Author Topic: boss site for nature (Read 11801 times)

dullegg · « **on:** June 16, 2008, 12:42 »

here's a poll out to the great micro and macro longtime contributors.

which site is the best to submit NATURE.
i don't mean the thousand and one variations of sunsets, or bee on a flower, or birds on feeders.

i am talking about unique, one in a chance feathered lifetime shots, that are difficult to replicate.
is there truly , in your own experience, or opinion, a market for these?

take your swing. i am not sensitive, so be vulgar even,

i just want the real thing. give me the "crap!"

Jimi King · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2008, 13:03 »

I would think that you'd be wasting your time on anything other than the big six. Of which iStock would be the most likely to get you results I reckon.

I also know a guy who's getting a reasonable turnover on Shutterstock, however he's doing the sunset variations funnily enough.

RT · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2008, 15:18 »

FLPA is one of the best specialist nature sites.

dullegg · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2008, 15:34 »

Quote from: RT on June 16, 2008, 15:18

FLPA is one of the best specialist nature sites.

thanks both!

jimi king, good to know IS is one. I like IS a lot.

btw, that's funny ... variations on sunsets big seller on SS

RT... sorry, please FLPA ... is which site? fotolia?

Jimi King · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2008, 15:58 »

Quote from: dullegg

btw, that's funny ... variations on sunsets big seller on SS

I don't think they're particularly BIG sellers, he just uploads a lot of them.

HermanM · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2008, 16:15 »

Unique shots should always be sold under RM licences. To put them as RF in a micro site is to devaluate them.

dullegg · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2008, 16:41 »

Quote from: HermanM on June 16, 2008, 16:15

Unique shots should always be sold under RM licences. To put them as RF in a micro site is to devaluate them.

wow, that's good advice.
so, considering that micro is mostly RF, does that mean i have to start thinking of macrostock?

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2008, 16:52 »

IS and SS both give me reasonable return on my nature shots. I won't get rich on my nature stuff in micros. I do far better pimping my work myself. Natural Life Stock was supposed to be 'pure nature', but it started taking on anything out of a camera.... and it failed. I had a decent 'folio there and never sold one pic in the year it was in extistence.

Landscape/nature will sell on micro, but it does not sell well. AND as you've been advised, that which sells is usually unique and well above the average. So dullegg, if that's all your shooting, forget making a bundle in micros.

Macro and RM will serve you much better. If I stumble across another micro 'nature' site, I'll let you know. Please do the same.

=tom

leaf · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2008, 16:53 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 16:41

Quote from: HermanM on June 16, 2008, 16:15
Unique shots should always be sold under RM licences. To put them as RF in a micro site is to devaluate them.

wow, that's good advice.
so, considering that micro is mostly RF, does that mean i have to start thinking of macrostock?

yes, no micro site has RM... so if you want to sell RM, then macro is your only choice. You could however put some images on the micros to test the water, and others on macro..

dullegg · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2008, 17:28 »

thanks tom , thanks leaf...

what about selling direct to nature magazines eg ducks unlimited,etc...
or are we talking big time difficult impossibilities...
ie. like dreaming of selling to nat geog.

thanks ppl!

RT · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2008, 17:36 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 15:34

RT... sorry, please FLPA ... is which site? fotolia?

No FLPA is the site - Frank Lane Picture Agency, www.flpa-images.co.uk it's a specialist nature/wildlife site, and is 'probably' the best in the world for this subject, it's not a microsite and they only sell RM.

dullegg · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2008, 17:54 »

Quote from: RT on June 16, 2008, 17:36

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 15:34

RT... sorry, please FLPA ... is which site? fotolia?

No FLPA is the site - Frank Lane Picture Agency, www.flpa-images.co.uk it's a specialist nature/wildlife site, and is 'probably' the best in the world for this subject, it's not a microsite and they only sell RM.

wonderful, thanks RT for the info. i wll check them out to gauge my images .

also, StockXpert has a few outstanding bird shots there but a specific contributor. i like his style, but i cannot see if he had any sales there.

how do you find out if those outstanding shots of his are selling or not?

RacePhoto · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2008, 20:47 »

Quote from: RT on June 16, 2008, 17:36

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 15:34

RT... sorry, please FLPA ... is which site? fotolia?

