#but i love and trust the staff of this victim services agency so much more than anyone biologically related to me

[chthonic-cassandra]

I have all these moments of being wistful about leaving academia, dance, theater, but I always come back feeling such clarity about having made the right decision for myself. Not only because I love the work that I do, because I believe in it, but also because for me it was the right decision to choose a career that could give me the possibility of a long-term, more stable future; it's a lot more possible to heal this way, in this context. I couldn't have counted on what I have now, working among people who care deeply about me, and respect me, accept my idiosyncrasies. But I am very grateful to have it.

[blogyoucanendhumantrafficki-blog]

How To Help Victims of Trafficking Get “Out of the Life”

Excerpt from the book “How You Can Fight Human Trafficking, Over 100 Ways to Make a Difference”

This article is based on interviews with former victims of human trafficking as to what worked and did not work when people tried to talk to them about their victimization. Traffickers prey on vulnerabilities and will groom individuals to believe that they (the trafficker) truly loves them and that law enforcement, their parents, or others will do everything they can to prevent them from being together. As a result, most victims do not see them themselves as a victim and do not self-identify as such. “Victims are often reluctant to come forward because they have been taught by their victimizer that if they attempt to seek help, no one will believe them, and they will be treated like a criminal and a prostitute” (Biglesen, 2013). Victims are bonded with the trafficker through trauma thus making it difficult to break that bond. Building rapport is key when working with victims and survivors. When speaking with victims one must be respectful and non-judgmental. Be careful to not criticize their “pimp”, “boyfriend”, “daddy,” whatever term they use to describe their trafficker because it will create a barrier and they will not open up to you. So you will need to ask questions that has them see for themselves that they are being exploited, rather than telling them they are a victim.

When you are working with youth, please be aware that they may also be victims of domestic violence, incest, human trafficking, drug addiction, etc. They may “act out” in similar ways, but once you have identified what type of victim they are, you need to know the appropriate group to refer them to. If they are using drugs, how are they obtaining their drugs? Many victims will receive drugs in exchange for sex. Sometimes their drug addictions are due to the trafficker getting them addicted or they are using drugs as a way to cope with stress. If you encounter a victim/survivor who suffers from substance abuse issues you should consider referring them to a clinic where they can get help for their addiction. If you are working with a minor victim, then you must notify law enforcement and social services. Make sure you take the time to explain to the minor child the processes and the parties with whom you must contact. Do not lie, give false hope, or make promises that you cannot keep. If a victim feels betrayed they will not cooperate and may even runaway. 

If you are working with an adult, it is imperative that you know your community resources. If you are a member of a church/school, find out if your agency has a directory of local resources. If not, then create one. One way to start is to google “human trafficking agencies in (name of city),” “domestic violence agencies in (name of city)”, etc. Find out if non-human trafficking agencies like domestic violence shelters have staff who are trained to work with human trafficking victims. You will most likely need to help the victims you are talking to on how to answer the questions they will be asked by the agency. Victims may think they are just “ho’s” or a girlfriend of a boyfriend who is “pimping them out.” However, the agencies can’t take them unless they claim that they are victims of human trafficking, so you need to explain to them the legal definition and help them recognize that they are in fact victims of human trafficking if that is the case. 

Oftentimes, people who have experienced trauma feel alone, unloved, unworthy and can easily become victims of exploitation. After reading this section, you may feel that “you didn’t sign on for this.” In other words, I hear from teachers, etc. that they became teachers to teach, not become social workers. However, either we will step in or those who exploit vulnerable children will step in and promise to take care of them and solve their problems. More and more churches are recognizing this which is why “trauma informed congregations.” has become a movement in many countries.  Some common signs to be aware of when talking with a victim is that they are often easily triggered. Victims may cry easily or become easily angered. In other words, they over react to situations. They almost always exhibit low self-esteem. 

Signs to look for: Do they have relationships with older men? Do they have tattoos? Where are they located and do they have someone’s name as part of the tattoo? Do they travel often but have no secure job? Are their nails nicely manicured and do they have nice clothes but no job? When you ask them what they do for a job, are they evasive or have late hours at their job or are often out-of-town? Do they have bruises? Are they avoiding their family and are often absent or truant from school? This could be the result of shame because of what they are involved in. Do they have any close friends? 

So how do you draw them out? Start with neutral questions. Create a safe place for them. Be patient, respectful, and non-judgmental. Building rapport takes time as victims have been conditioned not to trust anyone. Take time to get to know them as a person. Don’t address their trauma by asking them how they feel about things like the nightmares they are having, being beaten, raped, etc. Don’t’ go there unless you are a trained professional. Your role should be one that is loving, compassionate, and empathetic. Found out who they are and what are their interests. Talk about their future, their hopes, their dreams. Most victims need several contacts before they will open up to you. Just ask “Are you okay?” “How are you doing?” “Is there anything you want to talk about?” “I am here if you need to talk.” Your job is to be their friend and get them the resources they need. 

