20/10/2026
Hey creatives, can we talk? Surely you're annoyed too. We're calling it out for what it actually is.
"Exposure" doesn't pay rent.
"Collaboration" is not a synonym for unpaid work.
"We'll tag you!" is not a payment plan.
And "can I have the raw files?" is certainly not going to renew those licencing fees and buy equipment.
That is straight up, exploitation.
Our team takes part heavily in advocacy for the creative sector. We run on it, we fight for it, we talk about fair pay, sticking up for what you're worth, and collaborating with the right people. We even make sure our student internship programs are credited to ensure they're actually getting credit towards their qualifications.
We hold a high respect for creatives and our sector, constantly.
If your idea of partnership is one person doing the work and the other person cashing the cheques with a social media handle, that's not collaboration, it's a free-labour scheme with a filter and a social handle. Gross.
So here's a heads up: the next person who slides into our DMs with "great exposure opportunity" or "a collab, no budget, but think of the reach" is getting a very polite, very firm no (unless Sophie beats us to it in the DMs, good luck with that one).
Creatives deserve to be paid, credited, and respected. Not squeezed for ideas and ghosted before the invoice. ESPECIALLY from your own industry.
Pay your people. 🩷
