PHOTOGRAPHERS: Should You Work For Free? (Seriously?)

Starting a photography business is hard. How do you get photoshoot s when you don't even have a portfolio? Should you work for free, or should you charge what you're worth? Today we're talking about working for free, free photography, and what photographers have to say about building a portfolio from scratch. Head to www.signaturee... for more free tutorials & resources!

[@SignatureEdits]

What do YOU think - Should photographers work for free? Leave your thoughts below! Want more photography business resources? Check out our marketing & branding templates for photographers at shop.signatureedits.com

[@VentureNorthMedia]

Completely agree with everything you have said here. I am a full time photographer and I feel without doing free or very low cost sessions I would not be where I am now.

[@keonij1228]

I've HIRED beginners but also paid them. Because this is still a business and they need to learn the business. Not paying is exploitation

[@SignatureEdits]

Props to you for supporting! I like your approach :)

[@keonij1228]

Thank you

[@queenoftheuniverse1]

i think they exploited you! those who pay to teach? what are your thoughts on them???

[@ivan_alexander11]

I’ve applied this same method in my career and have had plenty success. Generally if the individual I’m working with has more experience then me I am open to work for free, and or split cost. If a model wants photos done by me with my style I charge a fee. In the fashion industry usually working with modeling agencies is unpaid, editorial is also un payed but comes with a lot of prestige and recognition. Those free shoots have a given me access to a lot more exclusive clientele.

[@SignatureEdits]

Thanks for sharing! This is a fantastic strategy and approach Ivan. I'm going to take it :)

[@Barrrt]

Thanks for the vid and your experiences on the subject! I run into two things: 1) I find it hard to create my best work when the other person doesn't value it in terms of money 2) There is this emotional bank account for what I give and get in return. When I give too much at the expense of my personal life then I end up in the red really fast, killing my overall motivation. So for me this whole thing is a bit more about the emotional costs of working for free than about this philosophical or practical question of what it brings. I DO however find that when I GIVE A LOT to people who aren't really my clients (for example: I shoot an event and take a portrait of someone and that someone then emails me to get the portrait and I give it for free) THESE are the people who send me jobs later on. So what I originally define as 'over-giving', usually ends up being a mutually benificial exchange. Being generous leads to building trust, getting fans who then send me jobs. It's weird :-)

[@SignatureEdits]

Great thoughts Bart! Totally agree - Doing free work for people who don't appreciate it is an energy and motivation killer. Whereas working on the right projects for people who are out of this world grateful is absolutely worthwhile in my experience. Probably should have been more specific in the video - Its not about doing work for free, its about doing the RIGHT work for free :)

[@Barrrt]

@@SignatureEdits couldn't agree more! Currently involved in a project with a low budget but I can work with refugees and it feels great.

[@joemaijinni]

As you mentioned, doing free work when it's the right work is key, but it's difficult identifying what is the right work. I've recently done a lot of free things that were promising and have been taken advantage of. I just had someone reach out to my last night asking me to film an event for exposure. I don't need anymore exposure right now, I need money... :/

[@SignatureEdits]

Aw man, sorry to hear that Joe! I've been there - You're absolutely on the money when you say you need to pick the RIGHT kind of work to do for free. Personally I'm also quicker to do photography for free than I would video, as video is a LOT more work and time invested, whereas photo is less of a risk in case it winds up not being worthwhile. Hope you find yourself booked solid soon! Also if you're interested we have a marketing + branding membership that has some different training and tools aimed specifically at building a booked-solid biz. If you have any questions let me know. shop.signatureedits.com/marketing-branding-membership

[@lonniepaulson7031]

THANKS. When I was young I used to shoot postcards for ma and pa motels. I first got the business started by showing a portfolio of motels I shot in the area and offering to shoot their motel without charging them. I would show them the images of their motel. I told them I would only charge them if they liked the photography and wanted to go ahead with the postcards. If interested I would then charge $100 for every 4x5" transparency that they purchased, but I retained copyright and I would get a sales commission for selling the cards. This helped to add to my portfolio and made it easier to sell my photography.

