Hi to all the pros (and interested amateurs)! I'm very (very) new to the world of professional photography. Recently I was approached by a client for a project that is admittedly beyond my skill. I can see two options: 1. subcontract the job 2. pass it to someone else. What is the accepted practice in the industry?

Is subcontracting alright if you know you yourself are not skilled enough for the job? (The justification is that the person you hire needed you anyway to get the job, plus di ko naman tatagain yung kliyente, I'll just add a token amount to the fee of the person I hire.)

Or is it better to just pass it to someone else (Since nakakahiyang maningil for something na hindi mo kaya at pinagawa mo lang sa iba.) If I pass it do I lose potential future jobs? (Baka isipin ng kliyente in the future di mo pa rin kaya.)

I want to earn the goodwill and trust of both clients and fellow photographers. Are there other options I'm missing here?

Either way I intend to be present at the job and learn as much as I can.

Hi to all the pros (and interested amateurs)! I'm very (very) new to the world of professional photography. Recently I was approached by a client for a project that is admittedly beyond my skill. I can see two options: 1. subcontract the job 2. pass it to someone else. What is the accepted practice in the industry?

Is subcontracting alright if you know you yourself are not skilled enough for the job? (The justification is that the person you hire needed you anyway to get the job, plus di ko naman tatagain yung kliyente, I'll just add a token amount to the fee of the person I hire.)

Or is it better to just pass it to someone else (Since nakakahiyang maningil for something na hindi mo kaya at pinagawa mo lang sa iba.) If I pass it do I lose potential future jobs? (Baka isipin ng kliyente in the future di mo pa rin kaya.)

I want to earn the goodwill and trust of both clients and fellow photographers. Are there other options I'm missing here?

Either way I intend to be present at the job and learn as much as I can.

:) Reading your query above as well as your written thoughts... I guess you already have the idea what to do when the situation arises... Just remember that client's are like water for us in this business; likewise, as well as your fellow colleagues which act as your support structure when you need assistance... Learn how to juggle things to make the deal work, ethically and fairly... So that everyone goes home happy. :)

i'll take option #1. i mean, we see this all the time, some big photographers of big studios don't really go to all their contracts. that's why they have a number of teams to work projects for them.

in your case, i think they approached you since they trust and believe in your creativity and output. they trust your name. that is very important. just make sure that the photog you subcontract could aspire to the level of how the client sees you can do the job. plan and brainstorm with your photog before the shoot. you'd be the art/photography director and let him understand this or else he'll be a pain in the a** to work with. make sure he sees your vision.

and of course, properly inform your client of this set-up. :)

hope this helps.

Subcontracting is ok if the person you will subcontracting to will meet the standards expected by your client. And see if the subcon takes in other work from other clients - happened to me before that the subcon team got swamped by other works, my jobs got buried. Worse, the output was total cr*p.

So who got humiliated?;o

Remember it's your neck and reputation on the line, so decide carefully and not just pick anyone out there to do jobs for you.

If you can't find one to do it, and you can't do it, better politely decline, and just give referrals, if you got any.

If you decide to subcontract, it might help to draft a non-compete agreement which you should ask the subcontracted photographer to sign. This is help prevent the other photographer from grabbing your client.

Well the project fell through but I'll be sure to keep your suggestions in mind next time.

Mam Harvey, this is really good, thanly so much. I only learned that such contract exist after reading your post.


I, too, is considering to subcon/outsource (not sure about the term to use) videography bec. as of the moment i dont have the people and equipment to do video and edit them.
since they are also doing the same business as i am the scenario of them grabbing my client bothers me, i dont know what to do.



If you decide to subcontract, it might help to draft a non-compete agreement which you should ask the subcontracted photographer to sign. This is help prevent the other photographer from grabbing your client.