No FLPA is the site - Frank Lane Picture Agency, www.flpa-images.co.uk it's a specialist nature/wildlife site, and is 'probably' the best in the world for this subject, it's not a microsite and they only sell RM.

Interesting. I counted about 300 photographers that have their portfolios up there. Nice site. I don't think it's one that someone can just apply for and get in, without a collection to start with. Just from appearances.

FLPA - images of nature are a picture agency and stock photographic wildlife library specialising in nature images and animal pictures of the natural world. We also stock images of wildlife, pets, environment, wildlife, trees, flowers, nature, animal behaviour, marine life, plants, agriculture, weather, scenery, flowers, insects, wildlife photos, underwater images, wildlife stock images, nature pictures, plants, animal photos and images, wildlife photos, landscape and general stock images. FLPA are a leading nature picture library specialising in Nature images and Natural History and wildlife. Our wildlife photographers are amongst the best in the world and regularly supply us with Nature pictures and animal photos. We also stock nature pictures in our library and have specialist photographers who supply us with Wildlife stock photography, Plant photography, Nature photography, landscape photography, underwater photography, animal portraits, and animal behaviour photographs. The site is designed for picture professionals and picture researchers and editors looking for stock nature images and a great wildlife library for images of the nature world. Many of our images have won categories in the BBC Wildlife awards every year since the conception of the BBC Wildlife awards. Our wildlife photos are taken by many of the world's best professional photographers and we also represent Minden Pictures from the USA a specialist nature picture library and Foto Natura from Holland a natural history picture agency and Sunset Agency from France who are a general stock image library. FLPA have also placed images with Corbis, Alamy and Getty Images. We have been established for longer than any other nature picture library and have the very finest images of natural history and wildlife stock images. Our animal photos are superb and our picture library staff are approachable and friendly.

Very well presented site.

dullegg · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2008, 20:58 »

Quote from: RacePhoto on June 16, 2008, 20:47

Quote from: RT on June 16, 2008, 17:36
Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 15:34

RT... sorry, please FLPA ... is which site? fotolia?

No FLPA is the site - Frank Lane Picture Agency, www.flpa-images.co.uk it's a specialist nature/wildlife site, and is 'probably' the best in the world for this subject, it's not a microsite and they only sell RM.

Interesting. I counted about 300 photographers that have their portfolios up there. Nice site. I don't think it's one that someone can just apply for and get in, without a collection to start with. Just from appearances.

Very well presented site.

wow, haven't visited it yet, but it sure sounds like a top notch site.
and the more incentive to build up a boss portfolio of nature photography, if that is what we want to specialize in.

i have always shot nature but only when the images are unique.
they don't come easily, and it's take a lot of patience to wait for the right composition. but i felt there wasn't too much incentive to build a formidable portfolio in that section.

now, i think differently. maybe there is a site to aspire to.
THANKS again RT

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2008, 22:28 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 17:28

thanks tom , thanks leaf...
what about selling direct to nature magazines eg ducks unlimited,etc...
or are we talking big time difficult impossibilities...
ie. like dreaming of selling to nat geog.
thanks ppl!

That's what I'm currently doing. I was first noticed in the micros, then contacted by an editor in a large publishing comp. Of course, it's work selling yourself too. That's the advantage of micros and macros, they do that part. But, they also take a large cut of the pie. By free lancing direct, I'm not sharing the pie with anyone else. Is it easy? Well, let me put it this way. If it was easy, there wouldn't be micro and macro agencies.
But it's possible. Honestly, I was in the right place at the right time. ..........and no, I don't think I'll ever make it to Nat Geo. I'm not that good. LOL

=tom

RT · « **Reply #15 on:** June 17, 2008, 01:22 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 20:58

now, i think differently. maybe there is a site to aspire to.
THANKS again RT

You're welcome, I only mentioned it because you said in your first post that you had specialist shots, and they thrive on that type of imagery.
I don't think you need to aspire to them, Jean Hosking that runs it is a nice lady and although I don't know their minimum requirements for submissions now, I know that if you have a few once in a lifetime shots they would probably be interested.
But remember this is a 'specialist' site, you won't see instant results and in fact you only get paid every six months, but they will promote your work and any serious buyers in that sort of market will come to them.

dullegg · « **Reply #16 on:** June 17, 2008, 10:22 »

Quote from: RT on June 17, 2008, 01:22

But remember this is a 'specialist' site, you won't see instant results and in fact you only get paid every six months, but they will promote your work and any serious buyers in that sort of market will come to them.

that's no problem. i am not one who base my judgement on quick sales.
i am in this for long-term. i will definitely prepare my portfolio for sure.
cheers once again for pointing me in their direction. i wouldn't have found it without your knowledge.

