Author Topic: Off the shelf software for developing my own stock photo agency (Read 20621 times)

anan · « **on:** April 27, 2011, 09:38 »

We have a collection of almost 300000 images of our own. We are looking for a software that will help us manage this stock online and also enable features like new photographers sign up, managing and recording payments, online sales. Is there a solution that will help us in doing this and also permit us to integrate the API of a microstock agency like Fotolia or Dreamstime.

leaf · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2011, 10:40 »

I don't think there is off the shelf anything to suit all those needs.

The only two store templates I know of are Ktools PhotoStore and PhotoVideoStore.

From what I gather and have experienced (ktools) ... if you go with ktools you will look like you are from the late 90's in regards to design. PhotoVideoStore has a much better design but not near the features.

If you want an online option you could try Photoshelter

You can also check out this thread
http://www.microstockgroup.com/selling-direct/places-and-ways-to-sell-your-images-direct/

anan · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2011, 13:04 »

thanks - can you refer any software providers / individuals who are familiar with this and have done it before.

helix7 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 05, 2011, 11:56 »

You should expect to make a significant financial investment in getting something like this off the ground. You're looking for a web development company that can set up the storefront, merchant account, manage payments, and maintain a database of users and account data. There's nothing off-the-shelf that does what you need.

I do mostly small web design/dev projects, lots of WordPress custom stuff, etc., nothing like what you're looking for. Although I could put a team together that could do it. But if you came to me with this project and wanted a quote, I'd probably suggest something in the $80k range.

ppdd · « **Reply #4 on:** May 05, 2011, 12:12 »

I somwhat agree with the above, though what you want can be done with Ktools -

FYI, the new 3.9 look of ktools script is released now, and it looks more modern: http://www.ktools.net/photostore/demo.php

cthoman · « **Reply #5 on:** May 05, 2011, 12:33 »

Yeah, the link that Leaf provided has a bunch of them listed. You may not find one that does everything you need. I have experience with Ktools and it can be some work to get it to look or function the way you want it.

Elenathewise · « **Reply #6 on:** May 05, 2011, 12:38 »

Quote from: anan on April 27, 2011, 09:38

We have a collection of almost 300000 images of our own. We are looking for a software that will help us manage this stock online and also enable features like new photographers sign up, managing and recording payments, online sales. Is there a solution that will help us in doing this and also permit us to integrate the API of a microstock agency like Fotolia or Dreamstime.

300,000? Did you produce 10,000 images a year for 30 years in a row??:-)
Anyhow, here is another solution: http://www.photodeck.com
Jonathan Ross' SpacesImages are based on that one.

Maui · « **Reply #7 on:** May 05, 2011, 14:46 »

ImagePro from Adpic Solutions:

http://www.adpic-solutions.de/en/stock-agency-store.php

They run their own agency (Adpic in Germany) using this software.

Phil · « **Reply #8 on:** May 05, 2011, 15:59 »

there is a list in this thread

http://www.microstockgroup.com/selling-direct/places-and-ways-to-sell-your-images-direct/

mtkang · « **Reply #9 on:** July 23, 2011, 11:52 »

hi all, can ktool have RM license ready? or only sell as rf?

RacePhoto · « **Reply #10 on:** July 23, 2011, 20:36 »

Quote from: Maui on May 05, 2011, 14:46

ImagePro from Adpic Solutions:

http://www.adpic-solutions.de/en/stock-agency-store.php

They run their own agency (Adpic in Germany) using this software.

449 Euro it better be a good one. The basic is useless, so I worked off the one that functions, has a watermark, imports IPTC data and a bunch more necessary features.Nie that someone worked up a good alternative. In dollars that's about $650 which seems a bit steep, but if it works and does all that it promises, it's well worth it.

300,000 images? WOW!

cathyslife · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2011, 07:57 »

Quote from: mtkang on July 23, 2011, 11:52

hi all, can ktool have RM license ready? or only sell as rf?

There are ways to set it up for RM also.

mtkang · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2011, 08:25 »

ic..i am thinking of setting up an image gallery for RM licensed.

Photodeck and ktools both are capable to do so, but photodeck is paid monthly and ktools is a software? what is the pros and cons of it?

Quote from: cclapper on July 24, 2011, 07:57

Quote from: mtkang on July 23, 2011, 11:52
hi all, can ktool have RM license ready? or only sell as rf?

