Photographers Working For Free....SERIOUSLY?!
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- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2024
- I just....I had to make a video about this. Enough.
Working for others FOR FREE under the premise of "exposure" and "free advertising" - do you think it benefits one person more than the other?
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I have a "friend" who has a fashion blog, she recently saw some of my recent work for a client, she was all like "damn awesome pics I love your style" and in the past I have done shots for her for free and the other day she wanted me to take photos of her collaborating with a luxury boutique and as soon as I said I couldn't do it for free I was suddenly the worst human being on earth.
Maria Chantal Rodriguez Nilsson ....Then she really wasn't your friend.
She was using your talent for her business exposure!
Never trust a fashion blogger. Bunch of free loaders
Totally agree. This is very anoying and disrespectful. Free work is ok if I ask to do it, if someone asks me it's not ok. Everyone loves your work until they have to pay...
yup
Photography has no value. It’s sad.
Ain’t that the truth!
🎯
About a year ago I talked over a coffee with one photo editor, and he asked me to give them my photos for free (because I'm new to the industry and few people know at all who I am), I asked him to pass me his phone. He thought that I wanted to call and I just put the phone in my pocket and continue the conversation. When he asked "what are you doing" I said that I also do not know him well so I thought that he, too, can give me his phone (for free). Long story short I did get paid. So it is always good to fight for your beliefs.
"You have what? A little novel? What are you, Winnie the Pooh?" That cracked me up so much hahahahahahah
Hur hur....
I was Helping a "friend" for her modeling career and i took them blah blah edited Sent like 20-30 good Decent Ones.THEN SHE ASK ME TO SEND HER ALL 400!!!!!! LIKE WTF I DONT HAVE THAT TIME AND I DID IT FOR FREEEEEE WHAT DO YOU MEANNN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Now shes mad and wont talk to me
+Alexsey Reyes Dealing with the same thing right now...Lol...
+Alexsey Reyes Then tell her that if she wants those 400 pictures, she should pay you the equal amount of the photo's worth. Otherwise, find a new model, LOL. If she's a good "friend", she would understand.
I agree with fashion fanatic. Offer her the pictures for a price.
Dude, tell me about it. My "friend" was worse. I was helping her for a her modeling and theater headshots and I took them in a studio, spent a ridiculous amount of time editing (her make up was NOT on point..) sent her 10 good ones... THEN SHE ASKS ME NOT TO POST THE PHOTOS ANYWHERE BECAUSE SHE'S SELF-CONSCIOUS ABOUT HER FACE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
WTF ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THEY ARE MY FUCKING PHOTOS I DID THIS AS A FAVOR YOU DO NOT OWN THEM.
That was a year and half ago. Haven't talked to her since.
A big problem is the huge amount of people buying digital cameras and after about 6 months of shooting family and friends listing themselves as a "professional photographer".
Those people are so mediocre that they will do anything to have their photos published. They will also do almost anything to get a customer. Portrait seasons for $100 or less including prints, erodes the marketplace. That's what the JC Penny snapshot mills are for.
We just have to do our best to help the general public see the difference between real professional work and snapshots heavily tweaked in Photoshop.
LOL, I was jsut typing a reply that said almost this exact same thing. Now that I see you already said it I jsut gave up.
How would you expect beginner photographers to get better? All the better or more experienced photographers would monopolize the industry. I am not really a photographer, but I can see why people shoot for so cheap if they are not good.
Greyson S - If they are not good, money shouldn't be involved. Get good first, then get better, then work with a real pro for a while, then get better more, then maybe start to charge. I'm far from a great photographer myself, but when I look at the work others in my area are doing and charging for it, well, it kind of makes me shake my head. And I damn near scream everytime I see someone post a question that goes something like, "Will this Canon Rebel be good for weddings?" or "Will this EF-S lens fit on my 5D mkIV?" It just reminds me that photography is a business on both ends of the game, and swimming around in the muck are people that have no business charging people for their service when they aren't even good enough to know the answer to those questions.
