 Jeaneen S. Rider |
Selling to Stock Photo Agencies Does anyone have any information on selling to Stock Photo Agencies? Is it difficult to get into? Any help on this would be appriciated. Thanks!
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Kerry Drager |
Hi Jeaneen, Good question! Instructor/photographer Charlie Borland, who teaches the Stock Photography online course right here at BetterPhoto, has written an excellent article on the subject: Stock Photography: How to Join an Agency Hope this helps!
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Jeaneen S. Rider |
Thanks so much, Kerry. I will read the article. I have been looking for a course to take on photography. Maybe this will be the one. Thanks for your help ...
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Kerry Drager |
Hi again Jeaneen, Thanks for the followup ... glad it was helpful! Kerry
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Carolina K. Smith |
Hi Jeaneen, You might also want to consider a microstock agency... they are easier to get into than the traditional stock agencies, and they can be a good place to learn actively on what sells. You can read more on my BP website and this link:http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=6865 By the way, Charlie Borland is an outstanding instructor and I highly recommend his classes. Carolina
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Wayne L |
Hi Carolina, Did you read what Charlie Borland had to say about microstock agency's http://www.betterphoto.com/forms/QnAdetail.php?threadID=13707 Wayne
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Carolina K. Smith |
Wayne, Of course I have read that old thread... Actually, I was invited directly by Charlie Borland to join FogStock... and I did... but left them in 2005 and joined the microstock agencies and have NEVER regretted my decisions. Alot has changed in the stock industry even in the last two years, and now many trads (traditional agencies) are seeing how they can encorporate the microstocks into their game plan... it's a matter of evolving in business. The trads are seeing how the microstocks are addressing the needs of new markets that would never buy from the trads (price point). From pastors who use inexpensive photos as sermon backdrops to students who download photos for reports and a new breed of independent designers who are servicing a different clientele from those that need/want the services of a Madison Avenue expensive ad campaign...microstock fills the gap. That thread is old news and if you keep up with other forums, you will see a growing trend of trad photographers dipping their toes into microstock too. The microstock agency may keep from 80% to 50% of the profits, but this is far better IMO than Getty's relentless push to make photographer's shoot pictures on a 'work for hire' basis which means that the photographer shoots the photos, gets paid a sum, but GETTY WILL OWN THE RIGHTS TO THOSE PHOTOS FOREVER... Even some of the microstock agencies have 'shooting assignments' where you can sell all the rights to them... but I don't think I will ever do that. I understand what I have signed up for, and I could never market my photography the way that the microstock agencies have. I have had ONE sale from my Better Photo Deluxe website in over two years, but THOUSANDS of downloads from the microstock earnings. Proof is in the pudding, no?? It is getting harder to enter even the microstock agencies, as they can afford to be even pickier with some of the libraries approaching/passing the million files uploaded mark. I started out with just 3 photos in April 2005, now have about ~245 photos online, only upload a few shots a month, and have earned, so far, more than $6,274.17 and counting... Here is my referral link if anyone wants more information on the microstock agency that has earned me the most so far... http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=6865 Kind regards,
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