“Collaboration”

What it is, what it isn’t

I get asked to collaborate fairly regularly, And I'm honestly open to it.

Photography is an inherently collaborative art form. Some of my favorite work has come from bringing together - a photographer, model, makeup artist, designer, dancer, performer….. sometimes it’s just a good idea and someone who has some free time. It takes many hands to make the kind of art I do. Generally at least 4, but sometimes way, way more than that.

Lately, I've noticed that the word "collaboration" is being used differently, sometimes, "I'd love to collaborate!" really means:

"I' want you to provide your professional services for free. To me. Soon. Because I want it."

And that isn’t the same thing.

To me (and I suspect, many freelance artists), a collaboration is an exchange. Both people bring something to the table. Both people contribute something of value, and both people walk away having created something that improves both of their artistic lives.

Maybe I have a concept I've been dying to photograph, and you're the perfect person to bring it to life. Maybe you're a dancer who needs some dramatic new images for your portfolio, and I have an idea that lets me create something I've never done before. Maybe a photographer, model, makeup artist, designer and stylist all have a ridiculous idea that none of us could pull off alone, and no real commercial reason to make it happen.

That's collaboration.

Nobody (necessarily) has to exchange money. But there is an exchange.

Time. Skill. Equipment. Expertise. Access. Creativity. Finished work. Portfolio material. Promotion. Practice. Experience. Fun.

Whatever the project, it must mutually benefit both parties. And that's where I think some of the confusion comes from. Sometimes the asker simply doesn't realize what they're asking for.

They see a photographer's beautiful work and think, "I'd love pictures like that. Maybe we could collaborate!" Or they have a need for professional images and they just start posting on Threads “I want to collab!”

There's the equipment. The insurance. The software. The years of experience. The planning and communication. Travel. Studio space. Lighting. Editing. Retouching. Image delivery. Maintaining a business.

There is a tremendous amount of work that happens before and after the actual photograph is taken.

If you've never worked in professional photography, you might genuinely not know that you're asking someone to provide a professional product and service that could normally cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. That's ignorance, but the good news - ignorance is fixable.

Ask questions. Have a conversation. Find out what the photographer actually means when they say they collaborate. Just don't assume that calling something a collaboration makes it free.

Then there's the other end of the spectrum: the idea that working together is somehow itself, payment.

"It’ll be great exposure!"

I hear this one a lot. I understand why it sounds appealing. Maybe you have a large following. Maybe you’re really pretty. Or have impressive physical training. Maybe working with you really would introduce a photographer to new people.

That's great. Honestly.

Seriously. I want people to see my work.

Exposure is valuable.

But exposure isn't payment.

In fact, exposure is already part of the job. (All photography puns aside) Every time I create something I'm proud of, I want people to see it. I want future clients to discover my site, see my portfolio and think, "That's the photographer I’m going to work with."

If I'm photographing a professional model and they share the finished images, tag me, and introduce my work to their audience, that's fantastic and deeply appreciated. It benefits both of us.

But it doesn't magically create revenue for me.

Exposure can absolutely be part of the exchange. It just isn't automatically the exchange itself.

And this works both ways. I wouldn't expect a makeup artist to work for free because I'll post pictures of their work. I wouldn't expect a designer to give me clothing because I'll tag them. I wouldn't expect a studio to waive its rental fee because I’ll tell my friends about them.

Everyone involved has something valuable to contribute. That's collaboration.

There is also a third category that deserves a little more grace, because sometimes the situation is much simpler.

Sometimes they just wants something they can't afford. And that's not a moral failing.

Photography is expensive. So are most professional creative services. If you really want professional headshots but you can't afford a $700 session right now, I understand that. If you want branding photography for your new business but you're still trying to get that business off the ground, I get it. There's nothing wrong with asking, but there is a difference between saying, "I can't afford your services right now," and saying, "I can't afford your services, so let's call it a collaboration."

We’re just changing the name of the transaction without changing the economics.

And unfortunately, I can't pay my bills with the word collaboration (or exposure, or appreciation, to be honest) That's an important distinction because I don't want photography to be a hobby that occasionally pays for itself.

I make art. Professionally.

That means I want to spend my time creating photographs. I want to build things with people. I want to experiment. I want to make beautiful, weird, dramatic, powerful images. I want to keep learning and improving.

And I want to do all of that in a way that pays my bills. That's what makes it a profession.

I provide a service because someone has a need for that service. Headshots. Branding photography. Fashion. Glamour. Cosplay. Dance images. Events.

These aren't imaginary products. They're real services that require real time, skill, equipment and resources. And if someone is making money from the resulting images, that's even more important.

If money is to be made off of my work, money needs to be paid for my work.

That's not me being difficult. That's me running a business.

To be clear, this is not an argument against collaboration. It’s a clarification of what that is.

Some of the most interesting photography I've ever made has happened because nobody involved was simply showing up as a customer. There was an idea, and a bunch of people wanted to see what would happen if we threw our skills and resources at it.

If you have an idea, let's talk about it. If you're bringing a skill, concept, location, wardrobe, performance, production capability, audience, creative vision, or simply an idea that makes the project more interesting for both of us, I'm interested.

If I have a concept I've been dying to photograph and you're exactly the person I need to make it happen, I may approach you.

Sometimes the exchange is money.

Sometimes it's creative work.

Sometimes it's portfolio images.

Sometimes it's a combination of those things.

The important part is that we both agree this is an equitable exchange

That's what makes it a collaboration.

So yes, please ask photographers to collaborate. Seriously. Just understand that "Would you like to collaborate?" is an invitation to have a conversation. It isn't a magic spell that makes professional photography free.

Tell me what you're thinking. Tell me what you're bringing to the project. Tell me what you'd like to get out of it. I'll tell you what I'd like to get out of it.

Maybe we have a project. Maybe we don't.

We both bring something to the table. We both get something out of it. And hopefully, when we're finished, we've made something neither of us could have made alone.

That's a pretty good deal.