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Messages - a.k.a.-tom
Pages: 1 ... 32 33 34 35 36 [37] 38 39 40 41 42 ... 44
901
« on: February 28, 2007, 08:00 »
.....Professional should mean Qualified ,....... Literally though, the word "amateur" is derived from the French "Amor"- For the love of it; whereas a professional gets paid. Even carrying out your business in a professional (respectable and efficient manner) could also come into the equation. To myself, if you derive money from your efforts,you are professional, It comes down to whatever you want to call yourself- my business card says "Creative freelance Photographer" and that serves me well. regards, Ken (grizzlybear)
Grizzlybear, I enjoyed your comment and also Kosmikkreepers thoughts. Koskmik said it was a "mindset". He also said, "I still had a lot to learn (and I always will). " I respect both of your thoughts and comments. I'd have to admit that my thinking, at this time, would line up behind the both of you. thanks.  -tom
902
« on: February 28, 2007, 00:04 »
Tom,
Not necessarily famous, but images that are inherent to a specific place.
There will always be gray areas of course. I wouldn't tag the "lamp post with the Empire State Buiding" as travel if the subject was clearly the lamp post.
Moreover, isn't the Empire State Building trademarked? 
Regards,Adelaide
 Just messing with ya'll. And adelaide, I accept your point, you are correct of course. Once you all get to know me, you'll find that at age 58 I'm still the class clown who was also a ranking member of the debating team. I'll take a side I don't even believe in just to enjoy some intellectual intercourse as it were. LOL And as a matter of fact, here in my goofing around, I learned yet more on MSG. I did not know that the ESB was trademarked. I thought that primarily involved newer architecture. Thank you. Peace! -tomp.s. epixx - Indeed, you are of an optimistic mind! Appreciated!
903
« on: February 27, 2007, 23:25 »
Nikon contest - and they asked which category - amateur or pro. They provided a definition if you didn't know where you fell... You are a pro if you earn more than 50% of your income from photography.
Pixart, I realize you are quoting Nikon. Let's think about this.... based on Nikon's opinion. ... IF... today, february 27, I quit my job.... and my only income for the rest of the year is what I sell on microstocks... I have now become a Professional Photographer? OR... if I happen to be a stay-at-home mom (or dad) and I upload to SS and sell 25 pictures a month... 100% of my income, I am now a Professional Photographer?? Or...if my kid in college that works partime in a fastfood joint, makes more on microstock, he is now a Professional Photographer? I ask Nikon, how did that elevate my skills as a lensman? So, according to Nikon, it's all about percentages of salary, nothing to do with your ability, knowledge or experience behind the camera. I'd have to say to Mr. Nikon himself... that makes no sense at all. I think that if I were a Professional Photographer, ...Nikon's definition would be rather insulting to me. -tomp.s. No slight against Pixart who was just quoting here.
