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Messages - a.k.a.-tom

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251
I believe there is considerable use of free lance photogs used by publishing agencies. Most magazines are owned by a larger publishing agency which in turn is  owned by an even larger publisher.
   I free lance for one myself. Much of the photography in the magazines is on an assignment basis.  An article idea is hatched, a photog is hired to shoot for it. I will get an assignment, go shoot a few dozen images of the subject of which a few to a dozen may be used in the story (depending on how many pages the article is to be). All images are my intellectual property, my copyright, and may only be used once except if used to advertise the magazine. I work on a half day rate. If asked by the art director or the author to go back to a subject and shoot even one more picture, it is another half day.
     However,  magazine art directors and editors DO pick through the micros. And why not?  In this economy, it is far more cost affective!!!  The editor I deal with on a regular basis and his art directors DO  surf  DT, SS, & IS.  This is when they need only one specific image for a singular topic or small article. For larger articles, a photog is assigned.
      Just recently,  Forbes tapped one of my pix (a cityscapeJ) for an article. They purchased it from SS.  I believe this will happen even more frequently with the growth of  web-zines. According to the publishers I work with, the magazine industry in general is in a terrible funk. The competition for readers is extreme. Since the baby boomers,  each generation is gaining less and less information from print.  Hence many magazines/publishers are looking to the WWW.

Anyway, that's what the chit-chat is with the editor's in the local Starbucks.      time will tell.

True, most of the images for magazines may still be coming from the macros....  but that will change just as the entire image buying industry has changed in the last 10 years.   8)=tom

252
123RF / Re: Do you make $100/month at 123RF?
« on: November 24, 2008, 14:37 »
ha..... took me a year to make my first $100 at 123....  'course I only have a little over a hundred images there..... 8)=tom

253
I shoot all winter frequently below freezing and sometimes down in the teens (F). The only problem I've had is with the lenses fogging up. The Canon just keeps on clicking!  And of course, the lens is only a problem if  I keep getting in and out of the truck.  I have gone for hours outside shooting landscape and never experience a camera problem.
     As someone did mention...my older batteries die quickly, no staying power.


254
LLC.     

255
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. 8)=tom

256
Site Related / Re: Adorama discounts for Microstockgroup members
« on: October 30, 2008, 15:00 »
the emails (coupons) haven't gone out yet.  They should go out any time though... i think before friday... it is adorama that is sending them.

thanks, leaf!   tom

257
General Stock Discussion / Re: Tracking Individual Image Sales?
« on: October 30, 2008, 14:58 »
I do.  Most dont.  I simpy wrote a spreadsheet. I have a master containing every photo being sold on the micros.  I have slave spreadsheets for every agency I'm with.  I track dates and $$ for every picture. The slaves feed the master.
   I know every picture I've sold, what day, where and for how much since I've gotten into the biz a few years ago.
   It has come in handy as every agency I've ever been with did not 'track' my sales as well as I did. However, the big ones and most of the small ones do a fine job.   8)=tom

258
Site Related / Re: Adorama discounts for Microstockgroup members
« on: October 28, 2008, 17:54 »
sorry to be a pain... but what is the latest.  how's this thing going down? I  'opted in'   when the it was first requested....  was I supposed to get an email on this?
   again, sorry. I must have missed something somewhere.   

259
Zymmetrical.com / Re: Waste of time?
« on: October 22, 2008, 16:20 »
Aka Tom and others that read my blog.

didn't read it. didn't know anything about it.  this is the only forum/blog i read. don't have the time to spend out there surfing the web. Thanks for your comment though. appreciated..  8)=tom

260
Zymmetrical.com / Re: Waste of time?
« on: October 21, 2008, 12:37 »

261
Shutterstock.com / Re: How much this beast need to be fed?
« on: October 20, 2008, 19:49 »
If you go to discount store do not complain that it is overcrowded and messy :-) You would never get Mercedes quality at Fiat price :-)
;D true true.
but then again, what another person call quality, you might call garbage, right?  ???

Amen to that, hali !!!  I can confess this.  I have my own share of what I consider is junk......... but,    it sells!   Why?  Beats the stuffing out of me. All I can figure is "One man's trash is another man's treasure".
    As for getting Mercedes quality at the Fiat price...   hey,  I've sold the very same pictures at Fiat and Mercedes prices.  LOL  LOL
    I have one particular pic that sells for 33 cents on SS.  I've also sold it for $500. :D  Go figure.  There's no ryhme or reason to it.  I just sit back and cash the checks and sip my beer.  8)=tom

262
Bigstock.com / Re: BigStock don't understand Editorial
« on: October 20, 2008, 19:38 »
as i said before , i like BigStock. but lately, yes, i've been getting the most atrocious rejection comments too.

I've always like BigStock.  And I still do! Been with them since mid-2006.  But I too have been getting some off-the-wall rejects.  Same story, stuff that IS is selling, I'm getting kicked down from BigStock.

