Free Service!!

[poker]

If none of these good suggestions apply to you then do what works in your situation. If you want to put yourself on Craigslist.com and low ball for experience then do what you have to do.

I stopped doing event photography for over 2 years. One day I told myself I wanted to do it again so I needed events to brush up. In the past 4 weeks....I did the following for free:

wedding (family member)
baptismal (family member)
100+ person conference (work related)

Now I have a bunch kids birthdays were I can practice almost every weekend for the next month...

I just kept my ears open and made any opportunity a photo opportunity....

Good luck...

[Asylum Steve]

In the past 4 weeks....I did the following for free:

wedding (family member)
baptismal (family member)
100+ person conference (work related)

Now I have a bunch kids birthdays were I can practice almost every weekend for the next month...

There is nothing wrong with getting experience or portfolio shots through trade-outs, self-assignments, or free shoots using "mock" clients. Manacsa has the right idea by doing it with people you know.

Free shoots with family, friends, or family of friends, or friends of family is NOT considered low-balling or undercutting the market.

True low-balling is when you offer your services on the open market with real clients and get jobs by continually charging much less than the market average.

And, yes, THAT will hurt you in the long run, as that's the value that will be placed on your work, and you will most likely find yourself enslaved by it...