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Trade Is Trade, Not Free

There always seem to be posts in model photography forums and groups on Facebook in regards to trade or TF work. Honestly, some of it just makes me shake my head. I am not referring to the posts looking for such work—I am talking about those that discuss the concept in general.

I often use the phrase trade instead of TF because I think it makes the whole purpose of the shoot a little more obvious. Whatever you call it, a trade is…wait for it…supposed to be a trade. This means both parties get something out of it, usually in the form of photos for their portfolio.


Model: Dekilah; Photographer: Joshua Winstead; Henna: Magic Monkey Mehendi

Here are some examples of how a trade might work:

  • Model and photographer agree on a concept or style and they shoot that for both of them
  • Model and photographer each have a different concept they like, so they shoot one concept for each of them
  • Model, photographer, and makeup artist decide on a concept and shoot it for all of them (feel free to add in wardrobe stylist, hair stylist, etc.)

The catch is that (ohmigosh!) everyone is supposed to get something they can use out of it. Otherwise somebody is just doing their part for free. People do that. I’ve done that, but it’s not what I consider to be trade.

And trade should not be considered “free.” I invest my time and money into keeping up my appearance, purchasing wardrobe, staying on top of my posing, etc. Photographers have a camera, lenses, and time they have spent learning their skills. Often they also have lights and a studio. We are trading with each other. I agree that money is not changing hands directly, so in that sense it is “free,” but when someone says “free” in the condescending, devaluing sort of way, it can be annoying and indicates to me that they are likely not that familiar with what trade is.

Therefore, when someone is asked to do a trade shoot they probably look over the portfolio of the other person and see if they think that person can create work with them that will benefit them.


Model: Dekilah; Photographer: sforsythe; Makeup Artist: Michelle Busch; Hair Stylist: Mk83

Portfolio improvement is kind of the whole point of trade with a few exceptions. You shoot with the best people you can in order to improve your work so you can get paid jobs, or work with even better people, or get published.

I find it a bit frustrating when I’m asked to do trade work by someone who can’t shoot content I can put in my portfolio because what they want to shoot is something I already have a lot of. For example, I already have a lot of nudes by some really good photographers. I don’t need any more unless they can top or at least equal what I already have.

The same goes for photographers. Some photographers do not feel they will benefit by shooting trade, but others choose to shoot only trade. Generally these photographers are quite skilled and have built up a good portfolio, so models are often willing to shoot trade with them.

And let’s remember what trade is—it’s a trade. So, if I’m not going to get anything out of it and I have only limited time for shoots, it’s really foolish of me to shoot if I won’t get anything out of it. The same should go for anyone else. And I’ve certainly been turned down for trade before, too. Most of those have since worked with me or asked to work with me because I went out there and improved my portfolio.

I realize I’ve been a bit blunt here, but I feel like this is something that people really need to understand.

Dekilah

Dekilah has been an art model since 2009. She has worked with over 100 photographers, ranging from the newest of the new to hobbyists and highly-skilled professionals. She is also very active online and in person reaching out to newer models and photographers to help them learn to communicate well and to avoid common issues in the modeling industry. Her website is www.dekilah.com

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33 Responses to “Trade Is Trade, Not Free”

  1. November 06, 2021 at 9:37 am, Joe Zasada said:

    Good article.
    When it comes to ‘trade’ with many models I offer a ‘trade for shoot’ which means I will trade an entire photo shoot of the same time/level of complexity for a model where they are directing the artistic vision, in addition to photos from the shoots.

    Reply

  2. September 19, 2016 at 12:11 pm, Alexandra said:

    I’ve had a few photographers NEVER get the final pics back to me. I’ve followed up multiple times, to no avail. That is so frustrating. Any thoughts on how to deal with that?

