You get what you pay for...

"Peaceful Turmoil"

 I know this doesn't have to do with my upcoming trip, but this is something I've been thinking about writing for awhile and more so as I see some 'specials' from various companies and artists.

First off, I have mentioned before one lab I had worked with in the past would use different quality of paper for different price points. The paper they used for school and sport pictures wasn't designed to last a lifetime, let alone more than one.  It was a cheaper paper that allowed them to offer a lower price.

I know when I look for paper for my prints I can find it ranging from around $45 for a 17" x 100' roll, which will allow me to print around 180 8x10 pictures so the paper would come to about $0.25 per print.  I can get a higher quality paper, standard glossy which I like to use, for around $100 for the same size roll which comes closer to $0.53 per 8x10 print.  All of my art pictures are printed on metallic paper, which is about $230 for the same size, which comes to $1.28 for, just the paper, for the same 8x10 print.

Now ink, because I do make giclee prints and run them through a printer that costs several thousands so I have a professional looking product.  I could get off brand inks for them, but the printer and print drivers aren't designed for them.  The color management I do isn't designed for the off brand inks either.  It just isn't worth cutting the costs to give a product I'm not 100% confident is the best that I can produce.

"Admire Me"

I can't recall who said that "An artist isn't paid for his time, he's paid for his concept.", but I don't fully agree with this.  Artists SHOULD be paid for their time.  Why is my time worth less than someone working at a fast food restaurant?!?! It isn't, in my book, and never will be.  So let's look at this upcoming trip for a minute.  I will be bringing around $6,000 of equipment with me, yes, $6,000  It is a lot.  Now, I'm gone for 2 months so when you consider expenses and loss of pay, there is another $4-5,000.  That's a lot of money, especially if I only get a couple great shots.  So let me say I put $6,500 into this one trip with equipment, expenses and loss of pay. and get 20 good shots, that is $325 per shot. O.o  If I was selling 8x10 pictures for $5.00 each that means I would need to sell 2,000 pictures to break even. 

Now, to add a little more.  Let's say I work 8hrs a day while there, and no I doubt I'll take any days off as I want to maximize my time, that is 448 hours and doesn't count any editing time.  At 2,000 pictures, $5. each, I've made NOTHING!  Would you work for 448 hours to receive no pay for your finished work? I don't think so.

An artists time is valuable and if you don't think their time is at least as valuable as  you, that is your choice, but I hope they will value your time just as much.  Honestly, I think $30 for a matted 8x10 print that has a UV coating on it is cheap.  I've had other people say that it is cheap as well.  If I didn't make any limited edition pieces, I would still need to sell 260 at $30 each to break even. 

Next time you are looking at an artists work, think about the time they put into it before deciding if it isn't worth the price and think how much is that time worth to you!