Finding a Creative Team! (Part 2)

If you're only just starting out as a fashion photographer, then you might not know how to collaborate with the right people. In my previous post (https://emmamages.wixsite.com/emphotos/blog-1/where-to-find-a-creative-team-part-1) I talked about where to find a creative team. Once you've set up your purpleport account and joined the appropriate Facebook groups, it's now time to start looking for people to collaborate with! But not everybody might fit the image you had in mind...and most people might want to get paid.

So, you're a student, you're skint and you have a major deadline in your photography class! How are you going to pay a model to work with you for £70 an hour and an MUA on top of that? What if I told you that all of the collaborations that I have done, I have not paid a single penny? All the models, MUAs and designers I have worked with to build the fashion side of my portfolio (https://emmamages.wixsite.com/emphotos/fashion) have worked with me for free, some even wanted to work with me for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th time! Yes they're professionals. And yes some of them work for pay. So how did I do it? TFP.

TFP is Trade For Print. When working on a TFP basis everybody in the team is working for free in exchange for the final prints. This benefits everybody involved. Why?:

- You all receive professional images for your portfolio

- You get to network with other professionals in the industry

- It's lots of fun!

A lot of people are willing to work with you on a TFP basis if they feel that it benefits their portfolio. Here are some tips on how to get people to work TFP:

Only show them your best images

Models want good photos. If you post pictures of your Grandma on to your portfolio, chances are, you're not going to get much response. Make sure you only post your best images! The better the photos, the more people you will attract.

Make sure your castings sound inviting

You want to gain peoples attention. If your casting is boring, they will scroll straight past you. Make sure it has a catchy title and make your idea sound like something nobody has ever done before.

Be Professional

You may be working for free, but it's still a job. These people are doing you a favour so make sure you appreciate their time!

Make an Impression

Your contacts are vital in this industry! Everybody talks. It is important you make a good impression. You don't want a bad reputation because then nobody will want to work with you. I have worked with some incredible people! I've made such a good impression that they have wanted to work with me again and I know that if I asked they wouldn't hesitate to help out another time if needed.

Have fun!

TFP shoots are a lot of fun! You meet amazing people. You get to do what you love. And hopefully you'll have some stunning images to show for it! Enjoy the experience and connect with as many people as possible.

Part 3 will be on what to do if your team is unreliable! You must be prepared for everything so watch this space.