Author Topic: Got sick of agents - out on my own :) (Read 16582 times)

cascoly · « **Reply #50 on:** August 26, 2009, 13:51 »

i've had a website http://cascoly.com since the mid 90's, concentrating on online games and travel guides/photography. 5 years ago, i had about 500K hits/month, now it's down to about 300K/mo, but income has never much more than paid for hosting costs, etc. i used to sell cds with photography but that seems to have dried up in the last coupla years, too; there's just so much out there, it's hard to get found.

i made the choice so me years ago to just do online games as a sideline, after having it as my main career for more thsn 15 years, and my photography is mostly travel oriented, so my experience may not be the best example for someone just getting started - travel is my primary goal, and if i can sell some images to help pay those costs, i'm satsified; i'm not looking for a full time job. i had a gallery for my images, but when it had some db prblems, i didnt bother to get it running again - surprisingly with litte difference in traffic to the rest of my site

steve

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #51 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:27 »

Quote from: hqimages on August 24, 2009, 09:15

So, I just got sick of all the competition on these microstock sites, and I set up my own web site (www.photosfordesigns.com).

So that's the story, just thought I would let you guys know that, it is possible to do other things, maybe even to sell directly to the buyer on your own, although it remains to be seen, but if it is a disaster I'll let you know It'll be an interesting experiment either way!!

Hey, it worked for me. I'm still subbing to micro, but I make a bunch more free lancing either by selling something already done to a specific buyer or contracting to shoot what the customer wants.

In the legal sense, all of the people I deal with have their own terms and so far, ALL have my interest at the forefront. My work is always mine, there is a limit agreed to upfront on usage, usually one time only and limited to 'x' printings (magazines/books/etc), the only extra to them is use of an image in advertising the product. I have a signed contract with each as a free lance photog all terms understood... and so far in 3 plus years, I have never had a problem.

I tell my local photog friends to get out there and sell themselves. 4 digit paydays always beat 30 cent subscriptions. Selling direct as your own agent and in need of legal foundations... thats a little tougher. I would reccomend, looking to publishes, art directors, editors and such.... and make sales there. They have legal to protect themselves, which in turn, protects your intellectual property and rights.

=tom

hqimages · « **Reply #52 on:** August 27, 2009, 10:31 »

Quote from: a.k.a.-tom on August 27, 2009, 10:27

Quote from: hqimages on August 24, 2009, 09:15
So, I just got sick of all the competition on these microstock sites, and I set up my own web site (www.photosfordesigns.com).

So that's the story, just thought I would let you guys know that, it is possible to do other things, maybe even to sell directly to the buyer on your own, although it remains to be seen, but if it is a disaster I'll let you know It'll be an interesting experiment either way!!

Hey, it worked for me. I'm still subbing to micro, but I make a bunch more free lancing either by selling something already done to a specific buyer or contracting to shoot what the customer wants.

In the legal sense, all of the people I deal with have their own terms and so far, ALL have my interest at the forefront. My work is always mine, there is a limit agreed to upfront on usage, usually one time only and limited to 'x' printings (magazines/books/etc), the only extra to them is use of an image in advertising the product. I have a signed contract with each as a free lance photog all terms understood... and so far in 3 plus years, I have never had a problem.

I tell my local photog friends to get out there and sell themselves. 4 digit paydays always beat 30 cent subscriptions. Selling direct as your own agent and in need of legal foundations... thats a little tougher. I would reccomend, looking to publishes, art directors, editors and such.... and make sales there. They have legal to protect themselves, which in turn, protects your intellectual property and rights. =tom

That's really nice to hear Tom, thanks for posting!

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Author Topic: Got sick of agents - out on my own :) (Read 16582 times)

cascoly

a.k.a.-tom

hqimages

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