How did photography get to a point where the average person feels comfortable asking for photos for free? These people need more replies that will shock them into not asking for such ridiculous things again.

the hole is already dug too deep .. traditional respect and value will only be given back when the micro business model takes those two factors into consideration .. which will be never because that would defeat the entire existence of micro in the first place. Now it's up to anybody who wants to strive to be a professional photographer to turn a turd into gold .. which can be done if you strain hard enough. 

hey when I was at uni/college I didn't have any money to buy photos, I had to spend all my money on beer.

hey when I was at uni/college I didn't have any money to buy photos, I had to spend all my money on beer.

same for me - but beer wasn't free, why should photos?

The problem is not poverty or  standard of  students ...
The problem is the devaluation of the labor of others. All of these students know they can not produce on  easy way photos like these, but they are unrealistic enough to say "Oh that is just Photoshop,it doing job for you"...

The student at the sneaky way disparages Lisa's work and effort...
"Poor man" does not ask for a free Porsche or marked clothing, because that is true value for him , but "poor man " will ask for a "worthless" photo because it is considered worthless in his world ,"this is just a click camera and PS, isn't it ?!"...

if someone use an image with istockphoto watermark, without removal, it is alright?

like in school's presentation.

No.  Using an image with the watermark is not some sort of advertising based implied license.

The problem is not poverty or  standard of  students ...
The problem is the devaluation of the labor of others. All of these students know they can not produce on  easy way photos like these, but they are unrealistic enough to say "Oh that is just Photoshop,it doing job for you"...

The student at the sneaky way disparages Lisa's work and effort...
"Poor man" does not ask for a free Porsche or marked clothing, because that is true value for him , but "poor man " will ask for a "worthless" photo because it is considered worthless in his world ,"this is just a click camera and PS, isn't it ?!"...

I beg to differ.

IMO, the lack of appreciation of the value of our images is due to the fact that these days they are being distributed digitally.

Stupid example, how did the people copy music in the 20s? No CDs (duh), no tapes (yet) so what do you do? Carve your own record out of melted down candles?

Now images, audio and movies are so easy to steal that the authorities don't even have a remote chance of catching anybody. That is what makes the kids to not realize the value of that work - how easy it is to get it for free.

In the 80s you had to march into Blockbuster to get your "free" copy of your favorite movie, together with a good chance of getting caught. Today you just hop on your laptop in the bedroom and download the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy in HD within a couple of hours while doing the dishes.

It's not tangible, you can't touch it, therefore there is almost not link to the value of that work. Additionally anyone can take photos these days with the digital camera revolution so it all becomes so "common". Surely, most people don't understand the efforts that you into good stock imagery, so you're also dealing with that "ignorance" as well.

It surely adds to the problem having Microstock in this world. And most people are stupid (in the sense of having no idea about the industry) and see the prices on the stock sites advertising "starting at 20 Cents per image" . How do you explain this to a kid or anyone who doesn't have 5 minutes of time to listen to you?

There are so many factors coming together it's hard to pin point the biggest or main problem there.

It's probably some combination of the two things - sense of entitlement, as Cathy points out, along with ease of delivery, as Click said. 

As a parent of a college student I wonder if I have done any better.  I have certainly tried to tell her the importance of intellectual property rights, and the value of work (like tipping servers well, etc.), but I haven't cut off her credit card until she finds a job...   

Maybe I should write back to the "poor student" and tell her that her purchase will support the educational expenses (and latte buying habits ) of a fellow student

As for finding a job...that's tough for everyone right now.

^^Yeah, this is one reason I haven't been too much of a hard-a$$ about it.  But I am thinking I should probably at least make her put more effort into looking for one.  Even that can be a good learning experience.  I hope - as long as she doesn't get too discouraged. 

BTW, the student wrote me back and said that she contacted someone else who was happy to let her use their images for free. 

So all is right with the world. 

I expected that to happen.... the saddest part is that the student wrote back to you as some kind of revenge, and now she feels like she won the battle.

Just glad they weren't my pics she used...

BTW, Ivan, LOVE your new picture!  Your son is getting so big!  You both look adorable and so happy

Thanks ladies He grew up suddenly in last few months. You know how it goes....kids grow suddenly, than stop for few months, than grow again and so on.

BTW, the student wrote me back and said that she contacted someone else who was happy to let her use their images for free. 

So all is right with the world. 

Text book case.  All you can tell people is that you run your business in the way that you have found works for you and stick to it. You can't match every price out there (especially if that price is free). Hopefully, they'll respect you for it or recognize the difference between your work and others. If not, then I guess you can't please everyone.