MARYLAND WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER | FREE PHOTOGRAPHY

I love to blog about commonly asked questions, and the AKP Retreat attendees always give me great content. Today I wanted to talk about a touchy subject. I’m often asked this question and I’m listing some tips to help below.

“When is it okay to work for free?”

First and foremost, I think this comes down to your needs and what you are able to offer. I should fully disclose that even in my sixth year of business, I still offer my services at no cost if the right opportunity is presented. This doesn’t mean that I don’t value my own work or that I feel a need to discount my rates. As you’ll see below, there are instances where providing your skill can actually gain you more than a paycheck.

1. The Start-Up

If you have just started your business, this may be a time where you end up offering promotional sessions to build your portfolio. I, myself, did this many times in my first year. There is absolutely something to the saying “practice makes perfect.” Get out there and shoot anything and everything you can when you get started. It should be about getting really good at your craft so that you can charge rates that will sustain your business.

2. The Cross-Promotion

Sometimes, we’re approached to work on projects or to help another creative. This can be something like a styled shoot or doing headshots for another photographer. Beautiful content, jam-packed vendor lists, and potential for publication can be a draw here. Working with the right people who will backlink and tag you can drive a lot of traffic to your website and social media. It can also help increase your reliability in mutual markets, creating a wider range for referrals. I’m a huge fan of networking, so I find myself diving into projects like this often. It keeps me creative, excited, and meeting amazing new people I can also suggest to my real brides!

Fun fact: Lady Gaga performed at the Super Bowl for free! She received cross-promotion from Pepsi and was able to launch her new tour with record excitement. Read more here.

3. The Perks

Although we may be asked to work for free, there are often times where perks can come with a value. Perhaps you’re asked to do a shoot for new tulle skirts. You have to travel to a neighboring state to do so, but it’s a city you’ve hoped to visit. The distributor cannot pay you directly but offers to pay for your hotel for a few nights and to give you three new skirts to take along. Expenses and product can sometimes be enough to entice us to take on a project. Even better? Cross-promotion would still play in, here!

4. The Give Back

Of course, there are those instances where we simply just don’t want to charge someone. I remember a couple from my hometown who lost everything in the WV flooding last year. They didn’t just lose everything, they lost almost all of their wedding items as well. Upon checking in with them, I had found that countless vendors had offered to step in and help them make their day perfect including their photographer. It’s okay to want to serve people with your gift and I encourage you to take advantage of times you are able to do so.

5. The Wild Card

Naturally, I haven’t covered EVERY scenario here. There will be days where you’re going to have to weigh the benefits of taking a project on. Weigh the pro’s and con’s and if it feels like a good fit, DO IT. All of the above is simply advice. If there’s one thing you take away from this, I hope you know that it’s okay to follow your passion on these types of decisions.

Above all, focus on work that brings you joy. You will be happier in your life and thrive more in your business. Good luck!

-Ash

Photographer | Ashton Kelley Photography

Event | AKP Retreat

HMUA | Natty Contrera Artistry

Venue | Crawford Cottage OBX, NC