Why you should never do any work for free
Recently, I was approached by a big, international client with a potentially great illustrative job for a range of packaging. I say potentially as the client wanted me to do a full preliminary illustration for free so they could see whether or not if illustration was the right route to take for their new pack designs. Admittedly, when I first started way back when I would have stupidly said OK and done work for free in the hope of winning the work. In my defense I didn't know any better. However, nearly 5 business years on, I won’t do it. I refuse to devalue myself, my skillset, my integrity and the creative industry I know and love. I have grown these past few years and have built an internal radar for when someone is trying to take the mick or take advantage. So I said no. I stood my ground and you should too.
Below are 2 reasons and explanations why you should never do any free work. 2 things to keep in mind when you’re in a sticky situation.
Value yourself, your skillet and your integrity
With this particular client, they approached me and that suggests I can do something that they cannot. They need me. Furthermore, I know I'm good at what I can do and can offer and have been doing it successfully for many years. In my refusal to commit to free illustrative work I remind myself of how far I have come and my abilities as an illustrator. Not to be big headed, but my online portfolio show’s what I can do. For me, I always want to work with a client and produce a wonderful solution together. I’m all about the collaborative creative process. In a round about way I have been suggesting this to the client but for now it has fallen on deaf ears.
In every ounce of what I do there is pride for the craft and I truly believe in the creative marks I make and communicative ideas I come up with for clients. There’s real worth there for the client and by doing it for free would completely belittle my skills.
Think about the industry as a whole
By saying no to free work I feel I'm also sticking up for other creatives and inspiring them to say no to big clients thinking they can get away with muscling illustrators with the prospect of work. In my experience and online comments from peers on the likes of Threads, I have seen the illustrative industry as a whole take a nose dive in terms of commissions and budgets. I understand world economics may have played a part in budgets being slashed but to simply ask for free work is rude. The value and clout of a company does not outweigh the value and clout of creative professionals.
“The value and clout of a company does not outweigh the value and clout of creative professionals.”
Conclusion
I could have said yes to the work. Lord knows I need the work and it could’ve led to a wonderful opportunity. But if the two pints above are anything to go by then I’d lose a lot more. Not just for me but also for the industry as a whole. I realise though on the flipside, whilst there is opportunity out there with clients there should also be a realisation with them of the valuable opportunity to work with awesome illustrators and wonderful human beings.
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Thanks for reading
Pete :)