There are ways to set it up for RM also.

kingjon · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2011, 09:54 »

I wonder if the folks behind Lucky Oliver would be willing to sell their old site? It looked very modern. Probably wouldn't take too much work to get it up and running.

michaeldb · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2011, 13:50 »

Quote from: kingjon on July 24, 2011, 09:54

I wonder if the folks behind Lucky Oliver would be willing to sell their old site? It looked very modern. Probably wouldn't take too much work to get it up and running.

Interesting thought. I think the reason LO failed had nothing to do with the site itself, which always seemed to work well. If they were willing to sell it, I wonder how much they would want? I'll open the bidding at $1000.

sharpshot · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2011, 15:04 »

I used to like Lucky Oliver. We could get in touch with the former owner and ask about it. I would like my own site but I think if we could get something like 100 of us from MSG and a few of the big contributors, we could have a more interesting site for the buyers. All these individual sites must be a PITA for buyers.

lagereek · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2011, 15:20 »

Do yourself a favour! dont play it cheap, just invest as much as possible. Nothing looks worse then a cheapo site.

michaeldb · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2011, 15:30 »

Quote from: lagereek on July 24, 2011, 15:20

Do yourself a favour! dont play it cheap, just invest as much as possible. Nothing looks worse then a cheapo site.

True, but if the HTML and scripts of the site work well, we could create the graphics to make it look modern and good (that's what we do isn't it?)

Larry · « **Reply #18 on:** October 08, 2011, 13:15 »

For a collection of that size (and value) it would be good to have your own private solution. But there are public tools that will do the job, I would consider HTML+CSS+PHP+MySQL+Javascript. These are all very well known and well supported by numerous hosting companies. You won't actually need that much actual code, just a big MySQL database that will spit out web pages via PHP. Probably the hardest part is the commerce and managing all the photo files including the reduced size images for display that should include a watermark. Get one guru (temporary) and one kid to do the grunt work (permanent).

FD · « **Reply #19 on:** October 09, 2011, 03:07 »

RacePhoto · « **Reply #20 on:** October 10, 2011, 06:29 »

Quote from: AttilaTheNun on October 09, 2011, 03:07

The elephant in the room that all available frameworks miss is of course the search engine, the heart of any stock site, especially as to relevance. That's why I'm currently putting a lot of effort in the search engine.

After all the physical parts, thumbs, watermarks, indexing, the functioning of the site, this is #1, you are correct!

michealo · « **Reply #21 on:** October 10, 2011, 07:11 »

Quote from: Larry on October 08, 2011, 13:15

For a collection of that size (and value) it would be good to have your own private solution. But there are public tools that will do the job, I would consider HTML+CSS+PHP+MySQL+Javascript. These are all very well known and well supported by numerous hosting companies. You won't actually need that much actual code, just a big MySQL database that will spit out web pages via PHP. Probably the hardest part is the commerce and managing all the photo files including the reduced size images for display that should include a watermark. Get one guru (temporary) and one kid to do the grunt work (permanent).

MySQL is a poor choice, ORCL or MSSQL would be a better choice.

Larry · « **Reply #22 on:** October 12, 2011, 20:46 »

Quote from: michealo on October 10, 2011, 07:11

Quote from: Larry on October 08, 2011, 13:15
For a collection of that size (and value) it would be good to have your own private solution. But there are public tools that will do the job, I would consider HTML+CSS+PHP+MySQL+Javascript. These are all very well known and well supported by numerous hosting companies. You won't actually need that much actual code, just a big MySQL database that will spit out web pages via PHP. Probably the hardest part is the commerce and managing all the photo files including the reduced size images for display that should include a watermark. Get one guru (temporary) and one kid to do the grunt work (permanent).

MySQL is a poor choice, ORCL or MSSQL would be a better choice.

I would like to hear what in your experience indicates that. They were looking for non-megabuck tools, and there are various flavors of MySQL in commercial use. It is so widespread there must be a reason for it. I would appreciate a specific reason for the response, thank you.

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Author Topic: Off the shelf software for developing my own stock photo agency (Read 20621 times)

anan

leaf

anan

helix7

ppdd

cthoman

Elenathewise

Maui

Phil

mtkang

RacePhoto

cathyslife

mtkang

kingjon

michaeldb

sharpshot

lagereek

michaeldb

Larry

FD

RacePhoto

michealo

Larry

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