Crowd-funding an epic 3 month photogrphy trip across the U.S. - GoFuckYourself.com

SilentKnight · 05-15-2014, 07:54 PM

Crowd-fund specialists - what's the chance of raising enough funds to stage a 3 month, coast to coast trip across the highways and old byways of the U.S. purely for an epic coffee table book.

Those of you longtime GFYers have seen more photo portfolios over the years. We're looking to capture very rare scenes, night shot...time lapse - HDR. Light-painting old abandonments along the way. Lighting scenes with burning steel wool swung on chains, all kinds of experimention to come back with some truly unique photos.

Would be needing a very small and compact RV camper...to avoid motel costs. We'd be roughing all the way...getting into difficult areas off the beaten track.

Any advice or suggestions on its do-ability?

Significant investors would get limited rights to market/distribute the photo book however they like. All contributors would get special mentions in the credits area.

candyflip · 05-15-2014, 08:30 PM

I had a friend try to do this, with baseball stadiums and he couldn't manage to raise $5k. It was a great idea, had probably already been done...but it would have be his take on things.

He then decided to write a book about atheism and raised over $20k via crowdfunding.

So yeah. Good luck.

crockett · 05-15-2014, 10:33 PM

I'm already 3 months into my coast to coast trip, that I've funded myself.. I still have at least 3 months to go if not longer. If you produce something of worth while on the trip, then you try and sell it, but trying to fund your vacation via crowd funding is bad tact IMO.

If you want to do it, you figure out a way to do it. But trying to crowd fund it is silly IMHO. Might as well just stand on the side of a road holding a sign, because that's what you would be doing.

kane · 05-15-2014, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crockett

I'm already 3 months into my coast to coast trip, that I've funded myself.. I still have at least 3 months to go if not longer. If you produce something of worth while on the trip, then you try and sell it, but trying to fund your vacation via crowd funding is bad tact IMO.

If you want to do it, you figure out a way to do it. But trying to crowd fund it is silly IMHO. Might as well just stand on the side of a road holding a sign, because that's what you would be doing.

If you produce something good you can try to crowdfund as a way to get some of the money you spent back and help you fun whatever it may take to publish what you have produced.

A lot of people try to crowdfund trips like this and most fail because people feel like they are just paying for someone's vacation. Not to mention you need to be able to draw attention to your project in order to get it funded. Just putting it up on the site and hoping people will find it likely won't work.

John-ACWM · 05-16-2014, 02:32 AM

That sure sounds cool, good luck with it

Cherry7 · 05-16-2014, 03:45 AM

How does time-lapse go into a book?

TheDA · 05-16-2014, 04:05 AM

I'd say you need to have a proven track record with the style of photography you are going to produce. I know there are a number of full-time photographers already doing what I would say is very similar to your idea of 'rare' photography.

Grapesoda · 05-16-2014, 04:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentKnight

Crowd-fund specialists - what's the chance of raising enough funds to stage a 3 month, coast to coast trip across the highways and old byways of the U.S. purely for an epic coffee table book.

Those of you longtime GFYers have seen more photo portfolios over the years. We're looking to capture very rare scenes, night shot...time lapse - HDR. Light-painting old abandonments along the way. Lighting scenes with burning steel wool swung on chains, all kinds of experimention to come back with some truly unique photos.

Would be needing a very small and compact RV camper...to avoid motel costs. We'd be roughing all the way...getting into difficult areas off the beaten track.

Any advice or suggestions on its do-ability?

Significant investors would get limited rights to market/distribute the photo book however they like. All contributors would get special mentions in the credits area.

kickstarter...

05-15-2014, 07:54 PM	#1
SilentKnight Megan Fox's fluffer Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: shooting pool in Elysium Posts: 24,818	Crowd-funding an epic 3 month photogrphy trip across the U.S. Crowd-fund specialists - what's the chance of raising enough funds to stage a 3 month, coast to coast trip across the highways and old byways of the U.S. purely for an epic coffee table book. Those of you longtime GFYers have seen more photo portfolios over the years. We're looking to capture very rare scenes, night shot...time lapse - HDR. Light-painting old abandonments along the way. Lighting scenes with burning steel wool swung on chains, all kinds of experimention to come back with some truly unique photos. Would be needing a very small and compact RV camper...to avoid motel costs. We'd be roughing all the way...getting into difficult areas off the beaten track. Any advice or suggestions on its do-ability? Significant investors would get limited rights to market/distribute the photo book however they like. All contributors would get special mentions in the credits area. Last edited by SilentKnight; 05-15-2014 at 07:56 PM..

05-15-2014, 08:30 PM	#2
candyflip Carpe Visio Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: New York Posts: 43,066	I had a friend try to do this, with baseball stadiums and he couldn't manage to raise $5k. It was a great idea, had probably already been done...but it would have be his take on things. He then decided to write a book about atheism and raised over $20k via crowdfunding. So yeah. Good luck. __________________ Spend you some brain. Email Me

05-16-2014, 02:32 AM	#5
John-ACWM Work Work Work Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: EU Posts: 20,060	That sure sounds cool, good luck with it __________________ Video Chat Forum

05-16-2014, 03:45 AM	#6
Cherry7 Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,564	How does time-lapse go into a book? __________________ My Neighbour Butterfly PORN-The Musical The Long Goodbye Cinema Erotique

05-16-2014, 04:05 AM	#7
TheDA Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 4,665	I'd say you need to have a proven track record with the style of photography you are going to produce. I know there are a number of full-time photographers already doing what I would say is very similar to your idea of 'rare' photography. __________________ Sharleen Spiteri - 1989 - In The Ass

05-15-2014, 10:33 PM	#3
crockett in a van by the river Industry Role: Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 76,806	I'm already 3 months into my coast to coast trip, that I've funded myself.. I still have at least 3 months to go if not longer. If you produce something of worth while on the trip, then you try and sell it, but trying to fund your vacation via crowd funding is bad tact IMO. If you want to do it, you figure out a way to do it. But trying to crowd fund it is silly IMHO. Might as well just stand on the side of a road holding a sign, because that's what you would be doing.