904
« on: February 27, 2007, 21:16 »
epixx/geopappas... I couldn't agree more!! Personally, I REALLY don't care what my "status" is. I'm having fun in the micros. The day that magazine hits the newstand, I know I'll be jumping around like a little kid... ... blah, blah, blah. Then, .....I'll get up the next morning and ...go to work. As we used to say as kids. "It ain't no biggie!" The day photography becomes 'a job' is the day I'll probably give more attention to one of my other hobbies. Micros are evolving the industry, there's no doubt and it becomes more evident each day. And, it will keep evolving. Some photogs will keep up and some will fall off the radar. Same for microstock agencies. Some pros will adapt... and some won't. It's an entirely new ballgame, there's a new kid in town, sink or swim, and all those other little ditty's. But for sure, the new talent isn't just going to go away. I think most will be here to stay. If the standards get tougher, true, some won't be able to keep up. But, a lot of them will. They're just showing talents that they never had opportunity to express before.... whether the 'old school' likes it or not. As epixx said, adapt or die. -tom
905
« on: February 27, 2007, 17:46 »
I sure don't know what, how or why of it all, pro vs amatuer.. I've been shooting pix as a passionate hobby for 40-some years. Last year I was talked into trying some of my stuff in the micros. I won't be buying my ski lodge in the mountains anytime soon on my micro sales, although, I'm surprised and quite happy about how they are doing. Via my modest portfolio on the micros, some of my colonial architecture shots were seen by the editor of 4 regional ' country living' magazines. I was contacted and asked if I'd be interested in doing some shoots for the 4 magazines. What do you think I said? I met with them, gave them 8 relevant pix that I had taken last year. They wipped out a contract, a W-9 and told me what they paid. Not 15 minutes ago I got an email informing me that they were going with the spread and those pix. I'm to submit my invoice. I was a bit shocked at what the pay would be for a supposed standard half day work for a NYC-Phila metro area photog. A GOOD shocked. It took all of 20-30 minutes to take those pictures. And it's a helluva lot more than 25 cents times 8. Heck, if I could do that 3 or 4 times a week, it is more than enough that I COULD give up my day job. I'm assured more assignments in the coming months. And I'm told my work will be introduced to others in the biz, whatever that means. I assume that's the 'networking' that was mentioned earlier in the thread. My point or question is this. I shot them as a hobby. I'm now moving from 25 cents to big bucks for 8 shots. It went from a kid buying them for his homework, to a four page magazine spread. What am I? Amatuer or Pro? Where is the magic line? And just for the record, so all know where I'm coming from, I couldn't care less about the title. Ya don't take titles to the bank and they won't accept titles at the camera shop. And I won't be giving up my day job (34 years in the organization) just because of this.. the industry seems pretty fickle. Not tooting my horn, just adding fuel to the discussion. I know there are REAL pros on this forum. I am in no way trying to be disrespectful to them or any. And I'm sure there are others with a similar tale....I don't think I'm anything/anyone special. I think I'm just a decent hobbyist. But when is an amatuer no longer an amatuer? When do you get your nametag? I figure, you have to start somewhere.... -tom
906
« on: February 27, 2007, 17:08 »
"Famous" is the key??? I suppose that'd make sense. Best definition I've heard so far!! I can live with that one. .....But let me play devil's advocate... what if the Empire State Building was in the background but it was still a shot of the lamp post??  Just messing with ya, madelaide... Personally, I don't care what they label them as long as they take 'em and sell 'em... LOL -tom
907
« on: February 27, 2007, 08:01 »
do not use ftp. -tomp.s. now 21 days.... 27 in review.
908
« on: February 26, 2007, 22:53 »
What is a travel shot anyway? A shot from somewhere you don't live?
.............I think the travel shot label needs a re-definition.
Good Point, epixx!! If you lived in Roma on the piazza di Trevi, then a shot of the Trevi Fountain wouldn't be a 'travel' shot, it would be a shot out your front window. If I took a shot of the waterfall behind my house, it would be a travel shot to everyone but me. So how does a guy sitting at StockXpert somewhere in eastern Europe determine when it is and when it isn't a "travel" shot? Therefore, every cityscape or landscape has to be a travel shot to someone and not a travel shot to someone else. Think about that one long enough and you'll get a headache! Wow, my brain hurts!! -tom
909
« on: February 26, 2007, 17:33 »
FOUR EL's... nice job, Leaf!!! I've yet to have even one anywhere... maybe someday.... That's the one thing I really loved about FT, you got to see who purchased the shot and sometimes you could trace it down. I think they should all make that data available to the photog. -tom
910
« on: February 26, 2007, 17:29 »
If they are taking "non-wow" shots of common places, than maybe the whole idea of "not taking travel shots anymore" is a mistake?
