We have over three plus decades repeatedly written, urged, cajoled, screamed, advised, suggested and prodded members of the photography and illustration communities to never work for free. There isn’t an argument or rationalization against that position that we haven’t heard a hundred times. Now someone has made many of the same arguments that we have made in a beautifully written, logical article http://biznik.com/articles/freelancingor-working-for-free
The author is one Patty Soffer who works with a branding agency. Ms. Soffer is unknown to either of us but she makes the very same case we have made countless times in a succinct and persuasive manner. We confess that we are jealous. Read the article. Her logic – like ours – is unassailable. The fact that she appears to deal with many types of businesses including but not limited to photographers makes her suggestions even more persuasive.
#1 by Michael Corbin on March 15, 2013 - 9:03 am
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Thank you for pointing out and linking to that article. I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to have someone in Ms. Soffer’s position spell it out so clearly for the edification of those soft-hearted and soft-headed creatives I see almost every day on various web forums who actually believe the “we have no budget” song and dance. Never mind that is one of the oldest lies known to mankind. Yet day after day, fools fall for it.
#2 by Matt Timmons on March 25, 2013 - 9:27 pm
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Case in point: A fashion retailer contacted me about hiring me to shoot their new ad campaign, yet I was aware that they already had someone shooting small web ads for them. Turns out the photographer they’re using is shooting their stuff for free, expecting that he will get hired for the big stuff once he “proves himself”. I went to an event mixer the retailer was hosting, and met their creative team who introduced me as “the real photographer they are going to hire when they are ready to go all out.” I asked about the guy they have shooting for them now to which they just laughed him off like he was some idiot. They said they were only using him because he’s working for free. I feel bad for the guy that once they decide to launch their ad campaign that I’m going to walk in and get the job, and that guy is going to get nothing. C’est la vie. It’s true- when you work for free, they joke about you behind your back.
#3 by Edward C. Greenberg on April 2, 2013 - 7:36 pm
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I urge all of you to go back to the link cited in our article above and read all of the comments. Very illuminating…some are even incandescent.