    Reply

    • October 06, 2016 at 1:32 pm, tinynot said:

      I am not so sure there is anything you can do, it is a civil issue, and not criminal to lie to someone. if it an issue that is worth bringing to court, only you can decide that, if it goes further and he uses them for financial gain, then it depends on how much he gained. Alex, i am sorry to hear that, those few ruins it for many of us out here, model and photographer both, and you said a few…….that is major bad. is there a trend or something, i hope not. it is very easy for models to get them, have a laptop with you, get at least a 32GB flashdrive/sandisk or both. have an adapter to get wire hooked up directly with the camera they are shooting with. this should cover it all. if any models out there want or need the info details on doing this, i will provide it free. how difficult can it be if i am able to do so? i think all models should know the tech and how and what equipment is being used to shoot them. i am willing to bet, most models have a point&shoot, or/and a smart phone with a high quality camera/lens within.

      Reply

  3. May 31, 2016 at 11:36 am, Maelanna said:

    This was a very good explanation. And I agree with your statements. TF shoots are great if you’re both getting something out of it. 🙂

    Reply

  4. May 29, 2016 at 2:18 am, tinynot said:

    I agree with what someone said about getting everything that the photographer shoots, if it is a trade, something should be figured out how and get it done. i mean, if they shoot 1000’s of images during a shoot, if the model has two 32GB flash drives, or 1TB HDD, that should be enough space i would think, and if it aint, then something should be worked out. about images getting out there that are not perfect and the photographer wanting everything to be perfect, well ya know what. the world is not perfect. i think in a trade, both should get every image from that shoot, untouched by human hands. why not, i do not see anything wrong with that. i think the simple solution would be to get that worked out before the shoot. that would be on the short list for sure, right everyone?
    [i believe that two laptops could be connected, perhaps even wireless, and the copying of images can be done that way, if both have SSD, this should not take that much time, heya techies out there, am I wrong about the laptops, and the SSD’s?]

    Reply

    • October 05, 2016 at 4:12 pm, mainline said:

      Tinynot, I also think that both parties should get everything they can out of the shoot, but that shouldn’t always be “everything the photographer shoots” without any discussion. There’s two sides to this: firstly if the shoot is for a particular theme, usually what the photographer is aiming for, then the better shots are going to be those which best carry that theme – and those are the shots that will also be best in the models portfolio (e.g. demontrating how she/he can act or express a particular emotion or feeling). Secondly by including everything that is from the shoot, then the model is left with sorting out the ones where she’s fanning away that annoying wasp that got in and where she’s unavoidably sneezed from the rest of the shots, some of which might just be ones that show her in a good light. I’m exaggerating for the sake of example but I’m sure you get the idea.
      Plus, wouldn’t it be great for the model if she gets the ‘final’ (or retouched, adjusted) shots to add to her portfolio so she can show what she and the photographer achieved together? Good examples of cooperation and contribution?

      Also please don’t forget that although the photographer will usually have the idea or theme already set in his/her mind, the model should also have the opportunity of putting her ideas into the mix which can enrich or better the results of the shoot.
      Certainly I have on many occasions included a models ideas and interpretations into a shoot which have made the results far better; for both paid and TF shoots I always ask the model if they have their own ideas and we discuss these.

      This way the most representative (not just ‘perfect’ either) shots from the shoot are included, with both the photographer and the model getting material that shows them in the best light, everybody shares the work and everybody wins.

      The best way, I’m convinced, is to talk about this together to begin with, then we both know what we’re aiming for.
      Of course, there may also be a situation where the aim that the photographer seeks is not necessarily what the model needs but where the photographer could, with the set, situation etc. add to the shoot with something which the model wants in addition. If the model gets the chance here that’s then an additional ‘exchange’ of ‘work for work’, again benefitting both parties.
      At the end of the day (preferably with a good discussion and exchange of ideas at the beginning of the day) everybody gets the best they can from all the time and effort they put into the shoot or shoots.

      On the subject of laptops with a SSD (solid state drive) rather than a conventional hard disk drive, SSD’s are quite a lot more expensive than HDD’s, and not all laptops have the facility for SSD’s yet either. In addition the reliability of SSD’s have not yet reached those of HDD’s when you add in the workings of the ‘driver’ and the operating system together.

