X-Deal
X-Deal or exchange deal is a scheme where two parties will agree on mutual benefit, in our case, as photographers, we would exchange deals with models. Meaning, we don’t need to pay the models for posing to us, in return we will provide them with the raw copies of the shots to be added on their portfolios.
Last night, while I was chatting with my friends, I received a call from someone who introduce herself as producer of a show in one of the TV network (it’s neither Kapamilya nor Kapuso so take a wild guess), I was surprised to hear her mentioning my (almost) full name.
Caller: Hello. Is this Mr. Ricky Refuerzo?
Me: Opo.
Caller: Hello Sir, my name is *****, producer po ng bagong show sa TV*. Professional Photographer po ba kayo?
Me: Yeah.
Caller: Baka po interested kayo for an X-deal? Baka po interested kayong mag-shot with Ms. Bianca Gonzales, siya po kasi ang lead host ng bagong show.
Me: Kelan po ito and what time?
Caller: That would be tomorrow at 5pm?
Me: San po ito? Sa studio nyo sa Nova? Will this be a studio set-up?
Caller: Yes sir.
Me: So ilan po ang ilaw nyo?
Caller: Wala po ba kayong studio lights?
Since I don’t have studio light set-up, I “turned-down” the request, honestly I’d love to shoot , she even told me that in return, they will flash my “studio” name on the ending credits of the show. It was a “sayang” moment for me, even my friends were saying that I should’ve taken the offer.
But on my way home, I was wondering, why do they have to rely on x-deals? Why can’t a big organization like TV network allot a budget for this? Is this a sign of flooding of photographers in the market that makes us prone to abuse? Just a thought…
Sayang naman…
But Don’t worry master, pag nakaipon tayo buy tayo ng strobes… with umbrella.. ella.. ella.. laa… 
Maybe low budget yung program nila!? Or maybe gusto nalang kunin ni caller yung fee and opportunity for you to shoot and be advertise in return…
ay. sayang naman kuya.
nga pala po, nakausap ko nung isang araw si oliver
busy pala kayo pareho kaya di na kayo nagkikita.. hehehe. ^_^
Nice blog
Siguradong may budget naman yan kaya lang syempre mas tipid sila sa ganyan, yung ibang sikat na kasi talaga di na papayag sa ganyang deal.
Hayaan mo, Master, baka may mas malaking offer na nakalaan sa’yo.
X-Deal sounds like what we in the states refer to as TFP (Trade For Pictures) or TFCD (Trade For C)
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