CSAT Podcast 007: Should You Ever Work For Free? Creatives like photographers, designers, writer and artists are approached sometimes to do free work or work in exchange for exposure. This is a very important and controversial topic in the Creative Community. I feel that there are situations where it is appropriate, but I think that in most situations it should be the Creator who initiates it. I think that when companies ask for free work they are not valuing Creatives appropriately if they don't find a meaningful way to compensate them.