Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
97 People Who Think They Can Pay Artists In “Exposure”
Artists don't need money, right? Their work of line fills their souls, and that's enough for any human being, right? And after all, drawing or having a photography career is more like a hobby and nobody gets paid for their hobbies...right?
Well, no, obviously. It's not right. But that still seems to be the attitude of a lot of people who expect unpaid work form artists, unfortunately. A Twitter account called For Exposure is bringing this to the world's attention by tweeting the most ridiculous responses that young artists have received when they've had the downright nerve to ask for money for doing a job for somebody! From being offered to be paid in exposure, of course, to be asked to do their absolute best working for free just because; the attitude of the commissioners is just appalling at best.
Now, if you are an artist who often hears the phrase 'free work,' these tweets will be painfully relatable. If you sympathize with those with unpaid internship careers lasting their whole lives, these stories are a great example of the cause. So scroll down below to check the unpaid laborers' struggles for yourself.
More info: Twitter
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#7
#11
#13
#15
Cordélia Leite 10 years ago
What this people think?! That artists don't need water, food, don't pay bills?!
#16
Katinka Min 10 years ago
I'd send the the doodles one does during a lecture or while on the phone.
#19
Katinka Min 10 years ago
My favourite ist the line 'you don't do this for a living and if you do that is really sad.'
#22
Georgia Stergiadis 10 years ago
"You are Canadian for the love of gravy" BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!
#28
David Novotny 9 years ago
.....and if the world by any chance doesn't end next sunday we will reimburse you in 3 free sessions with our world class clairvoyant psychic.
#31
Kezia Paigee Tee 9 years ago
Might as well be my own passion project and you the witness with no say in it. LOL
#33
Adrian Jenkin (MarauderDeuce) 10 years ago
Bet there were nude women queuing around the block for this opportunity!
#34
Glen Stradwick 9 years ago
Admittedly, being a creative writer with a degree I have had this problem. I have fleshed out storylines that I want quality artwork for and have been willing to PAY for, but because so many people are gun-shy due to a shitload of people hounding mangaka to do it 'for exposure', it has gotten exponentially more difficult.
#40
Tina Bigham 9 years ago
really with the plagiarizing?? My advice to this douche would be: go do your friends weddings, bar mitzvas, recitals etc for free (while doing your best possible work). Build your portfolio the way the rest of us had to.
#41
Adrian Jenkin (MarauderDeuce) 10 years ago
So tempted to copy and send this to every author I like reading. :D
#42
Mary Kaye Waterson 10 years ago
I tend to ball my hand into a fist and swing when people yell for no reason so don't be a little b***h and start crying.
#43
Kezia Paigee Tee 9 years ago
I can brag this in front of my mum and even she won't be that impressed. So forget it.
#45
Georgia Stergiadis 10 years ago
Well, yeah! You ask for a service, you pay for that service...mate!
#47
#52
Mary Pinson 9 years ago
if racists are accused of being racist...isn't that just being called out?
#55
#59
Mary Pinson 9 years ago
someone needs to tell these artists all these people know to raise their prices!
#60
Larry Jakubecz 9 years ago
This one has such a common and distinctive odor, I can sense it at "hello"
#61
Larry Jakubecz 9 years ago
How much happier a world it would be if the numerous examples of sterling employ such as this actually skipped the time-wasting and went right to their sources who do great work for free!
#62
Hayley Lightcap 10 years ago
All things considered that's one of the more reasonable things on this list
#63
#66
Larry Jakubecz 9 years ago
Ohhhhhh, ok. Now I get why Banksy doesn't ever get money for his stuff: it's FUN!
#68
Larry Jakubecz 9 years ago
How come you never see gig posts seeking s****y, talentless artist-wannabes for no pay?
#69
Artemis Morgan 9 years ago
I don't need exposure if you found me, and my resume is good enough if you want me.
#76
Melissa Stevens 10 years ago
I can personally attest that a minimum of a half hour to a maximum of six hours can be required for even the simplest photo editing job. 30 minutes x 100 = 2.08333333 days for 25 bucks? kiss my a*s
#77
Simon Ausmus 9 years ago
It's an ad looking for extras..............usually people do this kind of thing for quite a bit less then doughnuts and energy drinks. I mean.............I would do it >.>
#79
Glen Stradwick 9 years ago
Psh, tell that to the likes of https://www.patreon.com/twokinds who is currently earning nearly $4,200 a MONTH through patreon.
