tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post5164973534224474220..comments2024-01-05T05:16:17.187-05:00Comments on Leslie F. Miller: don't work for free. period.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-28079003562955449642014-05-04T16:51:55.701-04:002014-05-04T16:51:55.701-04:00@Anonymous I wouldn't go that far, but I think...@<a href="#c6259329595522777148" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> I wouldn't go <i>that</i> far, but I think it's important that we respect ourselves and our work. It's the only way others will.fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-62593295955227771482014-05-04T13:29:51.783-04:002014-05-04T13:29:51.783-04:00Dont take a piss without getting paid for it. Pick...Dont take a piss without getting paid for it. Pick my brain, you pick my pockets. Dig it, cheapie.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-5187879438139755002013-10-17T09:43:28.039-04:002013-10-17T09:43:28.039-04:00@achim Right!@<a href="#c2353916916156066006" rel="nofollow">achim</a> Right! fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-23539169161560660062013-09-13T04:56:43.233-04:002013-09-13T04:56:43.233-04:00you will probably get more publicity from this pos...you will probably get more publicity from this post on you blog tham from any of those dubious offers. =)achimhttp://www.treumusik.denoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-34560608060271353972013-07-03T17:17:32.002-04:002013-07-03T17:17:32.002-04:00News Flash: Today I had to put this to the test. i...News Flash: Today I had to put this to the test. iVillage saw a picture of my dog Ozzy on Flickr and emailed me to ask for free use of it with my name as credit. I sent a letter to them like what you wrote on your blog. I also asked for a meager 10 bucks. Again, it was the principle of the thing, not the money. The response I got was this:<br /><br />"Hey Elaine! Of course it is perfectly okay to ask -- but I'm afraid we're offering only credit and links back. <br /><br />No worries that it's a no-go -- your picture is great! Thanks for getting back to me."<br /><br />I expected nothing less of these people. They are looking for free content and Flickr is a great place to get that with permission. No one wants to pay. They all want it for free. Their job finding it isn't free. It really fries my ass now when people solicit this way. I'm sure she will go to the next person to ask to use their photo for free. Most likely, they will say yes to her request. She probably has 1000 photos tagged to ask about, and will go through a few to get them for her job. Sad state of affairs indeed.Lainerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01539799147198426908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-37902584632741506802013-07-01T11:51:09.555-04:002013-07-01T11:51:09.555-04:00@cybergabi A lovely comment for today. Thank you!@<a href="#c1149708963287027160" rel="nofollow">cybergabi</a> A lovely comment for today. Thank you!fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-11497089632870271602013-07-01T11:34:38.983-04:002013-07-01T11:34:38.983-04:00I just sent a link to this blog post to the next t...I just sent a link to this blog post to the next two requesters who wanted to publish two of my photos with my name and a link to my website. Your writing is so eloquent that it doesn't need any further explanation (except for the respective price tag for the respective photo they want to use).cybergabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11046481296417994068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-37407512578395787252013-06-26T23:33:45.432-04:002013-06-26T23:33:45.432-04:00Totally agree with you on this. Now I need to appl...Totally agree with you on this. Now I need to apply it. I'm tired of everyone devaluing photography and trying to get art free, and when asked for money, they become appalled. LOL! Seriously. No more freebies.Lainerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01539799147198426908noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-50403385812595282302013-06-07T09:45:33.802-04:002013-06-07T09:45:33.802-04:00I am with you all the way, though I have a harder ...I am with you all the way, though I have a harder time relying on credentials when I came to writing only 2 years ago, without a writing degree or paid writing jobs to speak of. Who's going to pay me without any credible writing jobs or history under my belt?<br /><br />I did feel blogging for Patch was good experience and practice and gave me a built-in audience. I learned how to interact with the readers, got a sense for how much time things took and how things worked, then struck out on my own. I used them and they used me. Now that I'm getting somewhere, I've left Patch since they regularly and quickly denied my requests for getting paid. For the last year, I've been writing only for myself, and a few outlets that will pay me. It's a pittance, but it's also a start.