Author Topic: what is the best stock photo agency? (Read 9202 times)

cicerocastro · « **on:** November 21, 2017, 08:13 »

Hi everyone,

I'm uploading my 365 days concept self-portraits challenge to my EyeEm account (www.eyeem.com/u/_kikero) and my photos are being selected to the premium collection of EyeEm but I would like to know if EyEm is the best solution or if there is another best stock agency to upload my work?

Maybe Gettyimages/Istock?
Maybe Stocksy?
Maybe Pond5?
Maybe Adobestock?

Give me your honest opinion and thank you in advance.

BillMcQueen · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2017, 09:54 »

If the choice is limited by these four, I'd prefer Adobestock

cobalt · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2017, 10:48 »

Different portfolios give very different results.

Eyeem is a photo community with artsy content. Outside of eyeem, at least in my experience, these files dońt sell so well.

I would pick a mix of 4-6 different agencies in addition to eyee, and committ yourself to uploading 1500 files in one year.

Upload a large mix of files - lifestyle, food, travel, conceptual. Pay attention to seasonal events. Some very local stuff from your daily life, some very generic files including simple backgrounds.

You have a long learning curve ahead of you if you are seriously interested in making money on a regular basis.

But...you could also decide to just do what you love and only upload your personal favorites to different places. For some people, this is the best option.

However, I believe unless you try it...you will never know how much stock can do for you.

Main thing: shoot, upload, repeat. Listen to the customers, what are they buying? Shoot, upload, repeat...

Most people never make it because they don’t upload on a regular basis. Over 1 million new files enter the agencies every week, it is incredibly competitive.

Enjoy the journey!

Asthebelltolls · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2017, 11:39 »

Good creative thinking. I like your effort. Cobalt's got some good advise.

MysteryShot · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2017, 12:52 »

I recommend Twenty20, they are in demand of "people" images, in natural light, i sold a good amount there, you get 2$.
I did not sell anything on eyeem, because only "stock style" images will be sent to partner sites like Getty and Alamy.

m00n · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2017, 16:54 »

Quote from: MysteryShot on November 21, 2017, 12:52

...
I did not sell anything on eyeem, because only "stock style" images will be sent to partner sites like Getty and Alamy.

Actually that's not true. "stock style" images is not what they are looking for and selecting to send to partners, such as Getty or Adobe premium collection. They want images that are candid, spontaneous, real life situations, and if it shows people the better (released obviously).

cobalt · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2017, 18:07 »

With „stock style“ you mean stock 2006? Mostly design elements and posed pictures, happy woman laughing with salad?

No, that is not what eyeem is looking for.

Actually no agency is looking for that. All agencies are asking more or less for the exact same thing: highly localized content with mostly natural light, with people looking of camera and of course always model released.

However...this is actually much harder to shoot. The images they give you as an example may look „spontaneous „ but are usually done by super pro and experienced teams.

All the colours are muted earth tones, images are shoot outdoors against the sun or have lensflare added, lots of highly unrealistic images like all these images where people are hiding their faces or the back of faces. Normal people don‘t do that in real life, this is a „fake authentic“ trend.

The real world is messy, the „fake authentic“ style has an etheral and otherwordly feel to it. The majority of people on this planet live in very crowded and often dirty urban areas, yet „fake authentic“ provides nature escapism with a happy 70ies retro vibe.

A romantic and sanitized memory of better days, obviously ignoring the cold war and ugly politics, peace marches, everybody smoking heavily, not taking showers daily and people with really yellow teeth.

The trend does sell very well, but you really need to understand it when you shoot it.

„Authentic“ is a specialized style popular in the stock industry today.

It is NOT editorial or documentary photography.

Trends like these come and go, those that spot them early make the most money.

But you can upload that style anywhere — eyeem, shutterstock, offset...they all want it.

pancaketom · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2017, 01:38 »

Whenever a site says "authentic" what they usually mean is people that look like models in carefully staged situations so that they aren't posed like models usually pose. Natural light means carefully crafted light so it doesn't look like artificial light. I've seen what authentic people look like - that usually isn't what they want.