#87
#88
Larry Jakubecz 9 years ago
Although, if each artist he manages to snare bails after one page, eventually, he'll have his free book!
#93
Notchimine Mette 10 years ago
Yup. They think because you can crochet, you will make stuff for them for free... I just give a ridiculously high quote hoping they will bugger off.... So far - none of them have... Maybe I should go higher...?
#94
Notchimine Mette 10 years ago
Well, if he can't draw his own, and he surely can't write.... Good luck to him...
#95
Kennedy Leah 10 years ago
I completely back this quote because of it's context. I've disagreed with so many of them and with what the people have been saying about artists, but this one in particular, I side with. What Doreen Costa is actually disagreeing with is a Rhode Island Tourism Campaign that had unnecessary expenses regarding hiring a designer. She is simply stating her opinion, which I find quite reasonable and relevant, about the fact that the leader of the campaign paid a graphic designer $1 million to design a logo for the campaign. Doreen is saying that it was a completely unnecessary expense when the state has access to design avenues they can utilise that WON't add extra cost to the public through tax. She is basically sticking up for the tax paying citizens as well as trying to right by artists. So, this should not be on here because it's got nothing to do with what this post is about. Please remove it. Find more info here: http://www.golocalprov.com/news/ri-tourism-campaign-in-chaos
#96
#97
Larry Jakubecz 9 years ago
I've apparently grossly-misunderstood how Christianity worked. Thanks for the inform!
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Lila Pratt 10 years ago
That's so sad! People think that because you are "gifted" it's easy for you it must be free.
Bridgete McAuley 10 years ago
Here are three things I do. One of them is my paid job, the others are things I wish I could get paid for. Attorney: 4 years of college so I could go to law school, 3 years of law school, intense studying so I could pass the bar exam, and continuing education and on-the-job training. Singer: A lifetime of singing, several years of voice lessons, and hours upon hours of practice for every solo and/or choir concert. Photographer: 3 years of high school photography classes, 4 years of college photography classes, and continually improving my skills by trying different things with my camera and manipulating exposure in the "lab" (which is now Photoshop but I used to work in a darkroom). I don't see any difference in the amount of dedication it took to acquire the necessary skills for any of the three things I do. So if I get paid for being an attorney because I worked hard at it, hell yes artists should get paid too.
Arjan 10 years ago
Unfortunately I've accepted a job like this once and got scammed into another one. I didn't mind at the time since I was just starting and got almost full creative freedom to make the cover art for a bands album. They of course would start paying me later on once they start selling their music and booking gigs. Never heard from them again and it was a lesson learned. Never had clients since asking me to work for free, even friends expect they would have to pay some if they ask me for some designs and I just charge them a reduced rate.
Lila Pratt 10 years ago
That's so sad! People think that because you are "gifted" it's easy for you it must be free.
Bridgete McAuley 10 years ago
Here are three things I do. One of them is my paid job, the others are things I wish I could get paid for. Attorney: 4 years of college so I could go to law school, 3 years of law school, intense studying so I could pass the bar exam, and continuing education and on-the-job training. Singer: A lifetime of singing, several years of voice lessons, and hours upon hours of practice for every solo and/or choir concert. Photographer: 3 years of high school photography classes, 4 years of college photography classes, and continually improving my skills by trying different things with my camera and manipulating exposure in the "lab" (which is now Photoshop but I used to work in a darkroom). I don't see any difference in the amount of dedication it took to acquire the necessary skills for any of the three things I do. So if I get paid for being an attorney because I worked hard at it, hell yes artists should get paid too.
Arjan 10 years ago
Unfortunately I've accepted a job like this once and got scammed into another one. I didn't mind at the time since I was just starting and got almost full creative freedom to make the cover art for a bands album. They of course would start paying me later on once they start selling their music and booking gigs. Never heard from them again and it was a lesson learned. Never had clients since asking me to work for free, even friends expect they would have to pay some if they ask me for some designs and I just charge them a reduced rate.
Related on Bored Panda
