other workers/alcohol/food/anything else... I do have to say I am guilty of significantly cutting my prices for charities that I care about, but in the end after promised exposure and promises of continued paid work... Someone is never going to want to pay you for something they got for free (or less.)

*(For non-creatives the term TFP means to work for free, people have different translations but that is the essence) 

I guess this is just a 'thinking out loud' blog post due to a few too many messages lately asking to work for free. I feel this will most likely result in myself taking on significantly less free projects this year in order to give myself more time on bigger projects. There is also a bit of an issue when you end up taking on a project and then the other model/designer/person starts treating you as if they're a paying client... just saying.

(That's if you're lucky enough to get one these days...)

This post doesn't really have much of a point, but if you're an artist, particularly a photographer in this case, and someone is asking you to work for free... Go to this lovely flow chart 

and if you're someone looking for a photographer to work for free, please reference the flow chart from their perspective, artists need to eat too (Oh and pay for the expencive equipment...)

I think I need this pasted above my email inbox...

A great little article on this topic, probably better written than a grumpy artist sitting at her computer...
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/mixmaster/2014/03/7_reasons_artists_should_stop.php



Grumpy Artist Writer: Jessica Kirby @ Jessica K Photography
Editor: Ash Dorman @ Jessica K Photography
No copyright intended on images.

Eyes Wide Shut: Jessica K Photography x Rebeckah Wurzbacher x Alannah Dair

Title: Eyes Wide Shut

Model: Alannah Dair

Make-up Artist: Rebeckah Wurzbacher 

Photography, Concept, Retouch: Jessica Kirby @ Jessica K Photography

Words: Ash Dorman

             

The blinding light, of her aspirations, stole her hand – leading her to a hollow heart. She is trapped now, forever moving t’ward dreams out of reach.

Hello 2015: Jessica K Photography: Pink Sunset

Hello 2015!

It's off to a bit of a rocky start.

Rather than going on about the failed shoots and anxiety, I thought I would just give you some pretty images of a burning pink sunset that I documented last week

Wishing you all a brilliant start to the New Year

I'll see you all soon...

Clean: Jessica K Photography

“Clean”

Photography, Retouching, Concept by Jessica K Photography

Make-up: Jordan Stewart

Model: Mallory Griffiths

Brisbane has been experiencing some incredible afternoon storms as of late, so I decided to take advantage. So I dragged my model and make-up artist out into the storm, with thunder rumbling around us and white flashes of lightning interfering with equipment, we created this editorial. Title inspired by Taylor Swift's song co-written by Imogen Heap, "Clean" It is the song I edited most of these images too.

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