Why I Turn Down PAID Photoshoots to do FREE Work 

Well said, brother. Keeping that passion going is crucial! Pay the bills with a camera or without, what's most important is keeping that passion going. ❤️

When I decided my photography was good enough to make some money on the side, it was surprising how quickly my passion went away from it. I didn't even have all that negative of experiences with clients, but it just felt like another job all the sudden instead of doing something I love. I went back to being just purely a hobbyist and I enjoy myself much more. Great video!

Everyone would rather do passion projects but passion projects do not always pay the bills if you can find that perfect balance well you have found a piece of heaven

I agree, Vuh! Working with a client also puts pressure on to yourself, thus, your crativity suffers. During paid shoots, you are thinking of really giving great photos becuase they paid you. Contrary to what you really want--to enjoy and use your creativity.

I agree. People looked at me crazy when I said this. Sometimes, monetizing what you love to do, takes the love out of it. Money can bring bullshit that I don't feel like dealing with.

I'm on the same path rn and that's honestly how I've been getting the paid jobs I want. I've been shooting what I wanted to shoot without looking to get paid and your style and story has inspired me a lot dawg. Just a 21 year old from St. Louis and hoping go pro like you one day🙏🏿🙏🏿

I remember being judge so much about not making money from photography. People would make it seem like I need to be making money from it when I don't necessarily need it I simply just enjoy it. I think people get the wrong ideas when it comes to being a creative.

Just the title alone of this video lit a spark for me to change my business model! Doing stuff because I love it not because of the $$$ to be made

PREACH! I lovvvvveee photography, but when I tried to make money off of it by doing senior photos, engagement photos, and even being a second shooter at weddings..... I HATED it. Paid work aint all its cracked up to be. I'm working on getting my masters in business, just trying to keep the dreams separate. Not how everyone else lives, but it is what it is. I would rather work my 9-5, get off and take photos of whatever I want in my spare time. Everyone has a balance, find yours and enjoy yourself. Life is wayyy too short.

Photography for me is something I personally love to do for my own enjoyment and of scenes and environments I have control or at least some control. I too turned down paid work. I don't feel guilty.

Videos are ALWAYS on point! Coming off a year of COVID where I feel like I made my best work, it was all free! From idea to set design and getting models none of it made me money. But the passion was there! Now this year Ive been doing more paid work and it honestly makes me miss doing all those free projects. Definitely going to take a break from the paid gigs and get back to what I know and love! Thanks for the inspiration as always my guy!

Saved cause this shit speaks too much truth. You are easily becoming one of my favorite photographers. Good shit Vuhlandes 🙌🏼

Yessss. New vid🙏🙏 U recently got me into film photography

I relate so much to this, thank you for making this video. It feels good to hear other photographers talk about this.

My guy....... People never understand when i tell them exactly what you just spoke about. They're only thinking money money money. In a Lot of cases, money subtracts creativity, just like you said. Big'Up!!

look forward to your videos, watching as I type! :) you're one of my favorite photographers, such an inspiration for my work. thanks!

I’m on that same vibe. The joy gets taken out when I would do client work. I would only agree to shoot for a client if I get a lot of creative freedom.

What you're saying is so relevant to me right now. I've always done photography passion projects but also worked as a professional photographer until March 2020 when my business hit a wall with covid. Ever since, I've been working as a courier to pay the bills and I find that my head is so much clearer that I'm able to put even more energy into the photo work that I love. I don't really see myself going back to being a 'professional' photographer.

Man! I love the video! Always have to do what you are passionate about!!

Nice to hear you talk about passion vs. money. Years ago a friend wanted to know if I would shoot his friend's daughter's wedding. I said yes. I thought it would be good experience. I was in no way a professional. This was in the days before digital. We agreed on a price (which was a joke-a real bargain). Turned out it was a pretty big wedding. He did hire an assistant to help set up shots. I worked my ass off. It was summer. I sweat like a pig. Then sent the film off to be developed. Then I was sweating bullets waiting to see how things turned out. Fortunately, the results were decent. But I swore then and there not to ever do anything like that again. Too much pressure., Not enough money. And certainly no fun.

