If you've ever been asked to do work for free, or in exchange for "exposure," you'll know how frustrating it can be, especially if you're struggling to make ends meet. While it's great to get your name out there, exposure can't pay the bills. Though some might argue that in the long run, it can.
One upcoming artist was excited when a woman asked her to do a painting after seeing her work on social media. But things soon turned sour when the client, an "influencer," told her that she expected the painting for free. She claimed that the "exposure" was worth more than the art, adding that the artist should actually pay her $200 to post it on her social media channels. The artist decided to do some exposure of her own and outed the influencer by sharing screenshots of the conversation with family and the public.
Bored Panda reached out to established artist Caelyn Robertson for her take on the matter. We also spoke to influencer marketing expert Olivia Savage. She's the Senior Marketing Strategist, Creator Growth and Engagement for partnership management platform impact.com.
This artist couldn't believe it when an influencer asked for a free painting, as well as a $200 fee for "exposure"
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
Things got really wild when the influencer threatened to destroy the artist's reputation and career
Image credits: Image by Freepik (not the actual photo)
Image credits: paletteofemotionss
The artist shared a series of screenshots of her convo with the "influencer"
Image credits: paletteofemotionss
"Disrespectful" and "not fair: an artist and influencer marketing expert weigh in
Image credits: shurkin_son / Freepik (not the actual photo)
This is not the first time we've heard about creatives being asked to do work for free. And it probably won't be the last. "In short, it’s the most disrespectful request," established artist Caelyn Robertson told us when we reached out to her, adding that she believes most artists would agree with that sentiment.
“I’m actually highly amused. I’ve heard of people asking for art in exchange for exposure but never to ask the artist to pay for the exposure. To comment on the drivel that proceeded is just a waste of time,” she says. "The artist handled that situation with honesty, dignity and a whole lot of grace, in my opinion. If anything, to the said artist, well done and stick to your guns! You're worth it!”
Olivia Savage is the Senior Marketing Strategist, Creator Growth and Engagement, for award-winning partnership management platform impact.com. She agrees.
"Asking creatives of any kind to do labor for free is not fair," says Savage. "And in this case, the fact that the influencer is asking to be paid to receive free artwork is way outside the realm of normal influencer partnerships."
"Artists across all different mediums experience this type of treatment frequently," Savage told Bored Panda. "There is a misconception that 'exposure' is a reasonable, valuable form of compensation. While exposure can certainly have its benefits, it alone does not pay an artist’s bills."
The expert added that without knowing the entire story from all angles, she can’t objectively say who is in the right and who’s wrong, "but based on the facts presented in the case study, the [artist] is NTA."
Robertson says there are times artists choose to gift their work for free because it's for a good cause, or they have other personal reasons. But she cautions against doing it "for exposure."
"Please think twice and only do it if it’s something that brings you, as the artist, peace," she advises. "Sometimes, even paid jobs don’t bring the return and exposure one might expect as an artist. Be humble, have a thick skin, but know your worth and remember how important your time is."
Savage believes that the influencer escalated the situation unnecessarily by calling the artist's mother and sending hate texts. Had they not done this, they might have been able to find a reasonable common ground, she said.
"For instance, the influencer pays to source all materials for the painting and then agrees to promote the piece to her following for no additional cost or compensation. But given how communications have deteriorated, it might be best if they do not collaborate and part ways."
Savage says it's important to always have a contract in place. "Due to the sketchy nature of the conversations thus far, the [artist] should NOT agree to do anything with the influencer without something in writing," she advised.
"In the future for any partnership discussion like this, she should find a 'scope of work' template and make sure she discusses things like number of times and dates the influencer would post on her behalf, what format and length the content should be, what platform(s) she will post to, etc."
"We all need to live and remember the gift we are to society": an artist reveals the highs and lows of being a creative
Robertson has been painting for 15 years and has slowly built up her career in that time. "It all started when someone who had commissioned me to do a piece gave me an opportunity to have a solo show at an end-of-year event. Absolutely smashed it and was a SOLD OUT show," she says.
"Obviously, in hindsight, my artworks were not priced appropriately, but for a 19-year-old creative, not sure where she's headed in life, this seemed like a sure shot ride to jump on. I had no idea what I was in for except the fact that I could paint and I loved it."
"The first sold-out show didn't only give me the confidence that this was a pretty sure call. It financed my first solo traveling expedition. That expedition led to a gallerist giving me my first of multiple group exhibitions in Europe," Robertson told Bored Panda.
