Author Topic: What are 10 things which stock Photographer MUST DO in 2008 (Read 15042 times)

techno · « **on:** January 15, 2008, 18:13 »

What are 10 things which stock Photographer MUST DO in 2008

1. go exclusive at istockphoto.com

2. buy stock from Getty Images (A share (also referred to as equity shares) of stock represents a share of ownership in a corporation.Getty Images now is 23$ per 1 shares )

3. buy Canon 5D ( or Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III (22MP) )

4. buy Canon L Series lenses

5. Move Photos from "Macrostock agancies" to istockphoto.com

6. Stop upload photos or images to the subscription-based web sites (0.20-0.30$ per image )

7.Stop upload photos from family , girlfriends , neighbourhoods and colleagues .

8. Start paying models to shoot .

9. Stop use F5

10. Relax

just my 2 Cent

HermanM · « **Reply #1 on:** January 16, 2008, 16:07 »

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

What are 10 things which stock Photographer MUST DO in 2008

1. go exclusive at istockphoto.com

2. buy stock from Getty Images (A share (also referred to as equity shares) of stock represents a share of ownership in a corporation.Getty Images now is 23$ per 1 shares )

No and No... The first one needs no explanation, from the classic "all eggs in one basket" to the fact that IStock is absurdely asking you to be royalty free exclusive on an artist basis and not on an image basis. You would never be able to sell RF at Alamy, PSC, Acclaim, Corbis or whatever agency you choose for what, an extra share of a few bucks?! No way...

http://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=GYI&t=6m Here you will see that Getty has lost about 50%+ of its value in the last months... They were at 50 six months ago, now around 23... no way... It is not a bargain, it simply a bad investment.

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

3. buy Canon 5D ( or Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III (22MP) )

4. buy Canon L Series lenses

It could be a wise move, if you plan to sell macro stock. For micros, maybe, only if you downsize for suscription sites.

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

5. Move Photos from "Macrostock agancies" to istockphoto.com

6. Stop upload photos or images to the subscription-based web sites (0.20-0.30$ per image )

Point 5 is absurd. Point six, could be, but I would rather downsize my pics instead of removing them, until I figure out what the market shapes this year.

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

7.Stop upload photos from family , girlfriends , neighbourhoods and colleagues .

8. Start paying models to shoot .

May I ask why? Many agencies, to say most, sell pics of regular looking people quite well... Not everybody has to look shiny and happy micro style all the time. The micro look is too widespread and losing ground. And the first ones are almost free.

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

9. Stop use F5

10. Relax

just my 2 Cent

I agree on the relax side...

For me, I would have included:

1. Diversify markets and seek macro agencies beyond the micro world.

2. Start selling content as RM.

3. Start booking assignment work.

4. Keep improving quality of your work.

5. Think out of the box, there is more in stock photography than micros. Micros are a part of any business equation, but are not the whole thing.

6. Avoid any exclusivity that goes beyond a per image exclusivity.

Whiz · « **Reply #2 on:** January 16, 2008, 17:45 »

HermanM, a great many stocks are down. Getty isn't a great investment in my opinion, but I'm betting that they'll go back up eventually. Free cash flow, low fin leverage(debt), low P/E Ratio, ROA and ROE are okay; etc. Just blame it on panicked investors.

UberLens · « **Reply #3 on:** January 16, 2008, 21:29 »

Quote from: Whiz on January 16, 2008, 17:45

HermanM, a great many stocks are down. Getty isn't a great investment in my opinion, but I'm betting that they'll go back up eventually. Free cash flow, low fin leverage(debt), low P/E Ratio, ROA and ROE are okay; etc. Just blame it on panicked investors.

I concur: investment wise the numbers look appetizing. I mean, with a P/E of 11.03 it surely looks good (http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:GYI). This might be a better way to make money in the stock photography business

helix7 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 17, 2008, 10:10 »

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

1. go exclusive at istockphoto.com

2. buy stock from Getty Images (A share (also referred to as equity shares) of stock represents a share of ownership in a corporation.Getty Images now is 23$ per 1 shares )

I'd be interested to know why these are #1 and #2.

Michael · « **Reply #5 on:** January 17, 2008, 10:27 »

I agree with theese points. Need no more to make money!

1. Diversify markets and seek macro agencies beyond the micro world.

2. Start selling content as RM.

3. Start booking assignment work.

4. Keep improving quality of your work.

5. Think out of the box, there is more in stock photography than micros. Micros are a part of any business equation, but are not the whole thing.

