"$30 family photo session, full res cd included"

  we've all seen these ads on craigs list. come on, really? this really saddens me, that the future of the industry i love is in the hands of the $30 photographer. the really sad part is i'm not entirely sure who is to blame for this. is it the $30 shooter or the people that have devalued good work to the point that they will pay them? i saw an image this week that just made my stomach turn. it was by one of the people i had idolized in the area and it was so bad in so many ways that i can't help but wonder if it was complacency that led to it or defeat. i don't know how that person feels but i can say it seems like i'm pushing a rock up a hill at times. why even try hard to produce a stellar image if someone would just as easily pay for an image that not only lacks any technical knowledge but is so uncreative and uninspiring that your yawn reflex kicks in before it's even loaded all the way.

  the way to compete with the $30 photographer is to maintain the high road. do what i have always done which is as simple as staying ahead of the curve so to speak. that's the part i can do, offer the very best i can and make sure i do all i can to give people what they want while still making it mine. you the consumer have an important part you can play too. don't fall for it. don't assume that these people in any way represent the cumulative body of work that is out there. demand better. demand quality worth paying for.

  this part is to you, the $30 shooter. do you make a profit? do you even know what a profit is in this industry? do you have what it takes to be in this industry for the long haul or is this a passing phase that will blow over as soon as you figure out that it's not an easy job? stop. either wait until you can ask for a decent price while looking in your clients in the eyes or go back to shooting your kid's softball games.
 
  the ever changing world of digital technology has a bit of this burden to bear also. there is no such thing as learning the hard way and working your way through the ranks. all of the unqualified reviewers these people get absolutely do not help. every time they post a mediocre image or worse they inevitably get "great photo!" or "i love your style!" from some soccer mom that has no clue. again only you can prevent inflated egos. don't spoon feed them these comments. think about what you're looking at and ask yourself if you would pay a real fair market price for their work. if the answer is no then you're doing everyone involved a huge disservice by giving shallow thoughtless critique. i am in no way advocating you to tell them coarsely how bad their work is but there are tactful ways to let someone know that they are not ready for prime time. trust me, i get asked to review people's work all the time and it could quite possibly be the hardest thing people ask me to do. i am however a firm believer in that if you must ask others for their opinion of your work then you already either doubt its quality and are looking for that aforementioned shallow ego inflation or your ego is already hopelessly inflated. either way, don't be surprised to feel the prick of a pin.
 
i don't feel defeated yet. i don't think i ever will. i am not about to start offering full resolution cd's again, or any cd's for that matter. (i have explained my reasoning for this ad-nauseum in the past and if you missed it stay tuned because i'm sure i will again in the future.) and i'm sorry, i won't be offering anything for $30. what i will be doing is trying new things, new techniques, learning constantly, and working as hard as i can to make sure there is a definable difference between my work and the $30 variety. as i said, you as the consumer of these deserve better.

  i leave you with an image from a very recent model shoot. try that with your pop-up flash, mr. $30.