Author Topic: New to stock photography........pls help (Read 3415 times)

xxnemoxx · « **on:** January 07, 2009, 11:03 »

Hello everyone this is my 1st topic here.
I want to do that so called "stock photography"

do you have any tips to share withme?
what site should I work with?
can I upload the same photos on different sites?
how many photo should I upload?
what type of photos do these sites need?
how much do you make from stock photography

michealo · « **Reply #1 on:** January 07, 2009, 11:19 »

do you have any tips to share withme? - read through the posts on this site
what site should I work with?- start with 123RF, Dreamstime and Fotolia, then IStock and then Shutterstock

can I upload the same photos on different sites? - yes
how many photo should I upload? - initially 5 to 10 then see what kind of feedback you get

what type of photos do these sites need? - look at the sites , most have a list of popular sellers

how much do you make from stock photography - depends on your skill, dedication and luck, some people make $5 a year some over a million

oboy · « **Reply #2 on:** January 07, 2009, 12:33 »

what type of photos do these sites need?

The links on this page may help you a little with what type of images do sell.

araminta · « **Reply #3 on:** January 07, 2009, 12:54 »

Quote from: xxnemoxx on January 07, 2009, 11:03

how much do you make from stock photography

Depending on your portfolio, between $20 a year to $1'000'000 as Yuri Arcurs does

Welcome to microstock: whatever you earn, this is a fun business.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** January 07, 2009, 13:22 »

Quote from: xxnemoxx on January 07, 2009, 11:03

Hello everyone this is my 1st topic here.
I want to do that so called "stock photography"

do you have any tips to share withme?
what site should I work with?
can I upload the same photos on different sites?
how many photo should I upload?
what type of photos do these sites need?
how much do you make from stock photography

C'mon, you need to work a bit harder than that to earn the serious knowledge of those here. What research have you done into your questions so far, and what were the answers you found? Did you google a bit? Search the forums? Do you have a camera?

RT · « **Reply #5 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:11 »

Quote from: xxnemoxx on January 07, 2009, 11:03

Hello everyone this is my 1st topic here.
I want to do that so called "stock photography"

do you have any tips to share withme?
what site should I work with?
can I upload the same photos on different sites?
how many photo should I upload?
what type of photos do these sites need?
how much do you make from stock photography

Join Shutterstock and ask the exact same questions on the forum there, you will be swamped with replies from self appointed 'experts', you might find an 'expert' who will tell you all about himself and how successful he is, then maybe try to flog you his book (well CD) and maybe a course or two.

However if you don't want to waste your time and money you could do what sjlocke has suggested and search for yourself, which I'm sure would be a much more successful option.

Edited to add: As I mentioned books, there is an actual real book out about Microstock photography written by Douglas Freer - search Amazon and you'll find it, I've never read it but those that have said it's good.

shank_ali · « **Reply #6 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:22 »

Quote from: xxnemoxx on January 07, 2009, 11:03

Hello everyone this is my 1st topic here.
I want to do that so called "stock photography"

do you have any tips to share withme?
what site should I work with?
can I upload the same photos on different sites?
how many photo should I upload?
what type of photos do these sites need?
how much do you make from stock photography

Yes i have lots of tips...istockphoto and shutterstock should be your first port of call.Submit 10 images to shutterstock and 3 to istockphoto after answering a series of questions based on the information provided by istockphoto on your application.
If a designer can use your image in an advert/brochure/book/flyer/calendar/billboard/menu or tourist leaflet you will understand how diverse the subject matter is for micro contributors.
For me that's the key...Diversity...Try to make up your portfolio with lots of different subject matter to attract a broad sprectrum of buyers.
Money is the end product...Work hard and learn enough and you might see some reward.
You will need some sort of adobe software to post edit your images and of course learn the fundermentals of which ever one you choose to buy.
If you have not been accepted onto any micro sites in 6 months time please phone the samaratians on 02345-67895 before resorting to the bottle of pills

stormchaser · « **Reply #7 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:25 »

Quote

one such 'expert' will probably tell you all about himself and how successful he is, then try to flog you his book (well CD) and maybe a course or two.

ha ha ha

To the OP, really this is a question that cannot be answered in a single post. Start reading. and googling stuff. There are many good blogs out there, one very good one being

http://www.microstockdiaries.com

I would try Bigstock for a start since they have no formal application process and although it is a low earner, you can make a few dollars there.

Dreamstime does not have a formal application process either, but being new, you will be frustrated by the long review times there. But there is more money to be made at DT

Application requirements for the others can be found on the FAQ, Terms or Site Maps pages of the respective sites.

Tuilay · « **Reply #8 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:35 »

Quote from: shank_ali on January 07, 2009, 14:22

(edited)
If a designer can use your image in an advert/brochure/book/flyer/calendar/billboard/menu or tourist leaflet you will understand how diverse the subject matter is for micro contributors.
For me that's the key...Diversity...Try to make up your portfolio with lots of different subject matter to attract a broad sprectrum of buyers.

have to agree with shank here.

