Photographers and Artist Alike Don't be scammed

My fellow photographers and artist out there. Don't be fooled with ads like this on CRAIGSLIST. Asking to put in work and not get paid for it. Would like to give away your work for free. Can you go to a McDonald's, Wendy's or any store for that matter and simply pick up a product use it or just simply walk out the door with it. I heard that. The answer was a "no".  A big one at that. Clients or potential clients need to understand something. Photographers and all artist are just like any other working professional. They work and have expenses such as phone bills, rent, car notes, food to contend with monthly. So if you put up ads like the one above asking for work for free or just train fare and don't see people come knocking or calling. Remember this you get what you pay for. Take a look at this link into what I wrote before about what TFP of TFCD really is about and get a real clue as to what these crazy lunatics are really trying to get away with. If a company cannot pay you for your photos that you took how can they tell you. "That You will retain all rights to your work and your work will be linked back to your professional website for maximum exposure for YOU the journalist". That is just totally horrendous, preposterous even. Get everything in writing up front as to what you will be compensated for each job. It could be in advance by paying in lump sum or half before and the rest upon delivery. So please don't fall for these cheap ass establishments that say they are a professional outfit and can't pay you for your work. They are just trying to get over on you or just simply getting the work for free so to speak.  Also remember to copyright everything you have. In case anybody that may have copied your work from either any online source or magazine and claimed it for their own or have used it and got compensated for it without your consent, can be taken to court and sued for money that is owed to you for the infraction. Stay tuned to my blog, because I have a lot more to say about this touch subject.