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Should beginners work for free to build their portfolio?

by 24 Comments

To work for free or to not work for free? For some creatives, this isn’t even a question, but for others, it’s hard to decide, especially if they’re just starting out. As a newbie with no portfolio and with little experience, should you do some free work first? At least for a while? Chase Turnbow believes you should, and he explains his reasoning in his latest video.

 

According to Chase, a good portfolio is vital to your production company. I believe we can agree that the same goes for your photography business. But what if you haven’t built up your portfolio yet? One scenario is that you haven’t had enough clients. The other is that you have had clients, but in a different genre than the one you want to shoot the most. What should you do then?

In case your portfolio is already up to standard, then “absolutely do not do free videos,” Chase suggests. But, if you need more projects to include in your portfolio, or just different kinds of projects from those you’ve worked on – then Chase suggests doing some work for free.

It probably goes without saying, but start by figuring out exactly what type of work you want to create. Then find a reputable business that you can partner with and that matches your preferred style. Chase suggests that you make it mutually beneficial for you and the client: they get free photos or videos, and you get the portfolio material.

Still, Chase notes that not every company will want free promo material. First, they may be suspicious of anything labeled as “free.” Second, they will need to invest time for you to come and shoot at their offices, and some businesses simply don’t want it.

I have to admit that I don’t entirely agree with Chase. While there are some cases when you can or should work for free, I don’t think this is one of them. Even Chase notes that you can shoot at a discount rate if you don’t want to work for free, and this is something we can agree on. I think it’s a better idea to offer a discount, and make sure to point out that it’s not your regular price. This will also be beneficial for both you and the client: they get awesome photos/videos at a cheaper price; you get the portfolio material and still make some earnings. And, the word doesn’t go out that you’ll shoot for free, and I think this is pretty important in the long run.

What do you think about this? Should you do free work just to fill your portfolio? And have you done something like this? Share your thoughts in the comments; I’d like to hear what you think and what your experience is like.

[Should A Beginner Videographer Offer Free Work? via FStoppers]

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How I Invested 8 Months In Creating A 2.5D Movie To Attract New Clients Use your personality to stand out amongst the sea of photographers My boss asked me to take photos for free and got what they paid for This epic photography portfolio took 18 months to craft by hand

  • If you’re approached to do something, you’re obviously worth money else they’d seek someone else because they view your abilities as what they need. No-one seeks out someone who isn’t any good to do a job right?
    If you offer your services to someone unsolicited, it’s not beyond comprehension that you’ll end up doing it for free, they didn’t want/need your service before so forcing yourself on them, then asking for payment is a great way to leave a bad taste.
    Of course it’s nice that someone who didn’t need you sees your work, decides it brings value and pays you, for it OR hires you for future work, thats a nice outcome, but sought vs offered has different expectations in my eyes as a photographer

  • Without even reading the article – the answer is “no” … simple as that, do not undermine the industry you wish to work in.

    • Angelina, should someone who just got their first DSLR charge for model shots?

    • Johnny> I do not care how long someone has owned a camera, or if the camera is a DSLR or a mobile – if people are asking you to take pictures, they think you are good enough to pay you.

      You would also pay the cleaning-person even though they just bought their first mop.

    • Angelina Wiese Devine I think there’s a massive difference between working for free and working for no money. For example, wedding photographers often do styled shoots with vendors to create imagery that would be difficult to do on a ‘live’ wedding where there’s little room for experimentation, everybody commits time and money but walks away with something of future value for getting clients through the door. I once wanted to get a job with a band who were going places, so I reached out to a local model and arranged a shoot that I knew would appeal to them. Two days later they called me to set something up. There are loads more examples but it’s entirely possible to work without pay and get massive rewards for doing so.

  • Unless it’s a charity, and you can deduct it from your taxes, no.

  • Even some of the top professionals will work for free. Lindsay Adler has a philosophy of ‘free days = pay days’ and it makes sense. Don’t do work you’d usually charge for for free. However, doing shoots to progress skills and build new portfolio strengths outside of client expectations or briefs can be rewarding and is sometimes the best way to progress, in turn, giving you opportunities to then charge for those services. I try and do one charity event a month and whilst I don’t get paid for them, it exposes my work to thousands of people and every one I’ve shot has led to multiple leads which have been converted into jobs and often repeat business from these clients!

    • Thomas Davies spot on👍🏻

    • Thomas, 100% agree

    • Thomas Davies yep. And doing pro bono for charities In which I believe makes me feel good.

  • Work for free so someone else can make money off of you

  • Should a beginner doctor/baker/engineer work for free?

  • Yes. It is called being a student. Can you imagine any other profession where someone just starting to learn would charge to practice on you?

    • Matthew Nehrling Politics? 😛

    • Thomas Davies you got me there. Fair enough.

    • Cosmetology schools charge to have students practice on you.

    • Hm, I had a different experience while I was still in college disclaimer: I didn’t study photography, though).

      In my third year, I started giving English lessons. I had passed the exams such as The Methodology of Teaching, Pedagogy etc., and of course, I already had a sufficient knowledge of the language.
      So, I started with a few students I was tutoring at home. I DID charge for those lessons because I did teach those guys something, and I had the skills, ideas, knowledge and above all – enthusiasm. Only I had a bit lower rate than professors who had graduated from college and had years of experience. :)

  • No.

  • No

  • I couldn’t afford to do free work, so no. People should have the opportunity to make a little bit of an income in order to survive.

  • I will do free work for charities. Rather than give money, I use what skills I have (which means photography) to help charities I believe in. I did several for Habitat For Humanity.

    I also did a free week of shooting in the Amazon for a charity that sends doctors around Ecuador to do free surgery. For that one, I was even allowed in the operating room, and got some fascinating photos of surgeons in action — something I never thought I would have the chance to do.

    OTOH, if it is a profit-making company, then I expect to be paid.

    I once did a wedding for free — but it was for a couple we had known for more than 30 years. The offered to hire us (and pay normal rates), but we countered with ‘free’ as our wedding gift to the couple.

    For individuals, my general rule of thumb is — if they ask for a free work, I say ‘no.’ If they offer to hire me, and the circumstances are right, I might do it for free. :)

  • Only on their own terms. One can offer free work on his/her terms. Better to have a contract anyway, so they don’t have unreasonable expectations.

  • No. It devalues the industry they are trying to break into. Too much of that and no one is going to be able to do this full time for a living wage. (FWIW I’ve been a successful self employed photog full time since 1997. In $an Franci$co)

  • In my 1st Job, I worked for free for a little over a year and I was not an intern.

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