When you are new to photography or videography, it can be a bit tough to get clients to give you a chance, which might lead you to wonder if you should offer your services for free. This quick and helpful video discusses why it might be beneficial to do a few free shoots to build out your portfolio a bit.
Coming to you from Chase Turnbow, this excellent video discusses the potential benefits of offering your services for free as a new photographer or videographer (though it is oriented toward video shooters, the idea applies just as much to stills work). We are often told to never work for free, which is of course meant to help us avoid being taken advantage of and to maintain the collective value of our work, but when you are new to the industry, it can be a bit of a catch-22, as you need clients to build a portfolio, but clients want to see a portfolio before they hire you, which is why working for free in this specific situation can be mutually beneficial. Just be careful not get in over your head; take on small, easily complete projects that are within your realm of capabilities. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Turnbow.