Is it ok to turn out bad work if its free?

What I'm considering as "commissioned work:" Someone else has directed me to take a certain photograph meeting his or her specifications and it's necessary for me to meet those specifications.

No, as I explained in post #7 above, if I take a picture of my niece's graduation, it's at my own pleasure. Back in the day, I'd ask a relative or a friend to sit for a session of practice for my own purposes. Even today, experimenting with a new modifier or technique, I might ask my wife or daughter to sit for a photograph. Those are not "commissions." It is not necessary for me to meet their specifications. I'm taking the photographs to learn certain objectives--the specifications are all mine.

RDKirk wrote in post #11609620
What I'm considering as "commissioned work:" Someone else has directed me to take a certain photograph meeting his or her specifications and it's necessary for me to meet those specifications.

No, as I explained in post #7 above, if I take a picture of my niece's graduation, it's at my own pleasure. Back in the day, I'd ask a relative or a friend to sit for a session of practice for my own purposes. Even today, experimenting with a new modifier or technique, I might ask my wife or daughter to sit for a photograph. Those are not "commissions." It is not necessary for me to meet their specifications. I'm taking the photographs to learn certain objectives--the specifications are all mine.

So as far as I can tell, both our definitions of commissioned work aren't dissimilar enough to take issue with. In fact, it appears that we both agree that with commissioned work, it is the person who commissions the work that determines the intended outcome, rather than the photographer.

Where we seem to disagree is, prior to beginning to charge for photographic services, what skills are required. If, as you say, all of your purposes back in the day were yours, then you placed emphasis exclusively on technical skills. With all due respect, I disagree with that; IMHO the ability to understand the client is at very least as important as any technical skill.

Given that difference, we of course would pick different times at which we would see fit to charge for services. I'm happy to accept that not everybody places the same emphasis on client empathy as I do, so I think we're simply going to have to agree to disagree.