Re: Is "stock art" OK for this client?

Okay...here's my own humble opinion...and it is only my own.

There are areas in which I am weak and areas in which I am strong. I am
strong in HTML and in graphics and design, as well as promotion. I am weak
in CGI/Perl (and other stuff like that too numerous to list here). I CAN do
it, but it takes me longer than a "good" Perl person, and quite frankly, I
await the day when some of the Perl I have on the web explodes, leaving
pieces of shopping cart all over the net. :-)

I have a couple of clients with online stores. I must tell you that I was/am
thrilled at the challenge of the layout and graphics -- and beyond thrilled
at the outrageous hourly rate they agreed on.

However, it would be doing both the client and me a great disservice if I
presented them with a final product which was less than 100%. Therefore, I
subcontracted the CGI/Perl out to a "specialist."

I don't have the headache and -- more importantly -- my clients are assured
a final product which works smoothly and which was done in half the time.

I have a separate opinion on "stock" graphics: Aside from beginners'
personal pages and experimenting when you're starting out, I think they do
not belong in a professional product. First, it's not original. Secondly, I
must assume that other people have or have seen these pieces, and I shudder
to think what that might do to my reputation (and my self-image) as a
professional.

I know, I know....long-winded. I said all that to say this: subcontracting
is a viable option.

Michelle "Share The Wealth" Burgest

PS Forgive me if this posted already. I sent it yesterday, but it hasn't
made it to the list yet AFAIK.

-------------
"You must be the change you wish to see in the universe."
 --Mahatma Ghandi

For a good time, call:

http://www.geocities.com/~laisha
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-----Original Message-----
From: Anmar To <amt(at)nuteknet.com>
To: hwg-graphics(at)mail.hwg.org <hwg-graphics(at)mail.hwg.org>
Date: Tuesday, July 07, 1998 2:13 PM
Subject: Is "stock art" OK for this client?


>Hi.  I'm trained as a programmer, not a graphic artist, so I'm kind of
>"faking it" and "learning as I go".  I realize some of you may be
>appalled by this, so please forgive me.  I am trying to do this right!
>
>Anyway, it looks like my very first client is set to sign a contract on
>Friday (Yay!).  Wouldn't you know it would be the local arts council,
>looking to "jazz up" their web page with "graphics that pop".  OK, I'm a
>little worried (isn't everyone at first?), but they saw my work and are
>hiring me.
>
>They have decided *not* to use any "artwork" for ethical reasons (they
>don't want to seem to be promoting any artist over any other), and are
>saying they just want "graphics".  I think they mean simple shapes and
>text.
>
>I haven't approached them with this idea yet, but I'm thinking about
>trying to sell them on the idea of "stock art".  Not cheesy buttons and
>bars downloaded for free, but actual stock art that came with my
>graphics package.  In particular, some pictures of fruit and one scene
>which I'm thinking about breaking up or cropping into smaller pieces.
>
>My main question is this: Is using "stock art" an acceptible,
>professional practice?  Would it be OK on an "Arts Council"-type web
>site?  Or would it mark the site as the work of an almost-amateur?
>
>If you think it would be OK, any idea on the best way to convince the
>client that this would be the way to go (I'm not going to put a huge
>picture up there, just make it look good)?
>
>Any thoughts on this situation would be most welcome!  Much thanks in
>advance,
>
>AM
>
>--
>A. M. Thomas
>
>http://nuteknet.com/~lizard/
>I am a member of the HTML Writers' Guild
>

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