Naina.co
  • Shop
  • Consult
  • Blog
    • Collected Experiences
    • Only Articles & Writing
    • #NAINAxStyle
    • Podcast : The Naina Redhu Experience
    • EyesFor…
      • #EyesForArt
      • #EyesForLuxury
      • #EyesForLifestyle
      • #EyesForDestinations
        • #EyesForIndia
        • #EyesForDubai
        • #EyesForEurope
        • #EyesForLA
        • #EyesForLondon
        • #EyesForNewYork
      • #EyesForPeople
      • #EyesForStreetStyle
      • #EyesForDining
      • #EyesForTechnology
      • #EyesForFashion
        • New York Fashion Week
        • Amazon India Fashion Week AW15
      • #EyesForBeauty
      • #EyesForPeople
    • KhaosPhilos
    • #MadeInIndia
    • #NAINAxADOBE
    • #NosedByNaina
  • Photography Work
  • Press
  • Clients
  • Whatsapp
On Social
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Spotify
Naina.co
139K
0
715
18K
0
0
0
Naina.co
  • Shop
  • Consult
  • Blog
    • Collected Experiences
    • Only Articles & Writing
    • #NAINAxStyle
    • Podcast : The Naina Redhu Experience
    • EyesFor…
      • #EyesForArt
      • #EyesForLuxury
      • #EyesForLifestyle
      • #EyesForDestinations
        • #EyesForIndia
        • #EyesForDubai
        • #EyesForEurope
        • #EyesForLA
        • #EyesForLondon
        • #EyesForNewYork
      • #EyesForPeople
      • #EyesForStreetStyle
      • #EyesForDining
      • #EyesForTechnology
      • #EyesForFashion
        • New York Fashion Week
        • Amazon India Fashion Week AW15
      • #EyesForBeauty
      • #EyesForPeople
    • KhaosPhilos
    • #MadeInIndia
    • #NAINAxADOBE
    • #NosedByNaina
  • Photography Work
  • Press
  • Clients
  • Whatsapp
0
  • Articles & Writing

You do not have to work for free

  • January 30, 2015
  • naina

Someone in a well-read advice column recently recommended to a youngster, “Since you are young, you can choose to work for free…”. Reading that made me purple in my face.

Who “chooses” to work for free? No one, who can choose, chooses to work for free.

Those, who do work for free, are usually misguided by those, who are themselves known for not paying their vendors. People who think it is ok to give ill-thought, selfish advice to youngsters. Youngsters who are just starting out and will shape the industry as they grow. These youngsters are being told that their being young makes it ok for them to be treated unprofessionally.

That is what working for free essentially is. It is unprofessional. It is unprofessional for you to offer to work for free, and it is unprofessional for the person utilizing your services to accept your working for free.

People, who are forging their own path and doing their own thing as independent professionals, who are self-employed, and who have fires in their bellies, do not work for free.

 

After all, what is “free”? “Free” is when you are providing a valuable service to someone but are not being compensated for it, whether in the form of paper money or otherwise. The opposite of “free” is not “money”. This is where the choice lies.

You can choose to work for compensation other than money but you must choose to receive fair compensation in return for the value you are delivering.

As an example, let us assume you are young and would like to work for someone / some brand. How do you go about it?

You pitch a project idea to them, say, you want to photograph their upcoming event. You are new in the business and while you have a good personal portfolio, your professional portfolio is currently non-existent. You must quote your price regardless. (And if you don’t know how much to charge, refrain from pitching. Do some home work first, then take it from there.)

 

Pitch knowing that you will get what you negotiate, not what you deserve.

When negotiations come up, be prepared to lower your price but also be prepared to lower the number of deliverables. These could be number of hours of photography, number of images, image use license restrictions and other variables.

If you run into a situation, where the negotiation turns to, “You must work for free because I don’t trust your output since you are new and unproven.”, you must be prepared to offer a counter negotiation.

Every event has advertising boards that display sponsor names and brands. They have websites and social media accounts. Ask them to give you space on the advertising boards. Ask them to announce your name / brand as the official photographer for the event. Ask them to link back to your portfolio website. Be sure to estimate the value of these forms of compensation and equate them with the value you will be providing to the client. And then take a call on what you think is fair compensation.

This is just one example. If you are indeed young and new, you could get creative and suggest a hundred other ways for the client to compensate you. What is in it for you otherwise? The “It will provide exposure” and “It will build your portfolio”, are the usual comebacks. You have to decide, on an individual per-assignment basis whether the value of exposure and portfolio-building are equivalent to the value your work will provide to the client. Remember that exposure and portfolio-building-opportunities will not put food on the table or pay your rent.

