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05/01/2008 10:53:53 AM · #1 |
Here is my problem. I have 6MP acer compact camera, which shoot TIFF & JPG.
I wasn't planing to get into stock before I learn much more about photography by reading more or here on DPC which I'm doing right naw but I need to get more advanced camera, and my job won't pay for it in even 4 years or something since I'm from Egypt, so I thought I could speed things up by getting into stock.
I know that my camera is not suitable for macro stock as I have been trying to pass the QC at alamy for so long & also after I've been accepted to photgrapher direct, I couldn't upload becouse the photos should be 6MP & 3000 px at the longest side but my camera shoot 2816 px so that leave me with micro stock, the thing is I have some photos that I realy think they shouldn't be sold for 20 cents or so for example, I took some photos form the Egyptian Museum here in Egypt awhile ago which the government prevented taking photos inside any more because of the flash.
So is there's any stock sites in between micro and macro that suit me as a beginner in stock ??
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05/01/2008 01:19:29 PM · #2 |
well i wouldn't be so afraid of microstock. Sure images can be sold for low amounts (from 30 cents - $10) but you have to look at the big picture of how much the picture earned you over it's lifetime. People who submit to microstock are generally pretty pleased at how their images perform on average and their total earnings.
There are also a growing number of people shooting microstock as a full time career (myself included). You, who is living in Egypt would have a great advantage due to your low(er) cost of living. If your job won't pay for a cheap DSLR in 4 years, then you should be able to make a living on microstock fairly easily.
For starter I would check out dreamstime, fotolia, shutterstock, and istock (links in the signature)
If you really are against microstock you could check out sites like snapvillage which allows you to sell your images anywhere between $5-$50 or cutcaster which has a similar setup. Those sites are new however so you won't see much earnings there for a while.
You could try microstock though and once you get 500 images online, if you think the sales are just not worth it, you can remove them and submit them to another site where you think you could earn better.
for earnings interest sake here is a poll about last months earnings
april microstock earnings
sure, there is lots of people earning under $1000, but there are lots of people who have just started or only have a few images online. there are also a good number of people earning sevral thousand/month with microstock.
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05/02/2008 01:07:40 AM · #3 |
Thanks for your advice I'm checking the sites right now, but as for shutterstock I don't think I'll consider it because they ask for my ID papers and I believe that's not safe on the net, I looked at the link,and it looks like that the earning percentage between sites are different from photographer to another due to different styles.
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05/02/2008 02:06:18 AM · #4 |
yeah, it varies a little from photographer to photographer but there is a definite 'pecking' order of who is best / worst.
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05/02/2008 09:02:04 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Kliopatra:
Thanks for your advice I'm checking the sites right now, but as for shutterstock I don't think I'll consider it because they ask for my ID papers and I believe that's not safe on the net, I looked at the link,and it looks like that the earning percentage between sites are different from photographer to another due to different styles. |
I see no reason to be worried about giving your ID information to shutterstock...I have never had or heard any problem with ID's on Shutterstock. if you can get accepted to Shutterstock it will not be awaste of time....it is one of my best sites
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05/02/2008 10:02:21 AM · #6 |
Originally posted by Kliopatra:
...after I've been accepted to photgrapher direct, I couldn't upload becouse the photos should be 6MP & 3000 px at the longest side but my camera shoot 2816 px |
If you photos are otherwise of good quality, you are nearly at the required size, so the simplest solution is to up-sample them to the desired size.
Use "bicubic smoother" in Photoshop and set the long side to 3000px. There will be no observable difference in quality, and you'll meet the requirement.
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05/02/2008 10:06:16 AM · #7 |
| You can get a 10MP+ camera for about $100 these days... |
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05/02/2008 01:14:24 PM · #8 |
Originally posted by kirbic:
Originally posted by Kliopatra:
...after I've been accepted to photgrapher direct, I couldn't upload becouse the photos should be 6MP & 3000 px at the longest side but my camera shoot 2816 px |
If you photos are otherwise of good quality, you are nearly at the required size, so the simplest solution is to up-sample them to the desired size.
Use "bicubic smoother" in Photoshop and set the long side to 3000px. There will be no observable difference in quality, and you'll meet the requirement. |
I did that using Genuine Fractals and like you said there wasn't a noticable change but I thought what if the clint ask for the oreginal with the EXIF, they could consider it cheating. what do you think?? please advice. |
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05/02/2008 01:33:39 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by CrystalFury:
You can get a 10MP+ camera for about $100 these days... |
Will I was hoping to buy canon 400D since I'll not be able to buy another one for along time and the body alone with the kit lens worth 6500 egyptian pound against 400$ & the salary isn't really much, I could buy in one & ahalf a year but I'll have to give up my car for that long since it takes alot of many to repair each month, really guys I'm a hopless case :-(
Message edited by author 2008-05-02 13:34:42. |
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05/02/2008 02:17:13 PM · #10 |
Originally posted by Kliopatra:
I did that using Genuine Fractals and like you said there wasn't a noticable change but I thought what if the clint ask for the oreginal with the EXIF, they could consider it cheating. what do you think?? please advice. |
Alamy's instructions include upsizing with GF or PS to their required size, and they say to start with at least 6MP, so you are there.
The client will NOT be asking you for (nor deserving of) any originals -- the stock agency represents you, and that's who the client will deal with; they will be able to get the image you upload to the stock site(s) and nothing else. |
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05/02/2008 03:58:31 PM · #11 |
[quote=GeneralE] Alamy's instructions include upsizing with GF or PS to their required size, and they say to start with at least 6MP, so you are there.
No, they don't agree with you, they do say to start with 6MP, and thats what my camera shoot, with TIFF, and I tried to pass so many times with different methods to upsizing but there's a big gab between what they say and what they accept.
