Brands often pay hundreds of thousands on product placement. I'm not sure that's going to help a photographer though. Coke product placement may motivate me to buy a coke, but it's not like I'm going to hire a wedding photographer 1000 miles away.

Yes, a big company have whole divisions devoted to advertising. But for a business operated by one person it's not really equivalent to talk about doing a full week of work for free, especially one that doesn't prominently display you or your name. Beyond the issue you already mentioned that this is a mostly local business.

You don't know of any person in a service trade that did promo work to build their portfolio?

I know auto mechanics, actors, hair people, nail people, home inspectors, photographers, and cooks who have done free work for free promotions.

Some people hate on the concept but it's how people get their start in an industry.

If you think the idea that people will stop valuing things they can get for free and refuse to pay for them is far fetched, I encourage you to see how your hometown newspaper is doing.

Your reply is odd. You wanted "proof" work-for-promotions happen and I just wanted to point out this happens in several trades.

Anyway, I don't disagree with your comment at all.

Certain trades are undervalued because it takes portfolio building or practice in a professional setting to get started. You seemed to be unaware that this happens but now it seems you do?

I didn’t want proof they happened. I wanted proof they have the touted benefits. That is what I am not convinced of. I believe “exposure” through free work is of very little value.