You want to get good, you have to shoot a lot of shots knowing the almost all of them are going to be trash. Understanding which ones are and which ones aren't is jsut the start. From there, you can start to see what you need to do during the shot to get the keeper rate up.
so if you are a beginner and you wanna get paid, start charging $300 minimum for a 1 hour portrait shoot. Sounds good to me, everyone wins that way lol
On a serious note, working for CHEAP isn't eroding anything. BUT for no reason do not work for FREE. charge SOMETHING.
100% agree with you. I preach this same message to other photographers too. We have to protect our industry. The problem is that many amateur photographers treat photography as a hobby instead of as a business and they agree to do free shoots or shoots for barely any compensation, which ends up hurting the industry for photographers who have to make a living doing this. No other industry is abused as much. I even had one couple told me that they will "let" me use their pictures for my portfolio if I shoot their wedding for free!
From an "amateur" stand point... I have to do free shoots for practice and to build a portfolio... as much as I'd love to charge a couple hundred for an hour session... it just won't work.
You can't just buy a camera and practice a bit on some friends and suddenly put yourself out there to the public charging hundreds of dollars for a session that will obviously not be worth that kind of price because you lack the experience and gear. I think you definitely have to build yourself up to that point. Regarding your comment that no other industry is abused as much, you obviously have never stepped into the music industry. Being a musician of 10 years myself I couldn't disagree more.
Anna B what are other ways to practice without giving free photos for amateurs?
Not really. I'm starting out with photography myself and I'm passionate about portraits. I learned my basics and all the other fundamentals. I know I'm not gonna start charging money now because I'm not there yet but I still need practice posing, directing, and shooting models. I can't just wait for opportunities to pop up with family and friends neither. I rather do as much free work possible until I gain the confidence to start charging.
Anna B your absolutely correct Anna. A great resource is to utilize model mayhem. There are tons of new models on there looking to build their portfolio. You can do a trade with these new models for pictures for their portfolio. This benefits both you and the model and then you're not giving away your work to the public and hurting the industry.
The ones who asks for free stuff or pay very little are the first ones to complain
Thank you, I dealt with this
ALWAYS!
Omg I so relate to this. It's so frustrating having people demand a service but not willing to pay because they think what we do is so simple
Girl, I’m having that problem now. I’m interning for this online boutique and I’m photographing for them for FREE right now. The internship ends in June and I think my “boss” is going to ask me to extend the internship. I have no problem extending my work for them but if I do, than I want it to be a full job with PAY. Even though I need the exposer and photos to add to my portfolio, I CAN'T keep working for her for free. I’m a struggling college student/struggling artist. AINT NOBODY GOT TIME FOR THAT…LOL
Going through that rn. Well I Started off with a job that did not require any photography at all lmao. Literally I was hired as front desk admin. Then, they had me try some marketing stuff and saw I was good and now ask me to take photos for free and make videos for the minimum wage I initially got hired on. it's frustrating lol
I agree on with you Jessica. Photographers should get paid for their work. Just because photography is a creative field, that doesnt mean it has to be free.😡 and i guess people have the wrong image of photography maybe they think that oh its just holding a camera and little editing stuff.. no it doesnt work like that. Hmm I guess people want ugly cell phone camera pictures for their weddings, modeling, business photos, etc. :P -.- This makes me bothered, to know that sometimes people dont value photographers... :/
Lesly Mazon art in general, I am an artist and I face d same issue
The same happens with graphic design 😥 for me who I make both is so hard to make people understand that me asking to be paid is my right for all the work I do
That's because people in general, or non-photographers, still believe that all photographers do is press the button. Photographers get paid because of their abilities and skills, knowledge and experiences... sense/knowledge of aesthetics, color balance, composition, framing, and spontaneously being able to solve problems the general public is totally unaware of... and it takes many years of hard work to develop. Plus use of their expensive equipment.
@@artlivesspace -don't you just "love" it when someone says, "Yeah, but you make it look so easy!"?
Just the same here!!!! Now is the problem to have clients, cause some photographers out there who charge less (what mostly means worst quality), so people think why should i pay more...it is just photos! The bad thing here is after they receiving these pics they are ok with that! And they REALLY do not see the different between flash from camera and color grading in postproductin. Very sad! Agree, Jessica! All of us should behave in the same way of selfrespect to bring back the real cost and importance of photography. You're cool! really, keep on rolling! Greetings from Ukraine and Mexico!