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-24661386291634512902013-06-06T10:07:24.011-04:002013-06-06T10:07:24.011-04:00I agree. Your insight about this is another descri... I agree. Your insight about this is another description of the emiseration of intellectual and creative labor (think of adjunct professors, too, with Ph.D.s, who make almost nothing for teaching courses), along with the emiseration of labor-labor. A lot of those excuses come down to the notion of some vague (too vague) payback in the form of "publicity" or "exposure," but it's a sinkhole, or a self-fulfilling doom, because with social media and the gazillion of online outlets that technically count as "publications," and with millions of people willing to write FOR FREE to fill those sites, and to encourage the creation of yet more, then even the vague promise of exposure or publicity is negated by the sheer volume of places and pages... And, you're right--the excuses ultimately do boil down to, "i don't think that i need to get paid for my work." There's not much wiggle room around that, and no "yeah, but..." statement that gets around it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-70932469974185583032013-06-06T10:07:03.929-04:002013-06-06T10:07:03.929-04:00I agree. Your insight about this is another descri... I agree. Your insight about this is another description of the emiseration of intellectual and creative labor (think of adjunct professors, too, with Ph.D.s, who make almost nothing for teaching courses), along with the emiseration of labor-labor. A lot of those excuses come down to the notion of some vague (too vague) payback in the form of "publicity" or "exposure," but it's a sinkhole, or a self-fulfilling doom, because with social media and the gazillion of online outlets that technically count as "publications," and with millions of people willing to write FOR FREE to fill those sites, and to encourage the creation of yet more, then even the vague promise of exposure or publicity is negated by the sheer volume of places and pages... And, you're right--the excuses ultimately do boil down to, "i don't think that i need to get paid for my work." There's not much wiggle room around that, and no "yeah, but..." statement that gets around it.Pamela Haaghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12355671917278277861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-59013002872224625582013-06-06T09:45:31.907-04:002013-06-06T09:45:31.907-04:00Do you know how many co-workers come into the Desi...Do you know how many co-workers come into the Design office and ask us to do invites and christmas cards and I barely know most of them? I started saying no, they don't come to me anymore, though my office mate is always doing something for someone. I have done a painting for a rescue group auction, though next time I believe I will do the painting and make Giclee prints for the charity and sell the painting.Gail Dragonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06084230688769815801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-6529347374367011492013-06-06T08:59:10.382-04:002013-06-06T08:59:10.382-04:00@Anonymous I've been using this free blogging ...@<a href="#c720295932227045930" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> I've been using this free blogging site since this free blogging site was made. I've had ten blogs. I know CSS code. I have a MFA in writing and an MA in graphic design. Would you like me to hire someone? I've paid someone to design a website. I have had several. <br /><br />I didn't say you shouldn't use free tools. I said you shouldn't ask your friends to design your website for free, and website designers shouldn't offer to do it for free. <br /><br />I think you are wrong about my being "over the top," because this is one of the few fields in the world where its members are expected to work for free. That's why I used the examples I did. No one else works for free. Artists shouldn't, either.<br /><br />I'm glad you feel that you are helping out other people. Good luck to you. fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-7202959322270459302013-06-06T05:12:29.934-04:002013-06-06T05:12:29.934-04:00Never do free photography says the person using a ...Never do free photography says the person using a free blogging site. You know there are people making a living designing website for a living, right? I have nothing against asking people to consider charging for their photography, but you are a bit over the top here. I will continue doing mostly free photo shoots with a couple of paid jobs a year because that's what I want to do. What I get out of the free jobs is satisfaction in helping others out, which is also a leading reason people donate to charity. I wish my photo charity didn't cause you to make less money, but photography has always been a challenging field to live off and there are still ways to be very successful in it today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-28010965519401677842013-06-05T21:55:39.097-04:002013-06-05T21:55:39.097-04:00@Tsu Dho Nimh HAHAHAHA! That's funny. And sad...