Have you noticed how it’s really subtle when people don’t even offer to pay an artist they take the deal? If you’re an artist you must have come across situations when people tell you, “Hey you’ve got real talent kid, you should come work for us. We’re in a tight situation and can’t afford to pay you right now, but believe us, you’ll be getting great exposure. Also, if we like your work, we’ll make you a permanent”. How often do we come across situations where people forget that we do something of value and it’s not always necessary to pay an artist.

So business firms and corporates always have this notion that if we look for a talented but emerging artist, we can get him on board by just promising him networking and exposure opportunities. Whether you’re a painter, a photographer, a sketcher or a decorator, any job that requires a sufficient amount of creativity and talent, is absolutely worth to be paid a decent amount. In this article, let me tell you why an artist should never work for free:

“Great exposure” isn’t always enough

I don’t deny that accepting certain offers for the sake of exposure is totally okay. But you have to understand something fundamental here. Exposure isn’t always going to earn your bread and butter. Sure, your art will climb ladders of fame, but is that fame really going to get you paid in future? Are you certain? I urge you to trust your gut here, to check the reputation and requirement of the business making a proposition. Your art is your business and handing out a free piece is like a demo. Yes, it is important that people see and understand your work before they pay for it, but find and abide by the line that separates exposure projects and paid projects. Don’t let anyone use your skills without giving you the right value.