Once they do open up, do not act shocked by anything he or she tells you and be aware of your facial expressions and reactions. Some may try to test you or shock you by using what you may consider to be vulgar terminology and language. Remember this is their norm and it is important to refrain from acting shocked or appalled. You don’t want to come across as horrified or thinking they are a terrible person. Model how you would come across if someone just told you they worked in retail. You would most likely ask them about their job in a way that is curious. For instance, you could ask them how they met their boyfriend, how long they have known them, what do they do when they are together. Validate their feelings by saying things like “he sounds like he was concerned about your safety since he always asked where you were and who was with you.” Let them lead the conversation. Try to avoid asking too many questions in a row. The key is to make sure you do not come across as though you are lecturing them. Tried to avoid making statements like: “Are you crazy meeting a man that you do not know? You could have been killed!” These statements will cause the individual to shutdown as they may feel attacked and they know it is dangerous. A better approach may be to say something like “I worry about you being on the street with predatory men.” What is it you need? Maybe I can help you find a job that isn’t so dangerous.

Remember that what you find shocking, many young people do not. They come from a culture where prostitution has been normalized and the Pimp lifestyle glorified. One of the top rated songs that is currently very popular among the youth is called “Rake It up” by Yo Gotti. Teens and young adults are going around singing the lyrics without really understanding the words. The lyrics and the music video are appalling as in the song the artist makes these types of statements: “I tell all my Ho’s, rake it up, break it down, back it up.”

If they refer to themselves as a “ho,” “prostitute,” etc. do not use those words when you address them. It hurts when you say it. Respond in a loving manner. If they refer to themselves as a “ho” your response could be along the lines of “I am sorry you see yourself that way. I see so much more. I see a girl who is beautiful and smart.” Let them know that they are just like you, a child of God. We are not defined by what has happened to us in life. Once you have established rapport, which may take several conversations, you should refer them to a trained advocate or therapist. 

If you are willing to be a mentor to them while they are addressing their trauma by seeing a counselor, you could offer to help them apply for job corps or college if that is what they want. You could offer to drive them to the agency or their first counseling meeting or college class. This is important. Getting started on a new path is very difficult for people, especially if they have been traumatized. However, you need to allow the survivor to lead the way and take control of his/her own life at their own pace. It doesn’t work to push them. That is what their pimp did. In the opinion of advocates who work with this population, only 3 out of 10 enter prostitution for the money. The pimp will often tell them that they are the only one who really cares about them.  To counter that, you can invite them to your church’s singles group, a women’s group, a bible study. Expose them to environments of caring people and who are being there for them. You need to counter the brainwashing the human traffickers have done with these victims.

For professional advocates and therapists, survivors of human trafficking recommend that the way to go deeper and motivate them to want to get out of the life is to ask them how working as a prostitute makes them feel. How do they feel about their boyfriend asking them to do it? When they respond you could say “I would go crazy if I knew my boyfriend was sleeping around. How does your boyfriend feel about what you do? How does it make you feel that he is okay with you sleeping with other men? If their boyfriend doesn’t know they are participating in the commercial sex trade, ask them how he would feel if he found out. Ask them if they get any of the money. If they tell you their boyfriend is saving it (which a pimp will tell them) ask them if they have access to it. 

Both mentors and professionals need to remember that often victims of human trafficking believe that prostitution is the only way they can survive because their traffickers have convinced them of that to discourage them from leaving. If they tell you they are working as prostitutes because it is the only way they can make money, share with them about job corp and the advantages of going to college. If they tell you they could go “renegade” and make all the money and no other job would pay them that kind of money, then go online and google salaries of various jobs. This way they will be safe because human traffickers often punish those who go “renegade.” If they tell you they are not smart enough to go to college or do another job let them know that isn’t true. Ask them if they have ever posted an ad. If they answer is yes, tell them they have computer skills. Let them know that prostitutes have to have good communication and business skills. Most of them have never considered this. 

Last but not least, for both professionals and non-professionals alike, don’t give up. Don’t take it personally if you can’t enroll them in leaving the life or if they give you push back or get angry with you, etc. Don’t work harder than they are. In other words, don’t beat your head against a wall. It will burn you out and you need to protect your emotional energy, so you are available to help those who are ready to receive your help.

[rispoli-law-blog]

Nursing Home Lawyer FAQ: What are my legal options if I suspect my elderly loved one is being abused in a nursing home.

Elder abuse can happen to anyone and at anytime. Up to ten percent of elders over 65 have been abused and 3 million elders have reported abuse or neglect in a nursing home.

If you believe your elderly loved one is being abused or neglected while residing in a nursing home facility, please consult a nursing home lawyer as soon as possible.

Understanding Nursing Home Claims and Lawsuits

In general any abuse or neglect allegation must be reported to official government agencies. They will have a duty to investigate the matter and resolve it. However, if the agency is unable to do so, or the nursing home continues to engage in the wrongful actions, legal recourse may be pursued.

