I’m also not aiming to finance unemployed people in any way we don’t already — but to create a society where volunteering is accepted as a suitable way to use time when unemployed.

If the organisations that use the volunteer time are aware of the ebb and flow of the economy they will need to use volunteers when these are available and pay people when they are not (which is also usually when the economy can support them).

Another thought — big companies (banks, grocers, petrochemicals) could easily afford to offer these types of solution — tho admittedly it might hit the share price and bonuses a little. But would this be a bad thing?

If an employer finances a day of each employee per week for volunteer work that would equal 20% of their total HR costs. To me it would make much more sense to have them pay more taxes and then create REAL jobs in the public and social sector and that way get more people into paid work.

Why create and finance an army of unemployed people who are usually willing and able to work, provided there are adequate jobs, and then have those who DO have jobs and already contribute to society with their work power and their income taxes go and volunteer?

Unemployment has lots of detrimental effects on society and on the people concerned — high costs, diminished self-esteem, psychosomatic illnesses, increasing crime rates, social decline and so on. It would make much more sense to use the money you would use for volunteering to bring unemployment down.

I am not against volunteering. But there are a couple of things that should be fixed first — and differently.

In particular doing something with those on unemployment benefit is crucial to try and break the seemingly benefit generation that is with us presently.

The world would be a much better place if we all helped our fellow Man when were able to.

Hah, last time I give you a lift…who needs personality when you’re beautiful

I very much mean the creative lead — which will often be the photographer. The strongest images in the photographers folio will often be those with a strong story, these can even display less than technical perfection if the concept is strong enough.

I think too many of us working TFP forget it’s a agreement of mutual benefit — to develop both of you. Ok, if you’re trying out a new technique (either technical or in approach) — but if you’re not I’d recommend really trying hard to ensure you do one shot that will really sing in your folio.

If the only person developing their folio or skillset is the model — maybe you should be charging them!

Which as an amateur photographer, leaves a lot of the burden on my shoulders. I think when you’re starting out, the emphasis and pressure is understandably on creating something that’s technically right, where the lighting works and the model is in frame, with the requisite number of arms and legs, and their eyes open.

You don’t want to risk wasting the models time and coming out with nothing usable. You’re absolutely right that it’d be great if photos could be used to tell more of a story, but in an age where models even see themselves as a commodity, and their portfolio is simply a tool to sell that product, it’s unsurprising that they so often just want photos that tick the boxes.

Not a criticism, more just some random thoughts from my head…