Freelance Model Furious After Professional Photographer Said She Needs to Pay for His Services

According to common sense, to obtain any goods or services, one should offer an equivalent exchange for it. But apparently, some people feel they should be exempt from this societal rule as they think they can get away with asking for these services for free. Or because they think they are good enough influencers or models.

So imagine the audacity when someone comes to you, asking for FREE services!

This actually happened to Benjamin Matchap, a fulltime freelance photographer. A Singaporean model had approached him on Facebook (eventhough they aren’t friends) and asked to do a photo shoot with him.

This is Ben’s exchange with the model, who will be identified as Chong.

Source: Facebook

To put it simply, the fact that Benjamin charges his customers is big news to Chong. He explained that he needs to charge for his services since it’s his means to earn a living. However, Chong was still taken aback and justified that it should be FREE, because she’s a freelance model. Woooh~

Source: Facebook

Source: Facebook

Ben clarified that he would consider doing collaborations, but it must be of equal value. Since, this “freelance model” is not able to provide him that, he insisted that she has to pay for his services.

“Sorry, but if you’re a model, you kinda have to be pretty or at the very least have good aesthetic. If you want to collab, it needs to be an equal exchange. If it’s not an equal exchange, I will need to charge for my time.”

If this wasn’t enough, the statement irritated the model who later put up a Facebook post denouncing the photographer for his unprofessionalism.

Source: Facebook

Her post then resulted in Ben sharing screenshots of their conversation, exposing the whole story to netizens.

Unsurprisingly, quite a number of people in the comments supported Ben. Many even pointed out that the “model” wasn’t even a real model, and looked far from one tbh.

Source: Facebook

Source: Facebook

And some even commented on the model’s English skills:

Source: Facebook

While collaborations are commonplace in the modelling and photography industry, no one wants to work for free, and no one should unless they volunteer to. Ben was well within his rights to refuse her, and hopefully, she learns that work always has a value attached to it!

You see, just because someone is freelancing, doesn’t mean that the job is actually ‘free’. Collaborations need to be mutually beneficial to both parties. Want a service? Pay for it, lah. So, who do you think should be paying the money? The photographer? Or the model? Let us know in the comments! 

Also read: M’sian Photographer Takes Photo of Bangladeshi Construction Worker & It’s Blowing Netizen’s Minds