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Ask a Pro
Ask a Pro is a collection of illustration related questions answered by top art directors, designers, editors, artist representatives and other professionals in the commercial illustration industry.
If you have a suggestion for a question or know someone who might be a good candidate to answer a couple questions
Contributors
How do you justify getting paid for what you do?
(more questions)
Interesting question. It’s not something that I have thought about in this
way. I usually just chalk it up to providing a service and getting paid for it.
But the question as you pose it is asking me to justify, not simply testify to
a transaction.
In thinking about it I would say that I actually provide more than a service,
I provide more than just dirty pictures. I provide a point of view. As an editorial
illustrator for hire that point of view serves as a visual interpretation of
an issue, a cause, an idea. It is my job to inspire, inform and entertain. While
it isn’t rocket science or ditch digging, a point of view does have value
in our society. Interpreting information for a magazine, newspaper or online
article helps to serve the author’s needs by amplifying the text, it serves
the an art director’s needs by getting that text noticed, it serves the
publishers needs by buttressing the publication’s point of view, and hopefully
it serves a public need by raising awareness and providing information. Making
people think has value, that’s why people pay me for what I do. Alas,
not much, but that is another subject altogether.
As a designer the same principles apply, the big difference is that it is my
job put forth the clients point of view not my own. My design clients pay me
to inform the public on their initiatives, to promote a product or service,
and to do it in a way that illuminates and embellishes their brand. Achieving
a clients goals justifies my pay.
Mark Kaufman (more answers by this person)
Illustrator
Vivitiv
http://www.drawmark.com