Who purchases stock Photographs

[swan lover]

Anyone kow of any Company's web based or otherwise who purchase stock photo's, as I take wildlife mostly this would be my first port of call but any form of photography will be considered, are there any pit falls to whatch out for?

Thank you all who respond.

[Gil Ritchie]

No one - in their right mind.

[flake]

There is stock & then there is stock! The high end agencies such as Getty have a very different market than istock who sell images for pennies.
The iStock ones end up on web pages, or companyflyers where generic images are required, many people believe that they have a particular look to them (as do Getty, far too perfect!)

The more expensive agencies sell into newspapers magazines and books, with an element of advertising because they can buy exclusivity.

All of the agencies have stringent QC policies and images such as macro wildlife and stitched panoramics are notoriously difficult to get technically correct, many believe that it is in fact impossible for a macro image to pass QC because of the way Macro lenses work. Long Telephoto is difficult because of several reasons, one being atmospheric distortion if you're at a distance.

Then there's another problem, excessive similars. If all you are shotting is easy common wildlife then the world & his wife will have already done the same, you will either have to shoot something rare or difficult, or else find a novel take on the familiar.

Before you do make any decision take a look at the QC criteria for stock libraries such as iStock or Alamy and see if your images meet them, then submit some for QC and see if they pass, if nothing else it will make you a better photographer!

[cosmicma]

flake is right in what he says but if your determined you could try fotolia http://en.fotolia.com/ which i think are uk based or at least have a uk branch so to speak

it's a question of numbers the more you submit and get accepted the more chance of somebody purchasing one of your photo's but don't expect to get rich any time soon the pay rate is pittance from 33p to a couple of quid depending on the size of photo they want

a better idea if you think your photo's are good enough to sell is to make a website up or use one of the ready made web sites and put a portfolio together and see if there is enough interest to basicly make money but you have to remember it's you and half the population with a DSLR with same idea

[flake]

SHE! (cats mother!)

[Forseti]

Originally Posted by flake

SHE! (cats mother!)

[cosmicma]

Originally Posted by flake

SHE! (cats mother!)

oops my mistake

an easy mistake to make in a forum

[Dunkeld]

Cheapskates purchase stock images. They cannot pass the chance to buy a photo for a dollar a throw. They make more money, by paying photographers less. Stock libraries, seeing the chance to sell thousands of cheap images created a bandwagon that many have jumped on. Some of bigger names in the photo library field have also jumped on this crowded bandwagon, with the pathetic excuse that they are keeping up with the times.
Photographers rights are often abused with stock libraries, so if you intend to supply such places, beware!

Fotolibra is possibly the best out there right now. They have refused to run with the herd and are sticking to the principal of fair prices for images. But be warned, selling images today is possibly harder than it has ever been. So you will be joining a flooded market where a photographs value has in most cases been set back to that of 30 years ago.

Cheapskate newspapers and magazines have added to this woe by offering the publication of images in competitions or whatever. "Show us your snow photos" show us whatever. All for free of course, the photographer gets nothing except his/her name in print, although sometimes there are prizes of cameras or whatever. But, for the cost of a camera ( usually donated by a sponsor ) a newspaper can get thousands of free stock images.

So don't get suckered into supplying free pictures unless there is the chance of getting something really worthwhile out of it. Don't expect that any selected submissions to photo libraries will sell tomorrow or next week, or next month even. The truth is, that in this flooded market there are thousands as good as or just like yours. But, good luck whichever way you decide to go. Just don't plan any world cruises based on sales and don't hold your breath either.

[bsmith]

Originally Posted by cosmicma

oops my mistake

an easy mistake to make in a forum

Aye, but what do people expect, especially when no one has the common sense to sign off with their name ( pet hate of mine )

Bob