A nursing home lawyer should be sought to determine the right course of action in regards to filing a claim or lawsuit. If you are unsure about how to find a lawyer, you can consult your state bar association, government legal aid programs for elders, and private nursing home lawyers.

An inquiry into your legal options may also determine whether or not any of the following should be considered:

Legal charges and prosecution of any offender who engaged in a criminal act

Restraining orders to protect the elder from the defendant

Separate lawsuit to recover any stole assets

Annulment of fake marriages set up by the "spouse" or staff in order to receive the elders assets after their death

Court appointment guardianship

Knowing the Statute of Limitations

Like other legal cases, there are statute of limitations for nursing home abuse lawsuits. These time limits will determine how long a victim, or someone on behalf of them, has to file a claim.

Statute of limitations vary by state. Some are as little as one year and others as much as six, but the average time is two to three years from the date the abuse took place or was reported (this will be decided on a case by case basis). If the statute of limitations has expired, there is a high chance that you will not be able to pursue legal action any longer.

Federal and State Laws

There are federal and state laws that have been established to protect residents of nursing homes. These laws are critical to keeping elderly safe and holding facilities responsible for their negligent or wrongful actions. A nursing home lawyer should be familiar with the following:

Medicare and Medicaid

Social Security

The Veterans Administration

Older Americans Act

Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987

Adult Protective Services

Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program

Each state will also have its own legislation that will determine some of the more detailed elements of the case.

Choosing a Lawyer

Not all lawyers are equal, and not all will handle nursing home cases. It is prudent you choose an advocate who is confident in fighting for victims of nursing home abuse. To help you make the right choice, consider asking the firm:

How long have you been in practice?

Do you have experience with nursing home abuse cases?

What is your success rate like?

What are your fees?

A nursing home abuse lawyer Phoenix, AZ trusts may offer free case reviews to anyone who has been abused at a nursing home, or for the loved ones of someone who has. For a consultation with a nursing home lawyer, please call now.

Contact Rispoli Law, PLLC for their insight into personal injury claims and legal options for nursing home abuse.

[seowriters-ca]

How does ORM (Online Reputation Management) reviews work for (or against) your business SEO?

Reputation can make or break a business, any savvy business owner knows that. In this digital age, Online Reputation Management, ORM is like "word-of-mouth" marketing that previous generations of offline business owners swear by. We invited other successful business owners and website operators to share their insights in this blog.

Oliver Sissons from Reboot Online Marketing writes

Customer reviews have become increasingly more important in recent years when it comes to the SEO performance of all sized businesses. Customer review services (otherwise known as reputation management) are one of the go to additional services offered by SEO agencies all over the globe and for good reason to, they can have a dramatic effect on your sites organic performance. Where, when and how the reviews are published can have a profound effect. For example, reviews posted on a websites Google My Business (GMB) listing is likely to help their local search engine result page (SERP) rankings (providing that they are genuine, relevant, useful and of course positive). Alternatively, reviews posted on third party review sites such as Trip Advisor, Trusted Shops or Feefo can help build authority and trust of the website being reviewed much in the same way that backlinks from trusted sites can. More details of this can be found in the Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines released by Google themselves. Besides considering all of the obvious benefits of a positive review profile such as a positive reputation online and increased conversion rates, having unique and fresh reviews posted on your website (be they added manually or even better if added dynamically through the widget of a third party review site) can make the content on your website higher quality and more up to date. With each review adding between 50 - 200 characters minimum to your site (and in many cases a lot more) and having a recent time stamp displaying when it was published, that product page that was uploaded 5 months ago and only contained a 300 word product description can quickly become an authoritative research for anyone looking for the pros and cons or more information on the product in question. The result? Hopefully, your site will rank higher than competitors seeing as it answers searchers queries that much better and provides more value. So now that you are convinced on the SEO benefits of establishing a positive customer review profile online, we need to think about the best strategies to generate, maintain and manage your customer reviews. This will heavily depend on how many new reviews you can realistically generate regularly, how many employees you have/the size of your company and how many review platforms you can be found on. The first thing to consider would be how many review platforms you want to show up on. Of course the more platforms you can be found on, the more time you will have to spend monitoring and managing them. I would suggest picking only a couple (and one of them should be a GMB listing) so that you can easily manage any reviews coming your way without having to log into 20 different sites. Next, you should consider how many reviews you think you will be generating. If you are a local business who has regular face to face contact with your clients/customers then there is little point in investing in automated review software as not only will simply asking your customers to leave you a review when you do see them, this will probably be more effective. In this case, managing your reviews do not need to be too difficult or time consuming as anyone you ask to write their opinion of your business is likely to give you a positive review. Maybe you are an online store though who could expect to receive tens, hundreds or even thousands of new reviews a week. In this case, you will need to make use of online reputation management software such as Grade.us or Reviewtrackers.com which can not only automate the process of asking customers to leave you a review but also help you respond to or dispute any negative reviews you might receive. When using an automated tool it is inevitable that you see a negative review every now and then, the important thing to remember is to notice when such reviews are left and to manually respond to them with a personal touch! Doing so could demonstrate to potential customers reading your reviews that you are engaged and committed to helping your customers or even turn the review into a positive one. Make sure that you decide on some clear goals before opting for any software or review platforms also. If you want to increase your rankings in the local snack pack, you will want to build your GMB review profile more than anything whereas if you want the benefit of a positive review profile alongside fresh, original content on your website you may opt for a video review software that could go that much further in increasing your conversion rates.. Negative reviews and negative SEO, in general, is almost impossible to predict and even tougher to combat but as long as you are dedicated and active online, you stand a chance of not letting it jeopardize your rankings! Unfortunately, companies can experience negative review attacks from competitors looking to disrupt their organic performance and not only are review websites aware of this but Google is too. If you are experiencing such an attack you will want to take a two step approach, first you will want to ensure that you are disputing the negative reviews as it is likely that you can prove that the review(s) have never interacted with your business or purchased your products or services and have the reviews removed as a result. Next, you will also want to make it a personal mission to generate as many genuine, new positive reviews as you can to offset any negative effects of the fake reviews until you can have them removed. Depending on the attack, you may have to keep up this approach for quite some time. One of the best things that you can do today to help you grow, maintain and manage your online review profile is signing up to Google Alerts and set up an alert for whenever your business, brand or product name is mentioned. This will help you discover new mentions of your business which (if positive) you could follow up with asking to leave a review on one of your chosen review platforms. It can also help you keep on top of any negative reviews be they posted on your review platform or on someone else's website. I hope that this content can be of some use for you. Here is a link to the Search Evaluator Guidelines published by Google that is discussed at the end of the second paragraph - https://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//insidesearch/howsearchworks/assets/searchqualityevaluatorguidelines.pdf.

