Author Topic: who bought your images? can you find out? (Read 3194 times)

hali · « **on:** November 19, 2008, 11:26 »

i seem to be having really good luck with specific images. and i get the feeling it's always the same company or person who visits my port to get them.
why? it's almost instantaneous for some of the items.

usually it takes a while before i sell something, and it's not from a specific category.
but my travel photos are taken so quickly and my industrial shots too.
so i must have a fave buyer(s).

is there anyway to know ?

fotografer · « **Reply #1 on:** November 19, 2008, 12:25 »

As far as I know Fotolia is the only site of the big 6 that tells you who the buyer is.

michealo · « **Reply #2 on:** November 19, 2008, 13:08 »

& tineye can tell you were they are used (sometimes)

epantha · « **Reply #3 on:** November 19, 2008, 13:36 »

I think there are unwritten aesthetic rules that run throughout the collective unconscious of international clients who buy our photos. There are certain images that do well on every site and I think it is because they fill a need for a lot of people or they are very eye catching and well done and people are compelled to buy them. So it really isn't the same person buying your photos, it is many different people buying your work because it is just what they are looking for.

hali · « **Reply #4 on:** November 19, 2008, 14:48 »

epantha, good point! i never thought about that.
maybe it is something i should study from my sales. maybe there is a trend , and this might help me decide what images i am wasting my time shooting, and what images i should concentrate on for stock.
thx for bringing it up.

stormchaser · « **Reply #5 on:** November 19, 2008, 17:53 »

Very good industrial does well.

I have been left notes by a few people at DT telling me about how the image will be used. Unfortunately it's something that can;t be realistically encouraged, but the notes are nice when you do get them.

Sold one just the other day where the buyer is already putting together a Valentine's Day ad.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #6 on:** November 19, 2008, 17:56 »

There are a few things you can do. One, is surf the web under your name, your tag, or your company name if applicable. You'd be surprised what shows up. For example, this monday, I surfed under my name, viewing images. I found that Forbes used one of my pix in a web article this week. . At the same time, on the same page, I found a national park related website using several of my pix. By tags showing up on the copyright with the pix, I knew that all these particular pix came from SS.

I have also written to some places that I've found buying my pix asking for samples. I have been successful with this as well.

Snoop around, you probably will find some of your work.

=tom