How many times have you heard someone come to you and offer you free work promising it will get you lots of exposure. I know I have heard this more times than I can count. I could probably make a career out of shooting for exposure. I would be the most famous broke photographer out there. At the end of the day however it's not the exposure that matters but the bills. You can't eat or drink exposure and in this economy you sure has hell can't fill up your gas tank with it. More times than not exposure will not pay the bills. Sure exposure could get you some work but let's use magazines has an example. They offer photographers and models exposure in exchange for free work. Now think about this, If they had enough readers they could afford to pay you. So more often than not if they are shopping for a free work then their readership is dismal and therefore no exposure.

If you are a photographer or model and really want to get your work out there then the best way is the old fashioned way, Good old hard work! Submit your images to Major magazines and companies. Market your services.  Get out there and do the ground work. Hustle hard and talk to anyone that will listen about what you do. YOU are a business and what you do has value.  Remember that my friends and you will be a lot better off for it.

What do you guys think about exposure shooting? Have you been guilty of it? (I have and that's how I learned) Did it help you?  Would love to hear everyone's feed back!