Jimmy Chan from Pixelicious writes

*Google loves itself* The first step is to sign up for Google My Business. Not only will it allow your customers in leaving reviews, earning those valuable golden stars, GMB is also smart enough to retrieve your ratings from other sources such as Facebook, Trustpilot, Yelp, etc. Potential customers searching for my brand will see my GMB panel at the top . Leverage that prime screen real estate to showcase your reviews, motivating your customers in visiting your website. *Consolidate Google reviews to improve Local SEO and upcoming Local Services Ads* I only ask my clients to leave reviews in Google nowadays for two reasons: 1) Clients are kind enough to use their own time writing one, asking them to leave a review in multiple places will quickly become a hassle; 2) Google reviews hugely influence your competitiveness in Local SEO (Maps 3-pack) and conversion rate. Nobody would bother clicking on a local busineds with 0 review; 3) The upcoming Local Services Ads is a game changer! They will be shown on top of Google Ads (previously Adwords) and sorted based on the number of reviews. This isn't available in my area yet but start accumulating those golden stars now; *Use testimonials to improve EAT and conversion* Testimonials are prominently featured on my homepage to drive conversion but they also benefit SEO due to increase in EAT, also known as Expertise Authority and Trust. A link to my GMB is strategically placed in my footer, in addition to the actual map (showing the number of reviews) in my Contact page, tying everything together. *What to do if you are a victim of negative reputation attack* Luckily I haven't yet to deal with one but here are some practical tips: 1) Prevent it by avoid signing up at too many review platforms. Many require domain or address verification so the less places you allow people to leave reviews, the easier it will be to manage; 2) If it's a legitimate client leaving a poor review, respond promptly with professionalism and grace. Offer to rectify the situation by letting the customer try your product / service again such that they can update the review; 3) If the above doesn't work, maximize your effort in obtaining positive reviews to bury the bad one; 4) Depending on the platform, there are ways to remove illegitimate reviews (victim of attacks). For example, Wedding Wire requires a copy of the contract when there's a dispute to protect the vendors

Michelle Hoglan from Top Hat Creative Marketing, Conifer, CO writes

How to use customer reviews to benefit your SEO?: Working with the client to make sure things are done right. Automated systems are great but we all have filters to avoid that sort of message. Having the personal touch to make sure the owner and staff know how to request reviews, how to control their online pages, and how to create, gather, and post interesting effective content is the difference. It is like knowing you have to exercise and actually doing it. If you pay a personal trainer you exercise, if not most of us do not do as well. SEO is changing and the unique content from 3rd party trusted review sites has become a huge influence in your SEO. I go so far as to say it is a large part of it. Back linking and citations are yesterday's news. A Good reputation management program including reviews and management/posting to your Google, Yelp, and Facebook page will take advantage of any and all SEO work. The reverse can not be said, just because you have good SEO does not mean your business is positioned to take advantage of the main way people find you online. In other words, if your Google page is not optimized SEO will be much less effective. The main thing to do about any negative review and especially a coordinated negative review attack is to not take it personally. It will be personal to the small business owner but taking that public will almost never get good results. Some are able to use humor or sarcasm to reply to reviews, but most fail badly and end up worse off with wildly popular very negative reviews that end up with a life of their own (go viral) because the owner gave the bad review more legs than it had on its own.