[@SignatureEdits]

That's a great example Lonnie - Thanks for sharing! Appreciate it :)

[@queenoftheuniverse1]

i am with you on this one boss!!! i do it for my experience and portfolio

[@SignatureEdits]

Glad to hear it! Thanks for the comment :)

[@Musiqfan23]

This was super helpful..Thanks for sharing!

[@SignatureEdits]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks so much :)

[@oricbui4943]

great content Ryan keep up the good work.

[@SignatureEdits]

Thanks Oric - My pleasure!

[@DrPankajMalukar]

amazing way of conveying ideas.... like the way of explanation. one should have long term goals in business!

[@Danyopharaoh]

Great video and exactly my mind set.

[@SignatureEdits]

Glad to hear it Danny! Thanks for the comment :)

[@stephfr5]

Thanks for sharing, I also shot for free quite a bit at the beginning of my career (2 years ago) and I still do today at times. It's amazing the contacts you can make by shooting one model who makes it big or has a large social media following. This past week I've had 3 paid gigs....I'll take it! Your videos are awesome!!

[@SignatureEdits]

Good for you - Congrats on the busy week!

[@stephfr5]

@@SignatureEditsThank you! I just ordered the 27 inch Imac as well. :)

[@SignatureEdits]

@@stephfr5 Good choice - Love mine!

[@stephfr5]

@@SignatureEdits I'm adding memory as well. I was thinking 32 gb or 64.

[@greosvision]

The one thing that I admit is that I'll do a trade for print but I won't do the photo edits for free

[@sarazlaja]

I love that dog :D !!!

[@SignatureEdits]

Hahaha me too

[@LimitedSpectrum]

"Shend you shum shades" - Sean Connery

[@SignatureEdits]

Haha

[@leebaker2898]

Wow this has been so insightful, hearing this story really has boosted my motivation and strive for going out and getting the experience i need thanks!

[@SignatureEdits]

You got this!

[@magusofthebargain]

When someone offers to have you work for free, respond with a counteroffer that they pay you in full in cash, up front.

[@jenishshaikh7524]

Gr8....tips

[@SignatureEdits]

Thanks Jenish!

[@corastrauss3260]

Want more about u said at the end of the video!!! More info, please!!!! It helps a lot ✨✨✨ Peaceeee

[@SignatureEdits]

Thanks Cora! If you have questions let me know!

[@corastrauss3260]

Thanks a lot!!! I really apreciate! 🤩

[@cnhoffman]

I'm pretty firm in the "don't ever shoot for free" camp, but I see your point and I wish you had mentioned this a bit more directly. For example, shooting for free when a corporation needs business portraits is NOT the same thing as being a photography assistant or a 2nd shooter on a wedding. Both are free, but they have completely different beneficiaries and result in different experiences. The corporation benefits from free photos when they probably had budget for paying a photographer. Shooting that for free does harm all photographers and no one should do that. But your example doesn't fit that. Shooting for another photographer makes another photographer the beneficiary thus the net gain/loss for all photographers collectively is net zero or net positive. Shooting with/for a more experience photographer will definitely be a more productive learning experience. I think this distinction is really important.

[@SignatureEdits]

Good points and all totally valid! In my own experience doing free photos for friends / businesses of friends etc was still a net positive for me. They weren't going to pay a photographer anyways, and I needed the experience without being in a high pressure situation. I grew a lot from the process of doing a few free shoots on my own. But your points all make sense too - Thanks for sharing!

[@luvbytes]

Subscribed.

[@SignatureEdits]

Thanks!

[@deepdesire6967]

There is difference between doing free shoot if u have no portfolio and no experience but now every big company and every tom dick and hary wants a free shoot and once ur labelled as a free photographer u will always be a free photographer.. So why other professions are not asked to do free stuff? Coz they respect their profession..

[@magusofthebargain]

You want to work for free? Work for yourself. Comparing this to school is appropriate because school should be free.