Quote from: shank_ali on January 07, 2009, 14:22

(edited)
If you have not been accepted onto any micro sites in 6 months time please phone the samaratians on 02345-67895 before resorting to the bottle of pills

...or take up being a squeegee kid at street corners. you're sure to make a lot more , and guess what? no overheads on cameras,strobes,etc....

null · « **Reply #9 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:36 »

Quote from: sjlocke on January 07, 2009, 13:22

Do you have a camera?

Darn, that's it! I knew I was missing something!

shank_ali · « **Reply #10 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:42 »

This guys post has got me thinking all sentimental...It took me nearly 4 months to get accepted as a contributor on istockphoto.The critique section of the forum became my 2nd home and the kind helpful contributors must of looked at over 50 images i posted in many many threads.
My excuse was i was also learning photography at the time!
So i learned the basics of using a DSLR and ADODE Elements 5.0.
I enjoyed the learning and still find it a great pleasure taking photographs and if i make money from it that is for me still a bonus.

hali · « **Reply #11 on:** January 07, 2009, 14:43 »

Quote from: Tuilay on January 07, 2009, 14:35

Quote from: shank_ali on January 07, 2009, 14:22
If you have not been accepted onto any micro sites in 6 months time please phone the samaratians on 02345-67895 before resorting to the bottle of pills

...or take up being a squeegee kid at street corners. you're sure to make a lot more , and guess what? no overheads on cameras,strobes,etc....

AND far less rejections than you would get from IS and SS, for sure !

takestock · « **Reply #12 on:** January 07, 2009, 16:40 »

Quote from: xxnemoxx on January 07, 2009, 11:03

Hello everyone this is my 1st topic here.
I want to do that so called "stock photography"

do you have any tips to share withme?
what site should I work with?
can I upload the same photos on different sites?
how many photo should I upload?
what type of photos do these sites need?
how much do you make from stock photography

This site would be worth checking out http://dolgachov.livejournal.com/1065532.html

Best of luck!

RT · « **Reply #13 on:** January 07, 2009, 17:12 »

Well there's been some good advice given, hopefully you'll read the sarcasm in my reply above, but in case not I was joking about asking these questions on Shutterstock, and here's a good example of why, just having a weekly flick through the forum there and saw this thread:
http://submit.shutterstock.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=53479
Loads of experts giving advice and yet they all seem to miss one blindingly obvious flaw in this guys photo, the building in the background!!!
For a moment I thought somebody had stumbled upon the answer when they started to mention editorial but alas no it was regarding the model release issue, so ten replies and not one of them (including one of the worlds finest reviewers) noticed that the photo can't be sold as RF no matter what he does to the faces of the crowd

Pixart · « **Reply #14 on:** January 07, 2009, 17:34 »

Am I the only one wondering what fun Miz would have had with this thread?

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #15 on:** January 09, 2009, 01:23 »

Oh wait, it could be funnier. The guy goes to all the trouble of blurring all the faces and fixing the photo, then re-submits it and it gets refused for the building.

Now tell me no one else but me has had something like this happen. You get refused for one thing, fix it, and the next reviewer finds something different. Both correct in fact.

bobek · « **Reply #16 on:** January 25, 2009, 11:03 »

do you have any tips to share with me?

open an account with all Big 6 - located on right hand side
submit there around 15 best pictures you have and wait for response
look at their best selling photos
also submit some of your pictures to http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ to start earning from referrals

what site should I work with?

start with all Big 6 - located on right hand side

can I upload the same photos on different sites?

yes, you can but make sure not to tick (an exclusive image) tick

how many photo should I upload?

start with your best ones and than upload as many great images as possible (only technically perfect), the rest would be rejected

what type of photos do these sites need?

they like people, illustrations, food, situations, stuff isolated on white background
don't bother with flowers, sky, sunrises, sunsets - they've tons of them

Hope it helps

cclapper · « **Reply #17 on:** January 25, 2009, 12:11 »

Now tell me no one else but me has had something like this happen. You get refused for one thing, fix it, and the next reviewer finds something different.

I have, plenty of times. Always wondered why they wouldnt point out all of the flaws at once instead of wasting everyones time multiple times. No wonder the review queues are huge.

Regarding the building, needs a little lens distortion fixing, too, IMHO

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #18 on:** January 25, 2009, 13:14 »

Quote from: bobek on January 25, 2009, 11:03

also submit some of your pictures to http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ to start earning from referrals

Thanks for joining up today to start pimping your site...

Tuilay · « **Reply #19 on:** January 25, 2009, 14:42 »

Quote from: sjlocke on January 25, 2009, 13:14

Quote from: bobek on January 25, 2009, 11:03
also submit some of your pictures to http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ to start earning from referrals

Thanks for joining up today to start pimping your site...

lol, good one SJL

shank_ali · « **Reply #20 on:** January 25, 2009, 15:57 »

Quote from: bobek on January 25, 2009, 11:03

do you have any tips to share with me?
open an account with all Big 6 - located on right hand side
submit there around 15 best pictures you have and wait for response
look at their best selling photos
also submit some of your pictures to http://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ to start earning from referrals

what site should I work with?
Try to post the same link on the istock forum and you may lose your nuts