I agree with you Jessica,
In my opinion, every photographer sometimes doesn't mind to work for free if the chance is really worth it. for example, to get experience, to practice some technique or to learn something new. but at the end being a photographer is a job like all other jobs and no one will work without salary or without getting paid!
so I think we can accept it sometimes for a reason but of course not all the time. I spend so much money in workshops, equipments and programs so I need to pay for all these!
If you can truly say to yourself that you are getting something out of it (I get to work with a big name I wouldn't otherwise get a chance to ... I get to shoot a cool concert/event that I wouldn't otherwise be able to afford ... I can provide a product or service for my favorite charity by donating my time and talents instead of money ... I get a chance to challenge myself in a different form of photography that I would otherwise have to invest money in, etc) ... If, at the end of the day, you can say that the experience was worth it even though you didn't get paid, then go for it. Otherwise, like Henry Hill says in Goodfellas: "F&*% you! Pay me!"
"Is it just me? Is it just me? Or is this shot so good I shouldn't have to work for free."
WHY ARE YOU SO RIGHT. UGHHHHHH.
Just today someone said other photogs were charging 20 dollars for a shoot.
TWENTY FREAKING DOLLARS.
You know what that covers for me?
Food and gas.
isn't that extremely insulting?
LOL
+Andrea Bella - Belair Beauty 20 DOLLARS????????????? GURLLLLLLLL. omg. No. And by the way IM ALWAYS INSULTED WHEN SOMEONE ASKS ME TO DO FREE STUFF :| It's as if they're trying to do me a favor... :| :|
@@JessicaKobeissi I would literally pay you double your rate to shoot my wedding or engagement pics someday. I KNOW YOUR WORTH, GIRL! P.S. Please start a movement. Us photographers need it!!!
I've had this conversation so many times. I completely feel where you're coming from. I only disagree in regards to your comment of "who am I to start a movement?" Because in all actuality, your work is amazing and I believe the photography community is in need of this discussion to be brought to the forefront. I too have been part of the problem until I finally realized that I was being used for free work. But we need photographers like yourself to bring this issues to light and unite our community because I really feel like photography is a dying art/skill. Nowadays anyone with a smartphone feels like they're a photographer and so many up and coming photographers are willing to work for free if not cheap that it's ruining the market for everyone else. I hope I'm not coming off as a hater or bitter because I'm not, but I just really related to every point you made. I am tired of having people approach me with the whole "exposure" pitch. As if that's sooo enticing?
I once worked as a Health Director for Head Start. I was overworked and underpaid. The Director was told that I was a photog on weekends. She wanted me to do the year photos of the children, teachers and staff... at the same lowly wage. She insisted. I quit. I heard she left suddenly to parts unknown... she embezzled over $40,000 plus some furniture.
Working for exposure can be fine, if you actually get exposure. Just because they use the work, doesn't mean it'll give any exposure. When was the last time you actually noticed who took a photo in a magazine?
Right on, write on... excellent point, bro.
Love the video! I just turned down an offer a few hours ago similar to this, someone wanted my services for a wedding butt didn't want to pay because according to them there helping promote my work, yet they're paying almost $7,000 for the damn dress and $11,000 for the place but can't pay at least $500 for some pictures! It's sooooooo frustrating!! And I even told them $500 was fine I was doing them a favor!! My partner charges $2,500!
+Richard Avalos $500 is WAY TOO LITTLE for wedding photography. Omg no do not do that please, you'll stress yourself working all that for $500. Even if you are just starting out weddings are so much work :/ If they don't value you as a photographer then you should pass on it. Good for you :) !! Proud you turned that down
Ill do it. Lets start a revolution
Hi Jessica, thank you for sharing this video. I hope other artists and future clients take this message into consideration. I really do because I went on to learn this the hard way. I took on a passion project without pay on a freelancing gig that promised food and credit. I took it thinking it wasn't going to be a big deal and it would be fun and a good experience. Many others and I ended up being blindsided with new demands popping up by the hour. It was a 14 hour work day with basic labor laws being broken left and right. From then on I promised myself to never work for free including passion projects unless I know the people running it, then maybe...I might consider.