If you can be a little ahead of the trends through skill or luck with whatever the hot look is though - you can do well.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2017, 01:44 »

Quote from: pancaketom on November 22, 2017, 01:38

Whenever a site says "authentic" what they usually mean is people that look like models in carefully staged situations so that they aren't posed like models usually pose. Natural light means carefully crafted light so it doesn't look like artificial light. I've seen what authentic people look like - that usually isn't what they want.

If you can be a little ahead of the trends through skill or luck with whatever the hot look is though - you can do well.

"Authentic" .....I see very few shots of overweight middle aged business men in in ill fitting suits working in untidy offices. "authentic" nope "enhanced reality maybe

everest · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2017, 02:28 »

Great post Cobalt. That's the way it is ...that is the actual trend and yes every agency is now interested in this type of shoots. They are not easy to accomplish do

Quote from: cobalt on November 21, 2017, 18:07

With „stock style“ you mean stock 2006? Mostly design elements and posed pictures, happy woman laughing with salad?

No, that is not what eyeem is looking for.

Actually no agency is looking for that. All agencies are asking more or less for the exact same thing: highly localized content with mostly natural light, with people looking of camera and of course always model released.

However...this is actually much harder to shoot. The images they give you as an example may look „spontaneous „ but are usually done by super pro and experienced teams.

All the colours are muted earth tones, images are shoot outdoors against the sun or have lensflare added, lots of highly unrealistic images like all these images where people are hiding their faces or the back of faces. Normal people don‘t do that in real life, this is a „fake authentic“ trend.

The real world is messy, the „fake authentic“ style has an etheral and otherwordly feel to it. The majority of people on this planet live in very crowded and often dirty urban areas, yet „fake authentic“ provides nature escapism with a happy 70ies retro vibe.

A romantic and sanitized memory of better days, obviously ignoring the cold war and ugly politics, peace marches, everybody smoking heavily, not taking showers daily and people with really yellow teeth.

The trend does sell very well, but you really need to understand it when you shoot it.

„Authentic“ is a specialized style popular in the stock industry today.

It is NOT editorial or documentary photography.

Trends like these come and go, those that spot them early make the most money.

But you can upload that style anywhere — eyeem, shutterstock, offset...they all want it.

cobalt · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2017, 03:31 »

Alamy has a good blog post about it.

http://www.alamy.com/blog/woman-laughing-alone-with-salad

The really important thing is (as always) the casting of highly interesting models.

Not „classical miss universe style“ people. But really interesting character faces and lots of people that you can immediatly place with a minority community group.

In the US and many other places the vast majority are overweight, if not obese, yet you rarely find big people in advertising.

The biggest pressure though is to find interesting „best agers“, people with grey hair and just enough wrinkles to pass as seniors, but yet with yoga slender figures and the gracefulness of ballet dancers.

In the end it is always advertising.

Nobody wants to buy the real world.

cicerocastro · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2017, 07:32 »

Quote from: cobalt on November 21, 2017, 10:48

Different portfolios give very different results.

I would pick a mix of 4-6 different agencies in addition to eyee, and committ yourself to uploading 1500 files in one year.

Upload a large mix of files - lifestyle, food, travel, conceptual. Pay attention to seasonal events. Some very local stuff from your daily life, some very generic files including simple backgrounds.

You have a long learning curve ahead of you if you are seriously interested in making money on a regular basis.

What kind of long learning curve I have to learn?

cicerocastro · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2017, 07:34 »

Quote from: MysteryShot on November 21, 2017, 12:52

I recommend Twenty20, they are in demand of "people" images, in natural light, i sold a good amount there, you get 2$.
I did not sell anything on eyeem, because only "stock style" images will be sent to partner sites like Getty and Alamy.

So, why they are selecting my pictures to the premium collection?

cicerocastro · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2017, 07:39 »

Quote from: pancaketom on November 22, 2017, 01:38

Whenever a site says "authentic" what they usually mean is people that look like models in carefully staged situations so that they aren't posed like models usually pose. Natural light means carefully crafted light so it doesn't look like artificial light. I've seen what authentic people look like - that usually isn't what they want.

If you can be a little ahead of the trends through skill or luck with whatever the hot look is though - you can do well.

