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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Software => Photoshop Discussion => Topic started by: rjmiz on February 10, 2008, 19:47

Title: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: rjmiz on February 10, 2008, 19:47
So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?

Early in my stock photography experience, I took hold of the concept, and what stock photos
were actually used for.

1. Stock images were used by companies who did not have enough venture capital to hire a photographer.
2. Designers who were not photographers, but were in need of a photographer's services.
3. Web masters and Bloggers, who just needed images to match the what they were representing on the net.
4. Free lance designers designing for another business in need of their services.
5. Advertisers looking to promote an idea, concept, or product.

When I realized just how many different people, business, and companies were in need of stock images, It
dawned on me that in order for me to be successful, I would have to meet the needs of all these people.

At first I thought.... "Impossible, I can't do that.... no way - there's not enough things for me to shoot with may camera"
I did not have a studio, I didn't have a large budget to hire models. So all I was left with were items I could shoot on my kitchen table.

As I began to peruse other people's portfolio's I realized we had something in common. They had the same items I had shot
but with different other items in the images also. I soon realized that I could double, triple, even quadruple my stock image output if I just
had a stock library of my very own. I actually have my very own stock library where I use the images over and over numerous amounts of time.

I have images of clouds, computer equipment, my own hands and fingers, package wrappers, and boxes, tools,    ....and on and on....
I have literally used some images over and over,  making more than 20 or more images, just from one subject item.

I write this post here not to brag about my work, but to give you the same advantage some of the more successful Photographers have had.
Start your own stock library. Put together your own campaigns, think business, and what other business men need.
Start by photographing every thing you can get your hands on. Place them in categories or folders on your hard drive. Name the folders,
"Tools, ....boxes, ....clouds, ....buildings.....etc. When you have a library that your proud of, then start gathering up ideas.

Some ideas that I key on:
1. Business, marketing, graphs,
2. Finances, money
3. Holidays, appropriate images
4. Computer, monitors, keyboards, mice
5. The internet, cyberspace, viruses, identity theft

Here are some examples of using my own stock library:

(http://www.microstockpix.com/image1.jpg)
The clear plastic container once contained a USB hub I bought at Best Buy!

(http://www.microstockpix.com/image2.jpg)
This one monitor has been used in over 40 images in my portfolio

(http://www.microstockpix.com/image3.jpg)
Books are an excellent source for creating tons of images
You can change the covers, titles...etc.

So.....get busy! Start today taking images of everything in your house! Don't worry about
how your going to use the images.... that comes later. Just build up your very own STOCK LIBRARY

Be well, and good luck to you,
The MIZ
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on February 10, 2008, 20:49
Didn't you just post this last month?
http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php/topic,3451.0.html
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: rjmiz on February 10, 2008, 22:50
Hey Sean!

You know something, your absolutely correct!
Wow I forgot all about that. The truth being, I do so much writing, I have begun to
forget which magazines, websites, and forums I did articles for. On top of that, I am
going nearly 18 hours a day for the last 45 days (Jan 1, 2008) on my own work, and the numerous tutorials.

I think it's time for a break. I thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Thank you kindly,
The MIZ

Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: mwp1969 on February 10, 2008, 22:51
Didn't you just post this last month?
[url]http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php/topic,3451.0.html[/url]


Always a pleasure to receive a post from the MIZ !

I ... had not seen this article before anywhere so thank you very much for posting it :)


Mark

Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: RT on February 11, 2008, 04:23
But do YOU actually sell many images like this.

Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: rjmiz on February 11, 2008, 07:03
RTimages.
I have managed to sell 4,687 images and made $3653.26 on DT alone.

Now my question to you ..... why are you sales so low? Maybe I can manage some time to help you
out, and give you a few tips. Drop me an email, and let me know how I can help you.

Your friend always,
The MIZ
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: RT on February 11, 2008, 09:08
RTimages.
I have managed to sell 4,687 images and made $3653.26 on DT alone.

Now my question to you ..... why are you sales so low? Maybe I can manage some time to help you
out, and give you a few tips. Drop me an email, and let me know how I can help you.

Your friend always,
The MIZ

Haha... I was amazed at how you manged to sell so many there as well, it's probably got something to do with the fact that you make loads of posts in the forum there, or the fact that you've been submitting images with them for a year and a half longer than me.

Strange that you didn't bring up your iStock figures or any of the others?

But if you want to quote figures here's some from iStock:
In 2 years and 8 months you've managed to only sell 2913
In 1 year and 2 months I've sold 5256

So in answer to your question, no thanks you would be the last person I'd ask for help.

