Trade for... Nope. Pay Me.

I will apologize now, but I do NOT have any TFP (“trade for pictures,” on the off chance some non-industry types are confused) makeup/hair sessions available this fall/winter. Or for the foreseeable future, in fact.

• First of all, I don't do TFP for creative shoots any longer for photographers I do not know, period. If you're trying to establish yourself in the industry, you have to PAY for services. And even if I do know you, TFP has no value to me unless there is something about the concept or styling that is different from anything already in my portfolio, or just really inspires me creatively (but even that I can’t just do whenever something inspiring presents itself - that takes resources away from jobs I need to pay the bills.)

• Secondly, I don't do TFP, EVER, for models that have cancelled, rescheduled, or no-call-no-showed. Your lack of work ethic negates the benefit of my blocking off my schedule for you. And you really don’t have the negotiating power here - even if you’re a really, really exceptional model, I don’t really, really need you for my portfolio.

• Thirdly, your "creative-shoot-for-exposure-or-publication" doesn't interest me for several reasons. I've been published now 61 times, and I still have to pay for a copy of the magazine every time, which costs me a fortune - in essence, paying for my own art. I have to provide my own supplies, which are expensive. I generally only get HALF the photos I'm promised, some shoots I have received nothing. (I'm waiting on at least a DOZEN shoots that have been promised to be published, and six months later, I'm still waiting.) You can die from exposure - this is how I make my living.