I fully agree with you!

cicerocastro · « **Reply #14 on:** November 22, 2017, 07:43 »

Quote from: MysteryShot on November 21, 2017, 12:52

I recommend Twenty20, they are in demand of "people" images, in natural light, i sold a good amount there, you get 2$.
I did not sell anything on eyeem, because only "stock style" images will be sent to partner sites like Getty and Alamy.

Thank you for the advice.

MysteryShot · « **Reply #15 on:** November 22, 2017, 07:43 »

Quote from: cicerocastro on November 22, 2017, 07:34

Quote from: MysteryShot on November 21, 2017, 12:52
I recommend Twenty20, they are in demand of "people" images, in natural light, i sold a good amount there, you get 2$.
I did not sell anything on eyeem, because only "stock style" images will be sent to partner sites like Getty and Alamy.

So, why they are selecting my pictures to the premium collection?

Even if Eyeem says ( your images are in the premium collection) it does not mean they are "all" sent to partner sites.
Did you check if your images are on Getty, Adobe,Alamy?

I have about 140 images in the premium collection, (update i sold 1 image to getty)

Have you tried Twenty20?, i know there is only an iPhone app, but you can use the website.

cobalt · « **Reply #16 on:** November 22, 2017, 09:16 »

Quote from: cicerocastro on November 22, 2017, 07:32

What kind of long learning curve I have to learn?

To learn which themes sell best for you and at which agency.

- how much time and money will you invest in your shootings, how large will your team be or will you do everything yourself?

- Which agencies reject what part of your your content and why?

- Should you process neutral or with a color filter trend, if so...which one and for what subject matter? And should I process the same file differently for different agencies?

- Which models or actors sell best and in what theme?

Which location gives you the best results?

- How many files should you upload every week and how does it affect your sales? is it better to upload everything in one day or even once a month, or every day 5 images? Some agencies give a huge push if you upload it all in one go others prefer daily log ins and uploads.

-Does sorting your files into visible galleries help your sales? And if yes, on which agencies?

- Does self promoting your galleries or shootings on social media help your sales?

- Is it worth uploading editorial?

- Is it really worth it to shoot highly localized content, which is what all agencies are asking for? But does it really make more money?

- When is the best time to upload seasonal images (christmas, thanksgiving, back to school). Different agencies have different buyer groups, the sales pattern is different.

- Which keywords are the most important? How do I add keywords later if there is a new image trend or popular color or color of the year. And is it worth it to rekeyword files with "metrosexual", "greenery" etc...

- Do customers prefer images shot in window view, directly ahead, or shot from above or below? How many variations should I do on a scene?

- Is it worth shooting video?

- Is it worth hiring someone for video? or for post production, or for uploading and keywording?

- Which props do I use? Do I need a storage room for often used furniture, tools, fireplace, plates and cutlery and clothes for models?

- Is there somebody in my area I can team up with for shootings?

- Do I only shoot with the most expensive equipment...or do I do it all on my mobile phone?

- How big is the market for mobile uploads?

- how big is the market for drone footage?

- For 360 photos and videos??

- Can I sell prints? is it worth uploading to print sites or greeting cards?

- Should I sign up with an agency for exclusive only content - stocksy, westend, getty, blendimages, stockfood? Will I get accepted? (There are hundreds of small agencies on the planet. many work with distribution partners but some only sell direct)

- and if i am part of an exclusive agency - what sells best on their site?

- how much exclusive content should I give agencies like fotolia, dreamstime and others that allow exclusive images in addition to non exclusive content? On some agencies exclusive content can raise the overall visibility of your portfolio, even if the exclusive files themselves don´t sell. But how strong is that effect and how much a percentage of your portfolio should be exclusive for best results?

- Is it worth selling directly with a webshop of my own? If yes, with which subject matter? If yes - on my own website or via Photoshelter?

- which facebook groups or forums should I follow to get the best information of what sells best where?

- do I have a great network of doctors, small business owners, chefs, nurses, school age children, families, especially from minority communities, technicians or gardeners that i can team up with for subject specific and authentic shootings?

etc...

Most of all: how much money do I want to make??

500 dollars every month or 20 000 dollars every month.

