It's been some time that I have been offering free Photography services to various companies, Friends (who comes in life for few days and go away), some reputed newspapers of country etc. Apart from giving photographs for free, I have also been part of some events only because of my personal interest about those events. E.g. - I have covered few sports events. You won't believe that three days were spent on a product shoot and that so called friend never came back and lost till date...
One fine day, I got another proposal from one of the adventure sports organization that I have been selected as official Photographer of a three days event and it will be a sponsored trip with some conditions. Credits will be given to me but NO MONEY PLEASE :) ... Even I was ready as I needed not to take any leave for it. Then I called one of the experienced Adventure Sports Photographer and he asked me to say NO to these people who make crores of rupees out of these events and don't want to pay to Photographers. Although I had committed to those folks, but I decided not to do any such assignment for FREE !!!
On an average, I get 3 proposals in a month from people who have NO MONEY for photographers. Magazines, Newspapers, Corporates, Event organizers and Book publishers feel that Photographs are something which can be easily accessed without budgeting. At times it feels that they are doing me a favor by offering to use my work and giving credits :)
Initially I was not sure if I should reply to such queries or not. Most of the times I simply ignore and at times send them a nice reply in straight words, which they don't like. At times I try to find out the possibility of getting some money and then people disappear automatically...
My favorite quote is - "Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternative"
So people who come to me for Photographs, most of times they are not much concerned about Quality and money is more important for them. I have seen people earning crores out of an event and don't want to pay to Photographers even in thousands. My personal advice to these folks is to buy a Camera and click your photographs yourself ! Does it sound difficult? Ohh sorry, I forgot to add that you have to spend some time (In years) to understand Photography and also need to try out various photography techniques to start with. Ohh Yes, all this is free as you are owner of your time. Your time is Free it seems, BUT NOT MINE !
Even sometimes I feel guilty that I have snatched work of many Professional Photographers by doing some assignments for free, even after spending money on my travel and stay. Does it sound stupid as well? Yes, it's stupid and inhuman...
Here I would like to request all Hobbyst Photographers to avoid such clients who are nothong but short time opportunists who want to use you for saving very little %age of money, by killing a JOB of Pro Photographer. Think how we are spoiling Photography market and some of us aspire to enter into that. For getting an entry we are spoiling the same market by offering our services for free. As you know these folks are getting comparatively good quality photographs t no cost and they are not bothered about best by getting Pro folks.
Folks who look for free Photographs or Photography Services can't be trusted even if they offer very little after some negotiation. Even you can't be sure about the way they are going to use your Photographs.
One fine day, one of my friend who is running a Software company called me to provide some photographs of confident students who are well dressed with nice background of a good institution. Does this Photograph sound very simple to shoot? He simply asked me to email few photographs for his client. When I asked details about the client, his organization had $4.8 billion revenue that year. When I asked about money, reply was - Come on your photograph will be published on website of UK's reputed university. I said Thanks to him with a big NO.
I can keep writing about it, but would stop here by requesting Hobbyist Photographers to learn saying NO to such opportunists who are spoiling Photography Industry !!!
