Starting out in photography – Learn the value of your work

[To learn more about the 'Starting out in photography' posts, please read this post]

Lesson Number 4 – Learn the Value of Your Work

Or put another way, don’t give away imagery or your photographic services for free.

A couple of months back in the blogosphere, a storm rolled in about the whole ‘free photography’ debate. It started innocently enough with this post by David Hobby at the Strobist - Four Reasons to Consider Working for Free. Then uber photographer, Chase Jarvis chimed in with this post - Will Work for Free? Lastly, Photo Business News & Forum chimed in with this post - Working for Free. All these posts provide a variety of view points complete with counter arguments and are worth a read if you are unclear on where you stand with ‘free’.

I learnt this lesson the hard way, and I learnt it early on. Yes, I allowed an organisation – which wasn’t short on money – to use a number of my images to help promote their product and service. In exchange I was suppose to receive a photo credit.

A photo credit!

It is unbelievable to read that all these years on. A photo credit!

The crux of the matter is this: if an organisation comes to you asking for free usage of your work, then it is for a very good reason.

Your work has value. And the organsation wants to use your work to boost the value of their product or service.

Make NO mistake about this. At some level, the organisation in question is looking to take advantage of your hard earned work, by using your imagery in promoting their product or service.

So what do you do when the organisation in question says ‘we don’t have any money to pay you?’

That’s easy. You understand the value of your work and how it will benefit the organisation. And because of this, you say:

‘No, you cannot use my imagery for free. I am a working photographer and I understand the value my imagery brings to your requirements. If you wish to use my imagery, then you will need to license my imagery accordingly’.

If no money is forthcoming, you simply walk away.

Yes, this is a lesson about learning the value of your work and sometimes you will have to remind people about the value of your work by saying ‘no’ to requests to use it for free. Remember, what I am talking about here is an organisation approaching you and specifically asking to use your imagery for free.

It is okay to say ‘no’ sometimes and to stand up for your work and your business. If you don’t do it, no one else will. That’s just how business works.

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