 BetterPhoto Member |
submitting to a photostock site I have read several of the questions and suggestions regarding the different photostock sites so I thought I'd check a few of them out. Seems that the problem I would have with submitting any photos to these sites is the size of my photos. Besides buying a new camera (which I will be doing soon)is there a way to resize a picture to the size requirement needed without losing definition? This is a learn as I go process lol any advice would be appreciated. Thanks
|
|
|
|
||
|
Carolina K. Smith |
Hi Susan, For any of the microstock agencies, you would NOT want to resize a photo, since 'Upsizing' is prohibited. Once they have your file, THEY do any upsizing they want. Upsizing can get you banned. As for cameras, most of the microstock agencies have a minimum size of 2MP or 3MP cameras...so you can see how this is very easy to accomplish with most any of today's digital cameras. Having said that, it seems that prices have come down to the point that most microstock photographers seem to be using around 6MP cameras, and the size bar does seem to be going up as photographers upgrade their cameras. But technically, you can get by with smaller sizes. I would buy the best camera you can based on features and how it works for you (ergonomics). I shoot with the Nikon D2x (12MP camera), but am still selling photos from my Nikon CoolPix cameras. One thing that has recently surprised me about the microstock photobusiness is that if you can produce marketable work (and THEY do the marketing, that's what is so great), it can produce income for you even 'while you are sleeping.'. I have had to put photography on the back burner for a couple of months due to another pressing project. I happened to check my earnings 2 days ago, and found that even though I had not submitted any new photos for a month, I still made $500+ (i.e., for the last month). And this from only ~ 230 photos online. To date (June 2006) I have made $3,875.43 from microstock photography, starting with only 3 photos in April 2005. I can't wait to get back into it. Check out my link to ShutterStock, a good one to start with: http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=6865
|
|
|
|
||
|
Robyn Gwilt |
Caroline, I've read a couple of you comments on stock photo's and I'm really interested (the thought of making money while I'm sleeping is really appealing!!!) A few questions, if you submit pix to one company, is that it - can you not submit the pix to another. Does that mean you need to pull that pic out of any sort of circulation, or are the people purchasing a once-off use of the pic? How do you monitor what they do with it, how many times they use it? I live in South Africa, would they use pix from my country (i shoot a wide variety of landscape, animals, people) and would they deposit into my SA Bank account, or would I need to set up something off-shore? Do you register, and then just upload a whole heap of pix, which they then categorise? Do you upload full size images, or do you resize for web use? Have you heard of PhotoStockPlus.com? THanks Robyn
|
|
|
|
||
|
Carolina K. Smith |
Robyn, As far as the microstock agencies go, you can submit the same photo to all of them as Royalty Free. Photographers from all around the world contribute to microstock. Most of the Microstock agencies pay by check or PayPal. Some use other forms of payment like MoneyBookers. You should read each agency's FAQ to find out their requirements. Some will let you upload right away, and they'll simply judge each photo (accept or reject). Some will want to see samples of your work first (via uploading jpeg files). I have not heard of PhotoStockPlus. In general, the microstock agencies want jpeg files, NOT upsized. The agencies will 'resize' the photo. Some offer batch loading, or one at a time. A good example and starter agency is Shutterstock... the one I leave my referral link to: http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=6865 (just copy and paste the link in the address field). You will find information there. I started with only 3 photos in April 2005, and with only ~ 255 photos have now earned $7,101.93 and counting... Check out Shutterstock: http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=6865 Carolina
|
|
|
|
||
|
Robyn Gwilt |
Thanks Carolina. One last question, when you say 'not upsized' - Do I reduce my jpg to say 480 on the long side, or do I submit in full res i.e. +- 2mb?
|
|
|
|
||
|
Carolina K. Smith |
full res.
|
|
|
|
||
|
Robyn Gwilt |
Tks :)
|
|
|
|
||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||