Working and sharing footage for free

F

Foster Kane

Well-known member
Some freelance camera people that I know were contacted a couple of months ago by a party to do cover an event they were putting together. I am not sure about the full details but the whole group felt the party that contacted them was too vague in what they were asking and it sounded like they were assuming that the camera people would do this for free including handing the footage over to them. When asked what their plans were for the footage. The party wouldn't say. So they turned them down.

I think people should be paid for their work. However if it is for charitable reasons, it is probably acceptable to help out. But it sounds like the group was going to take the footage, sell it and keep the money for themselves.
 
Legit charities usually pay people for their work. Just like they pay their electric & phone bills.
 
And if you wish to donate your efforts to a favourite charity, the professional way is to invoice for what your regular fee would be and show an off-setting credit on the invoice to bring the total due down to zero.
 
Jim_Behl said:
Read my thread about Ethics, professionalism and more. It is a real world look at this subject.

http://www.dvxuser.com/V6/showthread.php?237986-Ethics-professionalism-and-more....

This happens too often.
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Wow. That is a really horrible. I am glad you got it shut down.



arniepix said:
Legit charities usually pay people for their work. Just like they pay their electric & phone bills.
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No argument here about getting paid. Some people might choose to donate their time and work to help out. I guess it comes down
to what everyone agrees upon.

Steve House said:
And if you wish to donate your efforts to a favourite charity, the professional way is to invoice for what your regular fee would be and show an off-setting credit on the invoice to bring the total due down to zero.
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Excellent idea. That way there is at least a paper trail.
 
Steve House said:
And if you wish to donate your efforts to a favourite charity, the professional way is to invoice for what your regular fee would be and show an off-setting credit on the invoice to bring the total due down to zero.
Click to expand...

This.

I always use a contract and I always invoice the client, even if the invoice amount has a zero balance. It makes it SOOO much easier on my accountant.
 
and its a good tax writer off.

i was contacted about doing some video work and as soon as they asked if i would be willing to "donate my time" for a breast cancer event there was no need to ask about pay and i agreed. an invoice is the way to go and the event was pretty big so it all works out......now had this just been a coupla scmucks being vague and not saying what the intentions of the video were then that woulda been a short conversation. been there, done that. i can spot cheapskates a mile away now.
 
Craigslist , and life in general, is chock full of people whose sole ambition in life is to get you to do something for nothing. And you can take that to the bank.
 
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