Working for Free?

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The true answer is never work for free when someone has the capacity to pay.
Doing a friend a favor, that’s cool. Working for a client who doesn’t want to pay, the reasons for not paying are irrelevant, is going to cost you. Even a minimal payment for specifically stated work is better for everyone.
You really don’t want to perpetuate the myth that creatives are so passionate they’ll do this stuff whether money is involved or not. Money talks. Money pays my bills. Money lets me invest in my equipment and my lifelong education.