You might be told that there is more work for you in the future but unless there is a signed contract to that effect, it means nothing. Imagine a scenario where you do choose to work for free. The client is happy with the work you produce and informs you they have referred you to an associate of theirs at another brand. Guess what? Not only have they passed on your work to them, they have also passed on the factual information that you work for free.

 

“But I am not good enough!”
Is this thought encouraging you to work for free?
Indeed I recommend that you banish it this minute. With the awareness that this is not as easy to do as it is to say. In which case, consider this extreme scenario instead : imagine that you are indeed not good enough. Pretend for a moment that your work is not as good as you would like it to be. Leaving aside the argument that this perception is subjective, even if you are providing mediocre work, you are still providing the client with your time and effort. Charge for these. Your time and hence effort are limited non-renewable resources. Precious.

 

Conversely you might be in the position where you may be hiring a professional to do some work for you. Do remember to offer to pay, when you are in that position.

One of the reasons why seniors in any industry fail to guide youngsters to not work for free is because these seniors have worked for free, and do not understand that there is a professional world possible where one is fairly compensated for their work.

In other words, someone who has worked for free has an ulterior motive in recommending the same to others. Why should they empower someone to make money when they themselves weren’t able to stand up for their work & provide it with the respect it deserves? How else will they make up all the money they think they lost out on when they worked for free?

Related

Total
0
Shares
Share
Tweet
Pin it
Share
Share
Share
Share
Share
Share
Related Topics
  • article
  • branding specialist
  • business
  • Charge Money
  • free
  • How To Escape Free
  • Independent Contractor
  • lifestyle
  • luxury blogger
  • Luxury Brands
  • luxury photographer
  • naina redhu
  • naina.co
  • Photographer Fashion
  • professional photographer
  • professionalism
  • Unprofessionalism
  • visual storyteller
  • Visual Storyteller for Luxury Brands
  • writing
  • You Do Not Have To Work For Free
naina

Previous Article
Naina.co-Raconteuse-Visuelle-Photographer-Blogger-Storyteller-Luxury-Lifestyle-January-2015-Jaipur-Literature-Festival-StRegis-LeMeridien
  • #EyesForStreetStyle
  • ZeeJLF

#EyesForStreetStyle #ZeeJLF 06

  • January 29, 2015
  • naina
View Post
Next Article
Naina.co-Raconteuse-Visuelle-Photographer-Blogger-Storyteller-Luxury-Lifestyle-January-2015-Jaipur-Literature-Festival-StRegis-LeMeridien-ZeeJLF-EyesForStreetStyle-01
  • #EyesForStreetStyle
  • ZeeJLF

#EyesForStreetStyle #ZeeJLF 07

  • January 30, 2015
  • naina
View Post
You May Also Like
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

So Much of Human Life is Wasted Waiting

  • naina
  • June 2, 2023
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

Photographing Yourself

  • naina
  • May 26, 2023
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

Smartphone Photography : How I Shoot Edit Share

  • naina
  • May 11, 2023
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

Re-Use the same piece of Visual Content across Social Media Platforms by Re-Framing the Caption

  • naina
  • May 2, 2023
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

The Biggest Problem In My Life

  • naina
  • June 29, 2021
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

Am I Asking For Too Much?

  • naina
  • May 6, 2021
who is naina, who is naina redhu, naina, naina.co, naina redhu
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

Who Am I? 2021 Edition

  • naina
  • May 1, 2021
View Post
  • Articles & Writing

The Girl With The Blue Petal #ShortStory

  • naina
  • March 19, 2021
About Naina Redhu

Naina is a professional photographer specializing in Luxury, Fashion & Lifestyle. She is also a brand consultant and an artist.

With a career spanning more than two decades across several industries, after an MBA in IT & Systems, she worked as an Innovation Management Consultant, then moved to branding & graphic design work for Indian & international clients, to a full-time solo-entrepreneurship as a photographer & in 2019 she also launched her art label.

Naina started her blog 19 years ago in 2004 and it has evolved from writing about Creativity & Innovation, to sharing case studies about Branding & Graphic Design to a destination for some of the leading Luxury, Fashion & Lifestyle brands as Naina photographs features for these brands and publishes photo-stories for them.

Having traveled all over India as a child ( the advantage of having a father serving in the Indian Army ), which enriched her world-view, she is also well-traveled internationally.

Naina has a podcast called The Naina Redhu Experience, she conducts on-ground workshops called "The #GoalKyaHai Framework", and has also been a keynote speaker at photography, social media and online brand-building related conferences and events.

