how to get started in stock photography

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

09/09/2008 08:56:26 AM · #26

Does anyone make a living doing this? Apart from the real pros with unlimited funds and studio space, can someone make a living doing this? Let's say all you want is to make 60-70k a year doing this and are willing to take one or two years off of work to set this up and shoot only stock. Of course maintaining the inventory of images up to date with current trends and market swings is a must after this two year period and I understand this. I see lots of numbers being thrown about but I can't seem to find anyone who is actually in this as their main salary earning business.

Is there anyone out there making a living out of stock photography?

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/09/2008 06:50:36 PM · #27

If you spent two years building up a portofolio it would be more than possible.

I work full time with microstock and am making a comfortable living. I am not getting rich, but it is paying the bills and enough for fun and my business expenses plus a buffer. I can't complain with that amount as I love the job.

This topic has been discussed a few times on microstockgroup. Check out these threads

How much can i get from this (microstock) job

Microstock / Macrostock full time job?

Feasability of Microstock Photography

Dudski

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/09/2008 07:04:59 PM · #28

Anyone out there selling travel photography??

I recently got 108 photos accepted (and put online) by Lonely Planet Images (www.lonelyplanetimages.com). Whatever didn't get accepted by Lonely Planet I'm trying to put up on Alamy. I've got 148 shots up there (though a lot of my submissions are failing QC). I know it'll take some time before my first sale as I'm jumping right into the macrostock industry (as well as the fact that I have a small set of photos up), but I can't help but be super excited for my first sale - hopefully it won't take half a year!!

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

09/10/2008 02:52:42 AM · #29

Originally posted by Dudski:

I would be interesting in hearing how this goes. I just read their application process and you have to send 500 images that are available to be put online exclusively??!!?? Wow, that is a lot of pictures that one would have to save up and prepare for them. I could imagine sending 500 samples of my work, but to gather that many stock images and not put them on sites I allready contribute to in the hopes of getting accepted at lonelyplanetimages is a big investment.

How do they pay? Or what sort of prices do they sell their images for? And I guess you are just new there, but I would be interested in hearing how sales go.

melking

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

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

09/10/2008 07:28:07 AM · #30

Originally posted by Jac:

I am! I am not rich from it but it is a great income for me! I only started out with a desk lamp and and 5 mp point and shoot camera. like leaf said you just need to keep uploading! even 2 photos a week...it all adds up!

now I have a studio setup in my home and I also have a Canon 1Ds Mark III to shoot with....and I now take photo sessions for people in my home! and if I get good stock type images I ask for a model release!

So yes people without unlimited funds and studio space can do it too!

Melissa

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/10/2008 08:44:32 AM · #31

I'll be resubmitting 3 more samples to Istockphoto today or tomorrow to see if they will accept me. If anyone would like to help me by recommending shots of mine either from here of from my Flickr page, I would appreciate the input.

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/10/2008 09:17:01 AM · #32

Originally posted by yospiff:

Surely mate you just need to find one? Didn't you have 2 pass?

I am in the same boat I submitted a picture that had a glaring error in it not realising that they make you wait 3 days before you can try again (anyone know if they are strict about this? Or is it impossible to upload anything until the time due to a script? Sorry have not tried since I got the mail).

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/10/2008 09:38:54 AM · #33

Originally posted by yospiff:

Can you narrow the choice from 1099 images a bit down? From first look i'd submit the Dallas panorama in any case

Dudski

Nikon D700

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

09/10/2008 09:49:22 AM · #34

Originally posted by leaf:

I'll definitely be posting on this thread with updates. The commission for LPI (Lonely Planet Images) is 50% and as far as I could tell prices are comparable to other Macrostock (Alamy for example), though I haven't done any direct comparisons. They only send statements every 3 months, so I won't know anything until the end of October.

Otherwise, in terms of their application process, I really didn't realize it was that much different from other stock agencies. My initial idea was actually volunteering certain photos for use in their guidebooks (how naive I was!). LPI was the first stock agency I sent any photos to.

What's more about the application process to LPI is that you have to send at least 500 photos, all edited, keyworded, etc.. and they select what they want and reject the rest - this is my motivation to put the rejected photos up on Alamy as they're already keyworded and edited. Now if only I could stop getting "soft/lacking definition" as a reason for failing a lot of my Alamay QC.

If you're curious what I submitted to LPI, I've got all the photos up on pbase - www.pbase.com\damian_turski

melking

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

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

09/10/2008 01:02:55 PM · #35

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Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/11/2008 03:50:29 AM · #36

Originally posted by Dudski:

Anyone out there selling travel photography??

Yes, a lot. Mostly panoramas, landmarks and coastal scenes. Why are you asking?

09/11/2008 08:59:29 AM · #37

-duplicate post-

Message edited by author 2008-09-11 20:23:55.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

09/11/2008 09:06:28 AM · #38

Originally posted by eyewave:

Can you narrow the choice from 1099 images a bit down? From first look i'd submit the Dallas panorama in any case

You're right. I've got a lot of my so-so junk and snapshots on Flickr.

I'll be resubmitting this one, since it passed on the first try:

Other possibilities that I think may pass inspection:

I need to pick two more. Thanks for any feedback on which to pick.

Message edited by author 2008-09-11 09:07:26.

Lonni

Nikon D700

09/11/2008 09:20:30 AM · #39

Far out- your images are great. Much better than mine IMO. I think I must have fluked it big time when they passed mine first time - one of my three didn't even pass QA for my first submission after passing the acceptance test. Still waiting for the rest of my first batch to go through.

emorgan49

Olympus 50mm f/1.8 MF Normal Zuiko

09/11/2008 09:22:18 AM · #40

Don't send the rocket one yet, the foreground os ever-so-slightly out of focus and they don't like that.

