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Sorry, but she doesn't owe you any free work. Just because you agreed to work for her for free in the past, doesn't mean that she has to work for you for free now. Favors don't really work like that, you don't get to decide when and how (or if) the favor will be returned. Think about it this way- you want her to photograph your wedding for free as a type of payment for the work you have done for her in the past? Well what if you were not getting married. Would you still expect payment from her? You don't get to agree to do something for free and then decide after the fact that you really would have liked to be paid after all.
If you are unhappy doing free work for her, then you should stop. Don't model for her anymore, and if she asks, tell her you just don't have the time to put into it anymore. But her request to be paid something for her work at your wedding is not unreasonable. She will probably have to spend some of her own money on supplies and such, plus she loses the opportunity to do some other paying work that day, so I can see why she would want something for her efforts. Figure out how much you would be willing to spend if she were a stranger. Offer her that, and if she refuses, say "I'm sorry, but that's all that is in my budget. Of course we would still be happy to have you at the wedding as a guest". and move on.
But you also might consider whether you even want her to be your photographer. If she's at a wedding where she knows a lot of people, she may be distracted and decide to dance a bit instead of working, etc. Plus, what if you don't like the pictures? Then you have that elephant in the room every time you see her in the future. I would be very careful before getting into this sort of arraignment...
I really hope everything works out for you and you are able to find someone to take beautiful pictures for you. But I also think it would be for the best if you moved on from this idea of getting her to do your pics for free...
Yeah...I agree with greenleafmountain.
I really don't think she "owes" you anything. You guys didn't agree to any fees; the fact that she has been mentioning that she should toss a couple bucks your way doesn't mean she should photograph you whole wedding for free.Sorry, just don't think you're entitled to a free shoot.
I agree with greenleafmountain. My brother in law is taking the pictures at my wedding and I am paying him $500, which is what costs him for all the supplies he needs and gas money. It isn't fair to ask someone who makes their livelyhood on a skill to do anything for you for free.
Unfortunately this happens to me all the time because I work in IT and with computers all the time. Friends will call me up and ask for computer help. I will spend 6-7 hours of my time getting rid of viruses, backing up data off a bad hard drive, etc. and then when I go to leave they say "Thanks for helping me. That saved me $300!" Excuse me? I just wasted an evening I could have spent with my FI to help you out and I'm not even going to make $100 for my efforts? People that do that to me instantly become non-friends and I don't talk to them again.
You can offer to pay materials and a reasonable to you cost for her time, but the best way to lose her as someone important to you is to demand she do work for you for free. You volunteered to model for free and that was your choice. It might be unfair, but then you can always not model or ask her to pay next time.
thanks for responding to my post... your response helped me see things in another light.....as for as her getting distracted at the wedding and not taking great photos. But to clear up something....... I never said that i was modeling for free...the agreement with my god-sister was that she would eventuly pay me someday. although i wasnt expecting her to pay me anytime soon.... because she had falling on hard times... and was" a starving artist" but after seeing my work in art gallerys, and on her website and being marked 250- to 500 ..... i cant help but to think of a wedding ...being that time to ...return a favor for a favor..... im ok with her not doing it.... i never asked her to...she so quickly jumped at the chance when she find out that i was getting married.... i never asked her............ a good friend and a co-worker of mine jumped at the chance of doing it as a wedding gift.... which i thought was really nice.....before mygod sister offered her services for a fee....
I would normally say you should not assume someone owes you a favor but it sounds like she always planned to pay you in some way. Maybe you could suggest to her that you barter your modeling services against wedding photos? It seems like she is not willing to shoot your wedding as a gift but she did ask for your input on said "small fee" so I don't think you would offend her by offering a barter.
Go with the co-worker and pay her something. It's nice that she offered to do it for free, but that's a really expensive wedding gift.
Another reason why it's not a good idea to go with your godsister is that she may not be very fair when taking pictures of the reception. If she knows a lot of your family and friends, you may get a lot of pictures of them and hardly anyone from your FI's side.
@aieshatreadwell: The follow up doesn't really matter. The question was should she have to take the pictures for free. My answer is still no. You can add "Even though...", but it still wouldn't change my answer. Most photo models I know that do it professionally are paid $10-20 a photo shoot. Instead of taking her services in trade, just tell her you won't model anymore until you get paid the $20xphoto shoots you have done. If your co-worker offered to do it free and clear then that is probably a better option to go with instead of trying to convince your god sister to do it for free.
It is nice you helped her out and all, but is pretty irrelevant to the question "should I pay her or expect it done for free?"
Thanks Bee.
i think that i will take your advice and just tell her No thanks...( i got a feeling that this is not going to be the end of it) but im going to go with my co-worker.... because this is to stressful to go with my god sister.....but im still hurt.... and i know that when she finds out that im using a nother photographer she is going to wonder why... then im going to have to be truthful and tell her.........
In my opinion, even if someone offers to do it for free (you're co-worker), or at least I'm assuming for free since they said they would do it as a gift, you should still at least give them a small gift just like you do your BMs, parents, readers, officiant, etc.
I was going to add before someone pretty much said it already... photo models don't make much money. It's not like you would've made $1000 at a photo shoot like that were you being paid for posing. So it's really not an even trade.
My sister is a photographer, and it isn't cheap to develop and edit pictures, especially wedding pictures that need to be just so.
Um... I am going with YOU on this one. I'm in the process of getting a photo business started and I am SO grateful to my family and friends who are helping me. I have had people sit as models, had their kids sit as models, sit with me at shows so someone can watch my booth while I pee.... i could not DO this without them. All of my friends and family know that I would do their weddings for free. I would probably do it for free even if they hadn't helped out. Seems like the best wedding gift I can think of :)
OK, I'm just going to say a few quick things
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My God sister is an artist, she paints beautiful pictures... she is very gifted and talented established artist in Atlanta.Since the Economy has changed and people arent buying painting like they use to ...painting has taken a backseat to photography. she traded her paintbrush in for a nice camera...... she takes amazing pictures.....she has been using me as a model.... for the past 2 years.... ............ok Beeee's this is the problem...
she has been making money off my photos..... and every time i see her she always says that one day she is going to pay me for my work..... all those long hours,,,,, all thoses off the wall outfits, just long hours of me giving my time to help out her career...she says that im her favorite model..... because i do it all and i dont complain....for free. ok so now im getting married... the wedding is in october.... and i need a photographer.......... i cant afford to pay 1000 of dollars for one either.... when she find out that i was getting married she.... quickly said that she would be my photographer ...... for a small fee...... to some that migh sound wonderful.... but that got me thinking...... about all the work that i have done for her,,, for free.......... i think that she should take my pictures for free..... im i wrong for thinking this......?????.... and to make matters worst... i asked her how much she would cahrge me.... and then she asked me.... what was my budget!!!! im i just being over the top?