copyright..

oooh i didnt want to create a debate! it's interesting though. I am not stealing anyone's job as I dont think the guy would pay anyone to do it. It's a small hair salon and I just think the main guy who owns it wants to get a book of his work, so he might go on courses or things like this. He's not really making any profit out of it (it's not like if he was giving it to a fashion magazine and getting money for that). Well maybe i am just naive I dont know, i made it clear that it should have my credit should he wants to use it for his website...

Anyway my work cant compete with a professional photographer anyway so i dont think i am stepping on anyone's feet!? well i hope not...

YOu are being asked to provide images for a business. THat' to me, makes you a "professional", at least in this instance.

Here is a (funny) chart to see if you should work for free or not.
http://jhische.com/sneakpeek/workforfree.jpg

Basicly you should only work for free for family, very good friends and some charity if you support there cause and you keep the rights over your photo's and have the freedom to shoot/do what you want.

The man (haircutter) does use it for his profession/business so he's getting better of it while you spend your time and effort on the photos. It's only normal to ask a small fee to at least cover your time and effort, maybe he should give you 6 free haircuts or something like that

Just to add a thought, if you have your equipment insured under an 'amateur' policy but then sell a single image you might find it is invalidated as they may now consider you to be a pro.

This could extend to benefit-in-kind.

(And technically you should complete a self-assessment and pay tax, but nobody's going to bother if it's a few pounds.)

Arent you a pro if they majority of your income consist of selling photo's?

"Anyway my work cant compete with a professional photographer anyway so i dont think i am stepping on anyone's feet!? well i hope not..."

The quality of work is irrelevant, the fact a business wants to use your image is!!!

Don't give away for credit, a credit will not get you any exposure or advertising, this is a fallacy created by tight fisted publications & businesses which fools many amateurs into giving their work away. Before you know it the hair dresser is telling his mate where to get free photos from, then you will be getting a few more knockers on your door wanting free images... See how this progresses, put value on your work, tell him you want a hair cut

To be fair, if an amateur wants to do the occasional free shoot, without the pressure and expectation that charging a fee would create, isn't that okay? The client is providing an experience the photographer might otherwise have to pay for- providing models etc. Turning this on it's head, if pro's can't compete with free stuff being created by amateurs, they need to think about giving their work a unique selling point, concentrating on more discerning parts of the market, or specific areas requiring special skills. If they can't do this, they haven't really succeeded in finding a niche in today's market, and it's not really the fault of amateurs.

But whose business model can compete with freebies?

I don't see many people fixing cars for free on a regular basis or plumbers fixing leaks for free or exposure or because it will get more work.

If amateurs want to shoot models for fun and can't afford a model there are plenty of models who will shoot for CD along with make up people willing to do the same. Or join a photography club that has studio nights.

When you start giving stuff to businesses you are laying the foundations for next time they want free imagery.

Plenty wannabe (amateur) models work TFP.