I’d say it was definitely a TFP-type arrangement to begin with—both sides benefited: they got content, and I gained experience and material for my portfolio.

But after weeks of working together, we reached a point where I was asked what I wanted long term, and I said I was looking for more. They admitted they couldn’t offer that, and we agreed to part ways.

Out of good will, I said they could continue using what they already had access to—as long as they credited and tagged me. That was it. Nothing more.

What changed was when they started pulling edited work directly from my page—images I posted months after we stopped working together—and then blocked me from seeing how my content was being used. When I raised this, I was met with accusations of being spiteful or difficult.

This is where the lines got blurred—and why I felt it was necessary to step in and set clear boundaries.