Slightly off topic but not really.
A little over a year ago I attended a function where the speaker was the Editor in Chief of National Geographic Traveler Magazine. We were seated at the same table for dinner. We were discussing stock photography and he said they use Flickr more and more all the time to find images.
His example was that if they needed a picture of "Joe's Inn" in Sonoma and they didn't have one, they would look on Flickr first and negotiate directly with the photographer. His statement was anybody can take "one good picture" and that was all they needed. NG wouldn't care what the rest of your portfolio looked like if they found the image that worked for them.

They used to use Getty and Corbis but have come to realize they can find what they need on Flickr - if they can't then the go to another source. He also said they rarely commission a shooter to go out and shoot "Joe's Inn" unless it's the only way to get an image.

So I can see why some buyers may be searching via Google.

Food for thought.

Steve

That's very interesting. I would have never thought they would buy off of Flickr. Guess we learn something new everyday.

Your more than welcome...that's what we're here for.

Hmmmmm.....27 online users.....37 votes? 10 people must have jumped on voted and left cause now its down to 24 from 27.....

Oh well it's still interesting to know. Maybe tomorrow will show more.

Well at the moment there are 80 guests and 27 users with 3 hidden. There are a total of 4378 members to date. To bad all of them are not on here....but then I doubt the server would be able to handle it...lol

Maybe there will be some cows at the wedding
I know what you mean.  At shutterstock I was surprised at some of my downloads.  Like the blank sign , I saw that there were just pages of them, but I submitted it anyway and it keeps getting downloaded.  I think the keywording helps too.  Like you if you search for "blank sign" by popularity I'm on the first page and if you search for "actual sign" I'm first.  which i thought was cool considering I've only been on there for 2 1/2 weeks.  And funny cuz I didn't really like the picture and almost didn't submit it.  Now, if I could just get into Istock!  

PS.  I really like your picture of the silhouette of the boy fishing. When you submitted that type of photo to Istock did you have to give them a MR since you can't see the boy's face?  

Yes I had to upload a model release. He is my grandson, but as much as I love that picture I believe I've only sold it once or twice. It's really to artsy for microstock. Most of the big boys require a model release on any ones body part. SO keep that in mind also. They are all getting stricter and stricter.
 
I'll also tell you something about Shutterstock.....your photos will sale good when you first upload them and then it slows down as time passes. That's why it's called the honeymoon period. Shutterstock is an agency you need to continue to feed or it will starve. They promote their new images. Some of those take off and continue to sell over and over again, but it can also drop off into the crowd of new ones just as fast. Hopefully that won't happen to you, but if it does you will know why.

I consider pro someone who makes their living off of microstock. This day and age, that is very difficult, but there are ones who do it.

EDIT>>>>>I guess I should say a pro is someone who makes their living off of photography in general not just microstock.

I've always wondered how old some of the fellow photographers on here are. Some sound quite wise while other sound immature. Just want to get some of an idea if everyone is in the same age group. Thought it would make for a nice subject.

Quote from: jwsc101 on August 10, 2010, 16:36

Hi All

Thanks for your really helpful responses.  I know it will be hard work but I am not going to be put off, I'm in to this for the long haul!

J

Crap.  I used to be better at this.

..........lol......

Oh and don't forget about trademarks....ect. They need to be wearing something that is not showing logo or art designs anywhere on their body....even tattoos in some instances.

Oh and if you have a family....they are the best models...they don't complain....

As many get rich quick with microstock sites out there, this will always recruit new photographers. I know when I got into stock photography in 2006, I knew I wasn't going to be making a living at it. I don't fall for those get quick rich schemes. I do remember when I got the second rejection from Shutterstock I told myself it would be an insult to sell my shots for .25 and wondered why I was even bothering to try to get in there. I waited quite awhile and always saw the ads for Shutterstock and really wasn't planning to do it, but I tried one more time...got through...and glad I did because I make more money on there than any of the other Big 4.

Now for the newbies just now trying to get in I think the quality of the shots have been put at a very high level and a lot of those newbies give up. As for the ones who are already there, they are getting discouraged because of the slump in sales and have slacked off on there uploads. I know I have and many of you here have also. I think with the expected increase in quality, approvals have slowed down which may be why the increase in the iStock upload limit. So maybe once this is back to normal only the tough will stay and reap the benefits. We'll just have to wait and see.

After reading all the suggestions, I'm thinking maybe I will work on a different set of pix.  I'm gonna go with the people, landscape, isolation idea. 

Going to a wedding in Waikiki this weekend, so maybe i can get something..

thanks everyone..  i will definitely post a new set and get opinions again before trying to submit.

If your going to photograph at a wedding make sure you get a model release of any person/person's you photograph. I realize you don't have to have one for initial application, but if you want to sell that shot on any site you have to have a model release. FD-Regular has a sample model release under his avatar if you need one. I'd print it out and take it with you just in case you can get someone.

Congratulations....Beautiful little boy and I can tell you are very proud.