This author sum it up very well in a short but concise writeup, a worthy read:
When to Work for Nothing - NYTimes.com
When to Work for Nothing - NYTimes.com
You photographers can make a difference for yourself. Prostitute also charge money.
have you ever see any free prostitute??Haha... interesting "comparison"..
My take is, you can't do it for free if someone ask for it.
But if you have next to no portfolio or no experience, shooting for free is a good way to get the portfolio but you need to limit to maybe 2-3 shoots not for a long time.
It's different if you shoot for your personal development. Never accept credit alone as payment as they hardly bringing any exposure.
I do offer my free shoot but it isn't exactly free...
Regards,
Hart
Again, reiterating my point on the situation, if someone wants photographers to shoot free yet still got the cheek demand to choose and vet portfolio; what does it make you if you are not chosen?
Doesn't it appear that you are so cheap that even when you do free people STILL don't want you? Definitely not! Put a price to your time your talent your craft and get some self respect. Don't let these cheapo hunters insult you and photographers!
Hi Jason, there are some exceptions to every rule.
For example, if a non-profit (as in, genuinely non-profit, e.g. run by volunteers) organization needs photographers for an event, and the photos are used to raise awareness/profile afterwards, and it is for a cause that you can believe in, why not? Cheers.
Indeed there is but be careful about the word charity, sometimes used to guise.
For the record in the past we had offered to shoot free for a good and known NGO with high repute and was surprised they insisted to pay us full rates when they do have the budget.
Reason being their sponsors are big cooperations and they don't want to shortchange hard working class photgs earning mundane incomes. Indeed, at $800 to $1000 per dinner seat - whole ballroom filled and fully sold plus lotsa other proceeds from auctions, donations, many 'big' costs sponsored, it is graceful to pay common people for their sweat. Just like you don't ask a waiter to serve for free just becoz it's a charity event.
Other times for smaller projects with less budget, no problem go ahead.
Point is don't do it blindly. Remember Durai, Mingyi, Kong, etc, all in name of charity or something noble...