So, I’m not a professional photographer, I’m probably barely considered a hobbyist. I got a camera a few weeks ago and I’ve been taking a lot of photos. Really enjoying the hobby, got myself a subscription to lightroom, took photos at a concert, on a hike, on the street at gameday, buncha stuff, but its been a challenge finding the right thing to be taking pictures of (i hear that matters). So i had this idea, tattoos! I like tattoos, you know who has tattoos? tattoo artists! So i messaged a local shop and said HEY! I wanna take pictures of tattoo artists and their tattoos, can i come in and take some pictures? and one of them said yes! but now I’m all in my head about it, i don’t want them to be expecting a professional photographer and then i show up with my 300$ camera, no plan for what to do with the photos, no affiliations with a newspaper, no real good excuse for doing what I’m doing at all…
I guess my question is this; Is it appropriate to message a company and ask to take photos, without a high probability of it benefiting them? I didn’t say that anything would come out of it, and i offered to share the RAW data with them if they wanted it, and to tag them on social media with any edited photos i made, i did call myself a photographer. I guess I’m just worried that im going to show up, and not have any idea what to do, and they are going to ask a question like “so who are you and why are you here?” and im just going to die of embarrassment before i can give a sensible answer… or is it all gonna be chill?
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Just get a tattoo while you’re there! Lol Maybe of a camera!!
All great advice here. Here’s a little more. Think through and prepare for the lighting. Stop in to check out the lighting and say hello.
Google planning a tattoo photoshoot and tattoo photography lighting. You don’t necessarily need equipment, but you do need a plan. The plan may be to shoot the subjects sitting by a window or it might be a cheap ring light, LED panel, etc. Be cautious with pop-up flash as the light can be a little harsh, maybe look at modifiers to soften the light a bit.
I’d tell them that you’re starting a tattoo site or a tattoo IG page and its free advertising because you are starting out. Use the word ‘share’ a lot…! And take a lot of photos…
You should buy some off camera lighting if you’re going to keep doing these. Once they put the ointment on a new tatt it will shine up if you use oncamera flash. Aim it at the ceiling… Ring lights are cheap!
Yes this is appropriate! Many if not all photographers do this starting out - it’s called trade work. Just let them know up front that you’re currently a hobbyist looking to learn and build your portfolio (it’s not too late, you can just shoot them a reply with like a date and time confirmation, thank you, and your “disclaimer”). Offer free unedited digital jpegs in exchange for their time (don’t offer actual raw files), and best case scenario is that they love the photos, post them on Instagram, and tag you. Worst case is that they don’t like them and just don’t share them - they’re not wasting any money. Either way, you’re gaining experience in a really fun way.
I’d echo what someone else said about getting a signed model release from each person you’re photographing, though, if you plan to actually use the photos in your portfolio or post them on social media. You can print off releases on paper and have them sign in person, or use Adobe fill and sign to send them via email.
You never need an excuse to make art and collaborate with people :)
Just be upfront, flexible, but also have some idea of what you’re planning to do. “Ok, I’d like to take photos of each of you in x position, perspective, and here’s how much time I’d like to spend”. You don’t want to overcommit to anything and I’ll find the right balance with the staff. Believe me, anytime someone gets a chance to get free photos, they may be asking if you can do this again - totally up to you, also good way to get traction on a small side hustle.
How long will it take? I’ve never taken portraits of anyone like this before. In my mind they smile, i snap a photo and that’s it, 30 seconds, but I’m guessing its a whole process i know nothing about. I don’t want to take up a lot of their time, but i also don’t want to look like i don’t care about the shots, and just rush out of there.
lol, I’m all nervous now
That’s for you to decide and suggest, you’re the one with the idea einstein ;D. I don’t know what the reference is to them smiling when it sounds like you’re taking photos of their tattoos. What if someone has a full back/arm sleeve, etc?
Be sure to get a wind angle shot of the shop to set the story. Ask the customers if it’s ok to photograph them, maybe ask why they are getting a specific tattoo. Bring a small note book, take notes. Also, have a shot plan.
It’s appropriate, and even if your camera isn’t top of the notch or you’re not a photojournalist for a newspaper (i doubt many of us are) you’ll get some photos, and hey, some of them will probably be good.
Maybe not “I’m a full time photographer for Vogue” good but definitely “the tattoo shop can post this on their insta” good.
And we all have to learn somewhere. I recently shot a local TedX for free, my camera gear is definitely not on the level of being a professional conference photographer, but i had a lot of fun doing it and even got some photos good enough for their social media (and that’s with a Canon EOS 1200D)
by the time you read these comments, you would be done with the photos. Dont suffer, enjoy photography at every chance you get.
just do it, you followed your guy and got permission. as long as you dont get in the way or do something malicious during/after its all good.
most likely you will show up and be asked exactly that, why? because not everyone is in the loop so you just explain to them show them the message exchange and done
ALSO
no one knows the cost of your camera, cost doesn’t necessarily mean good either.maybe yes, maybe no.
If you want to continue your photography, you have to learn that you to get denied every now and then. Only way to avoid that is being overly cautious, never getting those opportunities to photograph what you like.
If you show up with a 300$ camera, and show interest in the tattoos and the craft doing them and take your time to get good photos, they will feel lucky. Even if a flagship smartphone could in principle perhaps take (in some regards) better pics. If someone sees me, another non-professional photographer, using my camera, they often wonder if I am a pro (while I don’t even carry a backpack nor have other gear around me).
i went to the skate park the other day, and this 12 year old on a bike was SOOO impressed by the “photographer” who just showed up and took abuncha blurry pics of teenagers on bikes. He had so many questions and so many stars in his eyes. It was tough to see him realize i was just some guy with a camera.
all part of the photographer life.
I once was part of the audience of a show and we were not allowed to take photos. I secretly took some anyway, trying to not get caught. Another guy just said he is “the photographer” and was left in peace. He had the smaller camera but of course took a lot more useful photos.
Now some colleagues call me an artist just because I posted some okay pics (a couple of shots out of many I took) in the teams channel. But, photography is projection anyway.
I am quite confident next time you could take enough sharp photos of skaters to let them think you are a pro, at least if you don’t show them too many of the bad photos.