by Leo Wiles
14 November 2014
Great exposure (like hypothermia) should be avoided at all costs – especially when offered in lieu of cold hard cash. Other promises such as the lure of on-going paid work after a bout of free gigs, or explanations that they’re a start-up who can’t afford your ticket price should strike fear into a professional creative’s heart.
Having worked alongside a colleague in London who worked solely for his tube fare and the kudos of being on a national red top for 18 months, I would point out that being taken advantage of when you work in what is seen as a glamorous career is nothing new.
Let’s face it: if you’re a writer, journo, PR, photographer, graphic designer or consultant, chances are that you’ve been hit up to work for free. And don’t get me started on those good looking young women who thought they were going to get a usable portfolio out of their free shoot…
Starting out, it can be incredibly hard to say no when you’re desperate to fill out your CV with testimonials and practical experience.
Even as a seasoned pro, it can be hard to hold the line when you’re switching niches – or trying your hand at something completely new; for example, from PR to journalism or feature writing to photojournalism (as I have).
Along the way, national newspapers have told me that they would be pleased to run my images and were amazed, nay affronted, that after their kindness of printing my images on their covers that I should request payment. As a result I no longer send them my work and they no longer print it!
It’s easy to become despondent when a highly respected photographer pal told me last week that one Park St mob is hiring know-nothing newbies – or relying on iPhone-wielding citizen journos. Or grabbing shots from Facebook pages or Instagram accounts.
Couple that with sites like Craig List posting ‘ads’ from photographers offering to shoot weddings for free, it can be easy to get despondent.
So when, if ever, is it okay to work for free?
Have you ever put the free into freelance – or do you think it doesn’t belong there?
I’m reminded of this spectacular flowchart: http://shouldiworkforfree.com/
Writing for free is always about opportunity versus opportunity cost. If you want to write for free for the reasons Leo posted above (and more) that’s cool but if it is at the expense of getting paid now or down the line, is it really worth it?
Some writing will never pay (if you’ve ever been a volunteer communications person for a not-for-profit you’ll know what I mean) but you do it because you love it on some level or another. If you stop loving it, stop doing it.
I totally agree with your list of instances when you should write for free. And I love your idea of donating your fee to an NGO and using it for a tax deduction – I’ll certainly give that a try next time instead of just doing it for free.
In the past when I’ve run a ‘How to be a freelance writer type course’, I really tried to steer people who are desperate to build up a clips file to write for the smaller NGOs (even larger ones who do have money if you really care about what they do) and other not for profits. There are thousands of small and not so small not for profit associations, community groups etc. who would love to have someone do some writing for them. I know, because whenever I’ve joined one, as soon as people find out I’m a journalist/writer they’re asking me to do their newsletter, write press releases, revamp their website etc. etc.