But I am curious, isn't part of the deal with micro photographers that they are able to produce similar quality images for less than the pros were doing it?  For example most micro shooters I know use either friends/family as models, or else inexpensive aspiring models who will work for free or cheap for pics to add to their portfolios. 

Same with locations, travel, etc.  As RT pointed out, lots of people can get great "travel" shots, depending on where they live, without going more than 10 miles or so from their houses.

And with all the info online about building a home studio, most people can manage to put one together very cheaply, and some of them are quite elaborate.

I am not denying there are some things that might require more of an investment and those need to be adequately compensated.  But I think we have all discovered with micro that excellent quality images can be created in many, many areas without breaking the bank to produce them.

It's not really a question of being a micro photographer but rather a photographer supplying the micro market. My only attempt in this thread is to perhaps expand people's ideas of what the market is and where they want to fit in. Friends and family are fine but they are only good for so long, as are locations. At some point you have to spend more to make a certain quality of image, the question becomes can you get make enough money from it.

But of course you can also rake in thousands of $$$ for a single RM sale. I'd assume though that those sales mostly appear for really, really ambitious and famous photographers that have connections, reputation and most likely a studio etc.

A lot of what you said I agree with except the above quote. I am anything but famous, not that ambitious (perhaps more patient) and have few connections. However I still see a lot of good sales come through. Had a $1700 sales today for a rather mundane image that would have been rejected for all the usual reasons if submitted to micro. A good image but not great, however it filled a niche for a customer that wanted something less used. An old image I might add, something like 15 years old.

Simple Question  (or maybe not).
   I've been around for awhile now and have been relatively successful in the micros, being with as many as 9 at one time ( now down to  6). I've been published magazines, books, and have been doing well marketing and selling direct.   
    Early on in my micro  'career'  I sent materials to Jupiter and Getty..  I was basically told by them both... they liked the work, but of course,  it was too small, come back when I was shooting larger files.
   I've been shooting with my 5D Mk II for a while now and feel comfortable with the  results and am now considering the macro market.

Simple question for my photog brothers and sisters that are with macro agencies...
your opinions, observations, pro/cons.... etc

Getty,  Jupiter, Corbis...     who are you with, would you change if you started over? 

I am for the most part  landscape, nature.

Any thoughts  & advice would be appreciated.   =tom

I think it's best to consider both sides of the fence. The ones who tout only one part of the equation generally lose out. Nothing is exact but  to say micro only  or macro only is kinda dumb.

Your ad on this site is incorrect. Not Comission but Commission unless I'm missing something.

I'm not too sure who you would have to be to actually get a contract from one of the big 2 trad agencies these days. I can say unequivocally that there are many awesome images offered on micro that would, even today, make way more if offered for sale in a good trad agency than on micro. I can also say with near equal certainty that these images would never have a chance of being represented there. Too bad for everyone.

"Is setting up a foreign office really worth while to appease some contributors? Is that why other micros set up foreign offices? I doubt it." <- Zeus, you're missing the point.  Setting up foreign offices provides other benefits like lower taxes, possible local grants, etc.  Appeased contributors is loooooow on the list.  Foresight....higher.

Perhaps this has been discussed in the past, the need for foreign offices that is, it's just now that people have to do some leg work and  in some cases pay out some money, that the complaints have set in. A foreign office is an expensive proposition, there needs to be a really good reason fro one.

I find it humorous or more accurately perplexing, that something as simple as filling in a tax form can create such a huge furor. Last time I checked taxes were one of the few things in life that are absolute. It's unfortunate that some countries are not covered by tax treaties but I would suggest petitioning your own government to change those laws with the US. I'd like to see this sort of outrage with 25 cent downloads. As for the W-8BEN, I've filled 8 of them so far and everyone has required either an EIN or ITIN. I suggest getting both if you qualify for the EIN. Do the paper work and get on with it. That's business, at least we don't have to bribe officials to get things done.

Here's a cool surfing video done in slow mo, I think the camera cost $100,000

HD: Super Slo-mo Surfer! - South Pacific - BBC Two

I must admit I've got sympathy for those individuals living in countries that do not have an agreement with the US though.

That's for sure. It's one thing to have to jump through a hoop or two, it's another to have no choice.

[
First, as you are fully aware, the Internet was created by the United States under the supervision of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Al Gore.  There would be no such thing as the Internet if it weren't for good old Al.  Since the U.S. created the Internet, it is only fair that it reaps the rewards from any commerce done over the Internet. 

the internet has nothing to do with this,  W-8BEN and the rest were required a long time ago. Long before the internet was the preferred method of picture buying. I'm surprised it's taken the US micros so long  to twig onto this. Other countries do this too. I have  to supply signed documents to a Spanish agency so they don't keep a bunch for tax on their end.

Have SS said they will accept an EIN number?  I can only see them asking for an ITIN number.

They really should. A company has to be able to deal with a company.

Quote from Leaf:

If you qualify for an EIN you can get it over the phone (and the official papers will be sent in the mail) speading things up a bit.  IRS number +1-215-516-6999 That is how I got my number a while back when another site needed it.



Can u explain this. It seems too easy. To get ITIN u need to do a W7 and send in together with Notarized Id. Is this something else?

When I did this I got both numbers and recall one of them needing only a simple telephone call to get. I thought the same thing. Why so easy? Who cares though.

Got an Intuos 4 for my birthday. Just getting it sorted out for the different applications but I do find it a real treat to use.