      Reply

  5. May 26, 2016 at 4:00 pm, April Hunter said:

    Agree with this. I’ve done trade shoots and sometimes only received a couple of photos instead of ALL of them for my time. I’ve also gotten a copy of everything, but at such low resolution, I can’t use anything for my comic books or promotional printing. When it’s trade, TRADE. High res, all images. I can only imagine booking a trade shoot, then showing up and saying, “Hey, listen…you can only shoot my arm and neck today. That’s all I’ve got for you to use.”

    Reply

  6. August 21, 2015 at 2:38 pm, Richard Weiner said:

    As I do this for fun I am all for the TFT (trade for trade). If ever (highly unlikely) that I was to have a paid gig then YES I would share in the wealth.

    Reply

  7. July 22, 2015 at 6:06 pm, AFreeman said:

    I’ve found that Models and Photographers understand the concept of trade (TF) but most MUA’s do not. They expect to be paid…then they are the ones later begging for shots and to get credit in magazines, etc….when they were not really a part of the trade equation as I see it. Discuss….

    Reply

    • July 24, 2015 at 12:37 am, tiny said:

      being paid is just that, and they have no right to any of the results, your 100% correct i think. same for the models, if they are paid, if they want/need any of the results of the shoot, they should, like all others, pay for it. i have seen both, models want to get paid, and some of the results, what the heck is with that. some dont get the concept of, “getting paid”. i guess then?

      Reply

  8. July 22, 2015 at 12:47 pm, cory hine said:

    I shoot trade because I’m restarting my passion of photography. I will shoot whatever the model needs, and I will ask her to cooperate to shoot what I feel I need. I give all the shots I take, good and bad, to the model on a DVD. That is my agreement, along with the fact that I will enhance any photo she wants, if she will give me the file number. You are absolutely correct, trade is not free, and I do not consider it such. If you want to shoot with me, look at my portfolio before you contact me and see if I will be beneficial to you. If so, I will go out of my way to get the shots you need. I think the models I have worked with so far have been pleased with the images that I provided them. Hopefully, I will be able to keep it that way. And understand that I am evolving and getting better with every shoot that I do. I hope the models will find any shoot with me to be fun, and a benefit to them. I look forward to shooting in the future with those out there who are seriously interested in growing as a model.

    Reply

    • July 24, 2015 at 7:43 am, Allen Freeman said:

      Be careful. Don’t give out all your shots. Only give out the very best of your work. You don’t want to see your worse shots all over the Internet. Start your reputation for quality work now. As the saying goes: you are only as good as your worst shot. So make even that one great!

      Reply

      • May 25, 2016 at 7:22 pm, tinynot said:

        you are so right on, i admit i have done that and have given them all of the images, well i couldnt make more a mistake then that, that was bad. very bad. seems a lot of models think rotten images are good, and of course reason for this, simple, they are not photographers. live and learn i guess, right?

        Reply

      • October 06, 2016 at 1:15 pm, tinynot said:

        i have rethought this question about all the shots, not all the shots. well you all know what, there is no all fit answer to this., talk about it with whom ya all working with, and stay with what is agreed upon i say. and this goes with most dealings in life. if you promised the model all of them, then dont bug out, come on, it gives us all a bad name, again i think. and again, when you promise to be somewhere at a certain time, be there. paid or not. so, lets us say a bad image or two appear from some work you have done. come on, would it really ruin someones career, i do not think so, yesterday, perhaps. but not in the world today. if someone is thinking about hiring you, if they see a few bad images of yours and then from that decide to not hire you, i say your better off not working for that “person/business”. everyone, and i mean everyone has some work they would rather not have anyone see, and if it gets out….come on, it is not the end of the world. i am willing to bet there are even some images that the model liked and the photographer, well….did not like. in the world, there are way too many variables to consider and the remaining factor we should all consider is a meeting of the minds as to how, where, what the outcome will be etc. of any shoot, well most any shoot. then go from there.

        [everyone that is human has had and will have bad days, so pick up the pieces and carry on, life will go on no matter what you or I do, always has, always will. as far as tfdvd shoots, there will, i think, be a good enough reason for them to be!