[@LimitedSpectrum]

Man, I've been working for free for years. Any time I even mention payment, everyone suddenly disappears. Actually, it's really hard for me to even do photoshoots for free! Like, I pretty much have to beg people to photograph them for free. I would totally be down to help out a local photographer or cinematographer for free just to gain experience and connections, but now that I live in Los Angeles, I am just barely getting by working 60 hours a week at my day job. fml.

[@SignatureEdits]

I'm sorry to hear that! Certainly some types of photography its going to be harder than others, and having a nice portfolio is going to be key in getting bookings (paid AND free) - Its surprising to me that you're having no success after years of doing it - Makes me suspect there might be a key piece of the puzzle you're missing? Send me your IG - I'd love to check out your stuff!

[@LimitedSpectrum]

@@SignatureEdits Hey, thank you so much for hearing me and replying! Sorry for venting on your channel, you're being totally cool, and I REALLY appreciate the offer. But man, it just feels so hopeless when I get caught in a catch-22 like this. I need people to do shoots with me so I can build a portfolio, but I need a portfolio to get those people interested in doing shoots with me... GAH! I am in the middle of reorganizing and rebranding right now, but I am slowly getting a better portfolio together with what little I do have. instagram.com/limited.spectrum.design/ is my, like, professional page. Did some major culling to bring the overall quality up, but it's weird that my crappy random personal Instagram gets way more attention. But, yeah, I'm glad I found your channel! I've been going nuts with content like yours for a couple years now, but for some reason only just now discovered you! WTH, KZbin? Fix that algorithm! You deserve to be right up there with Matt Kloskowski, PixImperfect, and Phlearn!

[@SignatureEdits]

@@LimitedSpectrum Thanks for the compliments! Checked out your insta - Cool stuff! You've got an edgy / 90's vibe going on. Unique and creative - But unfortunately not necessarily the kind of work that is in demand for paid gigs! I certainly don't know everything, but my gut feeling is if you're wanting to get more paid work, you'll need to switch your style / approach to fit the kind of work you're aiming to attract - Like you said it can be a catch 22, but most of the time you have people in your network you can photograph (friends & family, businesses they own or have connections to etc.) Just my 2 cents, but I would start there - Decide what kind of paid photos you want to take, then research what is trending / popular in that industry, and learn how to create those kind of images. Unfortunately having a photography business is mostly business, with a sprinkle of photography ;) Hope this helps!

[@LimitedSpectrum]

@@SignatureEdits I REALLY appreciate you taking your time to check out my Instagram and give me feedback! I never get critiqued on my work, so I don't know how the rest of the world views it. I never thought of my photos having a 90s look, but I guess it kinda' makes sense. Being a teenager in the 90s probably has something to do with that. Totally not a conscious effort to achieve that look; it just... happens. I never really thought I have a "style", because my practice is so inconsistent and subjects vary wildly, going from Hip-Hop in the Old L.A. Zoo to animals in the actual zoo, to Star Wars. Hard to lock down a specific look when doing that. But I also think my colorblindness is what makes me edit the way I do; i know I go heavy on the saturation and clarity. I can't see red or green, so that completely changes how I see these mixtures of RGB. Well, thank you for the help! I guess what I really need to do is find my own solid style that lines up with current trends and what's in demand. I don't have any friends or family I can practice photographing, but luckily I have a HUGE backlog of photos from a Venice Beach shoot with some aspiring Instagram models. I can start with my editing style on those to see if I can get "the look". I know running a photography business is 90% just business, but at this point, it's not even a business for me. I can't even give away my photos for free! Horrible business model. But I'm still going to try and change that!

[@GregoryHoffman]

Hey if you wanna torture puppies - that’s on you, I’m not going to tell you how to live your life. I don’t wanna torture puppies but if you get off torturing them to death that’s fine with me, I’m a non pushy non preachy cool anti puppy torture kinda person

[@deepdesire6967]

Shame on you Shane on you For promoting free shoots Does anyone asks make up artists to do free work? Do designers not get paid? Issue is even good photographers are asked to do free shoots.. Will u ever ask a doctor to do free consultation??