Well to quote the joker "if you're good at something never do it for free". People that work for free for others are admitting they're not good enough. Good luck trying to explain that to them tough. Great video BTW
This kind of shit is common in all creative industries sadly. The ironic thing is you clearly already have the exposure if these people found you and want to use your work.
Hey can I get free food because you'll get free exposure 😂
Sergio Anguiano LOL!!!!!!
All they are doing is avoiding paying for stock photography and I think everyone agrees with you. The closest I've ever come to a freebie is a model when I first started studio work, I did her some CV photos, she taught me about working with models. You, and only you, know your worth and you seem to be doing ok without giving your work away. You're a talented lady and word of mouth will help you more than any online magazine.
Jessica you're my new favorite 😂 like you're low key a comedian and Photographer all in one.
I love this. Everyone says I do great work but when it comes to them purchasing images. Nope Nada Zilch
So glad you are addressing this. I am guessing it’s even more of an issue today since there are so many photographers around today that want exposure and recognition and so eager to be seen or to break into the business. What makes it worse is that cameras have gotten so good and Lightroom and Photoshop can easily transform a mediocre photo into something that is publishable. Artist are usually always outsmarted by the businessperson. Too many good enough photographers available who will shoot for free or cheap is killing the bottom and middle market of the industry. Photographers are fighting for crumbs-all the lower paid jobs.
you are an inspiration for me.... you have gone through so much of hard time in your life but you didn't ever think of giving up..... thank you very much for posting all the videos, your videos are helping me a lot......
ABSOLUTELY SO TRUE!!! Thank you Jessica for saying this. This goes for a lot of writers too writing for websites for free in exchange for "exposure".
I'm in total agreement with you girl!! I am always doing things for people for free and I've got to really crack down cause like you said it ain't paying my bills like that and it isn't getting that much exposure.
I love what the magazines do but I also love what I do. We should all get paid for our hard work and not be singled out. If The big Camera companies want us to keep buying their high-end DSLR's and Prime Lenses then I feel they should also help us get paid.
i am watching your all videos from long time but now subscribing for this video . This is actually guiding people Never work for free just to get exposure . My Instagram whole inbox is full people asking for free work , and when i replied with charges details after they dont even bother to reply .Seriously i dont know why people think being a photographer is joke or fun work.
I know, right? hehehe crazy! It's been like that for AGES with illustrations!!! I don't work for free. Except if it is for my mom. hehe and even for close friends, I often give them a super good price but it is never free cause... we are worth it. They know it is time, it is a job. Even tough I love my job, as you said, still have to eat. So good for you for standing up and know your value. :)
I completely agree!!! Loved this video. I was dying laughing at your sarcasm!
+Kenya Swilling thank you beautiful
+Jessica Kobeissi we are in a very f%^& up world, Jess.
God you are so beautiful
I agree with you Jessica, everyone pretends they are broke when it comes for paying for things that are not for themselves. It really is pitty that people think our jobs are so easy. I believe photographers need to start showing their value to get paid work. When you are starting out its fine to things for free. Photographer are also humans and they have bills to pay just like anyone else in this world. Thanks for posting this video.
I love this video! This is one of my biggest concerns and roadblocks for me going professional. I have also heard this concern from other people in different creative disciplines.
Totally Agree! Tell them girl, I'm with you.
I wish I could "like" this a thousand times!
You make a great point about magazines. Every time some asks me to work for free... I raise my rates, lol!
I'm so glad I discovered your channel. This video really put it in perspective for me that photographers can be treated like nothing by BIG magazines, and it's somehow socially acceptable, while at the same time, they wouldn't expect somebody to write an article for them for free, it's crazy.
I just want to thank you for opening the discussion and trying to bring some awareness to this issue in our community.
YOU'RE EPIC FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO GIRL! I'm with you! And I'm on a different continent! You CAN start a movement. I know this is 2 years old but YOU DO HAVE THE INFLUENCE to start a movement with short good messages after every video 😄
I actually did a couple trade shoots with a couple model friends and they submitted the pictures to mags to be published. The magazine reached out to me and asked me to submit other work. They had 5 different magazines under their name. No pay so no submissions from me. I appreciate you filming this and agree.