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05/02/2008 04:34:00 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by Kliopatra:
[quote=GeneralE] Alamy's instructions include upsizing with GF or PS to their required size, and they say to start with at least 6MP, so you are there.
No, they don't agree with you, they do say to start with 6MP, and thats what my camera shoot, with TIFF, and I tried to pass so many times with different methods to upsizing but there's a big gab between what they say and what they accept. |
I share that experience and also a 6MP camera. I think the key for Alamy is you must have very good/bright lighting so that you can have both a small aperture and a fast shutter speed -- they seem to look for sharp detail (with no sharpening) and no noise. I did have one* of the three I submitted the last time pass, so it's not completely hopeless.
*I think it was this rainbow chard ...  |
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05/04/2008 07:07:35 AM · #13 |
| Although I uploaded some similar photo to that one in light conditions with fast shutter speed that didn't pass but maybe you are right, that I wasn't patient enough, but even If I passed, I wouldn't be able to submit many photos due to the low rate acceptance. |
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05/05/2008 11:02:27 AM · #14 |
Microstock is definitely worth a try, if you give it a good try you will be happy with the results. Don't worry about low sales prices, you will get lots of sales. Also many sales are much more than 20 cents.
I highly recommend trying to get accepted to shutterstock, since it is one of the best earners and I've never heard of anyone having problems with the ID upload.
___________________________
Happy Downloads!
SprintingTurtles |
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05/05/2008 01:20:42 PM · #15 |
I thought I give it a try the micro stock, I submitted some photos to dreamstime,it looks good so far, see what happens, but they still in the review not online yet, and I'm looking at the other sites and checking there terms & conditions.
As for shutterstock, I can't really bend the ( NO ID OVER THE NET ) rule for any stock sites, for the security factor, It's not even going to be useful to them, because it's in Arabic, and I don't think they're going to confirm it's mine with the Egyptian government or even translate it. |
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05/05/2008 01:29:01 PM · #16 |
It's primarily for tax purposes, I believe. If anyone (business, church, etc.) pays more than $600 in a fiscal year, they have to fill out a specific form for that for their own accounting purposes.
The standard practice, from what I understand, is to get the info first, before any payments are made. I know in a situation I was in, I didn't get the info first, and it was getting close to the final day for me to file without penalty before the person finally relented. :/
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05/05/2008 02:06:55 PM · #17 |
Originally posted by Kliopatra:
As for shutterstock, I can't really bend the ( NO ID OVER THE NET ) rule for any stock sites, for the security factor, It's not even going to be useful to them, because it's in Arabic, and I don't think they're going to confirm it's mine with the Egyptian government or even translate it. |
I find Shutterstock the best site. I would write and explain the situation -- I'm almost sure they will allow you to submit (copies of) any needed documents via snail-mail or fax, so that they need not be posted electronically.
Several of us here have been with them almost since they started up, and I've always found them helpful, honest, and willing to look at exceptional situations. They may not care what language your documentation is written in -- only that they have a copy in their files if the IRS comes calling. It is worth the trouble -- you can submit pictures which are smaller, and which are good, but not quite exceptional enough for Alamy or other "macro" site. Since most micro sites take images 4MP or smaller, you even have the flexibility to crop your images a bit to improve the composition while retaining enough data to qualify. |
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05/07/2008 08:41:37 AM · #18 |
Originally posted by karmat:
It's primarily for tax purposes, I believe. If anyone (business, church, etc.) pays more than $600 in a fiscal year, they have to fill out a specific form for that for their own accounting purposes. |
You're right, or maybe they had a problem with someone before made them ask everyone for the ID, and I also dicovered that Istock also going to ask me for the ID at some point after registration. |
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05/07/2008 08:45:35 AM · #19 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Since most micro sites take images 4MP or smaller, you even have the flexibility to crop your images a bit to improve the composition while retaining enough data to qualify. |
that among other things like I don't have to upsize my photo as alamy ask. |
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05/07/2008 10:31:17 AM · #20 |
The ID is just so you can show you are who you say you are! people trying to give false information I guess!
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05/08/2008 05:21:42 AM · #21 |
Originally posted by melking:
The ID is just so you can show you are who you say you are! people trying to give false information I guess! |
will they have their worries, and I have mine, what if It falls in the wrong hands ( my ID ), of course, I'm not talking about the site management, but I tried to convince my self of the idea, but I can't really break that rule, maybe after a while.
anyway, I already signed for dreamstime and submitted few photos waiting for the review, I also like that they have also illustration images which suit me as well cause I'm originally a graphic designer.
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05/08/2008 05:37:40 PM · #22 |
basically all sites accept illustrations and vectors..
Message edited by author 2008-05-08 17:37:57.
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05/09/2008 05:57:37 AM · #23 |
I want to thank you all for your replys, You have been very helpfull, which I always expect from you all DPCs to be supportive :-)
I'll keep you updated with what happen for my submitted photos in both deamstime & fotolia
Message edited by author 2008-05-09 05:59:45. |
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05/22/2008 11:58:35 AM · #24 |
Finally, one photo was accepted in dreamstime along with other illustrations, but the same photo wasn't accepted in fotolia, fotolia did accept illustrations although.
well, I'm beginning to understand what they are looking for, which is good to learn even in the form of refusing my photos, If anyone have any advice, or could recommend me an article about what suit stock photography I'll be so grateful, thank you in advance.
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05/22/2008 12:32:49 PM · #25 |
All of the stock sites have some things you can look at to help answer your questions:
-a display of the most-frequently downloaded images -- what the buyers are looking for
-FAQ section -- usually explains that site's style and philosophy
-forum section -- people talk about what works/what doesn't
-many sites publish a newsletter with tips -- iStock does for sure; if you PM me an email address, I can forward a couple of issues to you |
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