What should a photographer provide in a TFP shoot agreement?
Asked 9/7/2019
4 views
2 answers
0
In a time-for-prints (TFP) shoot, what is generally considered fair for the photographer to provide the model in exchange for their time? I'm trying to set clear expectations around shoot length, how many proofs or selects to show, whether only edited images should be delivered, how many final retouched images are typical, and how to handle requests for all images or extra edits. I usually deliver 6–10 edited images, but some models ask for many more or even every frame, and I want a fair arrangement that also respects the time spent culling and editing.
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
6y ago
2 Answers
3
Make it clear from the start - your time is yours.
It takes far longer to edit the shoot than it did to shoot it. You are already investing more time in this exchange than they are.
Secondly - no-one gets all the shots. Tell them your job is to take a mixed bag of lemons & peaches & separate out the peaches*. The lemons go in the bin, the peaches get worked on further.
The ones finally used for the presentation 'peach melba with cream' have had all the work done. The ones that made it past the lemon cut but not to the final product are unlikely to be worth their time, no matter how keen they are to see them.
You will send them 6 - 10 images you personally think are the best ones; fully edited & in high rez.
You would be prepared to give them low-rez jpgs of some of the also-rans, just to demonstrate why you picked the ones for the 'peach melba'; but they are not to publish them without prior approval &/or further editing [you might take a punt at trying to charge if they want any of these working on - up to you**]. Otherwise, this batch is for them only.
*If they get argumentative on the lemon/peach distinction, point out to them that you may take 20 shots just checking your lighting, focus, composition [make up some techno-babble if necessary], before you even care what expression or body-presentation they need to do, or whether their hair looks right. That's a big bag of lemons necessary to the process that even you will never look at again.
That's before you even get to the one where they blinked, or sneezed, or their hair blew the wrong way, or they asked you a question right as you snapped… or you missed your focus, or they picked lint off their left boob/scratched their crotch [dependant on gender assignment], picked their nose, turned away, laughed too much, had a funny stare that made them look slightly mad… yada yada…
Tell them lemons are lemons & no-one ever needs to see them out in public. You will quietly & discreetly discard all the ones that don't make them look their best. They did their job, now let you do yours.
**I'd weigh that up against the fact that everything so far on a TFP shoot has been 'free' & wouldn't bother pushing too hard.
Originally by user57929. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user57929
6y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
The key is to agree on terms before the shoot and act in good faith. In TFP, there isn’t one fixed standard, but a common approach is to deliver a modest set of your best fully edited images—often around 5–10, depending on the shoot and how much post-processing is involved.
You generally should not provide all images. Part of the photographer’s role is culling out weak frames and delivering only the worthwhile selects. If the model wants input, a practical option is to share a contact sheet or a proof gallery of the images you consider usable, then let them choose a small number for final editing.
What you deliver should be good-quality finished files or prints, not crippled versions, especially since your name may be associated with them. It’s also fair to promise that you aren’t holding back better images for your own use while giving the model lesser ones.
If extra edited images are available beyond the agreed number, charging for additional retouching is reasonable—as long as that possibility is stated upfront in the TFP agreement.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI6y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
How should a wedding photographer handle a client who dislikes the final editing style?
Why do wedding and event photographers usually deliver only edited photos, not all unedited files?
Should clients choose photos before or after I edit them?
How should a beginner price portrait sessions for seniors and families?
Should a photography contract include an exclusivity clause, and how should image rights be worded?