When to Work for Free
There’s a lot of opinions on the internet about “never working for free”. In theory, if you use your skill, you should be paid to do it… most of the time. There are a few caveats that I’d like to add. Whether you’re just starting out and trying to get noticed, trying to attract new clients in a specific niche, or just want to hone your skillset, doing a spec project has plenty of benefits. A spec project is just a project that you’re not paid to do, kinda like practice.
Building a Portfolio
If you’re just starting out in your field, be it photography, graphic design, videography, or something else, the best way to start booking clients is to have a body of work to show them, aka your portfolio. If you’re new, by definition, you have no previous clients and therefore haven’t done any paid jobs to use in your portfolio. Doing spec work is a great way to fill up that portfolio. Find projects that will highlight your best skills and put as much effort into it as you would a paid gig so that your portfolio represents your absolute best work.
Pro tip: to save money, work on spec projects for products you own, people you know, or areas you have a good knowledge of already.
Attracting New Clients
If your goal with a spec project is to attract new clients in a specific niche market, obviously you’re going to focus on your projects to align with those clients. For example, if you want to photograph products, find a new way to show off a product in that niche in a fresh and unique way. This will help you stand out amongst the other photos that those companies are used to seeing.
Another way to get attention from a brand through a spec project is by aligning the visuals exactly with their existing branding. Search their instagram, their website, and their ads to see the tone and style of their branding. If you can match the way they already do things, it shows you truly understand the brand and can produce content in a style and level they already expect.
Honing your Skills
The first two mentioned reasons for creating a spec project are usually for people early on in their careers. This last one could be beneficial for a novice or a seasoned vet: making a spec project to sharpen the skills. Technology is always changing as are methods of creating visuals and not to mention trends. No mater how proficient in your craft you become, it’s always beneficial to dust off the cobwebs of a lesser used skill or add an entirely new one to the tool belt. Spec projects are a great way to try something out without the risk and pressure of messing up a paid client job. It also gives you full creative autonomy to create the project however you see fit. You could be a photographer using generative photoshop AI, a videographer trying a new editing effect, or a graphic designer learning a new trending style of illustration.
I’m sure there a more reasons for creating a spec project, but whatever your reason, always try to enjoy it or make it fun. Since you have full creative control (which doesn’t happen that often), make it however you want! You can find some of my spec work here, but I’d also love to see yours. Drop your site or portfolio in the comments below so I and anyone else reading this can get some inspiration from your work!
Until next time,
Cheers,
Shawn