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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> Selling photos to Lonely Planet Images
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 01/22/2008 02:19:07 PM · #1
Hi all,

First off, I noticed a thread that was started about a year ago regarding this topic, but it died off pretty quickly, so I was wondering if anyone has had any luck within the last year with this.

Basically, I've come home from 9 months of travelling Latin America (all of mainland Central America and Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia in S. America) - and after sorting through my 15,000 shots from the trip, I've realized that I've got many awesome (both technically solid and original) photos.

So, the big question revived: Has anyone ever sold their travel photos to the Lonely Planet website? I've got a multitude of questions (and lonely planet doesn't seem too keen on replying to my e-mails), so if there is anyone out there, please contact me. Or if not Lonely Planet, any other travel stock photography websites?

I'll be putting up my Central America shots (350 after sorting) in the very near future, so I'll be fishing for comments soon - especially from anyone who's ever sold any travel photos.

Thanks!
 02/05/2008 12:39:55 PM · #2
Along the same lines as my first post - but now I'm looking for more general advice.

The situation: In order to get "into" the Lonely Planet Images website one needs to send a cd with 500 of their best travel photos. I have created this collection and am fairly confident that many of my photos are of professional quality and will be sending the cd over in the near future. On their website, they say that they are looking for "professional travel photographers". In addition, they ask what the name of the business you are employed by.

My question: As there really isn't a concrete definition of a "professional travel photographer", my first guess is that this is just a weeding process so that they don't receive hundreds of CDs every day with people's travel photos. But, I may be wrong - and so I ask for the advice of the DPC community.

My options are as follows: 1) Send a CD and say that I am an amateur freelance "travel photographer". 2) Try to sell a few good photos to postcard companies or travel agencies, etc. in order to build up my reputation and get that "professional status".

I have already posted some photos (in my profile) of the first few countries that I visited on my trip and will soon be putting up the whole lot, so if anyone wants to see more to judge my claim of "professional quality" let me know.



<--- I mean, c'mon, who wouldn't want this photo to advertise the outdoor possibilites of their country?!?! (btw, this is the hdr version, the original are pretty darn nice too though)

Message edited by author 2008-02-05 12:41:41.
 02/05/2008 12:44:49 PM · #3
Is there any reason you want to submit to LPI rather than any other stock agency? Not criticising it at all just wondering whether you've decided on them after research or just happened across them?

My only suggestion would be to leave out the word "amateur". Just say you are a freelance travel photographer.

You MAY find, however, that they need you to have some kind of registered business in order to process payments. Then again they may not.

One way to find out!

GOOD LUCK!

PS IF they do reject you (which I hope they will not) do consider submitting to a regular stock agency. Alamy, for example, definitely sells lots of travel photography as I see credits to Alamy in travel magazines and newspaper travel supplements in the UK ALL the time!
 02/05/2008 01:48:17 PM · #4
Originally posted by Kavey:
Is there any reason you want to submit to LPI rather than any other stock agency? Not criticising it at all just wondering whether you've decided on them after research or just happened across them?


I'm actually finding it a little bit difficult doing the research - especially for LPI. I read a post about a year ago written by someone who was in the same shoes as I am not - that is trying to getting ready to send over a CD. Here is what globephoto wrote:

Originally posted by globephoto:
If you have the depth in your catalogue and the quality it's a no brainer. Go for it. Yeah some people make good money with micros but the pros I know make their living from big sale numbers with the big agencies. That's not to say that there aren't quality images making a good turnover with micros but there's a lot of hot air being spewed out there ref RF,RM,Macros and Micros. Let me put it this way, there are lots of people pounding on the door to get into the big leagues of photography and once you get in its a much calmer and personable atmoshpere with less sale numbers but bigger sale rewards. If you get in the door of Lonely Planet you'll do fine. It's an elite group.


And it is this opinion that I am basing my own on. In addition, when I think travel (and being in the age when cheap backpacking is the only way to travel), I think Lonely Planet.

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