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Not being appreciated for you're work

Mac78321

Back in 2023, I had the opportunity to be a volunteer photographer for a Halloween festival. I wanted to build my CV even more, so I accepted.  It was a little uncomfortable since it was a very crowded place, but I really enjoyed it, and I was thinking I would do it again. I sent all the pictures I took that night to the organiser the next day, but never received a reply back from them, either saying good work or even a well done. 

April 2024, I saw the same volunteer job this time at a Food & Drink Festival. I accepted. This time, there was live music, which was something I really wanted to do. This time, it was way too overcrowded and I was extremely uncomfortable, but I stuck to my job. There were quiet spaces available, so I was able to relax for a bit. When I got back home, I said to myself I would never go back to doing festivals again. I got all the pictures I took that night and sent them off to the organiser, and the same thing happened; I never got a response or reply to any email or text I sent to them, despite the amount of time and effort I put into the event. 

I sent the organiser an email saying how I felt about it, but not saying that I hated the festival. The festival was fun. I also mentioned sending my work to them, because they did tell me that they could put it online or even end up in the local paper. But again, I never received a reply or response to that email either. It really brought down my mood a lot, so I decided not to do those events again. 

2025. I accepted a volunteering role as a social media assistant, and I felt very confident talking to the people at the shop. They were very interested in the ideas that I have presented to them. So I went in and spent 45 hours filming some content for them, and I sent the pictures and videos to them, and this is for their social media. Never received a thank you or a well done, and the pictures and videos I did are nowhere to be found on their social media. 

I don't know if anyone has ever been in that kind of situation before, as in like, you're not being appreciated for the hard work you put into the job or volunteering role. 

  • in reply to Damojo

    The best camera is rhe one you have with you ive made good pictues on a phone on a slr a dslr a point n shoot both film and digital Ona  burger sytyem and on instant film 

  • The pattern I'm seeing is commercial festivals that figure they can make a bigger profit if they can exploit cheap or free labour (or schmucks, as they probably say). They simply don't care about you or your labour, you are just one more source of free photographs and that is all they want you for. They are not going to waste 5 minutes at minimum wage writing a thank-you e-mail to you—there is nothing in it for them.

    Volunteer for charity events and I'll bet you'll be appreciated. You'll make just as much money (i.e., none), but you'll be doing something other than lining the pockets of "the man"! Wink

  • in reply to 190E(Taylor’s version)

    I got used to the whole thing of, "You must have a really good camera!", depressing though it was.

  • As an experienced amateur photographer I'd suggest against doing anything like this unless it is organised by people you know (friends/relatives etc). 

    I think the best option for these sorts of things would be to charge them professional rates and give them a 100% discount (and making sure that they do actually get the invoice), so they know the value of the work. I haven't done this myself as I try to avoid doing things which I would consider "free work", but the main reason I do avoid such jobs is simply because of the amount of effort involved and lack of understanding/appreciation by the people concerned. They aren't worth it.

  • Mac78321 said:
    I sent all the pictures I took that night to the organiser the next day, but never received a reply back from them, either saying good work or even a well done.

    Did they use the photos in the end? If so, did you get credit?

    I realise you were volunteering but if there was an agreement to give you credit for the work to help your career then it could be the organiser considered this as a quid-pro-quo - ie a trade deal so they fulfillled their side of the deal and no "attaboy" pat on the back was needed.

    It could also be the person organising it has poor social skills and doesn't realise you were after recognition, they may also be doing this for free and don't feel the need to look after everybodys feelings or it could be they are snooty and don't want to have to deal with the small people helping out.

    Without knowing the people involved it is hard to work this out.

    As someone who has done a lot of volunteer work through the years, it is not that common to get a meaningful thanks from the organisers but it will typically be down to the intermediate staff who will do this - the ones that see you in the trenches grafting away so understand that it is not just you pointing the camera and clicking from time to time.

    So long as I get something out the situation, whether pay, credit for the effort or sometimes just seeing the benefit for the cause I am supporting then I can walk away happy. Validation is best sought within I find and any external appreciation is a bonus.

    Maybe I'm cynical from a lifetime of experience of this but you did ask for our input.

    Do it for the cause, not the thanks is the essence here.

  • this is rhe exact reason I never perused photography everyone thinks it’s easy etc so they dotn care but music i gwt alreicatuon from people