For a Coordinated attack by reviews, you need to flag the reviews (in instances where there are only 5 or 10 reviews, or one person writing multiple reviews under different names) in the provider like Google, Yelp, or Facebook. If it is a coordinated attack responding to something the owner said publicly (news, Facebook page, etc) often times the big players, Google, Yelp, Facebook, will take down the mass response to that action. But if they do not, contacting them and letting them know what the situation is will get that process started, Google and Yelp will do this and have for the last 6 months or so. Examples 12 Rounds Brewing in Sacramento - Owner posted on Facebook about the women's march saying go home, and got 100's of bad reviews - this was before this policy from Google and he ended up selling the business. A different post from Renaissance Dental Center in Raleigh NC had a tone deaf post, 99% of the posts were taken down accusing them of racism by Google. Thank you Oliver, Jimmy, and Michelle for your input. We hope you can put these pointers into action and boost your traffic! Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section below and we'll send you to the right direction. Mon Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SEOWriters

from BlogSimplified - Business https://ift.tt/2yYtQxk

[exfrenchdorsl4p0a1]

On Working for Exposure: A Truth of Creative Currencies

Try and make money through a creative endeavor, be it photography, music, design, or art as a whole, and you’ll go through a transitional lesson wherein you discover that some people will present you an opportunity to spread your fledgling creative wings, but financial gain isn’t part of the reward.

“Never work for free.” If there were 10 commandments for surviving and thriving within the world of art, those words would surely be etched in to stone. But is it as black and white and as simple as that? I don’t think so, and I defy any creative to tell me they didn’t take on “work for exposure” before hearing those words and also didn’t take on free jobs after hearing them.

One of the aspects that bothered me about being told to not take on free work when I was in my initial years of turning pro in photography was that the people telling me this crucial and apparently obvious lesson were also people substantially more comfortable within their professional lives than I was.

Art is an insecure profession to flourish within, so trust is an element that rarely comes easy to those who are trying to climb the ladder within it. Just because a 60 year old, established, married, home-owner, kids at college, published photographer says that on his path not accepting free work didn’t hinder his succession within this industry doesn’t make the future of my life any less grayer when I weigh up the positives and negatives of doing so.

You’re effectively asking, with such broad words as “never work for free,” for someone in a cut-throat industry to deny themselves a chance to make new contacts, to gain new experience, to open new doors.

Understandably, this is what makes this lesson such a personable experience for each artist; it is not enough to understand the principles of these words, because you must know what it means to be victim of them to truly understand their gravity. You don’t know what “the value of your time” means until you’ve spent 4 days editing a wedding’s worth of photos on a budget that you now realize only really covered the shooting aspect.

There’s a reason I wanted to tackle this subject: it’s for a desire to challenge an established social taboo within the creative industry, particularly tuned towards photography. Or at least, I want to create a discussion on the matter. I’m not looking to re-etch the words on our holiest of tablets, but consider that there is depth to the contrary of what they say. This is not an advice article — we each walk our own paths within this industry, and must accept the responsibility for the direction we walk, but experiences should be shared for the benefit of others.

Have you shot photos for free in the past?

The idea for this came to me recently, though it has been building since 2015.

A couple of years ago I did a photo shoot with UK actress, comedian and national treasure, Dawn French. She was being inaugurated as Chancellor of Falmouth University, the University I was studying at, and it was a big deal. There was a formal ceremony where all of the lecturers adorned their vintage formal gowns. There were crowds of locals and tourists lining the sides of the highstreet as the formal procession made their way towards a church hosting the swearing-in service. It was a big event for the University: we had a lot of eyes on us for that week, and as such they made sure to get the students involved as much as possible.

A day or so before the actual event, Dawn French visited the photography school at Falmouth University to have her picture taken in her student-created ceremonial gown. I was the photographer given the opportunity to take Dawn’s portrait. The image I shot that day now sits proudly as the first image you’ll see when you go to my website.

It’s not my most creative shot, nor is it my most enticing portrait, but as far as name value goes within my portfolio, it is by a margin the most substantial. So what does this have to do with working for free? Well, the reality is that I never got paid for that photo shoot. This article isn’t about why that is, and though I’m sure it’s a question you’d like an answer to, you’ll have to just be content with me saying it’s an internal affairs issue between myself, several other photographers and the university’s ‘budget’ that elected to include paid catering staff for the event, but not photographers. Regardless, don’t allow yourself to hold onto that because I want to focus on a more important aspect of this story.

It shouldn’t have been the case, but in the end that portrait of Dawn became an image I had shot for free. But was working for free, with the most famous subject of my young career no less, a dramatic hindrance to my career? Can I say that two years hence my inability to collect a paycheck from that shoot has left me troubled and sleepless at night? The truth is it has been anything but, which is what muddies the waters of our steadfast believe that “work for exposure” isn’t a credible excuse or benefit for any artist.

