Results 1 to 10 of 10
  1. #1
    Ragged Individualist patia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    122

    Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    I have 20+ years' worth of photographs that aren't making me a dime. I'm thinking I ought to do something about that.

    I've looked into stock photography once or twice over the years and been discouraged by thinking that my photography isn't high-quality enough or I don't shoot enough people. I shoot mostly scenics. A lot of travel stuff. You can see some by clicking on my user gallery.

    I would love to hear what some actual, experienced stock photographers think. Is my work good enough for stock? Are there any particular agencies you'd recommend? Can I make money off of stock without investing a ton of time?

    Any advice appreciated. Thanks much.

    Patia

  2. #2
    Senior Shooter Greg McCary's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Rome Ga.
    Posts
    10,550

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    I think there are several here that has sold some stuff here and there. I really haven't had much luck with it. I guess I just don't have what they are looking for so I give up long ago. I believe if you develop an eye for what they are looking for a post enough pictures you might actually make some money. Just give it a try and see where it goes. Most of your film shoots, if any won't meet their requirements. They want high quality pictures/files that are perfect. Or all of my old film shots were turned down. The only ones accepted were digi ones.
    You were right about the time. I got tired of processing so so pictures and spending hours uploading them. It was the time verses what I would make if anything.
    Most of the stuff I see in stock requires a lot of post processing too.
    I am like Barney Fife, I have a gun but Andy makes me keep the bullet in my pocket..

    Sony a99/a7R

  3. #3
    Ragged Individualist patia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    122

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Thank you, Greg. That's discouraging, but not surprising. I only want to pursue stock if it's something I can make some money off of without spending a lot of time. It sure would be nice to have some passive income .... Oh, well. Thanks again.

  4. #4
    Kentucky Wildlife
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Marion, KY
    Posts
    706

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Hey Pat,
    I've considered contacting a stock agency a few times but haven't done so, because I already do much the same thing their agencies offer, which is knowing who to contact and how to do it.
    I've been selling my images to magazines and newspapers for over 30 years. Like most other things these days, it's best to specialize by shooting a certain type of subject and market it to specific publications.
    Get a copy of the Photographer's Market and see where that leads.

  5. #5
    Ragged Individualist patia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    122

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Hi Ron. You know, that's a good idea. I haven't owned a copy of Photographer's Market in 20 years. Back then, I sold a handful of pictures, but it was a complicated process of making duplicate slides and sending slide pages all over the place with SASEs. I'll bet it's a lot easier now with the advent of digital photography and email.

    I think I'll give it a shot. Thanks!

  6. #6
    Kentucky Wildlife
    Join Date
    Dec 2008
    Location
    Marion, KY
    Posts
    706

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Yes, digital and email makes freelancing much easier, quicker and a lot less expensive. (I always hated having to mail my slides and have them tied up for months, SASE and all that jazz.)
    When I'm approaching a new market, I use the Photo Editor's email, if they have one, or the Editor's email if they don't (which you can get from Photographer's Market). I tell them a little about myself, what I have and ask if they would be interested in viewing some exposures. I usually attach a good shot as a sample and ask if they would like to see a CD of my work.
    The CD, of course, still has to be mailed, but all you're mailing are copies, and you can put a lot of exposures on a CD.
    When I switched to digital, I started out shooting in RAW and coverting them to TIFF (each file was about 80 MB), but I've learned that low-compression JPEGs are fine for the vast majority, and if it isn't, they'll tell you that in the Photographer's Market.
    My low-compression JPEGs are originally about 10 MB (I shoot at 14.6 megapixels), which are too large to email, so I take them into PhotoShop and crop them to 5X7 at 400 dpi (most mags specify at least 300dpi), which gives me a file of four or five MB and email those. Most publications have the ability to expand that emailed file according to the "thumbs" attached.
    I'm still learning the technological ins and outs of all this, but that's what I've figured out so far, and I've had four images that I've emailed in this manner appear as 8X10 covers on magazines without any noticable loss of clearity or color.

  7. #7
    Ragged Individualist patia's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2007
    Location
    Monterey, CA
    Posts
    122

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Wow, thanks for all the great information, Ron! This is really helpful.

    I ordered a copy of Photographer's Market 2009 today. I'm excited!

    Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge. I really appreciate it.

  8. #8
    News & Rum-or-ator opus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Southeast Wisconsin
    Posts
    2,505

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    This question goes along with my question. But I have a different angle: I have a ton of photos that I think could be used in scientific textbooks. They're not *great* photos per se, but they're good enough, and they show details of things that students would be learning about. I did a very quick search of a couple of stock photo sites and saw very few photos like them. So I'm wondering, should I contact stock photo sites with my collection, or should I contact publishers directly?

    I'm encouraged, because one of my photos is being used by the local National Weather Service office in their spotter training courses. (It was my first dip into the market to see if my work was useful.) I'm certain this picture could be used at NWS offices across the country and in textbooks as well. As could others I've taken. I just don't know what to do with them.

    I, on the other hand, don't mind spending a lot of time processing the images. They're fun to work with.
    Drink Coffee. Do stupid things faster with more energy.


  9. #9
    Panarus biarmicus Moderator (Sports) SmartWombat's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    11,750

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Try fotolibra.
    They're interested in well documented, keyworded, specialist collections.
    PAul

    Scroll down to the Sports Forum and post your sports pictures !

  10. #10
    News & Rum-or-ator opus's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Southeast Wisconsin
    Posts
    2,505

    Re: Stock photography: Any advice or thoughts?

    Thanks! Okay, so I looked at Fotolibra. I have shots that look as good as or better than many of theirs (in my subject area). Is there a way to tell which images have been selling? Or should I just join and hope that that type of image actually moves?
    Drink Coffee. Do stupid things faster with more energy.


Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •