Morgan_Rose wrote:
I wasn't sure why he offered RAW images. I have no idea what to do with them.

Then tell him you would just as soon have Jpegs.

JC Strick wrote:
Never turn down money!

You were honest with him on your experience and that is commendable. I wish more people were like that

ETA: My best guess is he means unedited images and not images in RAW format.

maybe he did mean unedited instead. There is a bit of a language barrier when he was trying to explain things to me.

Well I would never lie about my experience only to disappoint them later. That wouldn't be right, in my opinion. Thanks everyone. I'm taking in what you are saying

JustinWKing wrote:
You have a lifetime of learning ahead of you. The more you learn, the more you will realize you don't know... The question becomes, at what point do we decide we know enough. There are times when you are hired for your skill, and there are times when you are hired for your looks.

A good photographer can get images out of an inexperienced model, so if you are concerned about your experience you could provide a disclaimer... It's great that you care about your craft. You can always research and practice things you think you might need to know specifically for the shoot.

That's a really good point. I'm probably always going to think I don't know enough so I guess I should relax and accept what he is offering.

Kelleth wrote:
I say take it.

Obviously this person sees value in hiring you so why not. Show up prepared, do your best and follow direction. Every shoot is a learning experience, whether paid or not.

My problem is I'm not understanding the value he's seeing. I know that's not in my job description. I should just show up and do the work I'm supposed to. Bear with me, I am still coming around to calling myself a "model."

Charlie-CNP wrote:
OP: couple things that might help you.

1. Even though you might be a newer model, this does not mean that the photographer in question might be experienced with directing models to pose..etc. Any photographer worth their salt can make great images with anyone.

2. Be confident in yourself, you are modeling for a reason. It is obvious that the photographer knows that you are a newer model. If they are cool with that, and they want to hire you, go for it!   

good luck!

Thank you

Morgan_Rose wrote:

My problem is I'm not understanding the value he's seeing. I know that's not in my job description. I should just show up and do the work I'm supposed to. Bear with me, I am still coming around to calling myself a "model."

It's not for you to decide. He is the one who is seeing the value. Take the $$$.

Morgan_Rose wrote:
My problem is I'm not understanding the value he's seeing.

you have a nice body.

barepixels wrote:
you have a nice body.

Thanks! I'll accept that instead of saying something self-deprecating as per usual.

Morgan_Rose wrote:

My problem is I'm not understanding the value he's seeing. I know that's not in my job description. I should just show up and do the work I'm supposed to. Bear with me, I am still coming around to calling myself a "model."

I get what you're saying but your "value" as a model is determined by those that hire you to a large extent. Obviously he sees something in your look or work that makes him not only want to shoot you but to pay you for it. The experience won't really be any different from other shoots you've been in (except for the payment).

Andre DF wrote:
You don't sounds very confident. While it's nice to see you're taking into consideration your skill level and you seem intent on actually learning your craft and not assuming your looks will carry you through, I only want to say 2 things.

1. If you agree to the shoot and to accept his terms (payment), expect to be paid despite what YOU think of the results or your performance. It's not only your performance, it's your TIME and ENERGY that he/she is paying for.

2. Being nervous going into a shoot is normal, especially if your basically starting out but if you're not confident in yourself, and I don't mean in your ability to generate positive results but your ability to perform and do the best you can, decline the shoot and work on a TF basis little more first. I honestly don't mean to make you feel bad, but not being confident is going to show up in the images as much as a third arm growing out of your head.

That being said, I've been in the same boat for years until the last couple. This is a trap. If you continue to over-think you'll always be in doubt of yourself. I've been offered paid gigs I've flatly refused because I didn't think I could do it, only to see the results of my competition for the same shoot and realizing I was far better suited for it. Worst case scenario: you'll have discovered a few key areas where you can improve on

You have to take a leap of faith somewhere.

Best of luck!

You're right. I should be more confident. I'm much better when I'm actually there. In front of a camera I'm entirely different, then when the camera is put down I'm insecure about how they turned out. I was extremely surprised I looked pretty good in my recent photos. I'm a perfectionist so I always find something wrong in something I do, but I can make that positive instead of self-deprecating. See it as a way to get even better and not think "oh, I suck."

Morgan_Rose wrote:
I've been doing a fair few amount of TF shoots the past couple of weeks (if you're wondering, the images aren't in my port yet. All of those are from February). I've been offered paid work for the first time and I'm hesitant about taking it.

I was offered $150 for two hours plus the raw images. I'm still learning how to pose and emote. I don't think anyone should be offering me pay for what I can give right now. I told the photographer this and he seems to insist on paying me. There's nothing wrong with generosity, but if I get there and don't deliver what he is looking for I'm going to feel terrible about taking his money.

Am I being crazy? Should I take it anyway?

Paying someone might ease the pressure of him having to live up to expectations, if he's insecure.
(Yes, I am speaking solely about photography)

Kelleth wrote:
I get what you're saying but your "value" as a model is determined by those that hire you to a large extent. Obviously he sees something in your look or work that makes him not only want to shoot you but to pay you for it. The experience won't really be any different from other shoots you've been in (except for the payment).

Okay, I'll go into it and forget money is involved so I don't overthink it. I'll practice a lot more so I'll feel better about it too.

CHAD ALAN wrote:
Paying someone might ease the pressure of him having to live up to expectations, if he's insecure.
(Yes, I am speaking solely about photography)

Ah, good point!

Tony Lawrence wrote:
I can see why he offered you money.   You look great.   I visited Raleigh a few years ago.   Cool city.   You sound like a sweet woman.   Use the cash to add to your modeling wardrobe.

Thank you, Tony That also sounds like a good idea.

M A R L H A M wrote:
Many photographers have limited time available to them so TF can be relatively expensive in terms of the time that needs to be committed. Paying a model is often preferable as the photographer can then focus his time around his own particular needs from the shoot. The fact he's only offering you RAWs (unedited pics) suggests to me that this might be his situation.

I never would have thought of it that way. Thank you.

Morgan_Rose wrote:

Thank you, Tony That also sounds like a good idea.

I visited Freemont, NC a few years ago and flew into Raleigh.   Until then I had never visited the south.   (Lived in Texas but mostly a Chicago guy)   We drove past cotton and tobacco fields.   I kept thinking I hope nobody puts me too work.   Its hot as hel# out here.   Do you have a Android phone?   If so check this app out:   https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta … s.n1022486     It may give you some pose ideals.   Have a great shoot!

Tony Lawrence wrote:

I visited Freemont, NC a few years ago and flew into Raleigh.   Until then I had never visited the south.   (Lived in Texas but mostly a Chicago guy)   We drove past cotton and tobacco fields.   I kept thinking I hope nobody puts me too work.   Its hot as hel# out here.   Do you have a Android phone?   If so check this app out:   https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta … s.n1022486     It may give you some pose ideals.   Have a great shoot!

Raleigh is a rather nice city, but where I am from there are nothing but fields and trees. It is really hot too Thanks for the app.

Mark Salo wrote:
Take the money.
Make sure that you know the difference between RAW and unretouched.

I know there is a difference, but he said "raw." English is not his first language though so I'm not sure if he meant RAW or unretouched. When I asked he didn't understand what I meant.

ontherocks wrote:
$150 sounds better than $0! take the money and run (well, model).

the downside of taking money comes when you start feeling stressed about being worth it. maybe what you are struggling with. and there's no easy answer to that. some people feel comfortable taking the money while others don't. for some people taking money makes it work and then it isn't a fun hobby anymore. so you're not wrong to ask this question.

by raw he probably meant he'd give you unretouched originals, not files in RAW format. some photographers will only give the models a few images from the shoot (usually retouched) whereas others will give them all/most of them.

and if you get paid and get images then you are getting more than many. usually when i pay a model i don't feel the need to get her any images (unless i'm so inclined).

Okay, you guys are probably right about that. Let's say unretouched instead I'm worried about being worth the money. I also like his work a lot so I suppose I'll have to accept that things can be this good! I'm still doing a lot of TF though.

sospix wrote:
Take the money  .  .  .  then pay me to shoot you  .  .  .  everyone'll be happy then  .  .  . 

SOS

haha nice!

BADesign-Photography wrote:
Also, I don't know about your particular market, but there are not a lot of nude models who do TF, and most of those do not have many - if any nudes in their portfolios.

Having a model, even a relatively inexperienced one, who has shot nude in the past, gives the photographer some piece of mind that you are comfortable with what you are doing, and therefore less likely to flake.

That is worth paying for.

Nude is what I love doing and I've been doing that TF the past three shoots I've had. If anything, it's when I'm most comfortable so I can see that being a plus. Thanks for your insight.