Pros and Cons of Volunteering

[Curtis Cunningham]

I just received an email from the tourism office in the town where I live asking for volunteer photographers to help capture a Tourism Conference that happens next month.

Now being new in the community myself, it would be a good thing for me to do to help get my name out there (assuming they give me credit for the photos I take, which I haven't asked for yet).

But obviously the bad thing is that I wouldn't get paid.

What are your thoughts and comments on this issue of volunteerism?

[Dennis_Vied]

I don't mind volunteering for my church, or another charitable institution. But that Tourism Conference is a commercial endeavor, designed to increase tourism. They certainly wouldn't work for nothing.

On the other hand, if you look at it as free promotion for yourself, then your pay is in the exposure to potential clients. Sounds ok to me. Be interesting to see if there are any photographers at all being paid at the gig.

[EricC]

Curtis,
Find out if the conference hall(s) are being donated. Are all of the other services being donated as well? IF all, or a good number of the merchants are donating time/product/service for this then by all means be a good neighbor and help your fellow merchants. On the other hand if if you are the only one working for a 'credit', pass. Why value your time, product, and equipment investment any less than anyone else providing services to the conference.

[ChrisPurves]

Originally Posted by Curtis Cunningham

I just received an email from the tourism office in the town where I live asking for volunteer photographers to help capture a Tourism Conference that happens next month.

Now being new in the community myself, it would be a good thing for me to do to help get my name out there (assuming they give me credit for the photos I take, which I haven't asked for yet).

But obviously the bad thing is that I wouldn't get paid.

What are your thoughts and comments on this issue of volunteerism?

Hi Curtis:- How many "volunteer photographers" received the same email. Check with the other pros in town to see if they are attending. Most government agencies have caught on to the free photos thing. There will always be someone who will jump on board "for the exposure"
Is it a conference, inside, people mingling, photojournalist type shoot? Why aren't they using the local media. Most of them will give the conference people some shots after the event.

If you do shoot the event, make sure you are front and center. Use the time at the event to network with the attendees. You are doing something for the organizers, get them to do something for you. They should introduce you to the attendees, promote your business and most of all don't tell anyone you are "donating" the photos. If they will do that and you are the only photographer there then you might realize some tangible results from the event.
If they just want you for "free photos" and give you some kind of excuse why they can't help you then walk away.

Good luck and welcome to Northern BC

Cheers
Chris

[ChrisPurves]

Curtis:- where are you? What happened?
enquiring minds want to know.

[Robert Wilde]

I would rather work on my own photo projects than to work for somebody else for free.

This "exposure" thing is far too foggy.

If you invest the time to work on your own projects, you get better at what you are interested in, and have a valuable addition for your portfolio.

A good portfolio, that's exposure.

And contacting people, cold call, that's exposure.

My take on this: if you are interested in shooting this convention, if gets you going, if you love to do it, then do it. Otherwise...

[Curtis Cunningham]

I've been trying the past few day--with no success--to get a hold of the lady in charge of organizing the event in question. I hope to try again this morning and get some answers.

I also spoke with a friend who knows/has done business with this lady. He says that she knows the value of photographers and has paid people for their work before. So she at least has that going for her.

So hopefully I will be able to speak with her today and get some answers. I can't remember if I've mentioned this before, but seeing as Smithers is a small community, and I'm just putting roots down, trying to establish myself, I'm wondering if by saying, "No, I will not be able to volunteer for this job" whether or not I'm shooting myself in the foot for future opportunities. I want to make a good name for myself, and I think that's the root of my hesitation to say NO. I think it comes down to wanting to make a good first impression so to speak.

The other thing is that I am not busy enough right now to have the luxury of saying, "sorry I can't do this job for you because I have all these other paying gigs to take care of". I'd love it if that were the case, but unfortunately it's not. I know this is something that I don't need to be sharing with the general public (you always want to give at least the illusion that your studio is always busy), but unfortunately right now it's the truth.

Perhaps I will be able to explain this to the lady in charge of coordinating this event. At the very least I would like a credit given to me (i.e. My business name and website).

I will update this thread as soon as I know more.