09/11/2008 09:28:24 AM · #41

Originally posted by emorgan49:

Don't send the rocket one yet, the foreground os ever-so-slightly out of focus and they don't like that.

Thanks. I guess if there is any shallow DOF it needs to be used in a more obvious and constructive way, such as my detail of the aircraft engine?

Message edited by author 2008-09-11 09:29:44.

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

09/11/2008 09:31:26 AM · #42

Originally posted by Lonni:

one of my three didn't even pass QA for my first submission after passing the acceptance test. Still waiting for the rest of my first batch to go through.

I think that is probably due to getting different reviewers each time. Not unlike how an entry here can receive a vote of an 8 followed by a 3.

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

09/11/2008 09:44:07 AM · #43

I'd recommend the riders in the city and the cyclists, if you have model releases. Otherwise the gassblower and the yellow plane.

09/11/2008 10:04:42 AM · #44

Originally posted by eyewave:

I'd recommend the riders in the city and the cyclists, if you have model releases. Otherwise the gassblower and the yellow plane.

No model releases,I'm afraid. I snapped those pics while out riding my bike. Istock's policy did say they require a model release if there were recognizable faces. So I would think the ones of the horse riders in the city might be ok?

How to you guys ask such things as model releases of someone you encounter while out and about?

That raises another question about the initial review of 3 pics. If they accept me as a photographer based on my 3 pics, are these 3 pics then posted for sale, or must I resubmit them?

Message edited by author 2008-09-11 10:08:08.

one2one

Olympus 7-14mm f/4.0 Zuiko Digital Zoom

09/11/2008 10:10:56 AM · #45

Originally posted by yospiff:

Originally posted by eyewave:
I'd recommend the riders in the city and the cyclists, if you have model releases. Otherwise the gassblower and the yellow plane.

No model releases,I'm afraid. I snapped those pics while out riding my bike. Istock's policy did say they require a model release if there were recognizable faces. So I would think the ones of the horse riders in the city might be ok?

How to you guys ask such things as model releases of someone you encounter while out and about?

That raises another question about the initial review of 3 pics. If they accept me as a photographer based on my 3 pics, are these 3 pics then posted for sale, or must I resubmit them?

I can't even get myself to ask them to be photographed, never mind signing a model release. lol My aspirations on becoming an ok street photographer are zero, especially with the laws here that prohibit taking photos of people in public places.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/11/2008 10:40:34 AM · #46

Well, in the cases of both of these shots, I did then go uyp to the people, gave them my contact info (name, e-mail, addresses for my Flickr page and DPC profile) and asked if I could post the pictures. That's a far cry from a model release, and I would also think someone might expect some $$ if I stand to potentially make something off their shot.

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

09/11/2008 12:27:32 PM · #47

Double post, oops.

Message edited by author 2008-09-11 12:36:46.

Mark-A

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

09/11/2008 12:36:25 PM · #48

Originally posted by yospiff:

Don't mention money to them as I would suspect that would beg the question of payment, instead just state that to show the images as part of your portfolio you wondered if they would mind signing to say that it's ok for you to use and display said image(s), I have also considered offering to send them a print of the picture if it turns out as a keeper (just exchange emails addresses if possible). Never done this yet but have considered it as something I will do when I start taking pics of people with a mind to submitting to microstock sites.

ETA: Just noticed Photoshelter is not going to be operating as a microstock site frmo October the 10th, I've pasted the message below:

September 11, 2008

Dear Friends,

We're contacting you today with some unfortunate news - we will be closing The PhotoShelter Collection, effective October 10, 2008. Going forward, our team will refocus heavily on enhancing our original product, The PhotoShelter Personal Archive, which several thousand photographers use for bulletproof storage and online image sales directly to their own clients. Our financial position remains solid and we look forward to working with the photography community for years to come.

More details about timing and the implications for contributors can be found in a personal statement on our corporate blog, and this FAQ document.

Just one year ago, we started the Collection with a mission to "change the image marketplace for good." Since then, we've amassed a remarkable global community. We've built a unique position in the industry fueled by integrity and a true passion for photography. We've held our commitment to fair treatment of photographers with a 70/30 split of every transaction, opened up your access to information through our School of Stock and symposium events, and gave every photographer - regardless of one's network, location, or level of expertise - a fair shot at selling your work to the industry's top buyers.

However, our approach was insufficient to change buyer behavior on a grand scale and generate revenues quickly enough to satisfy our goals for this product line. While image buyers worldwide appreciated our new approach, the size of our image selection and the incumbent player's entrenched subscription relationships were a persistent challenge. As a result, we saw few strategic options for the Collection that would allow us to stay true to our commitment to a better deal for photographers and our desire to change the industry.

Despite today's decision, we remain committed to using technology to advance both the art and business of photography. Our team's energy and innovative resources will ensure that the Personal Archive remains the best online solution to help independent photographers write their own success stories. If you are not yet a Personal Archive subscriber, we hope you will continue your relationship with the PhotoShelter community through that product.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to our global community of contributors. We've enjoyed a full year of seeing your exceptional images cross our desks, developed warm relationships with many of you through PhotoShelter events, and shared in your excitement when you've achieved sales through our marketplace.

We're looking forward to chatting more with you in person and demonstrating some new Personal Archive enhancements at October's PhotoPlus International Conference.

With gratitude,

Allen Murabayashi

CEO

emorgan49