Regards, Adelaide
.... yeah, when this thread started, I was wondering what the deal was, they were taking mine... And, yeah, I don't think my "travel' shots are that wow.. I'm one of those dudes that doesn't have his "wow" shots on the micros. So, I guess only time will tell if others start to see their own 'travel' stuff get accepted. I will say this. When I first started uploading to StockXpert last year, THEY DID shoot down quite a few of my 'Travel' shots, but even then, not all of them. Again, lately, no mass rejection of those kinds of photos with me.  -tom
911
« on: February 26, 2007, 17:08 »
I suppose they just don't want another shot of the Eiffel Tower or the Coliseum. Regards, Adelaide
Funny you should mention the Eiffel Tower. They recently took a couple of my shots from Vegas and the faux Eiffel. Of course, I had 'shopped' out all the commercial references. And I hate to sound contradictory, but my entire last batch last week was all 'travel/landscape' shots. They took them. Who knows?? I intended to upload more of them tonight. I'll let you know if they take them. -tomp.s. And to be perfectly honest, I DO NOT consider them to be what I'd call "WOW" shots. They're okay, but I don't think I'll be seeing any billboards with them displayed.
912
« on: February 26, 2007, 16:57 »
SS accepted my entire last batch on the 23rd... and they sold this weekend and even today. I haven't had any problems there like you folks are mentioning. I'm getting same day, next day approval, better than 80% approval and usually that day or the next I'm experiencing sales of the new uploads. SS is my highest performer with roughly 85% of my sales (on 9 sites ). But I'll keep a watch now to see if it starts to occur in my account. Thanks for the alert. Hope you get it straightened out. -tommodify after kosmik's post: I just jumped over there and got right on. No problem for me here in New Jersey. And my sales seem to be in the ballpark. Nothing unusual... However, I'm going to keep an eye on it, thanks again.
913
« on: February 26, 2007, 16:43 »
............ my saga continues at 123rf. 27 pix in review now... 20 days, uploaded on February 6th. what's that all about? -tom
914
« on: February 22, 2007, 15:13 »
I get first page links on Google under my name and/or under names of my pictures. I just assumed that was normal. Sometimes I get multiple links to LO, BigStock, DT, FT, SS & StockXpert all in the first 1-3 pages... Thought that was just the way it worked. isn't it? But for all those links to LO... I've only 8 sales. Beats me... -tom
915
« on: February 21, 2007, 21:28 »
WOW!!! I just came from uploading to StockXpert. As fast as I could upload, they were being approved!! Instantaneous!! They were lagging one photo behind my uploading! I'm impressed!! Couple of other sites could take some lessons from StockXpert in this area!! If the new StockXpert guy reads this..... Superb service! Thanks to your review team! As Darth Vadar once said, "Most Impressive!!" -tom
916
« on: February 21, 2007, 20:56 »
I'm still slowly building my portfolio there... hoping it's going to take off soon!! -tom
917
« on: February 21, 2007, 18:41 »
Is it only me? Did I tick someone off? Are my pix THAT bad?  I've had 27 pix uploaded and under review for 15 days now.... anyone else having this problem over at 123rf? -tom
918
« on: February 21, 2007, 18:01 »
My wife has a Zazzle site and she does okay. We're not going to be retiring and buying the cabin in the mountains yet... but it's like anything else. Once you put the items up there, in time they sell. I have read experiences of some folks who make a good living on Zazzle and Cafepress. But these have to make it a fulltime job and they have hundreds of items for sale and also, many link-out to other sites they are involved with. My son (adult) has a Cafepress site. He does fair as well. He sells graphic design tee's. All original art he's knock out on adobe. Most of his work is outdoors related, kayaking, whitewater and canoeing... For him it is only a fun thing. He sells a tee and some misc items weekly. Again, not big money, just fun money. I've tried to encourage him to put some of his designs up on the micros as illustrations. They are both like any other type of site, you do have to put some work into it. And like micro, you need to keep adding fresh material to keep in the public eye. I don't know the exact terms, but I'm pretty sure you set your own price for the items, they take their managing cut. I think my kid clears 4 and 5 bucks for each tee. ..... The wife has been on a few different sites like that. She tried her photography (mostly landscape, b&w) on Art Wanted. But that turned out to be pretty much a 'buddy club'. She'd actually get mail from others on the site bargaining and bartering for comments on each other work.... she tired of that phoniness real fast and dropped out. -tom
919
« on: February 21, 2007, 16:53 »
a
920
« on: February 21, 2007, 16:44 »
both -tom
921
« on: February 21, 2007, 08:00 »
I wonder. Does that ever happen?
