MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: artracer on January 03, 2015, 20:51
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What I bought in 2014 is in the attached image.
I’m a graphic designer working in print and internet. I’ve been employed in graphic design for 36 years. I’ve worked at companies, had my own company with staff and am now a solo shop. I buy RF photos for ads, brochures and websites. I thought this community would find where I bought photos in 2014 interesting.
I have accounts at most of the online services, I typically use iStock, Dreamstime and Vectorstock, the Corbis purchase was because a client requested a specific image. I do check prices across agencies as an image can sometimes be found on multiple sites at different prices. I seek a balance between finding the right image quickly and price.
I buy credits rather than subscriptions since I then only pay for what I use. The Dreamstime subscription was a 30-day free trial, which I cancelled after the free part.
When I need an image I’m first looking for one that conveys the message for my project. I expect a photo to be in sharp focus, not overly sharpened in Photoshop, if people are in it they need to be model-released and have current dress and hair.
Vector purchases are usually modified from the original for my project, it’s more cost effective to buy an illustration of something and change the parts I need to than draw it myself.
Hope you find this helpful!
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I wish other buyers were as informative and forthcoming with their buying habits and needs. Who knows - we might be able to work together to grow the business at agencies were the owners clearly have no idea.
Thank you. Useful stuff.
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Thanks for posting. Stuff like this always valuable to me.
Do you see any of the stock sites as being in decline? Like maybe content is getting outdated, technology problems, etc. Or maybe you're just getting unhappy with them?
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Do you see any of the stock sites as being in decline? Like maybe content is getting outdated, technology problems, etc. Or maybe you're just getting unhappy with them?
Dreamstime's stuff can be dated. Aside from my fave sites mentioned above, I have accounts at Shutterstock, Fotolia, 123RF & Bigstockphoto but they've not worked their way to top-of-mind for me because when I've tried them I just don't get the breadth of good photos to choose from, and/or their pricing is not interesting to me. Also I just don't have the time to search more that 2-3 sites for a photo.
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Thanks arttracer... reminds me of my days over on "the other side" ;) I don't miss the stress and the deadlines... but I do miss the health insurance benefits and the easier tax returns!