Hi all

I have joined today so I am not sure I have posted this in the right section? Is not please will someone put it in the correct place.

I have joined some stock sites but have not submitted any of my photo because I have feeling I either won't be excepted or sell any.

What would be a good way to start, in other what sort of subjects? Any suggests would be greatly appreciated. Are there any good books out there on the subject?

There is also no harm in trying to upload a few of your images and see how they do.  if they don't sell, no harm done, if they aren't accepted - learn from your mistakes.

I would try dreamstime and fotolia for starters, as they do not require test images to get started and have allright sales.

The most important thing you have to do is recognize your mindset.

In order to be successful in stock photography you will need to create images that have a very distinct purpose or idea behind them. That idea can be anything, and can take any form. Some people like to make specimen shots of single items in a studio-like environment, others prefer to make images of people in more natural environments. A lot of beginners think that their pretty nature shots will sell well, but few do: although they're nice to look at, very few of these pictures contain a clear message, and broadcasting a message is what commercial photography is all about.

By thinking of photographs in terms of idea/purpose/message you will have taken the most difficult first step. The next steps - content and creativity - are much easier.

... good luck!

Best of luck Kirsten.

As others said it's a kind of learning as you go along - getting to know what sells and what type of work the various agencies accept.

Don't even bother to send pictures of flowers, sunsets, your pets, unless they are really good and you're 100% sure that they'll sell. The reason is that they have tons of these images and you would just waste your time by uploading them.

ciao Kirsten, welcome to the wonderful world (well, almost) of micro stock.
StockXpert is an awesome site to belong. The reviewers are very reasonable, and their rejection reasons are helpful, not vague like some  Pay attention to what the reviewers' reasons of rejections are, and correct those reasons, and resubmit.
Istock, well, it's a bit touch and go, no one really knows .  Other than, never send anything that SS approves to IS, and v.v.  And try to submit with as little post-processing for IS. forget about selective focus. get everything clean and sharp with DOF. or else, IS will reject. this much I can tell . but I am not much with IS, other than that. I hope the others here can help you with IS.
More than anything, participate here and ask questions. And enjoy. Chill and not get too serious with some answers you get here. Carry an extra second glass of ale
so you don't get too irate if you get someone who sounds a bit too heavy .
never come into this forum stone sobre, heh!heh!... just joking.

Hi Kirsten, I have some radical advice for you. The secret to knowing what to shoot is to 'think like a designer'. All very well, but maybe you're not one. Well, that can be fixed. There's a wonderful institution on istock called the Steel Cage. Designers (and would be designers) engage in Photoshop battles. There's no better way to discover what designers want (and what the library has to offer) than to go hunting for the right image to complete your killer blow. It's also a great way to develop as a conceptual artist - not a bad thing for a stock photographer.

To engage in this pastime (art as blood sport, it has been called), if you're not yet a contributor to istock then you'll need to become a member anyway and purchase a few images (this will make you a bona fide buyer). Can't remember what the cheapest credit pack is but that's all you need to get started. Then, enable battles in your Control Panel, find an opponent, and you're off and running. Apart from getting to know the collection from a buyers perspective, the Photoshop skill you'll pick up as you go will be invaluable. You'll find the Steel Cage among the istock forums.

PS I spend most of my time in the cage these days instead of out taking photos, so this is a danger.