MicrostockGroup

People are going to jump all over me for saying it, but I think the recent Time Magazine front cover placement may actually be worth LESS than even the small microstock royalty!

Time could have easily gone to Flickr and asked just about anyone there for permission to use one of their baby photos (as you can imagine there are tons of them). Very few would have turned them down. From some of the 'I'm stoked' comments I've read on this and other forums, I'm certain there are people here too that would have given them the image for free.


So ... if an internationally-recognized and well-respected publication (Time and National Geographic are the only ones that come to mind) approached you to use one of your images on their cover in exchange only for a photo credit, would you accept?

As others have mentioned, we all signed up for microstock and hopefully knew what we were getting into. The image only has this great value because Time magazine used it. Tomorrow maybe some guy with a startup diaper website will use the image, who knows? My point is, if the image is selling for macro prices your not going to get the diaper sale.
I see my images in magazines all the time, so what. I still get my money's worth when all the other people that are not going to publish it, buy the image. If your stuff is that valuable to you, then sell at macro prices, then you can feel satisfied when the big dollar sale rolls in. Then the image will go back on the shelf for another 6 months waiting for the next guy who is willing to part with a thousand bucks for your image.

I can't go anywhere without seeing one of Yuri's pics somewhere. I wonder if he gets all worked up everytime he see's one of his images in print? I think its a big honor to have your image on the cover of Time Magazine, would happily donate one for the cover anytime. Money isn't everything.

It just seems to me micro/macro are going in 2 different directions. Time will tell.

I voted, yes. 

Free is much better than 22,22$.
I would it offer as free or for several thousands dollar but nothing inbetween.

This is what crossed my mind too.

I doubt that the promotional aspect really works in the today's world of stock photography. So if you ignore this aspect, it comes down to the question: do you  want to work just for the honour or for money?

If I look to the supply chain:
...
phog -> microstock agency -> web-designer/photoshop artist -> customer
.....
from a pure business point of view (who is creating revenue/benefit), than... ..well......judge yourself.

Plus, I realize more and more how clever/smart this microstock business model is.....triggering the right psychological/ego switches in the heads of the majority of phogs.

Has anyone got a link to that Time cover? I'm just wondering how much editing of the photo was involved, or if it was used "as is"?

This is a great question. I answered no.

For me to give the photo away for free there would need to be value created somewhere else. An example being that if I gave one photo away for a magazine cover, I could use that to improve my credibility when trying to sell photos to other magazines to use on their covers. Or, this first photo is free but they agree to buy a number of additional photos for other uses.

But, given this is microstock, I don't see how this could be used generate additional revenue and so I don't see the value in doing it. I don't think microstock buyers care if your image was used on a magazine cover.

And although the cover would be nice for bragging, I think it would also irk me that a huge company making a fortune is trying to take advantage of me. I would still probably say no.

They will get value and make money from using my image. If they really need my image, they should pay for it.

I thought about this overnight before I answered it. 

I voted Yes.  If this is a photograph that I knowingly placed on the micros, I would have to be very pleased.  If you look at the placement of our microstock photographs, an appearance on the cover of Time would be almost comparable to an elite athlete making it to the Olympics.

Yes, I'm guessing I would be stoked.  I would email a copy to my sisters and my friends.  It would realize that it would likely never happen twice.

At the same time, I am also certain that I would have a sick feeling in my stomach.  The reality is - I know what I am participating in.  I know what Microstock is and I need to adjust my thinking to accept both the highs and the (23 cent) lows. 

Some photographers would go out and aggressively seek opportunities to get magazine covers and big deal jobs.  I can't say that I would ever be one of them.  So - the opportunity of my photo appearing on Time Magazine would be a once in a lifetime deal.   It is also a very realistic opportunity that all of us have, isn't it?

I might find a true niche some day that I feel I excel in and am finally in a position to exploit... but until that happens - I think that I would have to be happy with the $28 cover of Time. 

I would still reserve the right to be disappointed that such a large circulation pays (now) $28.

And that sick feeling in my stomach would be 10 times magnified everytime someone (and they will) asks how much I was paid by Time. 

But, that's the deal with micro.  I must accept it for what it is.  Just please Time Magazine, give me a credit.

Voted no.
My images cost money and a well recogniced magazine must know that better than other so I dont see a reason to give an image for free.
I can give an image for free to a friends small magazine that I know he cant pay the standard price but in case of a famous magazine? and a cover? no way

I would not, but If they were taking another pics just because I would not, then a credit worth more than nothing I guess?

I believe one aspect to consider is how established the photographer is.  If you never had such exposure (as I never had), this could be a good opportunity, and you would save that in your portfolio of published works.  Now, if you are an established photographer with perhaps a fixed client base, then it would be another thing and you would not have much to gain.

In my case, I would show everyone my image was in the cover of NGM. I would buy copies of it in all languages I could.

Regards,
Adelaide