Find her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

For a brief stint from 2021 to 2023, Naina served as the Head of Guest Experiences at the Suryagarh hotel in Jaisalmer.

Blog Posts
  • Year-End Brooch Drop, Part I, 2023
    • November 25, 2023
  • Bibhu Mohapatra, Grand Finale at the Lakme Fashion Week with FDCI, Day Five
    • October 29, 2023
  • p é r o, Lakme Fashion Week with FDCI, Day Four Finale
    • October 29, 2023
  • Falguni & Shane Peacock, Lakme Fashion Week with FDCI, Day Four
    • October 27, 2023
  • Amit Aggarwal, Lakme Fashion Week with FDCI, Day Three Finale
    • October 26, 2023
Product categories
Wearable Art Brooches
  • Stark, 2023, 3.2×2.5×1.5 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Crocus, 2023, 3×2.5×1.2 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Yellow, 2023, 2.8×2.2×1.5 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Turquoise, 2023, 3x2x0.8 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Cyan, 2023, 3.2x2x1 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Scarlet, 2023, 2.7x2x1.2 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Crimson, 2023, 2.5x2x1.4 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Red Pill, 2023, 2 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Coeur, 2023, 2 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • This Forest Floor, 2023, 3.2×2.3×1.3 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Gold Crush 02, 2023, 2 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Gold Crush 01, 2023, 2 Inches, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Nugget 001, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Jaali 03, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Gold Candy 001, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Cute Candy 001, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 009, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 008, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 007, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 006, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 005, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 004, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
  • Petit 003, 2023, 1 Inch, Wearable Art Brooch

    View Post
More Paintings
  • #ArtByNaina, abstract painting, abstractionism, circular canvas, contemporary art, geometric, geometric abstraction, geometric art, horizons art series, indian art, indian artist, khaosphilos, line art, line art series, lineation, naina redhu, naina.co, Original Art, original paintings, round canvas, solo exhibition, solo show, unique edition, rhubarb

    “Rhubarb” 12 Inches on Canvas, HORIZONS art series, 2019

    View Post
  • “Grassea” 24 Inches on Canvas, HORIZONS art series SOLD

    View Post
  • khaosphilos, hand painted, wearable art, display art, original art, contemporary art, contemporary artist, naina redhu, naina.co, 2.5 inches diameter, 2.5 inch, circular canvas, acrylics on wood, wooden brooch, brooch, art brooch, wearable art brooch, wearable art jewellery, canvas display, magnet clasp, acrylic painting, khaos philos, chaos lover, calude monet, water lilies, impressionism, green, blue, lotus pond, water lily pond

    Water Lilies, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • indian contemporary artist, indian contemporary painter, contemporary artist india, abstract art, valley of flowers, big sur, california, ryan resatka,khaosphilos, hand painted, wearable art, display art, original art, contemporary art, contemporary artist, naina redhu, naina.co, 2 inches diameter, 2 inch, circular canvas, acrylics on wood, wooden brooch, brooch, art brooch, wearable art brooch, wearable art jewellery, canvas display, magnet clasp, acrylic painting, khaos philos, chaos lover, impressionist, impressionism, green, blue, lilac, yellow, orange

    Valley Of Flowers, 2020, 2 Inches

    View Post
  • indian contemporary artist, indian contemporary painter, contemporary artist india, abstract art, khaosphilos, hand painted, wearable art, display art, original art, contemporary art, contemporary artist, naina redhu, naina.co, 2 inches diameter, 2 inch, circular canvas, acrylics on wood, wooden brooch, brooch, art brooch, wearable art brooch, wearable art jewellery, canvas display, magnet clasp, acrylic painting, khaos philos, chaos lover, impressionist, impressionism, green, yellow, mustard, mustard flowers, mustard field, haryana, punjab

    Mustard, 2020, 2 Inches

    View Post
  • indian contemporary artist, indian contemporary painter, contemporary artist india, abstract art, khaosphilos, hand painted, wearable art, display art, original art, contemporary art, contemporary artist, naina redhu, naina.co, 2.5 inches diameter, 2.5 inch, circular canvas, acrylics on wood, wooden brooch, brooch, art brooch, wearable art brooch, wearable art jewellery, canvas display, magnet clasp, acrylic painting, khaos philos, chaos lover, impressionist, impressionism, iris, irises, iris flower, lilac, lilacs, giverny, monet, artist's garden 02, artists garden 02, 1900

