Shooting Tests for Agencies (For Free!)

I was recently approached by FOTOGEN Model Agency in Zurich to shoot some tests for their new faces. Tests(?) some of you may ask? A test shooting is basically a model (with or without agency representation) asking you to shoot some material with her in order to build her book. Sometimes photographers get paid to do this, sometimes not… actually, the latter most of the time - which brings me to the point: There’s been a lively discussion about the issue of working for free these last few days… The photographic blog sphere has been talking about little else. It all started with The Strobist (aka David Hobby), suggesting free work can be a good thing in these economically difficult times. Following up was Seattle shooter Chase Jarvis, actually looking for free work! While John Harrington and Vincent Laforet more or less raise their voices against Hobby’s idea, saying it is misleading most readers. (Follow the links to read in detail what they have to say about all of this…)

Personally I’m rather torn on the issue. I have worked many jobs for free (or close to nothing) in order to build my own book, which is David Hobby’s point. The idea is that you get to shoot the stuff you are interested in, but would never get hired to do so due to the lack of such work in your portfolio. Break the viscious cycle if you will… And then in return get paid to shoot the same type of stuff again (paid by some other client, because they see it in your book). Sounds good and well… and yes you can build your book that way and yes you get your name out there. Problem is: At some point you need to find a client who is light headed enough to pay you, when he could have had the job for free, had he knocked a little earlier or simply went to another guy who followed The Strobist’s mantra…

More after the jump…

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