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How to avoid this
Beth, one of the best ways to avoid this situation is never, ever, to look at the photos in the first place. When someone asks me even to look at one, I refuse to do so. I just tell them, politely, that I can never do a good job from anyone else's photography. I must take my own. That generally ends the temptation to grab the money and run right there.
As for the dreaded Holiday, do drawings for people. My niece is a fledgling artist and I have some water colors from her that I cherish more than anything. Don't feel you have to sacrifice your art supply money to buy expensive presents for other people.
Some of us have been in that situation before and have a few clunkers hanging on walls. The last picture I did, from someone else's photo, was a posthumous one. I can't tell you how dreadful that painting is. Fortunately, I signed it with an illegible cartouche and continue to deny its authorship. I don't even accept posthumous portraits any more.
As I am now concentrating on my own personal work, funds are a lot tighter than when I had a nice juicy fee coming in. All the states have some kind of artists' grants. Look into your state for some small grants to help you with your supplies.
Sincerely,
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