21 Screenshots Of Scammy, Scummy Attempts At Getting Creatives To Work For Low Pay Or "Exposure"

    Stop asking photographers to shoot you for exposure.

    Christopher Hudspeth
    by Christopher Hudspeth

    BuzzFeed Staff

    1. This NFT enthusiast trying to get an artist to create an entire collection in exchange for a few pieces of the very art they're creating.

    Person tells artist they need 250 cartoon alien NFTs based on Elon Musk and will pay them with one or two of the NFTs
    u/nitiddesigns / Via reddit.com

    2. This person suggesting a singer-songwriter make them a free song for their wedding because ~exposure.~

    Person didn't realize they'd have to pay for the song and the person would build a name much faster by doing it for free or cheap but then says "The world doesn't owe you a living"
    u/ItComesInPints_ / Via reddit.com

    3. This person seeking extremely cheap art and acting as if they've been done wrong when their low offer is turned down.

    4. This delusional individual in need of a photographer.

    5. This person who made a ridiculous request and got a ridiculous request in return.

    6. This person who wouldn't pay $150 for a whole-ass children's book's worth of art.

    7. This person pestering a nail artist for a discount.

    Person asks why two full nails with rhinestones are an extra $14, and when person says it's because they use Swarovski crystals, person says the work isn't that good anyway
    u/julieacula / Via reddit.com

    8. This person who wants a makeup artist to work for free because she's going to be at a fancy party.

    u/Dustinj1991 / Via reddit.com

    9. This person casually asking for a free drawing and getting a hilarious, quick doodle that's more than they deserve.

    Person asks for a photo, artist says prices start at 150 pounds, person says they're broke and can they do it for free, and artist sends back a stick figure
    Instagram: @jonarton

    10. This person who is basically trying to get a tattoo artist to price-match.

    Person says they want to pay $100 for two tattoos instead of $150, and artist says now it's $200
    u/leontfilmss / Via reddit.com

    11. This person who wanted a tattoo design, realized they'd have to pay, then verbally attacked the artist.

    Person asks artist to design their next tattoo, and when told the artist works on commission, the person says never mind, they're conceited and mediocre
    u/meow_mayhem / Via reddit.com

    12. This person who just simply isn't getting it.

    Person doesn't get why people won't draw them for free
    u/DAX2FAST / Via reddit.com

    13. This person who actually tried to pay an artist with a cut of the artist's profits.

    Person needs a rush job on a painting of someone for a birthday party and offers to give the person a cut of the profits from the paintings sold at the party
    u/IHateNull / Via reddit.com

    14. This person who got really rude as soon as they realized they couldn't afford a nail artist's rate.

    Person says $60 for getting their nails done is too much and the person's work isn't good anyway and they're ugly
    u/lettisha / Via reddit.com

    15. This person who begged, got turned down, got hostile, got blocked, and made a new account to continue being angry/begging.

    Person curses out artist for not drawing for free and says their mother is sick in the hospital and the art industry is full of greedy people
    u/TunaXI / Via reddit.com

    16. This person who had been getting a sleeve tattooed FOR FREE, but got an attitude when the artist wouldn't immediately clear their schedule for her.

    Tattoo artist says they shouldn't work with this customer anymore 'cause they never tip and person says they were waiting until it was done to give a big tip but "whatever," they'll have another place finish it
    u/Downwardspiralhams / Via reddit.com

    17. This person who really seemed to feel that they were owed free artwork.

    Person asks for freebie work for their website and when artist says no, person calls them bitchy and a "lil princess" who can't take criticism
    u/str1ngcheesetheory / Via reddit.com

    18. This person who had a lot of nerve requesting free work and throwing a tantrum when she was rejected.

    Person gives instructions for a canvas and when told the price is $45, they ask for it as a gift, since they know the artist's cousin, then as a baby shower gift, since they're pregnant, then offer $20, then call the artist a "fucking retarded ass bitch"
    u/siriuslestrange / Via reddit.com

    19. This person who wanted a free portrait because she's a college student and 9-by-12-inch paper isn't even that big!

    Person says they can't afford to pay 'cause they're a college student, and when artist says they're a college student too, person says the drawings suck anyway
    u/cheloniidae / Via reddit.com

    20. This terrible dude who is trying to get free art AND also kind of withholding payment from his babysitter.

    Person expects artist who is their "wife's best friend" to babysit for free and also to draw a canvas for free for their wife's birthday gift from them, not the friend
    u/givemeayes / Via reddit.com

    21. And finally, this extremely irritating person who is just wondering if they can get a free drawing from an artist.