7 DOs & DONTs of Working for FREE

There is a HUGE debate on whether or not people should work for free. It happens all the time in many fields. Is it right? Is it wrong? In my experience, most people (not all) simply do not truly appreciate free stuff. What!? Who doesn't love free stuff? It really depends. People love free goods, but it's a different song and dance all together when it comes to free services. Some will take a mile when given an inch, others will stomp all over your efforts, good or bad. You could do a genuinely great job and someone is there to push your face in the mud, or you could do a genuinely terrible job and someone will think the world of you. It's all subjective. Results vary.

I'm going to make a very short list of the DOs and DON'Ts of Working for Free. I'm [trying to become] a professional photographer, so most of this will use photography as an example, but this article was written with the tax-paying professional in mind.

1. Do build a portfolio that you love. Be Honest. First, get a grip on what kind of work you want to do. It can take a while to figure this out, so working for free may be a great choice to explore your options, and give you an opportunity to get some practice in different areas. Many photographers love to shoot anything and everything, but as you shoot more often you will quickly discover what you like to shoot, and what you love to shoot.

2. Do (or Don't) work for free to promote your business. Getting people to talk about your business can be easy. It's what people say about your business that is unpredictable. If you decide you want to do free work, do it because you want to, and commit to the job as if you are getting paid. Clients usually become friends. You want to keep your friends. Don't make enemies. Draw lines if you have to, but be cool about it.

3. Don't work for credit/exposure. These so-called jobs are a dime a dozen, and you will likely never make a dime doing this kind of work. You do not need anyone else to give you credit or exposure, you can do this on your own. Your work should speak for itself. Even and especially if it's Joe Schmo from Awesome Company/Magazine, they can afford to pay you, and pay you well. Have some respect for yourself.

4. Don't continue to work for free. Experience can create confidence. Charging even a small fee is better than establishing yourself as someone who consistently works for free for the whole town. You will have to step away from free to be taken seriously.

5. Do maintain control of your work. Just because you're working for free doesn't mean you have to give it all up. Establish how and where your work can be used and by whom. Use contracts to establish and maintain copyright. Usually the client has unlimited personal use of the image(s), but they can not go out and make money selling t-shirts and coffee mugs–or whatever–using your images without first establishing some sort of deal with you. Always maintain copyright of your life's work. Also, if Joe Schmo from Awesome Company comes along wanting to use your images, then you, as the photographer, should be paid for those images. Be nice and offer your photo client a cut. Win-win.

6. Do projects for yourself/Collaborate with others. This goes together with number 1: Building a portfolio that you love, but it's easy to get caught up with other people's offers and ideas. Approach people or subjects that fit inside the goal of your project and see where it goes. Sometimes personal projects can take you further than you may have ever imagined.

7. Don't get discouraged. If you're not getting any work, it doesn't mean you suck. The economy sucks. People usually won't find what they aren't looking for. If you're getting inquiries but not booking, send a friendly message or email asking why. If you have to get a day-job to make ends meet, it's not the end of the world. Keep on truckin'.

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There are no sure-fire rules to live by. If it feels right, do it. If it feels weird, step back and evaluate the situation. I am currently only in the first 6-months of establishing myself as a professional photographer. It's been rough and it's been scary. I've wanted to throw in the towel so many times before taking a step back and looking at the big picture. I want to do this, it makes me happy more than it frustrates me. Sometimes it's a drag, during the winter months and slow periods. But as long as I'm alive, I'm learning as I go and trying to have fun doing it. If anything I have learned along the way can help others, well... that is awesome.