Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
What is the whole deal? Hourly rate, meals, tf plus fee?
NewBoldPhoto
Posts: 4,641
PORT MURRAY, New Jersey, US
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
just to clarify: you accepted a job that pays in trade and you now want to change the terms so that you get paid in pictures and cash?
Depends on how long ago you agreed to do the shoot. I remember having models agree to a shoot, then a week later tell me they needed gas. Not cool. If you know you're broke, then say so early in the negotiating of details. Let them know that in order for you to shoot you'd require some money for gas. Otherwise they'll likely say no and find someone else who isn't full of surprises.
Another thing; give a reasonable estimate. Most cars get around 20-25mpg, you're going 50miles (x2)....so asking for enough for 4 gallons is fair, maybe even 5. Don't be one of those models that asks for $75 (ie. filling your tank for the week).
J Jessica
Posts: 1,710
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, US
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
T-D-L wrote: Depends on how long ago you agreed to do the shoot. I remember having models agree to a shoot, then a week later tell me they needed gas. Not cool. If you know you're broke, then say so early in the negotiating of details. Let them know that in order for you to shoot you'd require some money for gas. Otherwise they'll likely say no and find someone else who isn't full of surprises.
Another thing; give a reasonable estimate. Most cars get around 20-25mpg, you're going 50miles (x2)....so asking for enough for 4 gallons is fair, maybe even 5. Don't be one of those models that asks for $75 (ie. filling your tank for the week).
Its not for a shoot, but a hair show. All Im asking is for 20..
best to mention that at the beginning. but i have had some models say "things are tight this month could you spare a bit for gas?" but you have to decide what to do if they say no. for my part i'm not against kicking in some gas money but at some point i feel like i'm paying the model which is different from a TF shoot.
twoharts wrote: best to mention that at the beginning. but i have had some models say "things are tight this month could you spare a bit for gas?" but you have to decide what to do if they say no. for my part i'm not against kicking in some gas money but at some point i feel like i'm paying the model which is different from a TF shoot.
Its not for a shoot, but a hair show. All Im asking is for 20..
Same thing, it's a gig you agreed to do, and you're asking for money. How long ago did you agree to do this, and how long are you waiting before you tell them? Last minute surprises are no bueno....
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
First, work it out with the photographer pre-shoot. Never spring it on the photographer at the shoot.
Second, I have a standing policy on all TF shoots. If the model has to drive more than 30 minutes to get to where we're shooting, I pay gas. I provide water and snacks. And if we shoot over a meal, I cover the meal.
But in all cases, don't assume, just raise the subject with the photographer.
Yep. If I have to drive to work... I do not include the time it takes to get there as the hourly wage that they pay me.
If I (as a photographer) were to agree to a TFP shoot with a model... I would not expect to pay for her travel time. If I paid a model, I would assume that part of her pay was going toward gas money, and I would not pay her MORE than the agreed upon amount, just because she had to travel to the shoot. Same with a TFP. If we agree on $X.XX amount of money, that's what you get. Regardless of whether you are from Seattle, Lynnwood, Everett, or Jerusalem. Models that agree to a TFP shoot with me, and then ask for compensation for "travel" get a free, one-way pass to my black-list. I lump them in with the bait-and-switch tactic girls...
Work for pay, or work for something else... do NOT try to work for one thing, and then also expect money just because it is not as convenient for you to get to the shoot as it might be for other "models".
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
Is it wrong to ask?
Nope.
Would I pay it? Nope.
Would I think it silly? Yup.
Would I work with you again if you asked for it? Maybe, but I would be disinclined to do so.
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
Things are rough right about now, and I have an assignment next week that requires me to travel twice to a location that is about 50 mins away from where I reside..
This is something you should have considered when you took the assignment. You should have asked the photographer or whoever if it would be possible for you to get some money for gas since you were coming from 50 miles away. For trade shoots I will frequently give the model gas money if she did a good job even though she didn't ask for it.
However, I consider it unethical when a model tries to changes the terms of compensation at the last minute. I had a shoot scheduled with a model a few months ago. She messaged me the day before the shoot and told me that I would have to pay her an extra $20 for gas above the amount I had already agreed to pay her for the shoot. I told her to stay home.
If you think this is a really good assignment that will benefit your career or your portfolio I would suggest that you suck it up and pay for the gas yourself rather than risk losing the job.
Everything I'm doing is free labor, it is for a hair show. All I need is gas to be able to get to the event.
Do you know if anyone else on the "team" is getting paid gas money for the show? Is everyone working for TF? If everyone is working for free, where would the money come from? While I understand your dilema, if there is no budget for the show to begin with, there wouldn't be any money to pay you with.