[@deepdesire6967]

Saw ur work.. Very basic and average work.. Yes no wonder u do free work..

[@SignatureEdits]

Hey Deep - Never claimed to be an amazing photographer. In fact, most of what I teach is from the standpoint that I AM very average. And yet I've managed to build a business that gives me a great income and a fantastic lifestyle, on average work. The way I got there wasn't through natural talent so much as good marketing, hard work and persistence. In reference to your other comments - You're 100% free to say no to free shoots. In my own experience, they have ALWAYS been worth it for me - I build relationships, I gain portfolio work, and I grow as a photographer - So while I might not get $$ for the shoot, I get paid in other ways. But it's all good! If it's not for you, it's not for you. Oh and yes, people do ask make up artists to do free work. Designers do free work all the time especially when starting out And absolutely, I would have no problem asking a Doctor to trade services if they were receiving value in exchange. Because as a photographer doing a free shoot, you still get the images, experience etc. Doctors spend years PAYING to learn how to be a doctor. You can do it for free as a photographer, AND build your portfolio. Adios my friend

[@CalebDavislfcandfcb]

I'm really trying to figure out where bashing someone else's work is helpful even to yourself. What are you going to accomplish at the end of the day? I guess its way too hard for everyone to be open minded and see if you can take something from someone else's opinions. Just because they don't line up with your "absolute" beliefs doesn't mean that they are wrong. They just have a different way of thinking. It's great to take multiple opinions into account. Not doing so just makes your look uneducated and immature.

[@deepdesire6967]

@@SignatureEdits you are not a photographer.. U do free work and destroy real talented people That's why no one respects photographers.. They are treated like shit.. And ur the reason for this.. Make up artists are paid.. Models are paid.. Stylists are paid then why photographer should do free work to get publicity? Shame on u.. Ur the reason for all this mess

[@deepdesire6967]

Issue is everyone wants free even from experienced photographer.. U have no self respect

[@sirBumpyCase]

Would you do *any other* kind of labor for free? no. you wouldn't.

[@SignatureEdits]

Lol. Yes, I absolutely would. I did a carpentry apprenticeship for 6 months that I worked 8-10hrs a day for free. But I wound up gaining WAY more back in experience and knowledge. And what do you think university is? People don't just labor for free - They PAY to do that labor. Thinking you're entitled to enter an industry and just get paid right away with no experience or portfolio in that area is (in my opinion) rather shortsighted.

[@sirBumpyCase]

@@SignatureEdits ​ @Signature Edits excellent point, however, since photography is something i do for fun on the daily, for the last three years, with an available portfolio on Instagram, constantly critiquing my work and comparing it to professionals ... I think it's safe to say that my years building up to this, and my daily drive should not go penniless. I'm not gonna let myself be told that "oh you'll get valuable experience", or "you'll get some recognition". Sure, I'm not going to charge nearly as much as the veterans, but that does not mean that i'm going to let the expenses of my car, the gas it took to get there, the *expensive* camera equipment that I don't even have insured- fall to the wayside. The answer to the question this video is asking is not 'one size fits all', and should be evaluated given the surrounding context. I understand that my initial comment seemed biased and shortsighted, however this video tends to assume only a few perspectives. If you would like to see my portfolio (up to about march), you can look at @PhotoJuice4 on instagram. If you would like to see some more recent photos, you can email me at [e-mail]. I'm not trying to plug myself (although I don't mind ;), I'm just letting you know that I am legitimate. I respect your opinion, I understand that is is only *your* opinion, and you that have more experience. I'm trying to add a bit more to the table. Best wishes, Jared

[@SignatureEdits]

@@sirBumpyCase just saw this! 100% agree with your points - although I WOULD observe that as you said, you've ALREADY been shooting for free for the last 3 years - You just did it in a way that you enjoyed doing for fun (which is the best way!) :) Hope you're well my friend!