Why don't you do a tutorial on an image that has then been accepted and sold well, that might give you a bit of credibility, it's a genuine question, I'm just intrigued as to why you do tutorials on images that are either very easy to do or are so small that you can't see the actual effect.


Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: helix7 on February 11, 2008, 10:01
... Start today taking images of everything in your house! Don't worry about how your going to use the images.... that comes later. Just build up your very own STOCK LIBRARY...

Maybe it's just me, but this seems like horrible advise. What good does it really do anyone to shoot every piece of junk in the house? Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't most successful images derived from concepts, rather than being forced out of random snapshots?

Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: Pixart on February 11, 2008, 11:44
Helix, you are correct about every piece of junk in the house.  That's likely not what Miz was entirely meaning, but sometimes I see things and don't quite know the useful purpose for them but know that it's a shot I need to take.  I do have folders of certain things that are not stock by themselves.  Flowers, skies, clouds, flower pots, tea cups, boxes, etc.    A couple just viewed their proofs on the weekend and asked if I would could put their little girl in a cloud.  Well.... I have a collection of clouds and I'll photograph my angel wings too.  I may not need the wings this time, but I'll have the file for future.    LOL, nothing like embarrasing your family lying on your belly by the fish pond, but I came home with a nice water lily that I finally got to stick a friend's baby in!
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: gborce on February 14, 2008, 13:41
I for one, appreciate every bit of posting the MIZ has done on this forum, both his instructional tutorials and his photography advice.

People who don't like them can just move on to the next thread, as your negative posts are redundant.

Keep on posting MIZ!
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: Pixart on February 14, 2008, 14:28
MIZ:  what category does your photoshop work fall into.  Are they now illustrations, or are they still photos?

(http://www.dreamstime.com/a-vision-thumb971729.jpg)

Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: rjmiz on February 14, 2008, 16:31
I dunno! I just do what comes to me at the time.
How about digitally enhanced images?
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: Susan S. on February 14, 2008, 18:00
It's interesting how different microstock sites view this sort of stuff differently - it's just about impossible to get images like this onto istock, unless you are Really good at photoshop compositing (I'm good enough for web sized imagery but don't have the patience for it to bear the sort of scrutiny that istock puts onto files), whereas other sites like shutterstock and DT sell them by the bucket load. One of the downsides of being exclusive to istock.
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: rjmiz on February 14, 2008, 18:58
I admit that I don't score very well with the reviewers there on Istock.   Frustrating for me
as I am so used to DT, FT, StockXpert and BS accepting them nearly 100% of the time. I am sorta
in my own league. I am NOT by any means a good photographer. My  Landscapes sell in private
galleries though and I have won several awards.

My stock photography sucks though as I lack the experience, knowledge and the know how to be of any mention.
SO, I rely on my photoshop skills to get me by in the stock imaging game. My use of the camera seems to be
limited to shooting "props" to take into photoshop, and work them from there.

So a fine art photographer I am .....stock I am a nothing. I have manage to slip a few photoshoped images by into IStock this week

(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5260778/2/istockphoto_5260778_credit_card_8.jpg)

and this one

(http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/5323419/2/istockphoto_5323419_credit_card_locked.jpg)

Don't ask how I did it, cause if I knew I would have alot more than I do in my measly little portfolio there.
But Susan to shed some light on the way some stock sites view these type of images?.... I would have to say
ALL including Alamy accept my images.... Istock is the only dark horse in my stable of sites I submit to.

Best Regards,
The MIZ
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: graficallyminded on February 14, 2008, 19:48
Bob you are the king of the conceptual images.  Me and Bob go back and forth over instant messager usually every day, and I like to try and give him ideas when he gets into a rut.  I get ideas from him as well, and sometimes I actually find the time to execute them (but rarely). 

Keep up the good work, buddy - your work is proof you don't need a studio to create awesome stock images.
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: mwp1969 on February 14, 2008, 23:11
Bob,

I for one find real beauty in your creations and I am proud to say that I am a recent pupil / disciple of your website. I have always found photos that appeared to be almost "mystical" in nature very pleasing. Yes ... they may be more appropriate in art galleries, or sell like a food shot when it comes to stock, but they are absolutely beautiful.

As a former architecture student, I love structures and landscapes. I also love nature ... These aren't the best things for stock photography and I realize that. I am also a real computer guy so I love all aspects of "Digital Photography" and have no problem running all of my photos through photoshop for at least minimal post-processing.

iStock can keep their standards and that's fine for me. I'm very happy to hear that your work gets accepted at most other places :)

Mark
Title: Re: So you are a stock photographer ... Do you have stock images you can use?
Post by: graficallyminded on March 04, 2008, 11:14
Bob - your gallery was recently featured in the StockXpert newsletter!  Not bad for your first month uploading seriously :)