Now, if someone is making money from this event, then it might be appropriate to approach that person with your question. However, if the wheels are already set in motion and you have already agreed to participate, bringing this issue up now won't look very professional.
As others have said, it's best to ask this question up front when initial discussions are happening, not after you have already agreed to attend and you are now asking to change the terms.
First, work it out with the photographer pre-shoot. Never spring it on the photographer at the shoot.
Second, I have a standing policy on all TF shoots. If the model has to drive more than 30 minutes to get to where we're shooting, I pay gas. I provide water and snacks. And if we shoot over a meal, I cover the meal.
But in all cases, don't assume, just raise the subject with the photographer.
Ed
i'm the same way , i live out in the country about an hour and a half north of Dallas . If the model drives to me i will pay for a fair amount of gas , and always provide food and drinks .
I have no problems when models ask for a little gas $ well in advance. The model that that asked for $150 to go about 70 miles was pushing it a bit though. Found someone closer.
There is nothing to prevent you from asking, and with the price of gas, I can't blame you for asking! The worst they can to is say "No", right? When it comes to working with models, I appreciate their work, so I try to be as accommodating as possible. Paying some reasonable amount of dollars for gas is not a problem for me. I hope you've got enough time to bring this up with them because communication is "key" here! No one likes to be hit up at the last minute. Good luck!
Tairat Baoku wrote: Its not for a shoot, but a hair show. All Im asking is for 20..
I've shot for a major hair products distributor at hair shows, so I know what you're going through. Hair shows are notorious for being cheap ass to models! They do figure that you are getting a cut worth a lot of money, but I don't think it's fair for them to not pay you. Truthfully, they products and services are worth something, but then so are the services of photographers and models. I also take in consideration that make up artists want to get paid too. We all should ask!
The thing is that for these hair shows, the one producing such an event needs to work out a budget. Whomever is responsible for that is the one who should also be seeking the very product manufacturers and distributors that have the money to market these events. You should ask whomever is in charge (in advance of course) and see if they can provide at least some gas money. If they are working with low or no budget, they might not do it. If they do give you gas money, they might worry that everyone else will have their hands out! I know about producing such events!
You can always ask. But don't expect to get it. Especially if it's after the fact.
I responded to a model casting for a TFP shoot. She responded she'd need gas money. I declined. Had she indicated that in her initial request I might have agreed. Be up front. People don't like to feel as though they are being taken advantage of.
Speaking of which. You are working for free to model someone's work at a hair show?!? I assume we're talking multiple hours or even an all day event. If that's the case than yes I believe at the very least they should be covering your expenses. A prearranged stipend for travel and food is in order.
Edit: Quite frankly this isn't a TFP shoot at all. I hope they have someone decent on hand to shoot so you may at least walk away with some good photos for your portfolio.
Images by MR
Posts: 6,019
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Tairat Baoku wrote: Quick question..
Would it be wrong to ask for a little compesation for gas even though the assigment is a TF?
-Ira wrote: You can always ask. But don't expect to get it. Especially if it's after the fact.
I responded to a model casting for a TFP shoot. She responded she'd need gas money. I declined. Had she indicated that in her initial request I might have agreed. Be up front. People don't like to feel as though they are being taken advantage of.
Speaking of which. You are working for free to model someone's work at a hair show?!? I assume we're talking multiple hours or even an all day event. If that's the case than yes I believe at the very least they should be covering your expenses. A prearranged stipend for travel and food is in order.
A TF hair show I'm willing to bet there is no budget...
OP- You could ask but you know what they say about getting blood from a stone.
A lot of people didn't catch the OP saying it's a hair show, and NOT a shoot. Negotiations with a photographer is a lot easier since you know who is in charge. You and I have both experienced hair shows as I can tell by your comment! Usually these shows are ticketed as classroom events where students of cosmetology pay to attend. They benefit because they learn new cuts, and styles. I would hope that there is a budget, but then with this economy, you never know!
Maybe because when you're doing something that warrants pay for nothing other than some images you're selling yourself short? Say what you will, say that the photos from the hair show could possibly be awesome and get her future work....but any time I hear fashion/hair show and "no budget" I think rip off. llamas in the real world usually get paid fairly well, and get images as well for these things.
There's no crime in asking. There's no law saying that a shoot has to be totally paid or totally TF. Just be reasonable with your transportation charges and mention them as early in the negotiation process as possible.
Doesn't matter if it's a trade show or a shoot. Negotiate what you need to negotiate.
Um, OK... That's fair for you to say, if a model was more than 2 hours drive from you, then well... it would probably take MORE than a drive!! You're probably not asked very often to pay for a model's gas who is traveling more than $20....
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