New Freelancer looking for advice

[NocturnlCreativ]

Hi everyone! I just joined here! I'm looking for advice on a few things..

First of all, I've been working as a retoucher for about 5 years now. Out of college (2003) I started working for a photographer who used me as his retoucher/phone op/studio manager/etc. He paid me $10/hr which was never enough considering all that was asked of me. I spent the past 5 years searching for a worthwhile retouching job while taking on various freelance projects. I haven't had any luck finding a job with decent pay. I'm currently working freelance and have had steady work from a photographer who pays me $2/picture (usually ends up being $10-$20/hr). This sucks to say the least lol! I live in LA and can't afford anything out here. I don't know what to do. Sometimes I just think it's LA. All the job ads I read are so depressing (pay wise). Is it just me, or is it LA? Can anyone offer any tips on how to get a job/clients that pay enough to live off of? I love retouching and I love being freelance, I want to make it work pretty bad but I just can't survive on such low pay.

My other question is, how can I build up a portfolio (website) to show to potential clients when all of the photographers I'm working for are asking me not to use their work on my site? I know they have rights to the photos so just using them anyway would be looking for trouble. But here I am with 5 years of work behind me and nothing to show for it. Any there any places out there that offer pictures that are free to use for anything? I really have no clue what to do about this.

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

[Iconogenic]

Usually retouching on tfp basis delivers you portfolio material. Seek contacts, and retouch some for free in exchange for web usage rights.

$2 per picture without any rights seems like you need to have a talk with your photographer.

[jagerman]

My advice is to wait a couple of years until the market comes back. The industry is not like it was a few years ago. It is feast or famine for photographers right now. But if you are gonna try it, do what iconogenic said.

Good luck, -W

[NocturnlCreativ]

Originally Posted by Iconogenic

Usually retouching on tfp basis delivers you portfolio material. Seek contacts, and retouch some for free in exchange for web usage rights.

$2 per picture without any rights seems like you need to have a talk with your photographer.

What is tfp? Would you suggest just approaching photographers, asking for stuff to retouch in exchange for rights? In the past I've posted ads offering to do this and have gotten no responses.

[jagerman]

tfp=trade for prints

[NocturnlCreativ]

ah ok! thanks

[0lBaldy]

Originally Posted by NocturnlCreativ

Hi everyone! I just joined here! I'm looking for advice on a few things..
<CLIP>
My other question is, how can I build up a portfolio (website) to show to potential clients when all of the photographers I'm working for are asking me not to use their work on my site? I know they have rights to the photos so just using them anyway would be looking for trouble. But here I am with 5 years of work behind me and nothing to show for it. Any there any places out there that offer pictures that are free to use for anything? I really have no clue what to do about this.

Any advice would be very much appreciated!

Welcome to RetouchPRO Poke around, ask questions, have fun! Hope you enjoy your visits here!

A few sources for pictures:

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...s-retouch.html

http://www.lipstickfetish.org/forum/...pic.php?t=9579

http://www.retouchpro.com/forums/pho...back-raws.html

royalty free stock photos:
http://www.sxc.hu/index.phtml
http://www.istockphoto.com/index.php

BTW, The search button above is a very useful tool!

Enjoy,

[NocturnlCreativ]

Thank you so much for those links! Those will deffinately be useful! Are there often photographers here offering photos free to use? I'm sorry I haven't had much of a chance to look around here yet. I will deffinately do some searching when I have a chance

[Quantum3Studio]

2 usd per photo is the most disgusting thing I have read since my 1 year of freelancer experience. The lowest I have been paid was $3 usd per photo. I have a client from LA who pays me $5 usd per photo, and it's an steady job, like you say. I have to do just blemish removal and give a bit of airbrushing effect. I think the price is right for what I have to do. I have another client (which is not so steady) who pais $12 usd per photo, but the work I have to do demands more time. I read you live in LA. 2 usd per photo is not fair. You should find better clients, for sure. Specially in LA, there is a big movement there in this matter