MicrostockGroup

thanks for the write-up.  It would have been fun to have been there.

@leaf - my pleasure - and it would have been great to see you!

@surpasspro -

I enjoyed the Stock seminar. The panel was realistic about the current, more competitive, and often less-lucrative, state of stock photo business. Effective, personable speakers each delivered catchy phrases particularly helpful to those contemplating getting into stock photography, or wondering what was up with financial change from past years. And it's obvious why Ellen Boughn - so sharp and witty - is highly regarded.

But, compared to NYC PDN PhotoExpo 2008, microstock photography barely had a presence in 2010. Though Shutterstock was one of two sponsors of Stock seminar, there were no stock photo agency booths, a big difference from before. The Stock seminar  - which did not have a full house - was the only stock photography seminar, when there used to be a whole set of them. And notice that it was called "Making Money in Stock NOW" - word microstock wasn't in title.

I don't find it surprising, between downturn in economy, and how many are either migrating to macro (like me), or branching out to include macro, or getting out of stock altogether.

.................

And yes, 2008 NYC PDN Photoplus was banner Expo for stock photography, both in seminars and hall exhibitors.

side note-  I unexpectedly did guest blog w. photo on MicroStockDiaries about 2008 PDN PhotoExpo, and that ended up being big reason why I got dusk photo reflected on Javits Center windows this Friday:

Before the 2008 Microstock SuperStars seminar, I used my P&S to take photo of panel - Yuri Acurs, Andres Rodriguez, Kelly Cline, Lee Torrens, and moderator Daryl Lang from PDN. Well, it was way better shot than none at all (Photo Rule #1 - No Camera = No Photograph) , but I was frustrated it was all I had.

So, this year I decided to bring my D200, since it was light enough to carry all day. As mentioned in new blog post, I forgot I had already put my polarizing filter on before heading out for day, which impacted the shots I took during seminar. But, happily, nature provided gorgeous dusk reflected on Javits' windows, so all's good.

Ann - thanks for the write up.  I wasn't able to go to the seminar but I did get a chance to walk the show and gathered some good info.  I remember you from the Scott Kelby's Worldwide Photowalk at Jones Beach in 2009 - it's nice run into you here.

You were on the Jones Beach Photowalk?!    I posted info about this on its offspring, the Long Island Photowalk group.

Please, give me a clue, one way or another, who you are.  And if you're in the LIPhotowalk, please forgive me for not recognizing klsbear - my memory for names/user-names, is sad - forever taking photos of programs, signs, you name it, so I'll "remember" what I'm photographing.

Thanks, that worked fine! Not a bad deal to get 50 full-color double-sided business cards for 3.50 Eur (shipment).

@MikLav - Great MOO link worked, and thank you for mentioning the shipping is a normal amount.


@Karen, I just dropped you a line   and website link is below.


In case there are any other MSG'ers interested in Long Island Photowalk group, link is below. We haven't had a walk recently, but those of us who exchanged emails send "heads up" about photo events, such as PhotoExpo, and good deals (not spam, though):

http://www.flickr.com/groups/li-photowalk/  

smiles - Ann

Ann, thanks (again) for your writeup of the seminar, and for the photos.  And, of course, for attending!  Great to see you there again.   

The reason there was only one stock session this year is that the stock 'track' was poorly attended last year, so they contracted it down. Just supply and demand.  Though I did notice that the expo floor was about half the size of the last year I went (2008) and the seminars were considerably more empty too.  People were saying that it was the economy, which was certainly a factor, though stock isn't the only branch of photography being affected by massive changes in technology.

I wasn't there in 2009 (that was when my daughter was born) but I was on that session with Kelly Cline, Andres and Yuri in 2008, and the previous one in 2007 with Kelly Thompson, Ellen and Adam Brotman (Corbis/SnapVillage). There were a few jabs about microstock both times from displaced traditional stock photographers, but the attitude overall was very positive. It's interesting for me to hear that it was different in 2009. Incidentally, I find the atmosphere toward microstock much more hostile at CEPIC and PACA events - which is understandable. PhotoPlus Expo is much more about tech than business.  Maybe that's why.

Also, the reason I put "stock" rather than "microstock" in the title was because the speakers (excluding me as moderator) all had experience in traditional stock.  Obviously Ellen and Jonathan also had experience in microstock as well, but the point was to make it clear we were covering all branches of stock. We actually spent quite a bit of time discussing the differences and how to maximize effectiveness in each one. If anyone is interested, the presentation is online here. We spent a good 30 minutes dissecting top selling traditional and microstock photos (I loved that part!) but they're not included in the presentation. The photo on the opening slide is a tribute to Andres (it's his shot) who was scheduled to be there but couldn't make it due to issues beyond his control.

As for next year, we all had a very positive experience this year, so we'll be hoping to come back next year too. The feedback forms I read were all very positive (I read about 50%) but I'm not sure if there were enough attendees to justify another session next year. The official count was 72. We'll see.

I missed this in person, but I thought the Chase Jarvis keynote was very interesting considering how non-traditional his path to success has been, and thought some of you folks might too.

In all my years of micro experience, I've never witnessed the level of acceptance as I had in the rather informal ASMPstock meetup that Shannon organized that Friday. I was very pleased to finally get to meet Shannon, Lee, Ellen and Jonathan in person, but to sit around in a group of largely "traditional" stock photographers discussing (among other things) micro without fists flying was completely unexpected.