Dear Craigslist Photo Army, I <3 you
It is not very often that I get behind any kind of serious stance against something. Maybe I have the inability to feel that change can happen in 2009, but it is in these small instances that I can hop on board and feel like protesting might help in the long term.
For those of you (and me) who use craigslist to generate work from time to time, there has been a small army of folks going on every day and both flagging, and re: Posting to jobs that are “internships” or “portfolio builders”. Let me explain a little more for those who are not frequent craigslist users. There are a few sections on craigslist where photographers, graphic designers, artists, ecteteria; are sought after for events, jobs, or gigs. Every night before I go to bed I go through all the Boston jobs and see if anything jumps out at me to reply to for work. Almost every day there seem to more and more posts looking for photographers to shoot and burn for free. These people call them “portfolio builders” to try to make it seem like not a total rip-off (which it is).
BUT, recently, an army of photographers have been flagging such posts, which means that if they are flagged enough they are deleted. Not only that, they have been posting things to make such posters feel bad, like this:
“I am a professional photographer with six years experience. I used to be able to make a living getting gigs, events, sports, dance, partys, etc. That is no longer the case. Everyone thinks they have a “special” event that would be so great for your portfolio. I do not need work to add to my portfolio. It is not hard to photograph a few subjects for a beginner portfolio, so asking someone to work hard and make great quality pictures for free is just not fair. This is a skill that you not only learn but you have an eye for. And that eye is what you are paying for, not just someone to press a button. Cameras and lenses are expensive, and so are flashes and media cards. Everything adds up what your on the road photographing. Gas, Cd’s, computer programs and up grades.I know I am not the only one upset by this up rising in people expecting “free” photography. Just please consider how many other professionals offer their services for “portfolio” work. At least offer something.”
I love that craigslist is becoming such a good self-mediating site, and that there are enough caring photographers to try to block out all the garbage jobs online to clear the way for people really looking to hire a photographer. A lot of these posts are also extremely illegitimate, claiming they are internships without even verifying that they qualify for college credits at all. With photography becoming more accessible everyday and the line between professionals and everyone else is blurring more, this is the least that we can do.
Thank you army of photographers, I <3 you.