Oh well,  I know they all have their rules and regs (and quirks).  I continue to upload at BigStock. And, I still do like them.  8)=tom

263
My wife and I use a Canon A620 when we're out in the dirt, dirt, dirt (that is, places there is no way I'd pull out my good cams).  It takes a very good shot, fantastic as a family snapshot cam.  As a job cam,  well it's no 5D, but I have to say, we have sold quite a few pix that came out of the thing...     I got my money's worth out of it. Hey, it's a P&S,  you can only expect so much. 
      After we first got it,  I wasn't very pleased, but the thing grew on me.  8)=tom

264
Zymmetrical.com / Re: Waste of time?
« on: October 20, 2008, 19:10 »
Keith....  one question, please....  is Mr. P. Melcher still associated with your organization? 8)=tom

265
Cameras / Lenses / Re: Canon 5d Mark II in stock at BHphoto
« on: October 19, 2008, 13:51 »
thanks much, Leaf!!       -tom

266
Cameras / Lenses / Re: Canon 5d Mark II in stock at BHphoto
« on: October 18, 2008, 23:14 »
I've been in Florida for the last 2 weeks and out of the loop (no web access). Just got back a few hours ago with a couple thousand pix. ( hope there's a few usable in the lot... LOL)

What's the story on this? Did it go anywhere? I opted in but got no follow-up email. 
Somebody please enlighten me. I am ready to buy one of these puppies ( wish I had it with me on this trip).  I'm chompin at the bit... ready to go.. what's up? thanks  8)=tom

267
StockXpert.com / Re: Any Photos.com Sales lately?
« on: October 18, 2008, 23:08 »
had a bunch in September along with some Jupiter sales... but this month, only one Photo.com so far ... 8)=tom

268
I dont have any of these problems.  I have     
   O N E   photo there.  yup, one.  8)=tom

269
Cameras / Lenses / Re: What was your first camera and the next?
« on: October 08, 2008, 19:02 »
First was an Argus that shot 120 cassettes. That was in the early 1960's.  When my father saw that I was serious about it, he gave me one of his old 35mm cams that he had purchased in the 50's, I believe.   A Futura Synchro Compur. I put a lot of miles on that thing.  First cam I purchased myself was a Pentax Spotmatic in 1969... In the 70's I switched to a Canon ftbn and have been a Canon guy ever since.  For playing in the dirt and water, I had a couple instamatic cams. Didn't want to ruin my Pentax or Canon. When the digital thing started, I did buy myself a Sony Mavica to play with. When I decided I wanted to make the move from mostly film to mostly digital,  I got my Canon Rebel.  I still have all of them and still used the two older film 35's and the Mavica once in awhile. The Rebel has been my workhorse for some time and still serves me well.
    Now,  I'm waiting for my Canon 5D Mark II ... and I'm pretty excited about it. 8)=tom

270

I am Bob's sister Wendy,

Wendy...  I am sincerely sorry for your loss.  My sympathies to you and Bob's family.     Tom Takacs

271
Site Related / Re: Adorama discounts for Microstockgroup members
« on: October 07, 2008, 17:49 »
Leaf... sir... thank you very much for your work in this!!!  I'm in for a 5D, lens and some more goodies.

Just another reason why this is the only forum that I belong to.  I've loved MSG from the first day I read it and signed on to be a member!!!

Thank you again, sir!!     8)=tom

272
Sad, so very sad....   my sincere sympathy to his family.  this guy will miss him very much. 

273
Cameras / Lenses / Re: Canon 5d Mark II in stock at BHphoto
« on: October 02, 2008, 12:53 »
I am telling you guys - the only way we get a deal is on some higher profit margin items because the 5DMkII is certainly not one of them.

Well, I'm in for more than the body. This isn't a replacement cam, its an addition to the biz.   I want at least a base lens on the thing and I need a battery pack.  Extra batteries...   I'm more than just the bod.  Yeah, I know it's not a $10k  sale,  but if they can get  many 'for sure'  sales here... why not give a discount?
   I've never purchased from these guys.... but I do buy a lot online.. if they can make me happy,  they can have my biz. 8)=tom

I got an email through MSG from Helen advising to contact Fred.  I'm waiting to see if there's any news from Leaf

274
Shutterstock.com / Re: Sutterstock Super Fast reviews!!
« on: October 02, 2008, 12:43 »
Must be my day not to complain..   with SS...  I'm almost always reviewed in 24 hours or less.   Can't complain about them.  8)=tom

...then again, I never upload large batches there. with SS  it's less, more often for me.

275
Cameras / Lenses / Re: Canon 5d Mark II in stock at BHphoto
« on: September 26, 2008, 20:56 »
I would buy from Adorama if the deal was right.
There is a vast customer base just waiting to be tapped!

Helen, I'm right down the turnpike in Jersey....I'll come pick it up!!   For the right deal,  I'm in for the 5D Mark II ... along with a base lens and a dual battery pack!! 
I've been waiting too long to upgrade... let's get a deal going here!  8)=tom

p.s. dont know what I'm doing wrong, but I couldn't find the thing on the website.??  or any pre-order info...

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