Craigslist has always been an odd place for photographers to find gigs.
It’s not pretty, but Craigslist has always been a source for photographers who need a quick paying gig or for someone looking to build their portfolio without pay. And 9/10 times it’s pretty shady. Nearly a decade ago, it was much maligned by most of the creative community. With its archaic yet straightforward structure, folks have been able to connect and collaborate. It was only a few years ago that Craigslist finally made an app. But indeed, the world has changed. Folks have moved onto Instagram, Facebook pages, Behance, etc. Craigslist, much like Model Meyhem, has become something that gainfully employed photographers don’t really pay attention to. In fact, I haven’t even heard it mentioned in the circles I’m in for quite some time. So I decided to take a curiosity peak and see what’s there.
Explaining the Idea Behind Craigslist
If you’re reading this website, then you probably know what Craigslist is. But if not, then understand that it’s based on localization. Photographers would specifically go there to buy gear, sell gear, and look for gigs. There are job postings as well as gig postings. For what it’s worth, it’s probably better for gigs than for career paths. It’s also a place where you can sometimes find better deals on camera gear. In an ideal world, it would be a place to get a quick buck. You’d sit there, photograph, deliver the JPEGs, get paid, and be off. But because people know so much more about photography these days, they’re much more demanding. One would think that beggars can’t be choosers, but on Craigslist, folks often demand the highest available services and don’t care that you have bills to pay. It’s one of the primary reasons why the creative industry is so incestuous–because few understand that photography and photographers need to be paid fair amounts. Often, those amounts may seem high to you. But they’re the reality of the business.
People Who Want to Hire Photographers for Gigs
Here’s a look at a few postings that I found while board on a hot August afternoon.
This post above is synonymous with the type I’ve seen for many years. They really want to work with someone. There is apparent urgency by the use of all capital letters. And your compensation for working with this super high-end artist is that you get to be part of a great team. They also need someone for today. It’s weird. Maybe the other photographer dropped out? Either way, it seems like they want to continue working with you. And you’re getting compensated with a CHANCE!!! Oh wow! It sounds like a previous Unsplash contest where a photographer got entered into a chance to get a few hundred bucks off of a plane ticket. In a situation like this, the hustle seems way too hard and not at all sustainable. There’s clearly a problem of some sort. You just can’t figure it out.
Remember earlier this year how Bryan Formals talked about street photographers capturing an empty Times Square and it being a Magnum Opus? Well, it seems like those photos are exactly what someone wanted. Further, they’re going to pay you to do it. It’s meager pay mind you, but there are surely folks who’d work for $25/hr. It doesn’t seem all that bad, and it also looks pretty legitimate. But it overall is a very odd advertisement, and something about it seems off.
Social media photos and dating photos are a big thing. They’re vital to many single people. And this one is really odd not because of the ad itself, but because of where it’s located. The West Village in NYC is one of the most desirable spots around, and if you can afford to live there, then you’re doing something right. In this case, you’re choosing whether or not to pay a photographer.
Overall, Craigslist hasn’t really changed a lot. The postings from people have adapted to the times for sure, but they’re still incredibly sketchy at times. Safety and legitimacy are still important unknown factors.
Some folks will pay you incredibly little for your time.
Photographers Looking for Models
Then there have always been photographers looking for collaborators. Mainly, they want to shoot nude women. They don’t really say why except now it seems to be for an Instagram page. But why shoot nudes, to begin with? It’s apparently just for fun in this case. There are not a significant means to an end. It’s just for the heck of it. And in this case, you’re also paid very little. When I’ve worked with models who do nudes, they’ve been above this rate. In this case, we don’t have a photographer looking for a gig, but instead looking for muses. Some have done this to take advantage of people. Some have been very genuine about it.
Well, I’ll let you judge this one for yourself.
And this one.
Would I look for gigs on Craigslist? No. I’d find a steady job and then work my way into the photo world. When my photography can start paying the bills, then I’d quit my day job. Be sustainable and safe.