Comments on: What do you think about photographers who work for free?

By: Seamless_1

Seamless_1 — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:53:42 +0000

I am not sure what your concept of free is. I have shot for free in the past and probably will in the future (gifts to friends and family don’t count), but only in the sense that I didn’t receive money. I have, however, always made sure that I got equivalent value for what I did.

For example, let’s say an event would normally be $650.00 for 4 hours. If I can get the equivalent advertising/promotional value out of shooting it for free, I will. I would have to invest that amount as a cash outlay, anyway. Then there are the common ‘time for pictures’ arrangements that are worked out with models. They get something for their portfolio ‘free’ and I get what I’m after without paying their pro models rates.

While it may not involve getting paid in money, I rarely work for free. Like I said, friends and family don’t count when I am doing it as a gift to them. Another area where I will work for free is when some group has a specific project that I believe in and where my photography will help them realize their goals. I don’t see my working for ‘free’ in that situation is any different than writing a check to them.

As a general rule, I don’t mind if people shoot for free. They generally aren’t as good as I am and don’t get the jobs I am after. The ones who undercut all the time (and that is their only selling point) don’t last very long. The work load will kill them and they can’t get much in the way of word of mouth advertising because their product isn’t that good.

I also don’t worry about all of photography. I have specific markets that I deal with and compete only in those markets. I don’t care if someone, or even everyone, shot baby pictures for 25% of what I charge - I don’t do baby pictures.

Vance

By: HPvD

HPvD — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:42:04 +0000

Wow, that’s a big post…,

Some years ago I worked as a Photo Editor at a Photo Press Agency and I know that sometimes some People can sometimes be a little ’sneeky’. For example an advertising agencie that ask for a bunch of photo’s to have a look at while, using them for their presentation on Monday and sending them back the day after, saying that they haven’t found the Photo’s they where looking for.

Maybe you can’t even blame them…,

I do think the reality is that you have to deal with the ‘Law of Question & Demand’ and, with lots of people looking for the most easy way to do things, working on budgets at corperations that think that ‘Leaner and Meaner’ is
the best way to go.

I do think that you can either fight against ‘reality’ or somehow find a way to work within ‘the system’, or else possibly create your own system? What I mean to say is…,

‘And I don’t know If you already
work along those lines but…,’

‘You obviously know a great deal about ‘Sport Photography’, you might consider making a specific blog about ‘Sport Photography’ , write yourself or else make use of ‘FREE Content’ from ‘Article Directories’ buy specific PLR-Rights Content. (Private Label Rights) or work together with journalists. (or for example put up ‘Photo Contests’ for amature photographers (possibly charging an admission fee :)) that you judge while expressing your expert status!)

‘Not going ‘Against the Stream’
but ‘Going ‘With the Flow”

Possibly creating an easy to use system for people to easily buy your photo’s. Having your own ‘Photo Stock Agency Online!’.

put up Adsense ads, and other ‘Sport Related’ ads or maybe do some ‘Affiliate Marketing’ on the side selling ‘Sport Related’ products that you can get commisions from.

(BTW on my main Blogspot
You can also find a ‘Happy Home Business Blogspot’ where you can find more info about ‘Affiliate Marketing’.)

I don’t know if ‘Blogging’ can be the whole answer for you, nevertheless you might consider this an ‘Avenue’
to explore. Or it might have helped you to get some inspiration to explore other ‘Avenues’.

All the Best,
To your Happy Inspiration,
HP

By: Jus_Ben

Jus_Ben — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 11:26:09 +0000

All of the pics that I post on Morguefile.com are for free.
So far I have posted well over 2,000 and had 70000+ downloads from folk who want to use the pics for things like church magazines, leaflets, their personal website, and many other uses.
You may say that I am taking the bread from professional photgraphers. I like to think that I am helping people who can’t afford to pay £75 for the use of a 7 x 5 pic.
Incidentally I think your arguement was overlong and I too, did not read all the way through it. Yes I agree that the skinflint mega-buck firms should be ashamed of themselves, but this is the world as it is.
American firms seems to think that that is good business - to get something for nothing - best of luck to you for telling them “Up yours”

By: beauxPatrick

beauxPatrick — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:38:34 +0000

No professional should give away their work! But there will always be those who are not pros that are willing to do it just for their name on the credit line.

It is not right nor fair, but it is a fact that we must accept.

I am on your side!!!

By: dms47949

dms47949 — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:55:57 +0000

One of the oldest strategies to get business if to under cut the competition on their price and to offer discounts. Tonight I am going to charge $100 for an hour of work to basically take some snap shots and in two weeks I am doing a wedding for guess what- FREE! The wedding photography is my wedding present to the couple. Sometimes free is free and sometimes it is a gift- you never know all the circumstances. When one FREE lances you have to get your name and work out there some how!
As far landing jobs, if you have ever worked for any kind of corporation, the best qualified rarely lands the job or promotion, there are usually other agendas at work. Ever not win a photo contest when you knew you had the best photo entered? One time Elvis Presely entered a Elvis Look a Like contest, Elvis came in third! Had to be some kind of other agenda to fulfill besides who looked the most like Elvis.

By: Pooky

Pooky — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:55:02 +0000

Yeah, how did everything fit in the question box? Did it cost you > 5 points?

Anyway, I kinda stopped reading after a few paragraphs.. I am sorry. I mean, I don’t disagree with what I read, and I am sorry they refused to pay you, but I am not sure what the question is .. because I never got to the end of it.

Sorry.

By: midnightmoon62

midnightmoon62 — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 02:12:35 +0000

How did you get the much posted in one post? I get cut off at 1000 characters?

Beyond that.. I think its kinda ridiculous that major corps like that are begging for free pics.

BUT

Its a good business manuveur as they are getting what they want and need, for free. As long as there are people willing to do it, they will be asking.

But, some people arent in it for the money, and just think its awesome that their photo is the one that is used. That is how they get so many people to do this. They had fun taking it, and getting it used was a bonus for them. Or as a student, quite an honor that a major corp wanted to use their pictures.

Thats the way it works in free lance. Either get another job or deal with it, unfortunatly. Make your pics so much better that they are worth paying for.

Its why its called ’starving artist’, and why every artist should have a fall back resource on how to make money if they cant sell their work