Work For Free

Summary

In this video, Peter McKinnon discusses the value of sometimes working for free, especially when building relationships or gaining experience. He shares personal insights from his career, including a recent photo shoot with Kefir Suman and his experience working for Weatherwool. McKinnon explains how working for free can help you build bridges, expand your portfolio, and set you up for future opportunities. He emphasizes the importance of doing work you love, regardless of payment, and reflects on how these actions have contributed to his growth as a photographer. The video is both informative and motivational, offering a real-world perspective on freelancing.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sometimes working for free can be beneficial in building relationships, gaining experience, and establishing a personal brand.
• 😀 Your time is valuable, but early in your career, it's important to prove your worth and develop your skills before demanding payment.
• 😀 The 3Bs of freelancing—Build a Bridge, Build a Book, Build your Bank Account—serve as a roadmap for growing your creative career.
• 😀 Networking and forming connections are crucial, and working for free can often lead to unexpected opportunities in the long run.
• 😀 While working for free is not about undervaluing your work, it can be a strategic decision that pays off later with exposure or future paid gigs.
• 😀 Creative work should be driven by passion; doing work you love ensures that even unpaid projects bring value to your portfolio.
• 😀 Authenticity in photography and art helps tell a compelling story that resonates with audiences and clients, leading to better opportunities.
• 😀 Building a portfolio is essential, and sometimes the best way to create impactful work is to collaborate on passion projects without expecting immediate compensation.
• 😀 McKinnon’s philosophy: 'It’s a gamble'—sometimes working for free results in tangible rewards, other times, you simply gain great images and experience.
• 😀 Creative professionals should focus on the long-term growth of their careers by taking chances, learning, and creating work that they believe in.

Q & A

Why does Peter McKinnon believe working for free can be beneficial?

Peter McKinnon argues that working for free can help build a reputation, establish connections, and provide opportunities that may not come from paid work initially. He emphasizes that this approach, if done strategically, can lead to long-term benefits in one's career.

What is the concept of the 3Bs that Peter McKinnon mentions?

The 3Bs Peter refers to are 'build a bridge, build a book, or build your bank account.' This concept highlights how free work can either lead to collaborations (building bridges), expand one's portfolio (building a book), or eventually generate revenue (building the bank account).

How does Peter McKinnon feel about the time and value of a photographer's work?

Peter acknowledges that a photographer's time and work are valuable but believes that it is essential to establish oneself and build a brand first. He suggests that new photographers may need to work for free initially to prove their worth and gain experience.

Why did Peter McKinnon not charge for his photo shoot with Keifer Sutherland?

Peter did not charge for the photo shoot with Keifer Sutherland because the opportunity came at the right time and place, and he was already happy with the photos he took. He received whiskey from the brand as a thank you, which he felt was sufficient compensation.

What is the benefit of working for free in the context of building a career, according to Peter?

Working for free can help you work now to ensure you can keep working in the future. It's about playing the long game, where you might not get paid immediately but can open doors for future paid opportunities and exposure.

What role does working for free play in Peter McKinnon's long-term career success?

Peter credits much of his success to working for free in the early stages of his career. This strategy helped him build relationships, gain recognition, and develop a body of work that led to paid gigs and brand partnerships.

How does Peter McKinnon compare working for free to buying a lottery ticket?

Peter compares working for free to buying a lottery ticket, saying that sometimes it pays off with great opportunities (like a big brand using your work), and other times, you may end up with nothing but valuable experience and good images.

What is Peter's opinion on charging for work versus doing it for free?

Peter advocates for knowing when to charge for work and when to do it for free. He stresses that while your time is valuable, there are situations where working for free can help you grow, especially when working with brands or individuals you love and believe in.

How does Peter McKinnon approach product photography, specifically in the Red Bank Whiskey shoot?

In the Red Bank Whiskey shoot, Peter focused on creating lifestyle images that felt authentic, using natural light and atmosphere to enhance the mood of the photos. He used techniques like adding dehaze to the background and accentuating natural textures to make the photos feel more genuine and immersive.

What are some of the editing techniques Peter McKinnon used on the Red Bank Whiskey photos?

Peter used a range of editing techniques, such as adjusting contrast, adding cool tones, and applying dehaze to create a foggy, atmospheric effect in the background. He also employed linear gradients and masks to highlight the subject and create a balanced mood in the images.