Phil · « **Reply #17 on:** June 17, 2008, 21:08 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 16, 2008, 12:42

here's a poll out to the great micro and macro longtime contributors.

which site is the best to submit NATURE.
i don't mean the thousand and one variations of sunsets, or bee on a flower, or birds on feeders.

i am talking about unique, one in a chance feathered lifetime shots, that are difficult to replicate.
is there truly , in your own experience, or opinion, a market for these?

take your swing. i am not sensitive, so be vulgar even,
i just want the real thing. give me the "crap!"

with limited knowledge

wildlife will sell very slowly on micro so look at macro either rf or rm, where it will also sell very slowly (but you'll get more for it). But most macro agencies dont want it (alamy excepted), so there is about half a dozen specialised wildlife / nature agencies such as FLPA, animals animals, etc but they all pretty much only do RM and there is a huge number of want to be wildlife photographers and so these agencies are some of the hardest to get into. So either build a collection of really excellent wildlife and choose one of these agencies, or just throw it on the micros

(personally it gets kind of depressing on the micros though when you look at what you went through to get the shot and work out it made you $5 for the year)

tan510jomast · « **Reply #18 on:** June 18, 2008, 11:50 »

Quote from: clearviewstock on June 17, 2008, 21:08

(personally it gets kind of depressing on the micros though when you look at what you went through to get the shot and work out it made you $5 for the year)

Clearviewstock , so true. I love nature photography... not sunsets or flowers, etc... but the remarkable nature shots. Something that takes pain and patience to capture on film, or digital.
But like you said, it is depressing to have to sell it for pennies.

Dullegg, Why don't you just build the portfolio and try a local gallery.
Your satisfaction with truly appreciative audience at the gallery would
be better served, then seeing "once in a lifetime" shots "splattered all over the place".

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #19 on:** June 18, 2008, 16:08 »

Quote from: tan510jomast on June 18, 2008, 11:50

Dullegg, Why don't you just build the portfolio and try a local gallery.
Your satisfaction with truly appreciative audience at the gallery would
be better served, then seeing "once in a lifetime" shots "splattered all over the place".

Agreed! This has also worked for me. For sure, try the gallery route.

Something else that opened some doors (actually a lot of doors), we donated some of our large landscape/nature prints to charity auctions. The pictures pulled in some very respectable money and.... the 'advertising' did us good. We got nice response (other sales and for hire work) and... helped the reputation of, and name recognition of our company locally. Also, by networking with the other 'donators' and auction buyers, we've have become a first consideration when someone needs a picture taken.
One example. A picture was needed of a historic building. I went out, spent about 10 minutes, shot about 6 pix, submitted one.... $500.

I am a big advocate of pimping your own work. Instead of pennies for a sale(in the micros), you could pull in hundreds and even light 4 digit money when you are published. Try it!!! Definitely, try charity auction, just have your name and/or company name out there for all to see. Advertise, advertise, advertise.

=tom

tan510jomast · « **Reply #20 on:** June 18, 2008, 19:05 »

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on June 18, 2008, 16:08

Quote from: tan510jomast on June 18, 2008, 11:50

Dullegg, Why don't you just build the portfolio and try a local gallery.
Your satisfaction with truly appreciative audience at the gallery would
be better served, then seeing "once in a lifetime" shots "splattered all over the place".

Something else that opened some doors (actually a lot of doors), we donated some of our large landscape/nature prints to charity auctions....
by networking with the other 'donators' and auction buyers, we've have become a first consideration when someone needs a picture taken.

=tom

Wow, tom, charity auctions! I never thought of it. So good of you to point us in that direction, it's like good karma.. one good deed gets you some promo in return.
Something like Ducks Unlimited might help too? They're charitable in the sense that it's to protect the waterfowls.
What do you think?

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Author Topic: boss site for nature (Read 11801 times)

dullegg

Jimi King

RT

dullegg

Jimi King

HermanM

dullegg

a.k.a.-tom

leaf

dullegg

RT

dullegg

RacePhoto

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a.k.a.-tom

RT

dullegg

Phil

tan510jomast

a.k.a.-tom

tan510jomast

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