Ode to Craigslist.....

    I love shooting. I am even learning to love the digital darkroom side as acquire better software and learn how to use it. What I love less is the marketing side, trying to actually find clients and jobs. But I am working on becoming more internet and marketing savvy. (hence this blog, and finding a way to always sneak a link or two in to direct you, the reader, to check out my online portfolio site) I am getting caught up with Instagram, Tumblr, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and anywhere else I can think of. I am getting the hang of those. But what I do not think I will ever fully understand is Craigslist. I am not sure my failure to fully get into CL is a bad thing either.

    I've use Craigslist before, and actually managed to find some great deals on used gear in great shape. But until I decided to make a real run at photography, I have never really spent a great deal of time on it, just quick hits looking for something in particular via the search function (nikon lenses, etc). Lately I have started scanning it every couple of days looking for job leads and contacts. I am getting both confused and slightly put off. Some of the ads I click on for the same reason you can't take your eyes off a train wreck, and I am not sure whether I should laugh or cry or both.

     There are repeat ads like one from a surf basketball league, looking for photographers good enough to "capture the beads of sweat on their faces..." except they don't want to pay anyone for that, they want free. Sorry, I will do free shoots for my friends to build my portfolio and practice my technique, and because I would probably be watching them perform anyway, but I am getting something out of that as well. Maybe there are people who will get the same thing from this basketball gig, guess that ad isn't too objectionable. Maybe they will hook up with one of the hundreds of "photographers" in san diego looking for TFP opportunities to build their portfolios.... Oh wait, those guys (and yes, this is a stereotype, but I am willing to bet a lens that at least 80% of these posters are male) only want to offer free shoots to "slim, open minded females," or "athletic, attractive females." Seriously guys, ever heard of Model Mahem?  Ok, still, I'll bite, I am sure somewhere out there are women who are so desperate to be models that they will answer these ads. Maybe some of them are even legit and not just guys with cameras wanting to get off and trying to get a date or at least some pics for their "personal use." Some even offer to pay the model a few bucks. But we're still in the only slightly disheartening category here.

    From there I will shift gears a bit, and just focus on the competition. It doesn't even seem like it's worth my time to post an add looking for clients, it would be lost in the shuffle of photographers willing to work stupidly cheap for, I lost count of how many offers there are out there to shoot weddings for $300 or less. Maybe I should follow each of those ads around with an offer to be a second shooter at no charge then just sell them the pics I take when they like them better than what the $300/wedding person gets? If I was going to shoot weddings right now, it would be for experience only and I would not want a couple to depend on me to capture their wedding day as the only photographer until I knew what the heck I was doing. One wedding I was at (as a guest) a few months back, I couldn't help but notice that the official photographer was using his built in camera flash as his sole lighting setup. I haven't seen the final product because I don't know the couple that well, but I can only imagine..... but hey, I don't know all these photographers, maybe a lot of them are great and just starting out, who am I to judge... I am really just frustrated because I haven't yet figured out how to differentiate myself from the crowd yet. But now we get into the really scary/sad arena that makes me want to flee CL and not come back.

    Sex ads. Not the ones that actual escorts post looking for clients. Those I get. I also understand the ones looking for adult industry talent. I am sure a lot of those are fakes as well, but with all the amateur porn sites and companies out there trying to make money on the interwebz, I am sure some of them are at least trying to be legit. What really makes me want to laugh/cry are the thinly veiled ads from guys (again, just guessing here, but pretty sure these are all guys) looking for "a newbie amateur to be my sugar baby and assistant," gee- wonder what she will be expected to "assist" with huh? What about the guy looking for a "secretary- female, no experience needed, must be attractive..." hmmmmm, wonder what she will be expected to file? But the one that finally took the cake and sent me over the top enough to want to  rant about CL was an ad- which seams to have already been taken down- otherwise I would link to it "seeking competitors for San Diego's best Blow Job competition....." I am only guessing that the poster would be the sole judge for all entrants. Seriously, people, just go online and find all the escorts you want without trolling for people stupid enough to fall for a blow job competition gig...

    And one more- if you are indeed "a world renowned fetish photographer" you probably don't need to post on CL to find models, if you are that good you should already have models knocking down your door trying to shoot with you. 

    Ok- enough ranting, time to go back and keep looking for cheap, gently used camera gear being sold by aspiring models who can win blow job competitions while gaining the experience they need at secretarial jobs and will one day hire me to shoot their shotgun wedding with their former "employer" for $300.