    Artist’s Garden 02, 2020, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • indian contemporary artist, indian contemporary painter, contemporary artist india, abstract art, khaosphilos, hand painted, wearable art, display art, original art, contemporary art, contemporary artist, naina redhu, naina.co, 2 inches diameter, 2 inch, circular canvas, acrylics on wood, wooden brooch, brooch, art brooch, wearable art brooch, wearable art jewellery, canvas display, magnet clasp, acrylic painting, khaos philos, chaos lover, impressionist, impressionism, monet, artist's garden 01, artists garden 01, 1873, Argenteuil, Corner Of The Garden, Dahlias, Claude Monet

    Artist’s Garden 01, 2020, 2 Inches

    View Post
  • newsprint, art series, acrylics on canvas, the fourth pillar, loss of trust, media landscape, naina redhu, naina, naina.co, khaosphilos, circular canvas, round canvas, stretched canvas, original art, contemporary art, contemporary artist, abstract art, abstract paintings, indian art, indian artist, news, print, freedom of press, freedom of speech, freedom of expression

    Newsprint: Tangerine Edition, 2020, 8 Inches on Canvas

    View Post
  • Bauerngarten, Gustav Klimt, Impressionism, Impressionist, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, KhaosPhilos, surreal, colorful, flower garden, 2.5 inch brooch, wearable art brooch, wooden brooch, wear a painting, wearapainting, wearableart, wear art, art i can wear, art you can wear, acrylic painting, hand painted, indian artist, indian female artist, contemporary art, modern artist, indian contemporary art, indian contemporary artist, contemporary art india, impressionism in india, flowers, garden, 1906,

    Flower Garden, 2020, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • Coral Floor, Coral, Pink, Magenta, Ocean, Impressionism, Impressionist, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, KhaosPhilos, colorful, flower garden, 2.5 inch brooch, wearable art brooch, wooden brooch, wear a painting, wearapainting, wearableart, wear art, art i can wear, art you can wear, acrylic painting, hand painted, indian artist, indian female artist, contemporary art, modern artist, indian contemporary art, indian contemporary artist, contemporary art india, impressionism in india, flowers, garden, coral reef

    Coral Floor, 2020, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • Buy Me A Beer

    View Post
  • silver smilver, silver, silver foil, metallic, 2.5 Inches Diameter, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, KhaosPhilos, colorful, wearable art brooch, wooden brooch, wear a painting, wearapainting, wearableart, wear art, art i can wear, art you can wear, acrylic painting, hand painted, indian artist, indian female artist, contemporary art, modern artist, indian contemporary art, indian contemporary artist, contemporary art india

    Silver Smilver, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • sealed from patina, copper, copper foil, metallic, 3 Inches Diameter, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, KhaosPhilos, colorful, wearable art brooch, wooden brooch, wear a painting, wearapainting, wearableart, wear art, art i can wear, art you can wear, acrylic painting, hand painted, indian artist, indian female artist, contemporary art, modern artist, indian contemporary art, indian contemporary artist, contemporary art india

    Sealed From Patina, 3 Inches

    View Post
  • Gold Guild, gold foil, gold, 2.5 Inches Diameter, Naina.co, Naina Redhu, KhaosPhilos, colorful, wearable art brooch, wooden brooch, wear a painting, wearapainting, wearableart, wear art, art i can wear, art you can wear, acrylic painting, hand painted, indian artist, indian female artist, contemporary art, modern artist, indian contemporary art, indian contemporary artist, contemporary art india

    Gold Guild, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • More Pride, 2020, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • Gold Spinner, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • Mapped Gold, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • Koi Pond, 3 Inches

    View Post
  • Amis, 2 Inches

    View Post
  • Neutral Density, 3 Inches

    View Post
  • Oxyde, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • Unfolding Crimson, 2.5 Inches

    View Post
  • In Time, Resurrection, Diwali 2020, Diwali Art, Wearable Art, Diwali Brooches, Naina Redhu, Naina, Naina.co, Landscape of Memories, Fragmented Lives, Rebuild, Shiny Plans, Dreams, Human Nature, Healing, Gold Foil, Copper Foil, Layered, Layers, Acrylics On Wood, Contemporary Art, Indian Artist, Contemporary Indian Artist, Wooden Brooches, Hand-Painted Brooches, Made In India, Make In India, Handmade, Hand Crafted, One Of A Kind, OneOfAKind, Diwali In India, Unique Accessories, Handmade Jewellery

    Of Memories #InTime 03, 3 Inches, 2020

    View Post

All Copyright rests with Naina Redhu. All Rights Reserved 2023. Written permission is required for you to copy & use images or text from this website. Email [email protected] to ask.

  • Blog
  • Newsletter
  • Shop
  • Art
  • Whatsapp

Input your search keywords and press Enter.