When People Ask You to “Bring Your Camera”
You’ve spent hundreds, maybe thousands, of dollars on your gear. You’ve taken the time to get a legitimate business up and running. You’ve invested in education to level up your photography skills. And just when you’re getting good, people ask you to “bring your camera *wink*” to the event they’ve just invited you to. You ask yourself, “Are they asking me because they want me to attend or to use me for my photography skills and gear? Don’t they know I charge people money to do this now?”
You have a few options for how to respond to this request. You could…
Educate
Inform them that you now charge for this service and explain your latest offer, which may create an awkward situation. We both know this person didn’t intend to pay for just "a few pictures.” This choice risks straining your relationship, depending on its strength. To clarify, your closest friends and family should understand this better. If they are the ones making the request, you must share your world with them and discuss your new title as a business owner more frequently.
Do It with Resentment
Bring your camera, take the pictures, and resent this person for the presumption that you would photograph the event for free even as you are, in fact, photographing it for free. You’ll probably grumble about how they took advantage of you every time you see them and talk to all your close friends about how rude and stingy they are.
Do It & Charge
Bring your camera, take the pictures, and send them an invoice afterward, knowing it will shock them. Whether they pay it or not, this action will end your relationship.
Don’t Do It
Raise your eyebrows at the request while choking on your water with a stunned expression. Then, show up to the event without your camera to make a point. This will result in the person talking about how stingy you are to everyone they know.
Here’s the thing: If they understood that you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on your gear, they wouldn’t have asked you. If they knew all that went into kickstarting a photography business to become legitimate, they wouldn’t have asked you. If they knew how much time and money you’ve invested in your education to level up your skills, they wouldn’t have asked you. They don’t know. How could they? The cool thing about this situation that I want you to understand is that you are marketing yourself well enough that this person recognized you as the go-to person to ask to photograph the event. That should be celebrated! Your brain is probably screaming at you to choose one of the options above, but here’s what I suggest you do instead:
Do It with Gratitude
Thank the person for thinking of you, wink back with a sly smile, and say, “I’ll see what I can do!” Then, knock their socks off with incredible photos they can’t help but share. When you do something nice for people, they are likelier to recommend you to others. You don’t have to shoot every second of the event or deliver a full gallery of images. Heck, you don’t have to deliver a gallery at all! You could post the photos on your social media pages and tag the host for them to share. Then, sit back and watch them market your business for you as they share the photos repeatedly, tagging everyone at the event. You can drop your website strategically at some point in the process. They’ll eventually realize just how generous it was for you to share your talent with them and the other guests.
Decline with Grace
If you are at a point in your career where you don’t need this marketing boost, thank the person for thinking of you and kindly decline. Ask if it’s okay for you to take pictures with your cell phone like all the other guests because you are looking forward to the event but need a night off from work. This response will get the point across while also demonstrating demand. You can even follow up by asking if they would like a recommendation for another photographer. This allows you to bow out gracefully while ensuring you don’t burn bridges.
As long as you lead with your heart, you can’t go wrong.
Xx - Megan Hoffer, Founder & CEO Lancaster Photography School