Hi Jess, you're saying everything I'm thinking. I have a great idea, how about we all arrange a plan to start talking to Magazine editors in person to see if we can't convince them to start paying. Even if its just a little payment to start with, its a good way of getting the ball rolling. I am currently working on a bigger plan to help photographers like you and me to start talking about what is a fair price to pay.
It's great to see someone's real honest views and you have highlighted some real true issues.
I completely agree with you here, I'm a costume designer and maker and I often work trade for trade with models and photographers but only when no one is getting paid or making money off it. If I'm selling the costume, or paying anyone else in the project then everyone involved should be paid.
I love you. Preach it. They all need to hear the truth.
I totally agree with you Jessica! As a photographer myself, I totally believe that I should be compensated and paid for my work; especially after all the money I spent on getting a formal education on Photography in the most expensive city in the world; NYC!! So I feel you Jessica!!
Sharing all over my social media! Amen, sista!!!
I don't do anything for free anymore unless it's a client I WANT to photograph or video, for my portfolio. These businesses chime it up to make it look like they're doing SOMETHING FOR YOU, BUT....they are just getting FREE WORK. Reverse psychology. Screw them! LOVE your channel.
I once was in a band and went to record our demo in a studio so we paid for it (the engineer was a friend of mine). Fews weeks later, he wanted to go grab a beer and show me his new honda civic and wanted pictures of it. I told him I would have to charge for these since we would actually be doing a proper photoshoot. He got pissed off and said "I did you a favor and now you want me to pay for pictures?". So he can charge for a "favor" but I can't? Wtf is wrong with people.
Thank for this video, I totally agree with your logic. if they don't have prints they don't have a business! no photographer should cheapen their brand by working for free! I'm a beginner amateur photographer, the only thing I do free is my nephew 9yo basketball game! lol really only family events. my husband won't have it and neither will I !
omg i love you jessica. i was about to make a video about this topic. till i found this. thank you
you really spoke out for all photographers
Agreed. People especially photographers need to know the value of our time, energy and skillset.
I've never thought about it this way before but it makes so much sense! Thanks so much for making this video!
Great video. The companies who ask photographers often do so without knowing how the photo industry works so that's fair game. I've found once you sit down and educate whoever is asking for free work, they immediately appreciate your craft. However, we don't live in a perfect world :(
RUclips needs a love button like the new fb! bc this is so true! GIRL, PREACH!
Love your channel! You have the best photography videos and ones like this with real talk are so good. Every industry needs more transparency! Fashion design is the same shit but its good to have people speaking out about this stuff
I hear you Jessica, and I am working on a plan to make sure photographer like you and me get paid for the hard work we put in.
You are a very 'passionate person' aren't you? It's refreshing to watch a person speak frankly and candidly, but more importantly 'truthfully', especially on RUclips. :)
I believe that type of 'one sided' sweat work started in the industry sometime ago... It was at first a 'barter thing', (Free Model for Head-shots scenario) and then once models started doing it for free, so too did photographers. If magazines can get supermodels to do a 'VOGUE' shoot for nothing, then I would assume that they might feel as though it should be 'pretty easy' to get photographers to do similar work for 'no pay'. Fortunately for a photographer, that person can say 'yay' or 'nay' to taking a photo without too much pressure, however the same is not true for a model and I'm VERY glad to see that the models are fighting back and suing these ridiculous people. Perhaps photographers will catch on as well and realize that their 'gamble for exposure' only hurts the industry...
Cheers,
RIGHT ON POINT!!! that's exactly how i feel too!... oh and where u say "HABIBTE"... EPIC!
The day will come when you want even have time to make these videos and you will
surely be very well payed for your beautiful work.
Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha, girl you're a rebel speaking from the heart. I need you as my layer. You are soooo right about that. I just discovered your RUclips vids and I as a graphic designer and amature photographer understand 100%.
“I can’t pay my bills with exposure.” THIS!!!!!
