TFP/TFCD

By Emelle

 

TFP means Time For Prints, TFCD means Time for a CD of images.

That means that you get prints (or a CD of images) for your time modeling. The amount of images you get, the size, and the time frame you will receive them, is completely dependent on the photographer, and something you need to discuss with them individually.

You will get to see proofs, hopefully. Not always. Occasionally, a photographer will decide for you what you will see or get. This is not always the best idea.

As to whether you will get modeling pictures (headshots, body shots, etc) is completely dependent on how well you communicate your needs to the photographer, and whether s/he cares to listen.

You may get makeup, hairstyling, and fashion styling on a TFP, or you may not. Chances are excellent that you will get none of the above. You may get a makeup artist. Consider yourself lucky and start kissing feet should you find a complete team willing to do TFP. The photographer may find the team for you, or may suggest you find the team yourself.

You will not get comp cards. You may not even get digital versions of your images with which to make comp cards on your own. You may have to get your prints scanned in to get digital images, to then create comp cards.

TFP also means Time For Poop. This translates to the fact that you will not always get something that is even remotely useful to you, let alone GOOD. However, if you have almost zero camera time, it's great no matter what. You need images, and you need to relax. You need to learn set etiquette, and you need to learn how to emote to the camera. But you should always test up... meaning get better photographers, better makeup artists, better styling, better concepts with each shoot.

It's rare to get the whole team. It's possible to only get the makeup artist, but again, that's kinda rare too. Not only do YOU have to test up, but the rest of the team has to test up, and any given shoot may not qualify for them to show up free of charge.

Let's look at this another way... models are notorious for being flakes. Not saying all are, or even you. But it's an industry-wide hazard in setting up shoots, especially TFP. The folks just as flaky, as a general rule? Makeup artists. Not saying all are, but it is much tougher to get them on a TFP, unless they too are hungry for camera time (in which case, you generally get what you pay for).

Less likely to even be found are the hairstylists, as many of them are working in salons and have limited schedules. Even so, if you get them, they may not be trained in set etiquette, and you will again get what you pay for.

More likely to be found, but much less likely to be interested, are fashion stylists. It's pretty much a given that the moment one of those folks puts out their shingle, they are non-stop busy. And within a very short time, they are no longer interested, or even available for, TFP.

It's not necessarily what you are interested in getting from a shoot. You have to understand others motivations for even showing up.

Oh, and most photographers on the model exposure sites and modeling forums who want TFP are glammer shooters (notice I did not spell that glamour). They don't give one iota about makeup, hair and wardrobe. It has no place in their shoot. Although, if *you* found a makeup artist, they might tolerate that.

If it's a TFP, it's not only that they want you in their book, they also have to want what someone else is bringing to the table. And, this will be collaborative. This means, it's not just about you. What does the photographer want/need? What does the makeup artist want/need? Fashion and hair too. You have to be willing to work with the team, not just shoot what you came there for.

It doesn't matter how good of an artist you could find to do the TFP. If the photographer sucks, their makeup work will suck. The wardrobe will be cut out of the picture at the worst possible places. And, you'll have wasted everyone's time by bringing them all together. Or, let's say the photographer is strong, the makeup is strong, they are eager to work with you... but the stylist can't shop, or shows up with 3 things that don't fit. Very good chance at another wasted shoot.

Now, if you are willing to pay each team member, we're talking a different ball game. You may very likely get stronger talent to work with you. And if you are paying, you would have much more control over the shoot, and you'd have a team much more motivated to care what they achieved for *you*.

Sorry, but that's the biz!.

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