6. Avoid any exclusivity that goes beyond a per image exclusivity.

anonymous · « **Reply #6 on:** January 17, 2008, 18:14 »

1. keep doing what i'm doing
2. lay off the absinthe
3. try to shoot more shots that require less Photoshopping
4. lay off the smoke
5. pay more attention to backlighting (SS pi$$es me off sometimes)
6. go scuba diving this year off Belize
7. vote
8. try a jello shot out of the navel of a Swedish National
9. bike more
10. eat mor chiken

Beckyabell · « **Reply #7 on:** January 17, 2008, 18:31 »

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

7.Stop upload photos from family , girlfriends , neighbourhoods and colleagues .

There goes @ 90% of my portfolio....... I don't get this one.

Then again.... I have hot friends and a beautiful family.

andresr · « **Reply #8 on:** January 17, 2008, 18:40 »

With a couple of exceptions is that the list on what to do or what NOT to do?

RT · « **Reply #9 on:** January 17, 2008, 18:45 »

You should take Q1 Q2 & Q5 and make a new thread entitled, "How to make LESS money from your images"

The only reason I can possibly think that you would want to go exclusive is if you're only doing this as a side business, as for moving photos from a macrostock agency to iStock!! why in the world would you want to do that.

yingyang0 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 17, 2008, 21:28 »

Quote from: UberLens on January 16, 2008, 21:29

Quote from: Whiz on January 16, 2008, 17:45
HermanM, a great many stocks are down. Getty isn't a great investment in my opinion, but I'm betting that they'll go back up eventually. Free cash flow, low fin leverage(debt), low P/E Ratio, ROA and ROE are okay; etc. Just blame it on panicked investors.

I concur: investment wise the numbers look appetizing. I mean, with a P/E of 11.03 it surely looks good (http://finance.google.com/finance?q=NYSE:GYI). This might be a better way to make money in the stock photography business

Guys you must be joking! It's a bear market now, but it wasn't two years ago when the company started to really tank. Yes the P/E is ok (not good, just ok) but even the company is projecting stagnate growth for the next two years. It may level off but that's it. It's a value trap, stay away.

The OP was right about the stock being a winner though. I've been shorting it for the last year and half. It has made me a lot of money.

UberLens · « **Reply #11 on:** January 17, 2008, 22:01 »

Quote from: yingyang0 on January 17, 2008, 21:28

The OP was right about the stock being a winner though. I've been shorting it for the last year and half. It has made me a lot of money.

I worked hard for the past 6 months at shorting stocks and I love it. I will wait for what they have to say on Jan 31st. Considering the coming (or should I say current) recession, it might hit the advertising industry hard which it ain't a lot of good news for the agency. Or for us as contributors. Time will tell. The good news is that it may hit the bottom in the next year or so.

yingyang0 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 18, 2008, 00:32 »

Quote from: UberLens on January 17, 2008, 22:01

Quote from: yingyang0 on January 17, 2008, 21:28
The OP was right about the stock being a winner though. I've been shorting it for the last year and half. It has made me a lot of money.

I worked hard for the past 6 months at shorting stocks and I love it. I will wait for what they have to say on Jan 31st. Considering the coming (or should I say current) recession, it might hit the advertising industry hard which it ain't a lot of good news for the agency. Or for us as contributors. Time will tell. The good news is that it may hit the bottom in the next year or so.

Well I'll tell you that I already covered because I doubt there is much more downward potential. And the "may hit the bottom in the next year or so" caught my eye because even the biggest bears on the street don't think this downturn will last past Q2. Remember that shorting is one of the few financial activities that has unlimited loss potential. If I still did have a short position I'd at least consider making it into a covered put.

techno · « **Reply #13 on:** January 18, 2008, 19:09 »

Alamy Trading statement

http://www.alamy.com/contributors/statements/default.asp

Traditional stock pricing earnings per image for all images on the site is about $2.80. (alamy.com)

kweenc · « **Reply #14 on:** January 19, 2008, 00:16 »

Quote from: anonymous on January 17, 2008, 18:14

1. keep doing what i'm doing
2. lay off the absinthe
3. try to shoot more shots that require less Photoshopping
4. lay off the smoke
5. pay more attention to backlighting (SS pi$$es me off sometimes)
6. go scuba diving this year off Belize
7. vote
8. try a jello shot out of the navel of a Swedish National
9. bike more
10. eat mor chiken

Sounds exciting!
Although... #10. Eat more chicken, why? (just curious, is there something special in chicken that would help in photography?)

kweenc · « **Reply #15 on:** January 19, 2008, 00:30 »

My 10 things would be.