Someone, in a recent post elsewhere in this forum, said that designers/purchasers on microstock need a specific image and they search for that. They don't give a rat's ass who took it.
Bateleur - While I'm not a designer nor a purchaser... and, this reply is not meant to be argumentative with you at all... I'm just thinking outloud... I know I will search by photog. Every so often I will go look at your work and many of the other folks here on MSG. Why? For example, I frequently check out Leaf's 'folio' for new stuff. I like his work. I'm into winter/snow shots. It's like art to me, so... knowing the guy took a few pix I liked in the past, now, I will occassionally check his work out. Same for others here, I like their work and like seeing what they've recently produced. My wife does the same, we both have photogs whose work we enjoy, so we search by photog. My point. If I'm doing it out of pure enjoyment... I would think that designers would have "favorite" photogs that produce the material they generally look for. I would if I was a buyer. That's where I'd go first rather than waste time surfing for new material.. Only my opinion... and I could be wrong.. would be good if some buyers/designers gave their two cents... I'd be very interested. tom
922
« on: February 20, 2007, 21:06 »
When it comes to truly unique images, the situation is very different. If I know that one of my images has that quality, it's not micro.
epixx - Thank you, exactly! I can say that my BEST shots, the stuff I'm REALLY proud of... aren't on ANY microstock site. Those are in hold for a future endevour, be it my own gallery and site or, if I ever make it into a marco or art agency. My BEST stuff is never going to be sold for a quarter. Not to say I'm not proud of the majority of the work I upload to micros. But the BEST isn't with them. -tom
923
« on: February 20, 2007, 17:20 »
No offense on anyone intended... but....  I keep hearing that 'travel" ... 'landscape" ... pix do not sell. Yet, I sell them daily on SS and just about as frequently as my 'stock' shots on DT, BigStock and others... INCLUDING.. StockXpert. No, I'm not going to be able to quit my day job or retire tomorrow. However, the bulk of my 'folio is just that, travel shots, national parks, etc. And, they're selling. They are selling well enough that I will continue to upload them. My first payout from SS was... mostly from 'travel-landscape' shots. If StockXpert stops taking them.... no biggie to me. If their customers don't want them, I can understand that. But someone somewhere is buying them up for whatever reason. And that's fine with me. However, fact of the matter is... StockXpert just took a batch of my 'travel' pix late last week. Believe me, if I had the meg/pxl's I'd be loading to the marco's but until I get my Mark II... I'll be sending my ' travel' shots to all the micros that are taking and selling them. Sorry if that offends any. -tomafter thought... you know, the bulk of what I shoot and submit, I shoot primarily for my own personal joy. If they want 'em, great. If they don't, great.
924
« on: February 18, 2007, 21:42 »
StockXpert... which ways the wind blowing. Just earlier this week I was complaining how they rejected 60% of my last batch the week before.. I did another batch this week and they only rejected 20%... "not looking for....yada yada yada". I've yet to see any pattern in the why of it on StockXpert. If you try to figure it out, you'll only give yourself a headache. -tom
925
« on: February 18, 2007, 12:52 »
Ditto that ts!! Big time!! I've learned A LOT here on MSG. I enjoy the 'family' feel of the forums and the manner in which... for the most part, everyone helps and cheers each other on! Yeah, sometimes, it can get hot... but the same holds true in any normal physical family. We all can't always agree on the same thing. And that's a good thing, that's how we learn, that's what experience is. Thanks to Leaf and any behind the scenes I don't know of for all the hard work and dedication. I for one truly do appreciate it. -tom
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