Portrait Artist Forum - View Single Post

Alicia Kornick · 08-17-2002, 12:53 AM

Last year I spent the better part of the day photographing my brother-in-law's twin 8 year-old daughters. I traveled 100 miles round trip, brought props with me including a heavy antique chair and a piano bench. I shot inside and outside and did about 7 rolls of 36 pictures. I paid to have them developed and mailed him the pictures. One of the girls refused to smile and likes to make

funny faces. I tried to get a good picture of her, but I have never seen a good picture of her. Well...he pays me a visit and tells me which pictures he likes and then proceeds to tell me he would like a portrait to hang over the mantle of the two of them, but Oh By The Way, he won't pay me one penny more than $300.00 for it, because he says he can get a really nice photo for about that. I very politely told him that maybe it was better to get the photo and left it at that. His wife is a partner in a very successful, prestigious law firm and they could well afford to pay triple my price, but here's the kicker, they do not know nor do they appreciate art and never will. At first I was insulted, but I got over it and no harm done.

The nurse who took my job when I left has a Thomas Kinkade scene on her computer screen, one of the cottages. It nauseates me. I had a full screen picture of Bouguereau's portrait of Gabrielle Cot that I thought was sublime. It was replaced by the Kinkade. I have seen some of Kinkade's real paintings, the impressionistic street scenes and some watercolors that I do like. He is a fine painter, he has just hit upon a market ie: my brother-in-law and the nurse, that is bringing him tons of money. I knew the owner and the manager of one of his galleries in Baton Rouge and they spoke of his work in hushed, reverent tones. He is a PR juggernaut.

I work very hard at what I do and I do not apologize for my prices (which are probably too low). I don't waste time over Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke trying to convince someone of the value of an original work and the time, love and angst that go into its creation. It will never work and they will never appreciate it. I have clients waiting and willing to pay for a portrait and just disregard the others.

08-17-2002, 12:53 AM	#10
Alicia Kornick Juried Member Joined: May 2002 Location: Hammond, LA Posts: 265	Last year I spent the better part of the day photographing my brother-in-law's twin 8 year-old daughters. I traveled 100 miles round trip, brought props with me including a heavy antique chair and a piano bench. I shot inside and outside and did about 7 rolls of 36 pictures. I paid to have them developed and mailed him the pictures. One of the girls refused to smile and likes to make funny faces. I tried to get a good picture of her, but I have never seen a good picture of her. Well...he pays me a visit and tells me which pictures he likes and then proceeds to tell me he would like a portrait to hang over the mantle of the two of them, but Oh By The Way, he won't pay me one penny more than $300.00 for it, because he says he can get a really nice photo for about that. I very politely told him that maybe it was better to get the photo and left it at that. His wife is a partner in a very successful, prestigious law firm and they could well afford to pay triple my price, but here's the kicker, they do not know nor do they appreciate art and never will. At first I was insulted, but I got over it and no harm done. The nurse who took my job when I left has a Thomas Kinkade scene on her computer screen, one of the cottages. It nauseates me. I had a full screen picture of Bouguereau's portrait of Gabrielle Cot that I thought was sublime. It was replaced by the Kinkade. I have seen some of Kinkade's real paintings, the impressionistic street scenes and some watercolors that I do like. He is a fine painter, he has just hit upon a market ie: my brother-in-law and the nurse, that is bringing him tons of money. I knew the owner and the manager of one of his galleries in Baton Rouge and they spoke of his work in hushed, reverent tones. He is a PR juggernaut. I work very hard at what I do and I do not apologize for my prices (which are probably too low). I don't waste time over Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke trying to convince someone of the value of an original work and the time, love and angst that go into its creation. It will never work and they will never appreciate it. I have clients waiting and willing to pay for a portrait and just disregard the others. __________________ Alicia Kornick [email protected]