I just done my first shoot for a singer a independent artist for a online magazine interview. I said I'll do it for free because my experience but as long as my work gets recognition on the website and socials. I've learnt that these companies have money lots of it so from now on I'll be charging but if it's a must I'll do small work for free just to get a buzz around my name and work as I'm just starting out. But it's true without our photos the visual representation of these companies work wouldn't get as much interest with out our photos :)
you said it. thanks!
When people want you to work for free, ask them if they work for free on their job.
That's an old patented answer I heard an old photog tell his distant relatives... I've used it. Or sometimes I simply say, "I don't work for free... thanks to Abraham Lincoln."
Or ask them if they can exchange that exposure for room and board at their place.
I'm so glad you made this video. Someone said it finally. Thank you.
Totally agree, even worse.. online retailers asking for photography of their products exchange for exposure on their social channels. They're making money off of your work in exchange for credit that in my opinion should already be given.
ohhh i feel you girl i feel you, i am tired of how some people don't take photographers as seriously as other professions. I thought it's a problem only in Europe/Asia where i lived .. but i see it's everywehre
Oh, I am in on that movement. Bc it´s not just magazines: it´s clients who try to get everything for free - or extremely cheap so it´s impossible to be profitable. I actually stopped shooting for others. I moved (like most German Pro Photographers) to teaching photography . Luckily I studied English & German literature and can focus on writing now. Thank God: cause taking good pictures is a much more common skill than being a good writer. I feel for you. But I have seen a lot of great photographers quit bc of the attitude of clients & magazines. I had to quit pro photography, too. It is very sad, bc it´s my passion. But I can still use my skills to promote my writing, my IG. I hope you are one of the few photographers who can manage to stay in this business. But be open to re-think. Cause people who have power use it. Unfortunately. All the best to you
Love your videos so much Jessica!!! That is all
+World of Vegan thank you so much ^_^ !!!
Hey Jessica, I'm a videographer and have just started my photography business. I totally understand you and I've been bothered with exactly the same thing ever since I started. I watched your the worst wedding customer video and got so related to that one too! I really hope all photographers can spread this so all of us can then stop eating only cookies for meal😐😐😐
OMG!!! You are in my head! I say NO! Especially to the fashion bloggers, Online Magazine, Etc. Very insulting!
Jessica you are great..what ever u said that's really ultimate...if any one working free whatever he or she is passionate about then it is showing to his or her profession....
Showing disrespect
This is the issue in any industry where there are many parties that contribute to a final product. I'm particularly in the construction industry, low voltage to the be exact. A lot of other trades give low voltage the short end of the stick because they think along the lines of: "it's just pulling cable", or "because they're last in line, they're the least important". Our roles get over simplified.
Just like in photography, I've come to feel that most people think that it's just easy to get a "great" picture, but all they've used is their smart phone. I will say that I have never appreciated the amount of work that goes into photography until I bought my own DSLR. Before then, it was just a matter of point-and-shoot, and then posting onto Facebook and getting some "Likes".
I've read a few editorials on this subject, and it really looks like that the people "reaching out" and trying to get these free pictures have never picked up a camera.
you are so right, we should have an organised photography community and someone to regulate this so that all photographers are aligned and sync together and no cheap clients can give us any exposure jazz bullshit
I am HOARSE from saying all this for YEARS. It's so damn good to hear somebody else highlight this issue too. Nobody would ask a plumber or an electrician to work for free so WTF should we? But, as some dickhead actually said to me once "but photography isn't a real job", ........... seriously. I disemboweled of course.
I was shooting some shots of my friends son on a playground when he said "the camera does all the work." So I held out the camera and said, "then you should have no trouble doing it yourself." Without even trying to do it, he knew immediately that he was wrong. We aren't jsut button pushers. Not a real job...
Ur argument is on point! 🙌🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼
I think this is true for Photographers who have "made" it. If you are a well known for what you do.If you are just starting and still making your fotos on the 8 megapixel digitalcamera this certainly does not apply.
Important thing is to figure out when you hit the point of quality and influence to charge people for your fotos.
3:05 , the moment where Jessica went full lebanese lol! Great video right there straight to the point!