That weekend in 2015, many photographers, both student and professional, shot images of Dawn, but I believe none where as significant as mine. Shot within a studio, posed simplistically but clinically clear, I believe I got the golden shot from that day that will last longer where others will become dated. There is an intrinsic worth to having an image that creates conversation.

I ask you to believe me when I tell you that literally every meeting I’ve had with a client, editor or agency since that image has been at the top of my homepage has involved a short discussion about how I ended up with that portrait.

More often than not it’s not even us talking about the photography but the notion of celebrity: “You met Dawn French? What’s she like? Is she lovely??” (Side note: She is, genuinely lovely.) The point being, that image creates at best, a conversation about my photographical merits relating to a VIP photo shoot, and at worst a lighthearted chat about working with a celebrated figure. That image has opened up a lot of doors for me, despite it not making any money, it has a strong professional value.

A point of conflict to this story would be, I wasn’t asked to work for free when I shot this image, it just transpired that I never got financial reward after the fact. But if it had been presented to me that the university hadn’t budgeted for photographers, so this would be a shoot purely for the benefits I made of it, would I still have taken it?

Morally and ethically I would love to say I would have made a big deal about the notion of this and demanded the university find the money to pay their workers. But at the same time, harking back to my initial comments about how challenging this industry is to work within and how there is very little security for the future, I was given a golden opportunity to work one-on-one with the woman of the hour and I knew her beaming face on my website would undeniably have a positive effect.

I may not have liked the side of myself that would’ve let down the global struggle of all artists validating their work by not working for free, but I would’ve been equally letting myself down by letting a unique opportunity slip through my fingers. Nice guys finish last, and in an industry as tenacious as this, you say “no” to an opportunity at your own demise. To the professionals I find myself in conversation with, the story of me altruistically not working for free isn’t anywhere near as captivating as me actually doing the shoot.

I think there’s relativity to all instances of those of us who have worked for free and mine is as such, for not getting paid maybe £50 for the shoot (working as part of the university’s photo agency and getting an hourly rate) I gained an image that has granted me closer access to so many people who have the ability to get me more work — work that actually pays. My bank balance may move backwards, but my career does still move forward.

I hate that I did a job and didn’t get paid for it. It shouldn’t even be presented as “in a perfect world I would’ve been paid also,” because fundamentally I should’ve been paid as I normally would, yet still it persists that a shoot I did for free, and would’ve definitely still taken on if offered for zero monetary gain, has become the most important image within my portfolio. How then, can you suggest that “work for exposure” doesn’t exist?

This outpouring comes from two factors; a recent consideration that my most spoken about image is one I shot for free, and that today I saw a post from a musician friend about not doing a charity gig gratis. I side myself 100% with the idea that an artist has a worth that deserves financial compensation for performance, but also that, maybe specifically to this professional climate, the notion of saying no to work is more difficult than it has ever been for developing artists.

Am I advocating that if you are one such artist, you go against sensible advice and take on jobs for “exposure”? Not at all, but I am presenting to you evidence that shows that a job without financial gain isn’t void of positive attributes. Each job is unique and presents opportunities specific to your individual professional development.

The truth is that even the most agreeable of ideologies within the creative industries have their counter-points. It is on each of us to view the landscape of our careers and decide whether or not to take the gamble of working for free; because often the opportunity to work can afford us further opportunities we simply wouldn’t have access to if we stayed at home that night.

Look, if you’re someone with consistent jobs coming in and you’re making a decent amount of money then fair play, you can likely ignore the notion of working for free. However, I speak from experience and for many other photographers I’m in the trenches with, that the battle to gain new clients, new opportunities, new paychecks and a sense of stability comes from our willingness to suffer in the short-term to benefit in the long-term.

To my brothers and sisters in no man’s land, never disregard an opportunity to work, even if it doesn’t offer some notes and coins in your pocket at the end of the day. Most of these jobs aren’t worth your time or effort, of course; unappreciative clients should learn the value of photography and you should learn to spot those warning signs of when a job is bad news, but there are undoubtedly going to be times when shooting for free one night will allow you access to something else down the road.

Would you consider shooting photos for free in the future?

Take time and consider your options. Sometimes it’s not as simple as the financial worth of your time when saying yes or no to a job, but the scope of your desires and whether you can justify the value of an image you may take, the possibility of a person you’ll meet or the opening of a hypothetical door over the value of money you won’t earn.

About the author: John Liot is an award-winning Channel Islands-based photographer who mainly shoots portraits. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. To see more of John’s work, head over to his website or give him a follow on Facebook and Instagram.

