TFP or Trade for Print is a common term within circles of makeup artists, photographers and models. It is when a makeup artist, photographer and model trade their services to create art in order to build their portfolios. It is a great way to practice their craft, gain experience and create content to add to their portfolios. Professionals or aspiring models, makeup artists and photographers collaborate to create prints – therefore the term trade for print. Professionals are not paid for their services, they just receive the prints for their work. Even though TFP is a great way to get your hands dirty it is important to keep a few things in mind when deciding to trade your talents:
1. Aways be safe and trust your gut! It’s important that you meet in a public place and if you can bring a friend. It is totally normal to bring someone with you for a TFP project, it is not a serious project that needs to be a secret, so if the person you are collaborating with says otherwise, red flag! Try to look into the person you are going to work with, look at their Instagram, Facebook and website. If they don’t have any public profiles it should also be a red flag! Especially if the person asking you to TFP is emailing you and is not willing to speak on the phone or share their social profiles. Rule of thumb – if it feels sketchy, it is!
2. Make things clear from the beginning! Agree on what the scope of work is and what is expected from you. Especially for models or makeup artists, what type of looks are wanted and if you are comfortable doing them. It is also common for makeup artists to ask for kit fees since makeup is expensive. Agree on a time, place and turn around for photos to be sent to you. Also, make sure that you are able to share the images on your website and socials since that is the whole point of collaborating. For makeup artists make sure to agree on getting a few face shots, it is pointless to get images from really far away when you are trying to get images to show your skills as a makeup artist.
3. Check their work! This is important for everyone involved; a makeup artist wants to make sure that the photographer takes good photos and is good at editing. No one wants bad editing to ruin the makeup look that they worked so hard on. The same goes for photographers and models, they don’t want their time wasted on photos that are going to look bad because the makeup artist didn’t color match the skin of the model correctly.
4. Take advantage of the opportunity! Remember TFP is an opportunity to practice and get images for your portfolio, so use this time to practice looks you have been wanting to try, and to emulate the type of work you want to get paid for. If you are a makeup artist that wants to work in weddings, it wouldn’t make much sense to participate in projects that involve Halloween makeup or fantasy makeup. That is not the type of work you want to be doing, so it wouldn’t benefit much to have it in your portfolio.
5. Do your best and forget the rest! Even if you are practicing and trying to get content for your portfolio always try your best, you never know who can end up referring you for paid work. And you never know where the content created can take you to! Take the work seriously and be professional, be on time, prepared and be nice, again, you never if they will refer you or want to work with you on a paid project they are part of in the future.
In conclusion, TFP is a great way to learn and get yourself out there. It is a great way to make mistakes and learn from them, instead of waiting until you get a paid job to make mistakes there. Always remember that you will never be ready! You have to start somewhere, don’t let the good be the enemy of great! And one last note and piece of advice, always be prepared, be nice and do your best! Being successful in this industry or any industry is also about being professional and polite, there is not use in being the most talented makeup artist, photographer, or most beautiful model, if you are late, rude or don’t take things seriously.