Anyway...good luck...and have fun

cicerocastro · « **Reply #17 on:** November 22, 2017, 10:13 »

Quote from: MysteryShot on November 22, 2017, 07:43

Quote from: cicerocastro on November 22, 2017, 07:34
Quote from: MysteryShot on November 21, 2017, 12:52
I recommend Twenty20, they are in demand of "people" images, in natural light, i sold a good amount there, you get 2$.
I did not sell anything on eyeem, because only "stock style" images will be sent to partner sites like Getty and Alamy.

So, why they are selecting my pictures to the premium collection?

Even if Eyeem says ( your images are in the premium collection) it does not mean they are "all" sent to partner sites.
Did you check if your images are on Getty, Adobe,Alamy?

I have about 140 images in the premium collection, (update i sold 1 image to getty)

Have you tried Twenty20?, i know there is only an iPhone app, but you can use the website.

Today I signed the Twenty20 and I uploaded some photos. Let's see what happens.

I already tried to check if my images are on Getty but I couldn't

So I'm thinking to upload directly to Getty, Adobe and Alamy and to give up from EyeEm.

cobalt · « **Reply #18 on:** November 22, 2017, 11:20 »

Do you have a direct contract with getty images?

You cannot just sign up with them and upload, like with eyeem or alamy.

You need to apply and get accepted.

cicerocastro · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2017, 12:11 »

Quote from: cobalt on November 22, 2017, 11:20

Do you have a direct contract with getty images?

You cannot just sign up with them and upload, like with eyeem or alamy.

You need to apply and get accepted.

I applied and I was accepted by Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Istock, Getty Images, Alamy and EyeEm. So I can upload to the agencies that I said.

cobalt · « **Reply #20 on:** November 22, 2017, 12:24 »

That is great! Congrats!

So...fill them up!

cobalt · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2017, 12:29 »

Here is a stock facebook group in English.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/528975450770379/

Otherwise I can recommend the pond5 sales thread on their forums. it is amazing to see what sells. Don´t forget to share share some sales once in a while.

amabu · « **Reply #22 on:** November 22, 2017, 13:21 »

Quote from: cicerocastro on November 22, 2017, 12:11

Quote from: cobalt on November 22, 2017, 11:20
Do you have a direct contract with getty images?

You cannot just sign up with them and upload, like with eyeem or alamy.

You need to apply and get accepted.

I applied and I was accepted by Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Istock, Getty Images, Alamy and EyeEm. So I can upload to the agencies that I said.

No, you can´t. Anything you upload to Getty is exclusive, you can´t send it anywhere else.

And with 23 images in your portfolio you won´t make more than a few cents anywhere. And neither with 365 self portraits.

cicerocastro · « **Reply #23 on:** November 22, 2017, 15:04 »

Quote from: amabu on November 22, 2017, 13:21

Quote from: cicerocastro on November 22, 2017, 12:11
Quote from: cobalt on November 22, 2017, 11:20
Do you have a direct contract with getty images?

You cannot just sign up with them and upload, like with eyeem or alamy.

You need to apply and get accepted.

I applied and I was accepted by Shutterstock, Adobe Stock, Istock, Getty Images, Alamy and EyeEm. So I can upload to the agencies that I said.

No, you can´t. Anything you upload to Getty is exclusive, you can´t send it anywhere else.

And with 23 images in your portfolio you won´t make more than a few cents anywhere. And neither with 365 self portraits.

if portraits do not sell, then what does it sells in getty images?

lostintimeline · « **Reply #24 on:** November 22, 2017, 19:05 »

Cats

cobalt · « **Reply #25 on:** November 23, 2017, 14:18 »

Lifestyle.

People doing something, families eating together, seniors exercising, business people doing business things.

The stock industry is not an art marketplace.

It is all about content that customers can use in their advertising.

how many insurances, pizzas or cars will your portraits sell? Can a medical doctor or lawyer use them to advertise his services?

If you do a shooting, you have to visualize the customer. Who are you shooting for? How will they use the image? Will it be in newspaper as a print ad? A banner on a website? A huge poster on a trade show?

Stock is not about you, it is all about the invisible customer.

So did you think of a customer when you took those pictures. Or where they just fun for yourself?

