Creatives, whether they are photographers or designers, are often asked to work for free or for “exposure.” This is disrespectful to their profession and time. Like any other career, creative professionals have living expenses, software licenses, and equipment to maintain, service, and update. They also need to spend time and money on skill development and software licenses. Asking for spec work is another form of disrespect, where a client asks a creative to produce work without the guarantee of payment.

Lawyers, accountants, engineers, and other professionals expect to be paid for their work. It’s crucial to understand that creatives are professionals, and their work should be treated with the same respect and compensation as any other professional. Working for “exposure” rarely pays the bills or pays off in the long run. It is vital to remember that being a creative is a profession, not just a hobby.

Asking someone to work for free or on spec is not acceptable. Just like you wouldn’t go to a restaurant and ask them to let you taste their food and then decide if you want to pay for it, you shouldn’t ask creatives to work on spec with a hope they may actually be reimbursed. Treating creatives with respect and compensation for their hard work and talent is crucial.

If you want to hire a creative, make sure to treat them with the same respect and compensation that you would give any other professional. This not only applies to strangers, but also to family members who are in the creative industry. Being a creative is a job like any other, and they have bills to pay, family and living expenses to cover just like anybody else.