@<a href="#c2511357907271539156" rel="nofollow">Tsu Dho Nimh</a> HAHAHAHA! That's funny. And sad. Because it's true. Well, not the flab part. I don't know about that.fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-25113579072715391562013-06-05T21:52:38.913-04:002013-06-05T21:52:38.913-04:00Oh Wow. I'm a writer. If I had a dollar for e...Oh Wow. I'm a writer. If I had a dollar for every "I can give you exposure on the web" solicitation ... <br /><br />Look you cheapskates, if I want exposure, I'll drop my pants on the plaza AND ... I'll videotape it and put it on YouTube. I'll live blog about it and I'll update my status with it on Facebook, tweet about it on Twitter and post pics of my flabby butt on Twitpix and Flickr. Tsu Dho Nimhnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-40583508022855653582013-06-05T20:09:46.907-04:002013-06-05T20:09:46.907-04:00Couldn't help but wonder if that intern was wo...Couldn't help but wonder if that intern was working for free! The latest capitalism scandal, along with ridiculous levels of college debt due to high interest.Richard Gilberthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02295157685034187345noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-74857693998807222632013-06-05T12:14:04.640-04:002013-06-05T12:14:04.640-04:00@Anonymous That bugs me. It's the camel's ...@<a href="#c5958855671207458831" rel="nofollow">Anonymous</a> That bugs me. It's the camel's nose under the tent. You start doing work for free because you love it, then you make other excuses, like this: I took that picture, and it's just sitting there. I have no space left on my walls, so here. Sure--I made that like 10 years ago, and the money's already gone. <br /><br />Get some money. Get something of <i>physical</i> value in trade.<br />fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-60532246272278816562013-06-05T12:05:32.529-04:002013-06-05T12:05:32.529-04:00Oh, and I'm pointing out the obvious but that ...Oh, and I'm pointing out the obvious but that first self-portrait of you? Looks exactly like your daughter. I thought it was her before I read the caption.jo(e)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01488562158252331555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-59588556712074588312013-06-05T12:03:49.241-04:002013-06-05T12:03:49.241-04:00I agree with everything posted.
The only time it ...I agree with everything posted.<br /><br />The only time it is worth it to work for free is, as you said, when you get something in return.<br /><br />This could mean freedom and creativity in terms of direction of the project or something in an area you haven't tried yet, but would like to.<br /><br />I do video work and would take on something for free if I really liked it and was getting some fulfillment out it artistically.<br /><br />But they can at least still give you gas money or something!<br /><br />KevinAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-14994858547704873762013-06-05T09:53:05.966-04:002013-06-05T09:53:05.966-04:00I love this.
I love this.<br /><br />jo(e)https://www.blogger.com/profile/01488562158252331555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-63515268771888097542013-06-05T09:39:32.934-04:002013-06-05T09:39:32.934-04:00@cybergabi, Beer and dinner are valuable.
@deathw...@<a href="#c8125168805173150942" rel="nofollow">cybergabi</a>, Beer and dinner are valuable.<br /><br />@<a href="#c797097133524464169" rel="nofollow">deathwriter</a>, Contributor's copies are valuable (depending, of course, on the lit mag. And remember: lit mags are artists, too.fuquinayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05996168855030440765noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-7970971335244641692013-06-05T09:19:55.281-04:002013-06-05T09:19:55.281-04:00This is a great post and I totally agree, however,...This is a great post and I totally agree, however, most literary mags pay in pats on the back and maybe a contributor's copy or two. I have definitely lowered my pay rate, as well as what counts as currency.deathwriterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12981490242657443114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8276394445294788649.post-81251688051731509422013-06-05T08:56:40.142-04:002013-06-05T08:56:40.142-04:00I love the exchange you had. And the principle. It...I love the exchange you had. And the principle. It's mine, too. I've already accepted beer, paintings, other photographs, or homemade dinners in exchange for my photographs - and, like you, mostly money. Stay strong!cybergabihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11046481296417994068noreply@blogger.com