The z1ider's photoBlog

To those of you not familiar with the term TFP, it means Time For Pictures, or Time For Prints. Sometimes known as TFCD if the images are supplied on CD. You get the idea? Quite simply, it is a system whereby the model agrees to work with a photographer in exchange for a number of images from the shoot. No fees exchange hands either way. It works well – the model gets images for nothing, the photographer gets a model for free. Mutually beneficial, and a system I have used many times.

However, it seems an increasing number of models are advertising for TFP, with the proviso that ‘travel expenses must be covered’. Why? I have travelled to many shoots using both my own and public transport and never asked for reimbursement.

Who actually gets most out of a TFP shoot? Well, I suppose it depends upon what the final images are used for. But I would say with  amateur shoots such as  I do, the model really gets more out of it, and here’s why;

Let’s suppose that I accept a TFP with a model and the shoot is in Derby. We both travel to Derby at our own expense and spend a couple of hours shooting. The model then goes home and, basically, her job is done. The photographer (i.e. me!), on the other hand, then spends several hours sorting through several hundred shots, filtering out the good from the not-so and then spending up to a couple of hours retouching each image, sometimes upward of a dozen or so.

So let’s add up the hours then. I reckon 2 hour’s round journey and a 2 hour shoot for both ‘tog and model. Then an additional, say, 4 hour’s sorting, then another 2 hours each image, let’s call it a round 24 hours. So that’s 4 hour’s work for the model and 30 hours for the photographer. Now, I’m not moaning about that. I’m just pointing out how it is.

So, models, next time you arrange a shoot TFP, just think twice before you demand travel expenses. I think you’ve got the best deal out of this!