1. Be careful and try not to drown my newly acquired camera!
2. NOT PANIC!
3. No hesitations! Just take the photo!
4. Save up money for a second camera.
5. Try out a 50mm fast lens.
6. Try to shoot more pictures with f 10 and higher.
7. Don't give up on a shot easily
8. Back up my photo archive!
9. Travel some more!
10. Not be lazy, keep uploading!

techno · « **Reply #16 on:** January 22, 2008, 16:05 »

Getty Images Shares Rise on Buyout Talk
Tuesday January 22, 2:54 pm ET
Getty Images Shares Rise on Rumors It Is Seeking a Buyout Valued at $1.5B

SEATTLE (AP) -- Shares of Getty Images Inc. soared Tuesday after the seller of stock photography and video footage acknowledged it is exploring strategic alternatives and said it retained Goldman Sachs as a financial adviser.
ADVERTISEMENT

Investors sent the stock up $3.06, or 14 percent, to $25.00 in afternoon trading.

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080122/getty_images_shares.html?.v=2

vonkara · « **Reply #17 on:** January 22, 2008, 18:34 »

Quote from: UberLens on January 17, 2008, 22:01

Quote from: yingyang0 on January 17, 2008, 21:28
The OP was right about the stock being a winner though. I've been shorting it for the last year and half. It has made me a lot of money.

I worked hard for the past 6 months at shorting stocks and I love it. I will wait for what they have to say on Jan 31st. Considering the coming (or should I say current) recession, it might hit the advertising industry hard which it ain't a lot of good news for the agency. Or for us as contributors. Time will tell. The good news is that it may hit the bottom in the next year or so.

I don't think that designer will stop downloading because there is a recession. Buying some pictures is pretty cheap compared to the whole project budget. The only thing who can affect sales is that microstocks headquarters have no power to run their websites, BECAUSE of the recession

helix7 · « **Reply #18 on:** January 23, 2008, 14:24 »

Quote from: Vonkara on January 22, 2008, 18:34

I don't think that designer will stop downloading because there is a recession. Buying some pictures is pretty cheap compared to the whole project budget...

But if some of those projects get cut altogether, there is no project to buy any images for at all.

That said, I still am not too worried about the recession personally. So far business has remained steady both in microstock and in my day job as a graphic designer. No signs of cautious spending yet.

Bateleur · « **Reply #19 on:** January 23, 2008, 15:28 »

My top ten things:

1) Take more photos
2) Make sure they're better than last year's
3) Shoot more better photos
4) And even more
5) And then some
6) Develop my 'eye' and
7) Take yet more photos ... a whole barrowload

Get that shutter finger working even harder
9) Process this heap of better photos
10) Submit them

vonkara · « **Reply #20 on:** January 23, 2008, 15:51 »

In the same way

1)shoot
2)photoshop
3)upload
4)shoot
5)photoshop
6)upload
7)shoot
8)take a shower
9)photoshop
10)upload

But no kidding. For me it's just a hobby, so my goal this year is only to improve my work quality and find what sell more in my own way

photojay · « **Reply #21 on:** January 24, 2008, 14:55 »

My top ten:

1. Be more bold about approaching people to shoot them.
2. minimize shooting "isolated images"
3. Figure out my new 40D
4. Become an expert at studio lighting
5. See light how my camera sees the light
6. Be more confident
7. Be more selective
8. Stop obsessively checking the sales stats
9. Use that time to shoot more images
10. Shoot better images out of the camera and us PS to embed keywords, etc. only

stokfoto · « **Reply #22 on:** January 24, 2008, 15:08 »

Quote from: photojay on January 24, 2008, 14:55

My top ten:

1. Be more bold about approaching people to shoot them.
2. minimize shooting "isolated images"
3. Figure out my new 40D
4. Become an expert at studio lighting
5. See light how my camera sees the light
6. Be more confident
7. Be more selective
8. Stop obsessively checking the sales stats
9. Use that time to shoot more images
10. Shoot better images out of the camera and us PS to embed keywords, etc. only

you don't mind if I borrow your list ,do you?
in addition I'd only add invest on better equipment especially glasses but wisely and try to create some stuff especially for macro stock.

photojay · « **Reply #23 on:** January 25, 2008, 08:50 »

Quote from: stokfoto on January 24, 2008, 15:08

Quote from: photojay on January 24, 2008, 14:55
My top ten:

1. Be more bold about approaching people to shoot them.
2. minimize shooting "isolated images"
3. Figure out my new 40D
4. Become an expert at studio lighting
5. See light how my camera sees the light
6. Be more confident
7. Be more selective
8. Stop obsessively checking the sales stats
9. Use that time to shoot more images
10. Shoot better images out of the camera and us PS to embed keywords, etc. only

you don't mind if I borrow your list ,do you?
in addition I'd only add invest on better equipment especially glasses but wisely and try to create some stuff especially for macro stock.

