I Work For Free

Yes, on occasion I will work as a volunteer photographer. I will go out, make photographs for someone else, and give them rights to use those photos for free. I don’t give up the copyright, unless they really are photos that I have no other interest in, but I do give them digital copies of the photos with express permission to use them however they wish.

This is enough to make some pro photographers view me as the spawn of the anti-christ. I’m “taking jobs away from photographers” they’ll say. I’m “devaluing my work and theirs” they’ll say. I’ve had many conversations along these lines with pro photographers when they find out I’ve <shutter> volunteered my services to others.

So why do I do it? Because I get something out of it. It’s not monetary, but not all compensation has to be monetary (an advantage of being an amateur photographer). Sometimes I’m doing it for access to something I wouldn’t otherwise be able to shoot. Sometimes it gets me to a preferred location from which to shoot, that’s not available to the public. Sometimes I’m doing it simply because I want to.

The largest event that I shoot for is an annual fireworks competition that takes place over five nights in August (suddenly the photo above makes sense). There are a few pros at this event, mostly from the media, and it is at this event where most of these conversations take place. But the truth is, the photos that I’m taking for the organizers are not photographs that they would be willing to pay for. If they didn’t have amateur photographers willing to take the photos for free they would likely walk around and take the photos they need with an iPhone. They need photos of the infrastructure so they can see what works and what doesn’t, photos of the signs so they can prove to the sponsors that the signs were in place, and even photos of the portable toilets for future planning. This is not fine art. In return for providing them with these photos I get a prime location from which to photograph the fireworks.

But even if event organizers were willing to hire pro photographers to do this work, why should I care? If I enjoy taking these photos then why shouldn’t I do it? Why do the pro photographers feel that it is up to me to protect their jobs? If they want this job then it is up to them to show the event organizers that their work is worth paying for. It is up to them to demonstrate their worth. I don’t consider myself a great photographer, but I do alright. If a pro photographer can’t create a better photograph than I can, maybe they should pick another line of work.

In December, I volunteer as a driver for an organization that drives people home if they have overindulged and are responsible enough to phone for a ride. This would seem to be in direct competition with the taxis, yet I’ve never had a conversation with a taxi driver like the ones I’ve had with pro photographers.

I can empathize with the pro photographers to some extent. My day job is software design. We’ve been in competition for decades with people who write free software, people who steal software, and more recently with people in countries like India and Turkey and China who are willing to do our jobs for a lot less money (and who also have a much lower cost of living). Our reaction is not to blame those people. Our reaction is to show that our service, knowledge and experience is worth paying for. We show that we can do the job better.

Maybe it’s time for pro photographers to stop worrying about me and to start worrying about themselves. To start showing that they are worth the money they charge. I know quite a few pro photographers who are worth every penny they make. But I also know some who should rethink their career choice.

 

P.S. I do not volunteer for jobs that would normally go to a pro, such as weddings or architecture, etc.  But that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t if I felt qualified and wanted to do it.

P.P.S. This is not a solicitation for more volunteer opportunities. Please do not start sending me e-mails asking me to make some photos for you.