Love. this. Kids need to hear this getting into photography. Thank you for sharing. ❤️

This hits home so hard for me. Almost from the get-go I treated my photography as a business and I enjoyed making it a profitable business. But yes, after 8 years of grinding the passion has been sucked out of me and I can't even find the motivation to do passion projects. I still take on commissioned work because I feel I "have to" to sustain myself and stay busy, but it's harder and harder to push through it like this. I'm scared to go fully autonomous even though I know I have enough support and leeway to do whatever, it's hard to let it go and be free again.

this thumbnail is so wholesome 😇

Vuhlandes. Inspirational as always!

Yes, keep doing what you love. When that book comes out I'll buy it immediately!

Love this!!

Great talk, I like the fact that you have a strong take on this subject. It's harder to do it this way, but I fully agree with what you're saying. I'd love to be able to make my passion projects the way I survive but then it's a fine line between it becoming a job as well. Cool to see that we have strong similar interests, I also create work that ranges from film photography to skateboarding.

Thank you for getting me into fujifilm literally live my xt4 appreciate you g keep that thang on you

You hit a home run with this one, I love my freedom to shoot what I feel and want., Thanks

Great Topic and very relatable, as someone who is trying to come up

I consider myself an advanced amateur - not a pro and I've never had the desire to do this for a living because I knew it would put a damper on shooting for personal enjoyment. So, I can appreciate your thoughts and the reasons you do what you do, or don't do. The main thing is to keep the passion alive and it will bring you much peace.

This video is such an eye opener. It really touched me.😢

Got this on right freaking now 🔥

You do what you love that is respectable

Well Said! I've been feeling stuck lately, and you just found the words to explain how I was feeling. One semester left before I get a degree in photography and media- and everyone in my family is asking me what I'm doing to make it a sustainable career. The pressure and expectations in and of itself is more stressful than I could put into words, and in turn made me turn down jobs because I'd rather work on "passion projects" as you put it. Anyway- Thank you for creating and although I shoot digitally at this time, I have always been fascinated with film and medium format, so your content is ALWAYS a treat to watch. Thank you Vuhlandes!

Thanks brother, Just remind me what makes me happy. Thanks,,

I understand what you mean brother, appreciate it 🙌👍

Preach. Everything in this video was 100% accurate.

One thing I found is, when you do paid work, people put you inside their box and for you to shoot the style they want exactly how they want it. When it’s free work, you can work outside the box, to your style, however you want for as long as you want. I hate being rushed and people think that you can shoot a ton of banger photos in 15 minutes and expect them done and edited by the end of the day.... it’s too much.

Felt this deeply dude!

commissioned work definitely destroys the passion. I was doing straight commissions for like a year and a half and I JUST started back doing passion projects and I can finally start to smile and enjoy my work again.

Love your work man. Keep inspiring. What do you do to actually pay your bills?

Wow I do the same thing. And people always think I’m crazy. My wife always say. You should be getting paid for this. I go out and do things for people. And I don’t charge them. When they ask me how much. I be like don’t worry about it. Your good. I get off on people reaction from the shots. Not how much money I can make.

Omg was thinking this today

Nice one 🤙

the legend has dropped another one.

I'm half way through this video, everything said I experienced so far. I want my photography to mean something, not just to me.

Would be dope to see a video on how you color grade your videos🙌🏽

Yes its always a struggle because working with people always steals your joy. Like its great that Clients come to you for stuff but when you rely on the type of cliental to demand massive quality as fast as possible it stops being fun. It really takes a lot out of you. Do that then suddenly you don't want to pick up your camera anymore

Yes to this message. We have to earn a living, and I hate the term starving artist, but we also need to never forget why we became artists in the first place. And that means you can’t let money rule your art. Otherwise you’ll forget what brought you here and that ain’t good. 😏

I must be the only one who enjoys photography work ? Lol well I mainly shoot portraits & events / lifestyle , and I love doing shoots with people them giving me a chance to take my vision and give people photos they love it’s really one of the best things about it

Legendary

Bruh I feel the same on the whole music video situation I do a good amount of video and photography and my city always wants music videos but i've always hated the idea of doing continuous music video projects and being type casted as a music video videographer and trying to please artists. I appreciate the my work is liked but I dont want to do music videos lol ... great video!

