TFP

Today a small blogpost (but very important one) about a term called TFP.
TFP means officially : Time For Print.
Often now a days it’s called : Time For CD

So what is TFP?
TFP means that you do a photoshoot (or something else) without getting paid.
“You said what? I don’t get paid for my time, what is going on?”
Yep you heard me correctly, YOU (and your whole team) doesn’t get paid.
Some people will now say that they will never do stuff like that (anymore), but let’s think about it.

When you look at the image above you might wonder how I got the assignment to shoot this, well the reality is I did not. This shot was done during a so called TFP session. The main focus with TFP is that you can do stuff you normally don’t.

Think about this, if you would ONLY post your commercial work online, how interesting would your portfolio look?
Well unless you’re shooting celebrities every day I think it would look rather dull, right?
Even for me my portfolio would look ok, but it would probably also look a bit the same and I mainly teach workshops in which I can set the themes (something I will always try to do of course), but there are still things that I can’t do during a workshop for the simple reason that I have to take into account that also my students will be shooting with me, or because it would take too much time to work out. With a TFP shoot I can take my time, sometimes we will literally work for several hours on creating the image our team wants. The images shot during these sessions are 100% what the team wants and represent the best the team can give (although budget will always be a limitation).

So when should you do a TFP session?
For me it’s simple.
When I feel a model/MUA/Stylist can add something to my portfolio that I need, or want than I will consider a TFP session. One has to realize that I get a lot of emails from models/MUA etc. that think they can be addition to my portfolio but in fact have no ideas and even when they are beautiful I will probably not have the time to plan something. Sometimes I will invite them over for a small testshoot to see if they would fit in my workshop models group, but I will not spend a whole day on the shoot. However when a “so-so” model will send me a crazy idea that I really love I will probably do it.

I’m experience so….
So what?
This must be one of the things I always hate to see and you see it on almost all model/photographer/MUA sites for example “I’ve now been shooting for a year so no more TFPs” well I always think “good luck”, because if you’re shooting for a year how good can your portfolio be? and when looking at their portfolio it’s often indeed a confirmation from that question.

Now understand me correctly, I don’t say that you should always respond and do TFP sessions who ever asks you, or that you should do at least 2 a week. But NEVER close that option, you will be missing some awesome opportunities. Let’s be honest, when a model mails you that she can arrange a stunning bridal suite, some stunning clothes and a great stylist and asks you to shoot this on TFP what would you do?

I will look at the room, the clothes and if it’s something that I can use I will without a doubt jump at the occasion, although I have to say that over the years I’ve become more and more difficult to participate I will without a doubt do it if everything clicks.

When starting out TFP is without a doubt the best way to build your portfolio, build a nice network (maybe even more important) and learn, learn, learn. So don’t close that option off, you can become more and more “demanding” but always keep learning/playing… let’s be honest it’s the best job in the world when you can do what you want 😀

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