Can you just, are words I have heard so many times its is untrue. As a photographer of some experience ( as well as age) I was/am often asked “Could you just take a photo of this or that for me?” or “My daughter is getting married we they don’t have much money so would you just take their wedding photos for them?” This was usually proceeded by some sort of sweet talk telling me how great my work is or was most of which fell on death ears. I say most because I did fall for the flattery a few times and every single time it backfired on me some more spectacularly than others but I won’t dwell on those as it makes my skin shiver.
Two of these times stick in my mind the first was a daughter of a friend who asked me to take some photos for a job application as an “Air Stewardess” back in the days of 35mm film and before the days of “Cabin Crew” I said I was old. I still remember the words “Oh we will pay you” however; I told them I’d only want the film and developing costs covered. Job done I presented the photographs to the applicant and her eager mother who didn’t want to pay for the cost of one 24 exposure film and the cost of developing it a huge total of £5. The words “Well we only wanted two snaps.” I gave them the two snaps and wished them all the best for the future, my own fault not theirs.
I have done the grand total of two weddings one for my wives brother too whom I handed one 6×4 print of each photograph I had taken and all the negatives. The other was for a very nice couple the bride being the youngest of five sisters who didn’t put the slightest amount of pressure on me what so ever. The bride was quite happy to follow my lead didn’t really mind what album the photographs came in but it would be nice if it was a white one. On the day of the wedding, I met on the way to it a local photographer. We chatted I told him where I was going and he gave me the information that the Mother of the Bride was well known to the guys who “did weddings” as Brides Motherzilla something I was about to experience myself. Not done a wedding since or a Christening either for that matter, another story altogether.
I have been foolish to have said yes to Church Fates, Local Armature Dramatic Societies, dog shows, Moto Cross and once a funeral. The question being, why, why did I say yes, why was I so stupid? Stupid it was believe me not one time did anything go as the people wanted it to nor were most of them expecting just what they wanted would cost. Film, developing, printing and reprints all cost as do cameras and equipment not that I or anybody else expected any of them to contribute towards my costs in that way. I did expect every time to have films and printing cost made good. It was just a pity the people asking me “If I could just” for them nine out of ten times didn’t expect to be asked to pay for them. Or they expected that I would be grateful for the opportunity of contributing my time, expertise, valuable equipment as well as the cost of films and printing all because they thought it was a good cause.
I am still asked “Can you just.” My answer these days is “Yes of course it will cost this amount and it will be my pleasure.”