Never work for free! Thats what schools teaches students. If you only work for fee you will never make money that true. But working for free can be very beneficial for you. The questions to ask yourself before you turn down free work is can I profit from this. How can I profit from free work. No money equals no profit right. No not always. The free work could be you biggest way of getting your name out to other potential paying clients. Working for small profit free charities in you area is a great way to get your name out in your area. A larger or a charities that make profit for themselves. Do not do it for free. If they are going to get paid so should you also get paid. A local theater that puts on plays could get your name out fast. If they put out flyers and have brochures with your photographs and crediting your name about the newest play. This is a good one to do it at least the first time for free. You just goto know how to approach the theater. Tell the theater how much you normally charge to photograph the actors in their costumes for their brochures. You goto come up with a great reason why you want to do it for free. You love the theater or the play that they are putting on. Make it about them way more then you.
Heres another tip. The theater may say no because they already have a photographer. Don’t take no for an answer and give up. Ask questions like is that photographer getting paid,is he a photographer or just someone they may know? If yes is the answer that he gets paid. and they have been using him or her for years. Then you got a chance to still photograph the actors. Sell the free aspect. Tell them how much time you need ( Make sure you finish before the time you told ) to get the images and you can do the shoot at a practice dress rehearsal. Make sure to shoot before the other photographer. Tell the theater if they don’t like your work no harm no foul. They can just go with the other photographer. But if they do go with you because it free you need credit for all you your images. You still own the all right to the images. They may use your images online for promoting the theaters play. Any image they use must be credited by your name or your brand. Just because its free still make a contract with the theater. This will cover you and them. You own the rights to your images. Use those same Images to promote you. No one need to know you did it for free. If your work is better than the paid photographer they may call you again but now you can charge them at full price or at a discount price.
I will leave you with a list of local places to offer free work to help get your name out that could potentially get you paid work. Non profit charities,theater,churches, SPCA, pet adoption, or the humane society can turn into paid work. Think of it this way if one free job can turn into many paid job is it worth your time. I think so but that me, You will have to decide for yourself.
Never Stop Improving!
