Stock Photography - DPChallenge Forums

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/09/2005 09:09:11 PM · #1

I am interested in getting into stock photography. I already have a few images up at Dreamstime, but I am also interested in trying some of the macro stock sites. I am thinking myloupe. I would like to put most of my images on dreamstime, and the ones that I think are of a very high quality on myloupe (or whatever site I decide on for that).

Now I have a few questions. I know landscapes dont sell very well on micro stock sites, do they do any better on the macro stock sites? Or is the market about the same between the two? Are isolated items big sellers on macro stock sites? I know they do decent on micro stock sites.

Also, what macro stock photography site would you guys reccomend? I do not want to try alamy, because of the fact that you have to mail in your pictures. I was thinking myloupe, but I am not sure why, and I really dont know what my options are. Whatever site I choose, the images that I put up there would be exclusive there, but I might put other images on the dreamstime, so I want to make sure that is okay too.

You know how if you right click an image and go to properties you can type in a title, author, and keywords. Well, if you do this, dreamstime will automatically fill in that information when you submit the photos to them. What I am wondering is if istock and shutterstock do that? That would make uploading to multiple site much easier.

Message edited by author 2005-12-09 21:32:38.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/09/2005 11:26:14 PM · #2

Shutterstock will parse some of the IPTC info from a Photoshop file -- basically the description and keyword fields.

Most people interested in macro sites are looking into Alamy -- look for the long thread on that from the recent past.

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

12/09/2005 11:39:09 PM · #3

I read most of that thread. The thing about alamy is that you have to send them a cd of the pictures. It is much easier to just upload it via the internet.

justin_hewlett

Canon EOS-1000D Rebel XS

12/09/2005 11:55:09 PM · #4

Originally posted by JoshuaM:

It is much easier to just upload it via the internet.

But that could be quite cumbersome since they ask for 48mb Tiff files. Users on dial-up would virtually be unable to get their photos sent in.

12/10/2005 12:05:49 AM · #5

I just applied to myloupe the other day. I can let you know how it goes, but no advice for you there as of yet ...

12/10/2005 12:14:14 AM · #6

Justin, you are right, 48mb files would take some time, but not all of the macro stock places request files that size. JPG comeing out of my camera are no more than 3.5mb.

Wonderbread, where you accepted? Are you a member of any other macro stock places?

Does anyone have any information about imagevortex?

Thanks for the help so far guys.

Message edited by author 2005-12-10 00:21:47.

12/10/2005 12:22:01 AM · #7

Macro is at Shutterstock, IStock, Dreamstime, Fotolia (only just) and Big Stock. I haven't been trying very hard tho. And have held back my better images for the macro sites. My boss might be able to get me into Corbis (big grin!!!) but I have to build up a serious portfolio for that first.

I just sent in my CD for Alamy last week and two days ago tried MyLoupe. I haven't been accepted yet but I think they said just a few days for it to go through.

Joshua, why aren't you shooting RAW? I think you'll get a bigger file size and much more control over your images. You might want to do what I did. Start out at the micro stocks. If you have anything great, hold it back for the better deal. :0)

12/10/2005 12:28:10 AM · #8

That is what I plan on doing. I am going to continue to build up my portfolio at Dreamstime (and register with Shutterstock and Istock). Anything really good I get I will hold back until I have a decent portfolio of high quality images, then try to join probably either myloupe or imagevortex.

Not sure why I am not shooting raw. I am planning on trying it, I just haven't had the need for it. Maybe I just dont know what I am missing?

Message edited by author 2005-12-10 00:30:16.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/10/2005 01:36:11 AM · #9

exactly... you'll never go back :0)

faidoi

Pentax K10D

12/10/2005 01:37:29 AM · #10

Many Macro sites to choose from :)

12/10/2005 12:13:03 PM · #11

Any reccomendations faidoi?

12/10/2005 11:45:39 PM · #12

I think I have decided to just stick with micro stock. I plan to submit to dreamstime, istock, and shutterstock. I read some things about sales being very irregular with macro stock sites.

I still want to know, if I fill in the image title and keywords in windows (right click and go to properties) if those three sites will recognise it. That would make it a lot easier to upload to all of them.

12/11/2005 12:53:21 AM · #13

do you have photoshop? any version?

12/11/2005 02:13:12 AM · #14

Yes, PS7.

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/11/2005 02:52:59 AM · #15

you are shooting with a dslr which is good. a lot of rejections are due to noise so as long as you are shooting below iso 400 you should be good. You should submit your best images for the initial inspection, i know for shutterstock for example if you fail the initial inspection they dont allow you to reapply for a few months. istock is more friendly when it comes to the initial application, though its been more than a year since i went through, might have changed now. I dont spend too much time on dreamstime and appart from uploading every now and again I have no clue how the site works... I just request a check from them at the end of every month. Best pieces of advice is to always check your files at 100%, downsample if you have to, make sure at least one part of the picture is in clear focus (for people shots this is usually the eyes), and avoid blown out highlights like the plague.
Best of luck!

WGF Images

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

12/11/2005 03:57:58 AM · #16

Originally posted by JoshuaM:

I think I have decided to just stick with micro stock. I plan to submit to dreamstime, istock, and shutterstock. I read some things about sales being very irregular with macro stock sites.

If you get a good portfolio with macro sites, sales are regular, I have had sales every month since my first in May, with over US$1800 in sales so far.

Philos

Canon EOS-30D

12/11/2005 07:42:23 AM · #17

I don't have that many pics in the Micro stock sites, I tried it, but lost interest...
Until I got a check in the mail worth 100$...
I just uploaded some crappy pics to Shutterstock and forgot all about them...

I have done a lot of better shots that are just sitting there on my PC, I think I will add them soon to my portfolio over there and see if I can get another check soon ;)

melking

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

12/11/2005 09:04:45 AM · #18

I have nothing to complain about, I am getting checks all the time! as soon as I get one check it is time to cash out again....I think I may save up and cash out for one big check.

here are the sites I use:

Istockphoto
Shutterstock
Dreamstime
123 Royalty Free
Fotolia
Canstockphoto
Stockxpert
Bigstockphoto

Melissa

Message edited by author 2005-12-11 09:05:10.

12/11/2005 11:09:49 AM · #19

well, in photoshop go to file- file info and you can put in all your keywords there. Only use caption and keywords because those are the only two fields they import. It's nice cuz if you have a series of images you can save the file info & open it for the other images too.
Good Luck! :0)

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/11/2005 02:34:24 PM · #20

Is caption imported as the title? (obviously keyword is imported as keyword)

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/11/2005 02:47:04 PM · #21

At Shutterstock the IPTC caption field is imported as the "Description" -- I don't think they use "titles" separately, the way iStock does.

12/11/2005 03:17:18 PM · #22

yup, caption=description :0)

WGF Images

Canon EOS-300D Rebel

12/13/2005 12:05:51 AM · #23

I use Imatch to import ITPC. Speeds up the process heaps

12/13/2005 12:12:34 AM · #24

Originally posted by WGF Images:

I use Imatch to import ITPC. Speeds up the process heaps

what's this?

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II