        (18yr old model with no money, photog that is retired or between shoots, famous models that wants to give some of us out here and give us a once in a lifetime chance to shoot a PRO, and that will never change.)

        Reply

  9. May 01, 2015 at 7:53 pm, Lily Vargas said:

    if you are already a known photographer and known model. who cares for xdeal?

    Reply

  10. May 01, 2015 at 7:51 pm, Lily Vargas said:

    xchange deal is a trade. isn’t it? Fotogs get good photos for their portfolio and the model as well. And they just showed up each other in a location without paying each other

    Reply

  11. March 11, 2015 at 3:08 pm, GoodChoices said:

    That is exactly right Dekilah. It can get wonky dealing with creative people who don’t keep the initial goals in mind. You have to be stern and focused, get it in writing from the beginning what you expect to come from your interaction. The frustration of not doing so can turn you off from doing any more work or at the least cause you alot of mental and physical stress. It’s better to come off as an asshole in the beginning, if that is how they want to define you stating what you need to keep the situation mutually beneficial, than to be the one at the end trying to call someone who owes you something and they not pay you literally for years. Trust me, the ones who get mad are the ones who were out to scam you.

    Reply

    • May 25, 2016 at 7:25 pm, tinynot said:

      the ones that get mad, are the ones who were out to scam you, truer words have never been spoken, i do not think. thank you for that GOODCHOICES, very much, thank you. HHO

      Reply

  12. March 11, 2015 at 12:53 pm, Tony Lawrence said:

    TF (trade) isn’t just about adding work to a portfolio. Part of keeping a photographers skills sharp is shooting. This also goes for models. Just as musicians and singers and actors must practice their craft. So must models. Models on MM often go months between shoots because they only work when paid. Missing that being in front of a camera is important. Even if that camera is held by a ‘lessor’ photographer.

    Reply

    • July 24, 2015 at 12:31 am, tiny said:

      indeed, very interesting point your making, there are many out here that need the work to get better as a model/photographer and in doing a “barter for service”, we find a way to do it and both get out of it what they need to get better in what they do for a living. i have thought about it, and not many, if there are any, jobs offer this opportunity for this type of barter! and with the new tech. in photography coming out using “digital” point and shoot equipment, its very easy now to become someone that uses a “camera” compared to someone that is a “photographer” and the lines are indeed getting more blurry as time goes on, i think. anyone else on this line of thinking on how the “camera” is taking over the tech part of the shoot, and not quite yet, the “human” part of it.
      as in, anyone may take a “picture”, although not but not everyone has the ability to take an “image”, am I correct?

      Reply

    • May 25, 2016 at 7:13 pm, tinynot said:

      i could not agree with you more, even if i tried. practice makes perfect. this is very true for just about every profession. those that choose to only work when getting paid, therefore don’t work on a regular basis, are missing the boat, so to speak. very much so. “even if that camera is being held by a lessor photographer”, very well said tony.

      Reply

  13. September 13, 2014 at 7:19 am, tsigili said:

    This discussion overlooks the obvious. Unless you are shooting a paid assignment, there is no budget for paid models. Nor for make up artists.

    Like models, I no longer NEED to invest money in doing personal portfolio work. If, on the other hand there are new models, or not so new models, that want to collaborate, where both model and photographer contribute their time and effort to making good images, then I am willing to do that.

    Nothing is a bigger turn off, though, than reading “very experienced” and “only paid assignments”, when the model’s portfolio has absolutely no good commercial images in it. That is a very common finding among internet models.

    Models who always leave themselves open to working on an interesting concept, with someone whose work / style they like, are far more sensible.

    There is an arrogance among internet models, that is truly a turn off. Realize that good agencies, with truly good talent, are just a phone call away. If I am paying…….I can hire anyone, and it would make more sense to hire the proven model.

    Reply

    • May 25, 2016 at 7:09 pm, tinynot said:

      yes, i 100% agree with you, the egos of some of those that choose to be in front of a camera, well let us just say. they think they are all that, when they are not even half way there being, “all that”. image is a lot in the mind i think, and ego is a big part. it is alright to have an ego, but heck…HEYA MODELS, dont let it get in the way of what is real life, and not just in your mind. as we all know, every mother on this planet has the most prettiest baby, right? no, not right, I think ya get what i am saying. ” beauty is in the eyes of the beholder”, and “love is blind”, both very true statements. [and yes, i have had someone really pay for copies of some of my images, are they all that good, heck, of course not. I did not sell it to make money, I gave it to them for the cost to me for making the print, it was 11X14 btw]

      Reply

  14. August 15, 2014 at 4:38 pm, Ricardo said:

    I disagree Geoff but at the same time I understand your point of view. There’s a said: “If it’s not paid it’s not valued”. Not always people involved in a “TF” photo shoot do their best. Sometimes they are relaxed and just waiting to be directed because they didn’t pay for that so there’s no reason to stress. I’m sorry to say that sometimes “more relaxed” means less professional. It shouldn’t be like that but sometimes that happens. I’m a bit tired to hear things like “this is good for your promotion”. I don’t eat promotions. Unfortunately in New Zealand there are more photographers working for free that getting paid. Most of them have forgotten what a trade means. It’s a shame and it’s really ruining this profession here. It’s what I see everyday, not just an opinion.

    Reply

    • July 24, 2015 at 12:52 am, tiny said:

      yes ricardo, and with the hardware for photographer it is getting tougher to make money being a Pro-photographer and getting paid work, and it is going to get much more difficult as the equipment gets better and easier to use, HMMMM, by anyone!
      this is what progress is and no one can stop it, oh heck….even the cellphones are taking over the “main stream media”, they using all the cellphone results they can get their hands on, and for the most part, not paying for any of it. and it doesn’t matter the quality of the image/video, they will use it if it all they have, and in most cases, this is true. tech is overtaking, Main Stream Media, the u.s.Postal Service, and it taking over “photography”, I wonder sometimes why there is no discussion of this anywhere, well none that I have seen. and i go back to the 35mm day where film was the only way to take an image, but now with digital everywhere and over the years i have seen and witnessed the change from film to digital! i remember when the 5MP digitals starting coming out, it was the start of the end of “film”! now we have a darn cellphone with what? 42MP’s??

      Reply

  15. August 14, 2014 at 5:01 pm, Dean_R said:

    Well said!

    Proven past work history is another reason to consider TF.
    I am FAR more likely to call on those I have worked with in the past for new projects.
    As I say, if you are not yet on my long list, you probably will not be added to the short list for interesting projects.

    Another point can be made about Networking.
    There is real value in getting your name known by others in the business.
    I have given and received quality recommendations regarding great models before.

    I have seen young, inexperienced models that equate TF with No Value.
    Those that regard TF = Free = No Value = Worthless end up going nowhere.
    Or worse yet, having a portfolio of rubbish open leg pics that GWC’s paid for.

    Reply

  16. August 01, 2014 at 9:22 am, MaillerPhong said:

    100% agreed.

    Reply

  17. July 31, 2014 at 8:35 pm, Amy said:

    Preach.

    Reply

  18. July 31, 2014 at 6:10 pm, Geoff Coleman said:

    I only shoot trade for 2 reasons. I hate marketing and just want to
    create beautiful images so if I don’t have to pay models or MUAs then I
    can just concentrate on creating whatever concept I want without
    thinking about whether there is a market for it. Secondly when you take
    money out of the equation I’ve found the shoot is more relaxed and
    collaborative – everyone participating has more “buy-in” to the shoot
    and really extend themselves to get the best shots. Win-win all round.

    Reply

    • August 17, 2014 at 8:09 pm, Linda Durbesson said:

      Im totally agree.

      Reply

      • June 03, 2016 at 9:35 am, tinynot said:

        ditto

        Reply

    • November 19, 2014 at 1:57 pm, Chris Pickrell said:

      I shoot trade because then I can choose who I work with and avoid issues.

      Reply

    • May 25, 2016 at 1:30 pm, Victoria Gloss said:

      I want lol

      Reply

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