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THE PA BISHOPS EXPLAIN LAW TO THEIR CONGREGATIONS

PA State Attorney General’s Office Child Protection Department Strawberry Square Harrisburg, PA 17120

RE: PA BISHOPS BLATANTLY LIE TO PROTECT PEDOPHILES AND THEIR POCKETBOOKS - PA Bill 1947

Dear Sir or Madam:

The bishops in PA, from what I can tell, led by Chaput (Slap you) of Philadephia, are falsely claiming that PA Bill 1947 bill unfairly targets non-profits.  They say that the bill excludes those in the public sector.  The bill says the exact opposite.  It specifically waives sovereign immunity so those in the public sector can be sued.  They forced all the parishes in the state to publish their lies in their bulletins, thereby deliberately shredding any credibility the local parishes may have left. I talked to my local legislator.  Luckily, most parishioners completely ignored the notice.

From what I have seen, Cardinal Dolan is also joyfully jumping at the chance to further trash Church credibility with the upcoming NY State version.

An old saying is, “If you throw a stick into a pack of dogs, the one who is hit, yelps.”  Please track down who is behind this campaign.  If they are putting so much effort into protecting pedophiles, you are likely to find the highest concentration of predators under their protection. Chaput recently published a mostly gibberish column on the need for Catholics to become politically active.  I agree, but most of my activism is against what is preached on the altar.

Ever since the previous entity in possession of the vatican proudly proclaimed the church’s preference for pedophiles seven years ago, I have been actively protesting.  Benne Dick’s statement comparing women who want to be priests with pedophiles highlighted the vatican’s policy and practice. Promote the pedophile – Excommunicate the woman. They just hired a new one this May.

I do not want creatures who prefer pedophiles to women on the same planet as my children. The vatican has continued to promote their rape culture as theology since then.  I am furious that these proud pagan pedophiles continue to claim they are associated with the Catholic Church.  You go after them on the legal front and I will go after them on the theological.  I have already written the papal nuncio.

The Washington Post recently had an excellent editorial on the need for men to fight the rape culture in order to eliminate it.  Too many men prefer the power trip.  The vatican enshrines it as holy.

(Note that the ‘bishop’s campaign against the bill came out AFTER Francis’s tour of Philadelphia.  I have heard they disagree on issues.  So is Francis in favor or against this practice?) How long do the Cardinals and Bishops think they can flat out lie to us before they lose all credibility? William Donohue’s Catholic League’s website had a big tirade saying the only purpose of the bill was to “stick it to Catholics”  Legal opinion expressed by a sociologist.  .  My local pastor endorsed his site as a great source of Catholic Truth and handed out one of his articles that essentially said that women who dress provocatively deserve to be raped. I have been telling these ‘pro-Catholic’ protestors that their actions are shredding the credibility of the Church.  The Catholic League shut down for awhile afterwards.  I don’t know if it was my e-mail to them or the hierarchy shut them down I have heard that the legislator who sponsored the bill was a victim of pedophilia and was literally crying for justice. .  My main objection is the bill is a very inefficient means of distributing funds to ‘solve’ the problem.  Lawsuits mainly benefit lawyers and their few chosen clients.  The majority are left to suffer & the law changes nothing. The law would strip the organizations of the funds they need to function.  It would also hamper their ability to rectify the problem.  Most of them were only guilty of blind trust in their staff. Unfortunately, the bill would more likely punish the innocent rather than the guilty.  They are all dead or retired, leaving the charitable non-profits and government schools having to cut services to enrich the lawyers of the victims.  It would be more practical to sue for the release of the records so that active pedophiles could be tracked down and stopped. The below is a cogent argument for a new policy that would avoid frivolous lawsuits about clerical pedophilia, but bring justice to victims. http://ncronline.org/blogs/faith-and-justice/extending-statute-limitations The law SPECIFICALLY covers children abused by ANY person.  In that aspect, public school victims have the same rights as all others.  However, when it comes to SUING an institution (a legal recourse after the fact), the law has also to address existing statutes on sovereign immunity; a protection not afforded private institutions.  It does not do that retroactively because such would be clearly unconstitutional FOR GOVERNMENT.  There is now an argument that it is unconstitutional FOR PRIVATE AGENCIES as well. Now ‘Cardinal’ Dolan is jumping for joy at the opportunity to further trash the Church’s reputation with the similar NY bill.  He is already hard at work trying to pre-settle to limit costs. Then all the lying depraved thugs decided to endorse the lying depraved thug for President because it says it is “Pro Life.“  I’m sure the same way it “Digs Coal.”  Coal is dirty, expensive, and inconvenient compared to natural gas.  Who in their right mind is going to buy coal?  Even if they did, the coal industry is like nearly every other industry in the world – automated.  My brother – in –law looked it up.  90% of the active coal companies hire about 5 people because of people doubling up on job descriptions and automation.  So to double production, they would hire 5 more?  The NYT had the article on the bagel basket makers.  They used to hire hundreds; all missing fingers.  They hire a fraction of what they used to and production jumped via automation.  It is the same worldwide. The Boston Post editorial about the Republican “nanny state”.  The Republican Party endorses small government while demanding totalitarian powers. Trump advocates using Second amendment rights to eliminate First Amendment Rights.  The First Amendment “prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion.”  Trump wants to bring back the Inquisition for screening refugees and immigrants. Who you can marry Which bathroom you can use Artificial price control on consumer goods and wages (Communism) Reversing the technological advances that resulted in cheap natural gas and expensive coal Medical Marijuana – (All Republicans have medical degrees) political prisoners  (Stalinist) Breaking up the banks = communism. Funerals for miscarriages Width of hallways in reproduction clinics So Trump, using Adolf Hitler’s Slogan – “Make America (Germany) Great Again advocates destroying everything that makes America Great. As President, he would be required to swear to uphold the Constitution while campaigning to destroy it. I am fed up.  You stay with Benne Dick’s elect of the church, the pedophiles, the penis worshippers, and the sub standard Latin scholars and I will acknowledge I am part of the walled out where it is safe.  I have never seen an organization work so hard to achieve the theological, religious and moral credibility of child pornographers.  That will give me at least 6 hours more a week in which to write these letters and to pray for the conversion of the vatican from paganism to Christianity.  I feel like the little boy crying out that the Emperor has no clothes! I will, however; continue writing to everyone I can think of to protest this policy of pedophilia until I see some believable evidence that the Vatican looks at Christ and sees something other than a penis and looks at our children and sees something other than prey. Unfortunately, I have seen no evidence that the current pope has implemented policies for papal senility.  In all my life, I have never seen a more dangerous mental handicap than the male ego. Put Another Log on the Fire Tompall Glaser

