A while ago I saw a thread about bartering, and a lot of people posted that they do it/would be open to the idea of it.  I'm wondering though -- does anyone have any success stories?  If you barter (specifically through the network of people you meet on MM), how many deals a year do you make?

I added that I was willing to barter into my profile (and originally had a long list of things I was willing to barter for) but I took down the list when I thought it made my profile look cluttered.  I haven't really gotten any bites though -- maybe one or two, and not for anything I actually wanted.

I'd barter with you if we were close.  I shoot for fun though, and I think paying for things makes them dirty.  Bartering, however, seems more wholesome, and acceptable in my mind, even if I'm just buying the girl things instead of paying her directly.

I've bartered for lots of things.  Many girls will take pictures for food, though, and most of the rest for no reason at all.

I like barter.  It's all about the value...what you're offering vs the value (financial or otherwise) you're offering

TF is a form of barter.

I barter.

I actually bartered labor for flooring install in my studio. I did some family portraits. Bartering is great as long as its equal value to both parties.

i hosted a traveling model and her boyfriend in exchange for a shoot.

on zivity models post their amazon wishlists and guys buy them stuff.

i had one model say "i'll work for a pair of shoes" well some ladies shoes cost more than it would cost to hire the model!

I might barter for some models

I have had the opportunity to shoot with models that usually only take 'paid' assignments, through bartering. Sometimes having a spare room for a place to stay while they are traveling through town... I have provided technical computer repairs in exchange for shoot time... Sometimes an up-and-coming designer will need shots of their product, give it to me, I give it to the model who poses in it, and everybody wins!!

Also, sometimes models will leave something behind at a shoot... and I usually will give a grace period for them to come and reclaim what they lost. But, sometimes I never see them again, and I still have the shoes, or scarf, or earrings, etc... and those items will go into the 'barter' pile. You like it, you pose in it, you keep it.

I like the barter system.

I've been trying to reduce the amount of clothing I have stored at the studio, so I've been bartering for corsets and other clothing.

Outside of MM I've bartered for other things such as drywall work, and roofing.

My favorite barter was discounting a web site for an acrobatic ride in a P-51 Mustang.

I don't seek barter arrangements out, but sometimes they just happened.

A few months ago, a "damsel in distress" llama dropped me a line:  her lodging plans fell through

I've bartered for wardrobe pieces for future use,alcohol and frequent flier miles. It never hurts to offer other options in the process of shoot negotiation.

I've also bartered with photographers with discontinued film stocks and other related goodies.

The thread is still going, and is now stickied at the top of the forum...specifically so folks don't have to clutter their main profiles with lists

http://www.modelmayhem.com/po.php?thread_id=844281

I think the barter system, in and outside of the model/photographer relationship, is fantastic.

One of the first commercial clients I had was, and still is, AAA Travel. Part of the compensation has been paid to me in the form of travel, cruise, airline, etc.

I know I worked for that by providing my services but there is something wonderful about feeling like you have a product or service "given" to you. Especially when it's something you wouldn't likely buy for yourself.

I'd love to Barter, but I don't think I have anything anybody would want.

Willing to barter here. Have for a while.

You said it yourself. Sure people do it, it's just a matter of finding someone offering something you actually want, and that thing being on par with what you have to offer in return


Pictures, cash...those are the easiest things to barter in modelling. Clothing/makeup/equipment trade/studio time , hosting also.


If you're looking for violin lessons though...good luck finding a qualified violinist/photographer who's local to you and willing to do that trade off.

Most times it's easier to just get paid and then go acquire the thing you want yourself