As I consider my future as a freelancer in the Chicago market (come fall that’s where I’ll be situated) I know that the economy is bad, I know that newspapers are dying, I know that the barrier of entry for photography is lower and therefore there are more people I need to compete against …. which a Crain’s Chicago Business article recently pointed out.

But, the woman interviewed, Chicago photographer Melissa Song makes a few statements that to me, are frustrating.

“It’s not in my best interests to be that good,” she says matter-of-factly of her editing. “It’s in my best interests to be efficient.”

“Moms ask me, ‘What is the resolution, blah blah,’ and I have no clue,”

Really? Seriously? Would you hire someone who doesn’t take pride in their work but is more concerned with doing more and getting more done? Isn’t it YOUR JOB to know the resolution, to know and understand the tools you are working with? You are taking hard earned money from people, wouldn’t you like them to understand the work they are doing for you? I’d rather pay a mechanic to spend a few extra hours on my car ensuring he did a job he’s proud to call his work, and also I want him to know the capabilities of the wrench he is working with.

Now, I’m just coming out of graduate school. Officially, I’m well below the poverty line, I understand trying to save money, and the appeal of people who are maybe not as professional and/or offer similar services at a lesser fee, and I think it’s my job to have photos that justify the prices I will need to charge to make sure I can pay all my bills….which might be hard, I don’t know if I’m good or bad, but man, at least I’m interested in being good. I’d rather make good photos than be efficient. Of course making good photos AND being efficient would be the best, but my priority is with quality over quantity. But maybe that’s just the photographer and not the businessman inside of me. If I die broke and having made good work I’d be much happier anyways.