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Picture a magazine, newspaper or a website with no photographs.

Images are valuable commodities. Keep that in mind before you consider giving your images away for free.

It is one thing to donate your time and images for a cause that is near and dear to your heart.

It is also okay to invest time and images for promoting one’s business.

But it is colossally uncool when companies and organizations expect to source free images, when they pay for the utilities, mortgage or rent, salaries, Internet Service Provider and all the other basic expenses involved with running the show.

This is not the typical “hobbyists are giving away images for free” rant, but a thoughtful observation.

The point is that there is a distinct difference between giving from one’s heart and having that kindness exploited or taken for granted. It is only natural to expect that one’s work be valued.