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Photography Question 

Asrar Alnajjar
 

Stock Vs. Editorials Vs. Commercial


I'm trying to categorize my photos for selling. However, sometimes I get confused oh how to differentiate between them! For example, I know editorial relates to events, yet sometimes I think they might sell also as stock or commercial. What is the difference between these three types of photos/ photography? Thanks,
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September 25, 2009

 
- Gregory LaGrange

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  Stock photography isn't necessarily a type, because a stock photo can be used for editorial purposes and commercial purposes. And stock photos can also come from editorial assignments. Once a photo is used for editorial content, that photo or other photos that were taken at the same time can be saved to be used at another time.
Think of old celebrity photos like those of Marilyn Monroe. Practically all photos you see were intended for editorial content when they were originally taken. But anytime there was an article about her, or even today if there's an article about her, a previous photo could be used.
Another example is a photo of a woman's legs. You hire a model with nice legs, or get a friend to pose, you have a photo that could be used for editorial or commercial. If the opportunity came up, you could use your photo for an article on exercises women can do to get shapely legs. Or, you could use the same photo as the package imaging on a woman's razor or body lotion.
Where you'll see a difference is that with editorial, the photos will usually have a generic quality to them so that they can be used for more things than something coming from strictly commercial purposes. Look through some health magazines or fitness magazines. If you see an article on how to get clear skin, or about proper diet, many of the photos probably came from stock images. Be it just a just a nice-looking woman with clear skin, or of a woman eating an apple. Those aren't events, but they are stock photos used for editorial.
Also check out photos in articles on women's skin care products. That'll give you some ideas.


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September 26, 2009

 
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