Passion over payday! I agree man… Cheers from The Netherlands 🇳🇱

Bout to go to bed, but Vuh has other plans for me ✌🏽

Where can I get those big frames that are on the wall

Notification gang! 🤙

If you do photography expecting gigs, that shits gonna take the fun out of it. It happened to me. I had to find the creativity again and pay less attention to gigs.

Couldn't have said it better

Low key want to see some slide film from yah! Can you one day shot some slide film!

👍 Nothing wrong with shooting for yourself.

Yup you're right about the photography nowadays especially the work stuff there's no enjoyment in general you're like s prisoner of the company or clients that saying you can't do that things you want to do. Nice video bro 👍📸😁

shouts to you vuh

💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽

the first time i picked up a camera was like in august 2017 it was the camera of my sister and i can still remember the feel of the first time with this little baby camera, it was a fuji finepix s4200 i believe and GOD it was bad but GOD that i loved it at first sight, at this time i didnt cared about anything like lenses, camera brands or any other stupid shit like this. recently i almost decided that i would save for a a7III cause it's the best for the price and for "professional" work it's the best i can afford atm then i found the XT4 and fuji in general, same shit happend with this camera, love at first sight, i want one for personnal and pro usage, but mainly personnal one cause let's be honnest i don't think i'll ever be a professional photographer at least not in the way that the client will control what i do or how i do it. Making a living is hard nowadays, you want to do something you trully love and enjoy then you end up hating that shit, that happend with graphic design for me even before i started to get my first few clients. nowadays i barely even touch illustrator, in design or anything related to graphic design cause of that and i don't want the same to happen with photography i think photography became something totally different than it was in the first place, i mean back in the day most people kept their photography hidden or simply to themselves and theirs closed ones and that"s it. i hope i'll be able to become the professional that i want to become otherwise i'll try to get the hell out of there before it's too late great video and super important topic to talk about

I agree so much that's why I stopped doing portraits

You described me to a T! I'll do a wedding or portrait shoot for people who need the help or can't afford to pay but I'd rather shoot with friends and work on the things I love to do and shoot for myself not for money. ✌️

bro im not tryna be pocket watchin or nun but how da hell u pay ya bills bro. much love goat

Sending this video to people whenever they ask me why I want to cut back on client work.

I didn’t like what being a commercial photographer did to my work. I started to play it safe so now I make my living in another field. But with photography as my passion, I don’t have to get it right all the time. I am free to screw up. That means the future is open and expansive rather than tightly bound to what a client wants. Making money from what you do is good. But making a life from what you do is better.

No pressure but I would absolutely love if you brought back vuh speaks

14:37 would love to see that video

it's really cool if the client would tell, just make it your style.

I literally just had this conversation and I said it's the exact reason I'll never be a "personal" photographer

So im 17 and learning photography and im starting to increase in the quality of my photos but people tell me I should charge for the photos that I take. So should I make a profit off of it since I don't have a job and don't have a source of income and im able to do it on my own time? and if so how do I price my photoshoots, editing, and videography projects for customers since I've only been taking pictures for a few months now? (EDITED) I appreciate you fr fr if it wasn't for your channel stumbling across on my fy page then I would've never unlocked this hidden passion I have for photography. The first videos I saw was your documentary Sticks and Stones video and your short film No Choice and it gave me a push in a way to try it out and see where i would end up. much love keep grinding the videos and podcast bro

Vuh wanted to say down bad so much there lol

Are you shooting with smoove again ?

This is everything I’ve been feeling but couldn’t explain, I appreciate this one bro

The day I meet vuhlandes I might actually cry 😭

thank you vuh. where can i find this music bro

VUH

W O R D PT. 2.

I have a full time job so making money with my photography isn't necessary. I have made money from photography, but I do more collabs and TFPs which is frowned upon by a lot of ppl.

Photography is an iceberg. Only the tip of it pays, the fat part under the water not so much.

🔔✅

How do you stay safe in a rough environment?

Do you have a day job or do you support yourself entirely from photography?

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh

Would you ever do a wedding?

My nigga, you don't look 27. That's crazy

First