Freelancing - Working for Exposure, When to and When to Not
Freelancing - Working for Exposure, When to and When to Not
Lately I've had a number of enquiries from companies and individuals wanting to commission me, and pay me in promises of "exposure".
In fact I've had around 10 individual emails about such commissions in the past two months, which lead me to adding an information section to my contact page stating that I would not work for free or for "exposure", and the emails seem to have stopped for now.
And due to this I thought I'd blog about working for exposure, based on my experiences with such approaches and actual "commissions".
Back when I was just starting out in University and desperately trying to market myself and my work I was naive enough to become rather excited at the prospect of gaining "exposure" with my work, I was of course approached by several "companies" and lots of individuals promising to share my work with thousands of people, which would totally lead me to being known and would eventually lead to real paid jobs.
None of the free work I did back then ever gained me a sniff in the industry, it just helped to line the pockets of the people who essentially gained free illustrations to sell how they pleased.
WHEN TO
This isn't to say that ALL free work is a waste of time, by any means.
Magazine Publications: A legitimate Photoshop/illustration/creative magazine approaches you, wishing to either use your existing work for their magazine, or requesting you to illustrate their next cover. This is worth working for free. Providing they; Properly credit you and your work, link to your website and add your contact details. Then by all means, say yes!
That kind of "work for free" could be seen by hundreds maybe thousands of readers and legitimately expose your work, this kind of exposure could lead to paid work due to the audience it brings in for each publication. Art directors may read that magazine if it is a legitimate publication. Do your reasearch first before you agree to this, some people may be posing as publishers, or "just starting out". Make sure the magazine or publication you're submitting your work for is already established.
Charities: This is something that is always worth the free contributions of work, donating your work to church or charity art shows is a good way to gain exposure and help your community. I still strongly advise doing your research, make sure the charity you are submitting to is of a legitimate nature. Some very cruel people do pose as charities and snag donation money and merchandise.
Interviews and Trials: This is exactly as it sounds, providing example work for an interview is fine, as is completing a brief for a "trial". Providing your work is not then used for profit and is simply used to judge your ability and quality of work, then by all means!
WHEN NOT TO
Generally any kind of legitimate "feature" work would be worth your time, stay away from feature work where you have to pay for it! I've had telesales approach me with offers like "We'd love to feature youre work in our illustration magazine!" and with my enthusiastic replies of "That sounds awesome!
Can I have more information about the feature?" they soon follow with swift murmurs of "Sure. It'll just cost you $200
If a company wants to feature you in their publication, you should never have to pay for it!
Book Publications: Be it paperback or comic books, working for free for something that will be published and sold is never a good idea, you are simply lining the pockets of other people and gaining nothing for it. I have, back in the day, been suckered into doing free work for comic book "companies" in promises of exposure and have gained squat from it. Would-be publishing houses and individuals rarely will gain an audience large enough for your work to actually be "exposed" and tend not to be worth your while to work for free.
It's sometimes nice to show in your portfolio however, if the company is at least offering you free copies of said publication.
It can be really tempting to do exposure based commissions, and even though it isn't advisable, it's not always a terrible thing if you are just starting out, however make sure that you are being properly credited, that your work will be seen by an actual audience, the company is of a legitimate nature and the commissioner isn't just trying to make a quick buck.
Sketchy "Companies": I have had a few emails from apparent "CEO's" of a company I've never heard of and can't find anywhere on the internet or yellow pages offering to "display" my work in their next show, or their magazine, or simply asking me to design them a toy and giving me "credit" for the design!
When I receive any kind of commission email from a company or business, I immediately try to find more about them, google their company name or their email address. If for some reason I find nada, then I tend to become rather suspicious, especially if it's offers of exposure.
If you cant find any trace of the company, then their legitimacy is instantly squashed, try to stay clear of these offers.
Unless there is a contact name, and contact details attached with your images, then your work is not being "exposed" at all, you will likely never gain any work from it, and no one will ever know that you are the illustrator.
What Working For Exposure Actually is
Working for Exposure, essentially is working for free. And by doing and agreeing to this you are doing a number of things:
You are essentially saying your work isn't worth being paid for.
You are earning money for someone who hasn't worked for it.
You are continuing an idea illustrations can be acquired free of charge if one looks around enough or finds someone "desperate" enough to supply them.
You are continuing an ignorant idea that Illustration isn't a real job and thus shouldn't be paid for.
"It doesn't cost you anything to do it, so why should be pay for it?"
All in all, working for exposure will always be working for free, no matter how you word it. Doing this fresh out of college or university is a good way to break into the industry, providing you do your research and ensure that you actually are being exposed. Simply providing free illustrations to a small time company for their in company newsletter isn't going to get you anywhere, neither is providing a logo for a company seen by millions of people, if your name or contact details are nowhere to be seen.
You can't pay the bills with exposure, buy a burger or even ride a bus, exposure means nothing in the world of finance, so if you do it, make sure you are at least being compensated in some way, be it free copies of the product or a guarantee of an audience and credits.
Posted by Rachel George, Freelance Illustrator. http://www.rebornrebirth.com
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