Put another log on the fire Cook me up some bacon and some beans And go out to the car and change the tire Wash my socks and sew my old blue jeans Come on, baby, you can fill my pipe And then go fetch my slippers And boil me up another pot of tea Then put another log on the fire, babe And come and tell me why you're leaving me Now don't I let you wash the car on Sunday? Don't I warn you when you're gettin fat? Ain't I gonna take you fishin' with me someday? Well, a man can't love a woman more than that Ain't I always nice to your kid sister? Don't I take her driving every night? So, sit here at my feet 'cause I like you when you're sweet And you know it ain't feminine to fight So, put…

SD FARMER EXPLAINS FAMILY LAW TO ME

I can also tell you about legal opinion expressed by a SD farmer that is giving me an ulcer.  My two adult autistic spectrum children stayed with my brother for over a year while my daughter attended college.  My son couldn’t drive and needed to be chauffeured back and forth into town for work 4 days a week for about 4 hours of work a day.  When my brother tried to teach him to drive, he took the door off the truck backing it into a yard pole.  After over a year of trying, my brother realized that Nick was not capable of obtaining a driver’s license.  It is incredibly easy to learn to drive in SD.  The roads are dead flat, straight, and have almost no vehicles on them. He had better luck teaching my daughter.  She got her driver’s license. He took her halfway across the state to be evaluated by a psychologist so she could get counseling services which she blew off. She took advantage of my brother’s hospitality and chauffeur service, then cut contact when she got to college. All in all, he did wonders for them.  My son had never held a job before and my daughter had refused to learn to drive until being out there forced her to. The college counselors told my brother that they couldn’t talk to him unless he was a legal guardian, which is bogus.  Students only need to sign a release form to allow counselors to talk to family members.  I wouldn’t want to keep track of 700 release forms either. My son got homesick and decided to come home after the second winter. My brother told me, that neither of my children were allowed back on his farm unless I IMMEDIATELY got guardianship on both of them; like guardianship is something you pick for your children like a pair of underwear at K-Mart.  Guardianship is NOT easy.  An adult child has to be essentially passed out on the street to get it.  This here is American where you have the God given right to starve to death on the street if you want. The courts are legally obligated to take the least restrictive action.  Guardianship is the nuclear bomb of the options. It involves 2 lawyers: 1 to prove the child is competent and one to prove they aren’t.  It cannot be done across state lines and it is expensive, potentially taking resources away from the adult child. It does NOT happen IMMEDIATELY.  It can take several months. I tried to explain this to my brother.  He said he was tired of trying to talk sense into me. Guardianship is not a magic spell. If not done correctly, it can make the situation WORSE. It can cut the child off from social services.  If you do not have physical control on the adult child, they can destroy people or property in protest of the guardianship and drive you into bankruptcy. It took months before I could get a lawyer to call me back.  The one who did is legally obligated under his contract to reply within 24 hours even to say he cannot help. In the support groups, I am usually the one explaining to the lawyers and other parents how the system works. The transitional counselor (new to the job) said I knew more than she did and was the most organized parent she had seen. So in effect, my brother told my children to leave and not come back. I am sorry that they were not enough help to him for him to want to have them around.  I can well understand he is fed up and I am grateful for what he did for my children, but don’t say it is MY fault for not doing the legally impossible IMMEDIATELY.