Danish commercial photographer Fredrik Clement has created personal work throughout his career — both to push himself creatively and to show that he’s got something more to offer than simply executing a client’s concept. At a certain level of commercial photography, he reasons, clients are looking for someone who can contribute ideas, and the work photographers create when they’re not getting paid can show that ability.

When Clement approached the Berlin-based NGO streetfootballworld with an offer to volunteer his services, he had another, more personal motivation as well: His commercial work over the years "has not made a difference for anybody," he says. "You reach a certain age where you think it would be great to make a story or show some images that made people think or made an impact." Clement also feels the level of respect commercial clients are giving photographers — not even bothering to respond when he’s submitted a bid for a project, for instance — made it important for him to “find something meaningful with what I do.”

He reached out to streetfootballworld, an organization that uses soccer as a platform for positive social change, because he was impressed by their existing images and website. "I thought, well, these guys have good taste." The organization had recently received funding from the UEFA Foundation for Children, the philanthropic arm of the Union of European Football Associations, for their projects in refugee camps. They were looking for someone to document those initiatives, and Clement got in touch at the right time.

Read the full article about the photographer helping document soccer projects in refugee camps by Conor Risch at PDN Online.