I don't mind at all!

I definitely need to invest in better glass. I took my 70-200 lens to Iraq with me and now I can't get a good image out of it at any focal length! I am looking to get a Canon lens with a USM motor in it so I can use it with a 580EX external flash unit.

Carla · « **Reply #24 on:** January 25, 2008, 09:52 »

My list:
1. Cling to my regular (non photografic) job
2. Try to see this Photo stuff more as a nice experiment
3. Take all rejections smiling
4. Experiment a bit more with my camera
5. Take my camera with me, ALWAYS !
6. Use my imagination
7. Try out some crazy ideas for concepts
8. Use hideous photos for some fun photoshop experiments
9. Buy an icecream and a coffee from my total photo earnings
10. Be terribly proud of my achivements

photojay · « **Reply #25 on:** January 25, 2008, 10:12 »

Quote from: Carla on January 25, 2008, 09:52

My list:
1. Cling to my regular (non photografic) job
2. Try to see this Photo stuff more as a nice experiment
3. Take all rejections smiling
4. Experiment a bit more with my camera
5. Take my camera with me, ALWAYS !
6. Use my imagination
7. Try out some crazy ideas for concepts
8. Use hideous photos for some fun photoshop experiments
9. Buy an icecream and a coffee from my total photo earnings
10. Be terribly proud of my achivements

Carla, you sound like me when I first started Stock. Don't worry, if you stick to #3, and keep asking questions, it won't be long before your earn enough for a burger and fries once a week!

techno · « **Reply #26 on:** June 03, 2008, 18:10 »

Subscription sales at Fotolia

What you think if some buyer can buy your images in 10 Subscription sites for 0.25$ ,that same buyer is idiot and pay you 20 $ for one photo .

Think about this .lol

All microstock sites now offer images in full resolution for 0.25-0.30$ .

Good luck for all of you.

snoozle · « **Reply #27 on:** June 03, 2008, 18:28 »

Quote from: Beckyabell on January 17, 2008, 18:31

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

7.Stop upload photos from family , girlfriends , neighbourhoods and colleagues .

There goes @ 90% of my portfolio....... I don't get this one.

Then again.... I have hot friends and a beautiful family.

Can I borrow some of your friends and family. My only family is my 76 year old dad who lives over 300 miles away. I'm still working on trying to get some hot friends

Alatriste · « **Reply #28 on:** June 03, 2008, 19:02 »

1. buy the new canon 5d mk2

4seasons · « **Reply #29 on:** June 03, 2008, 19:48 »

Quote from: techno on January 15, 2008, 18:13

1. go exclusive at istockphoto.com

This is the #1 thing NOT to do.
To go exclusive to IS you must be Lisa Gagne.

rinderart · « **Reply #30 on:** June 04, 2008, 23:51 »

Truly, One of the Dumb posts In History.My god. Wake up and smell the coffee My friend.

fotografer · « **Reply #31 on:** June 05, 2008, 01:14 »

Some people have no idea how much money is getting made by what they consider hobbyists and housewives with cameras using family and friends as models and very little outlay anywhere. Why would anybody pay a model if they have extremely well selling family and friends. Different markets require different types of images.

stokfoto · « **Reply #32 on:** June 05, 2008, 02:10 »

Quote from: Trebuchet on June 03, 2008, 19:02

1. buy the new canon 5d mk2

exactly!

louoates · « **Reply #33 on:** June 05, 2008, 11:20 »

1. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
2. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
3. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
4. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
etc.

fotografer · « **Reply #34 on:** June 05, 2008, 12:03 »

That's a great bit of advice. I made the mistake once, it won't happen again.

Quote from: louoates on June 05, 2008, 11:20

1. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
2. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
3. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
4. Not waste any more time with newbie microstock sites.
etc.

helix7 · « **Reply #35 on:** June 05, 2008, 13:36 »

Wonder if techno went exclusive at IS yet.

Adeptris · « **Reply #36 on:** June 05, 2008, 15:19 »

Only one thing really, live long enough to answer this question in 2009 etc:

melastmohican · « **Reply #37 on:** June 05, 2008, 15:24 »

The beauty of my situation is that I DO NOT HAVE to do anything. I CAN do something if want and nothing happens if I don't. Photography for me is all as good as it gets :-)

fotoKmyst · « **Reply #38 on:** June 05, 2008, 15:34 »

with the persistent sour noises (bad pun) from all the ranting i read on this forum (which i think is great and very informative albeit the bad news),
i guess my 10 things i should do in microstock is:
1-10- keep my dayjob

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Author Topic: What are 10 things which stock Photographer MUST DO in 2008 (Read 15042 times)

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