Gettyimages and all agencies have blogs where you can read what they need. Or even have a page with many articles and examples what their sales people are looking for, because this is what customers need.

But of course upload your portraits to all the non exclusive agencies and see what happens.

Who knows, maybe your face is just what someone needs and you get lots of buyers.

cicerocastro · « **Reply #26 on:** November 23, 2017, 18:02 »

You are getting to the heart of the matter.

By the type of content that I put in EyeEm, what really is the best stock agency, EyeEm itself or another.

Answer that honestly still no one could tell me.

And once again, Stocksy? Artsy? Twenty20?

Honestly too, if it is real lifestyle that stock agencies seeks, then anyone can photograph themselves in their home, garden, park, city, etc. and thus does contain travel costs, stuff and staff and model releases.

Who agree with me?

cobalt · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2017, 19:27 »

Yes. there are thousands of photographers who do just that. they take pictures with themselves and their friends and family.

there are sometimes three generations of family members living only from stock photography income, especially if you live in a country with overall lower daily life costs.

that is why the agencies receive over 1.2 million images every single week. In 3 years that might be 5 million images a week.

that is why it is so difficult to find customers.

Oversupply of content.

But....the majority of content is not very well done. It takes years of experience to find an image style that sells well and also years to build up a following of loyal customers.

That is why I said if you are really interested in making a reliable income from stock photography you have years of hard work ahead of you.

there is no magic secret and there is no shortcut. the successful photographers all have their personal little secret of what content sells best where. they might send mostly food to Shutterstock, people to eyeem and travel images to getty.

or mostly food to getty, flowers to eyeem and cats to dreamstime.

And they also have content that sells well everywhere. So when you look at people´s portfolios you really cannot tell what works best.

It also depends on who you are. A gardener can create a beautiful portfolio of thousands of excellent images about how to grow a garden, knows when to plant what and what kind of flowers are currently the trend. If I upload garden or flower pictures, it will not sell, because i don´t understand the subject matter.

But the most important is to upload.

many people just get lost reading and thinking about stock, but never upload anything.

just upload 1500 files and let the customer decide the strategy for you. It´s all up to them in the end.

hard work and and years of patience. No magic. No shortcut.

leaf · « **Reply #28 on:** November 24, 2017, 01:27 »

Quote from: cobalt on November 23, 2017, 19:27

Yes. there are thousands of photographers who do just that. they take pictures with themselves and their friends and family.

there are sometimes three generations of family members living only from stock photography income, especially if you live in a country with overall lower daily life costs.

that is why the agencies receive over 1.2 million images every single week. In 3 years that might be 5 million images a week.

that is why it is so difficult to find customers.

Oversupply of content.

But....the majority of content is not very well done. It takes years of experience to find an image style that sells well and also years to build up a following of loyal customers.

That is why I said if you are really interested in making a reliable income from stock photography you have years of hard work ahead of you.

there is no magic secret and there is no shortcut. the successful photographers all have their personal little secret of what content sells best where. they might send mostly food to Shutterstock, people to eyeem and travel images to getty.

or mostly food to getty, flowers to eyeem and cats to dreamstime.

And they also have content that sells well everywhere. So when you look at people´s portfolios you really cannot tell what works best.

It also depends on who you are. A gardener can create a beautiful portfolio of thousands of excellent images about how to grow a garden, knows when to plant what and what kind of flowers are currently the trend. If I upload garden or flower pictures, it will not sell, because i don´t understand the subject matter.

But the most important is to upload.

many people just get lost reading and thinking about stock, but never upload anything.

just upload 1500 files and let the customer decide the strategy for you. It´s all up to them in the end.

hard work and and years of patience. No magic. No shortcut.

Great advice cobalt!

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Author Topic: what is the best stock photo agency? (Read 9202 times)

cicerocastro

BillMcQueen

cobalt

Asthebelltolls

MysteryShot

m00n

cobalt

pancaketom

Pauws99

everest

cobalt

cicerocastro

cicerocastro

cicerocastro

cicerocastro

MysteryShot

cobalt

cicerocastro

cobalt

cicerocastro

cobalt

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amabu

cicerocastro

lostintimeline

cobalt

cicerocastro

cobalt

leaf

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