It's been a journey with many highs and lows. "To date, I have gone from being represented in Europe to struggling to get my work into galleries in Cape Town. Then, when I finally found a fit, COVID-19 hit a year later, which led to me putting down the brush completely for what felt like forever," said the artist.
"I’ve had months of so many commissions that I can’t take on more. I've had seasons of steady sales through galleries and sales upon dropping artworks off to be hung for shows. Then I’ve had months where I’ve had no sales, no orders, or no interest at all, which led to me starting up creative side hustles to rely on in those times. These stretched me in ways I never imagined I could be stretched."
To supplement her income, Robertson upcycles and hand-paints gorgeous leather jackets (@mad.zoggs.skins) and also recently started doing pet portraits (@kitschbutcute).
We asked Robertson whether she's ever been asked to work "for exposure." We aren't surprised to hear that she has.
"I'm also an entrepreneur at heart, so I understand the need to go out on a limb at times," she said. "I think as an artist, hope, positivity and tenacity needs to be a cornerstone. However, we can sometimes get caught when we find ourselves at a low ebb. So we sell ourselves short by going out too far on that limb, taking the chance that this might just bring that one person who might be the route to your 'big break'…"
"Who am I to say no to opportunity… What if…?" pondered the artist. "I think as my journey unfolds, I'm beginning to realize that the 'big break' is more of something that happens inside of you. The belief in oneself, when it feels like no one else believes in you, at whatever stage you are in your journey."
Robertson tells Bored Panda many artists are sold a narrative that because their work is their passion and they love what they do, money shouldn't be important. "We all know that’s a lie," she said. "We all need to live, and we need to remember and value the gift that we are to society."
"The artists’ way is not easy," she adds. "The more I walk this path, the more I hope to learn and understand my worth at every turn. It’s the only constant in the nature of our work."
"Everybody asks why I chose to be an artist and to be honest, I feel like being an artist is something that happened to me. It’s just a way of being for me. You either have it or you don’t," she says. "I love what I do, but it’s not easy. Would I have it any other way? I don't think so."
Exposure doesn't pay the bills... Or does it?
Image credits: rawpixel.com / Freepik (not the actual photo)
Love them or hate them, (some) influencers have a lot of, well, influence when it comes to brand marketing. According to a recent report, social media became the world's largest advertising channel in 2024, with $247.3 billion being spent on ads globally.
The Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report 2025 further notes that 63.8% of brands polled confirmed plans to partner with influencers this year.
"The influencer is no longer just a promoter but a builder of sentiment-driven conversations and value-aligned communities," said Marta Migliore, General Director at Buzzoole, in the report.
Everyone, from Kim Kardashian to the girl next door, is raking in money to promote stuff on their social media accounts. Just how much they make is relative though. It goes without saying that big celebrities can command big bucks.
So, if you want someone like Kylie Jenner to show off your brand to her 394m+ followers, you should be prepared to pay over a million dollars per post. The same goes for football legend Christiano Ronaldo with his 694m+ followers. But you don't have to "go big or go home."
Over 75.9% of Instagram influencers fall into the nano-influencer tier with 1,000–10,000 followers, while micro-influencers make up 13.6%.
"Brands with limited budgets can maximize ROI by collaborating with nano- and micro-influencers, achieving higher audience trust and authenticity without the high costs associated with celebrity partnerships," advises the Influencer Marketing Hub.
Most nano- and micro-influencers charge between $10 and $100 per post, notes the report.
"Nano and micro-influencers are everyday people with a decent following and influence," reads finance automation platform Tipalti. "These people are often overlooked and underused in the influencer marketing space, but they have a high value for reaching niche audiences."
Tipalti adds that many of these nano- and micro-influencers don't expect a payment per post and "settle on a performance-based payment structure."
If you're a small brand and are considering working with an influencer, experts warn that you should always have a solid marketing plan in place before committing to any deals. There are millions of influencers out there, and you should think carefully about who you work with.
"They should be carefully chosen based on their fit with your target market and aesthetic," warns Alden Wicker, founder of EcoCult. "Does her Instagram come close to your style guide? Is she in your target demographic? Is she posting about topics that indicate she and her readers would be interested in your brand?"
"GTFO!" People flooded the comments, sharing their own disdain for entitled "influencers"