You definitely should start a movement, someone should make it popular or at least help make it popular !!! We photographer should make us strong together and to fight against those mags ! You took a nice step by taking this vid, thanks for that 🙌🏻
I really love your video. This is so true!!! Working for free is really crazy but there is always someone ask us to do it.
Oh girl, not only does that happen with companies, but it also happens with the general public! I've lost track of how many times people have approached me to do shoots for them and then asked me to do it for either free or extremely cheap (we're talking $10 - $20 for the entire shoot). I'm certainly not that cheap! Like you, I have bills to pay and would never give away my hard work for free.
The only time I work for free is if it's something I really want experience of or if I really want it in my portfolio - but never for a company for free and actually never have I taken on the work if it meant a paid photographer would lose out. This is a seriously competitive industry which I'm still finding my feet in and I wish the photography community would stick together on issues like these rather than trample all over each other. The work will never be valued otherwise.
I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
I'm so with you, you actually could start a movement. Employee's get together and go on strike, freelance photographers can group together and put an end to these companies expecting free work from photographers
I came here to rebuttle you because I did free work to develop myself, but after listening to what you said.....I AGREE!. Some ppl out there ask for outrageous things for free.
Jessica, I say it over and over again, you belong on TV , your accent is awesome, Love u
TRUE. Preach it!
Agree with you 100% A lot of people are naive for believing otherwise.
It happened to me as a Graphic Designer. A lot of people asked me to do work for free, because they are (in their words) "helping me". They think it's an easy job, but they don't understand how much time and effort we put into our work. It's annoying.
Agree!! Love it!
i totally know what you mean. i work as an architect, lived in barcelona (spain) once, applied for a job and one company replied and said that there is the crisis (2008) so they could not pay me but i could work there... so i asked myselve: so they have work, that means they probably have projects going on, so they should get money from theyr client? i did not even answer to them... i mean, i had to pay my rent, pay food and so on. happens too often that big "good" architectural offices around the world have interns that work for free, desperat to have a nice office name on theyr cv one day.
a lot of people do not see the work behind a picture, because technic has come so far they just think, well, anybody could do that. just take your smartphone out and take a couple of pics and go back inside and press a few buttons on ps or so and there you have it.
also in architecture, the plans never show the whole effort that went in to a project.
i just resently came across to one of your videos so i started watching. ceep up the good work.
Seriously, say YES, OH YES!!! I will definitely LOVE to help you out over the phone. Just make it sound like you are super enthusiastic without saying the "YES" word. Yea, keep it all verbal. Then, on the day of the wedding, do not show up. Do not take any call, do not put anything in writing. If they raise a stink, say " Sorry, I had a paying gig that day and volunteer work is kinda hit-n-miss " But you say that after they get into grumpy mode. JUSTICE!!!
The thing that made me realize I can’t do it as a professional is cause 2 things.
1) I have to please everyone else and do what they want and loss my creativity.
2) you really can’t make a living off of it unless your that good.
It kills me cause I would like to be a professional but I’m not cut out to please everyone else. Wedding photographers care more about clients and what they want then there own gear, once you become a professional you have to make sure everyone else is happy to make money before your self.
god I love you!!!I have said this over and over again.
you hit it head on! thanks for this...
You should recap this for THIS year. It's a big issue because soooo many desperate photographers are out here submitting to these fake model magazine and being the okie doke person. I tell everybody who tries that exposure mess with me that if I can go to walmart and get my groceries and pay my mortgage in exposure I'm all for it. You may not directed it, but these people are watching and they know it! KEEP SPEAKIN UP!!!!! This also goes for model agencies too, TFP helps portfolios but calling me back again and think imma travel 294 miles for free you must be crazy.
I think what you said was amazing! All of my "free" work will be for family and friends JUST to build a portfolio. I will do "free" work for companies but the return has to be its monetary equivalent of my work. In which case, I still get "paid." If it cost $2000 to advertise in your publication, I will give you $2000 worth of services as long as I get the EXACT considerations and treatment as a client who paid you $2000 cash. Anything else is unacceptable.
GREAT MESSAGE, Ms. Kobeissi!