How do you choose a Stock Photography business to use, or do you just keep trying until one accepts you.!

Okay, I'm holding my nose and diving in with this one. I thought I

lived in the dullest place on earth, but after reviewing some of my

photographs, I think they are usuable by someone orsomething. I

remembered a friend telling me once that she was "shooting stock

photography", but she lives on Martha's Vineyard, and I thought, oh,

well, you have all the "pictures" there you can take.

<P>

So, I guess I'm asking is there a way, and what is it, for finding a

Stock Photography company in which to try to make a little niche?

And do you have any recommendations? Or, as I asked, do I just keep

sending until someone takes a photo?

<P>

I had one I was interested in bookmarked on another computer-which is

now packed away without copying or transferring my favorites! This

stock company offered a press pass for any event you wanted to

attend....just let them know ahead of time. Do they all do that?

<P>

And yes, I'm ready to "keep going back again and again".

There's an interesting new web site that does stock and good quality fine art prints (<a href="http://www.photoexposure.com">Photo Exposure</a>). I'm kinda in a niche, so I'm doing quite a bit with them. They are NEW, so how their sales go is still the big question. Personally, I'm willing to give 'em everything I do until the end of the year and see how the cards fall. I haven't tried submitting to other agencies, that is an awful lot of trouble from Taiwan. Take a look, they only have 1600 images after being open 3 weeks (some of us started uploading long before they opened...curse my 64Kbps upling :D) and I have an odd feeling that they may do well but that it will take time :).

By the way, where you live may be dull, but I like your portfolio :-).

V:

 

There is no need to supply images to an agency to make sales. The vast majority of my stock photo sales are directly to the clients. Sure, you need to know who your clients are and how to market to them but since an agency typically will take 50% of the sale for its efforts, I'd rather do the work myself and keep 100%. That though, naturally, is up to you. If you feel more comfortable having an agency represent you you need to do some work before selecting one. Incidentially, if you go the agency-route, you should go with more than one agency.

 

Entering into an agreement with an photo agency should be viewed just like any other business agreement. You should check the agency out and make sure:

- they're financially sound;

- get referenses and check those out;

- make sure they are a good match for the kind of images you produce;

- they will allow you to check the books in case of a dispute;

- they have been around for a while and have a track record;

- the fees they charge are in line with what others charge;

- they have a solid marketing strategy;

- they have a good, functional website that actually gets hits

 

To get a good grip of the basics of the industry I suggest you pick up a copy of Rohn Engh's book Sell and Re-Sell Your Photos. You can also check Rohn's site out at www.photosource.com

 

While you're at it, pick up a book or two about running a small business, because that too is crucial to being a successful stock photographer.

 

Hope that helps. If you have specific questions feel free to e-mail me.

I went with a stock agency after a number of years of marketing my own work. It turns out that I was better at marketing than the agency. They haven't sold anything and are now tying up a good portion of my stock that I could have been trying to sell. Another negative with using agencies is that most of them like to put their name on the published shot and not yours. Stock agencies are not for everyone. Be forewarned.

Maybe I should be looking for a post about marketing my own photos.

<P>

I look at the prices at PhotoExposure and wasn't sure I was reading them right-they seemed lower than prices I had seen before. But then I haven't looked at so many.....

<P>I like the idea of selling my own. I will check for a post on that, or if anyone feels like leaving a few "starter" tips, I would appreciate that.

<P>I have seen Photographer's guides books, like the ones they have for writers. Maybe I could start there.

<P>I'll have to shape up my site, or start a new one just for that.....

Thank you very much....I see you are a fan of very dark b/w photography too!

<P>

<a href="http://www.photo.net/photo/2221029">

.......I like this one!</a>

<P>

I met a writer recently who said (in response to a question asked of him)that he thought that the measurement for the "bad characters" in his stories was the distance they were from enlightenment. I like that way of measuring very much. And it's kind of the way I like to "see" a photograph through the camera......how far into the light do I bring this object..subject....etc...

Belle, thanks. Yep, I tend to like dark black and white. I'm in a bit of a quandry because it seems that the Ilford importer has run out of fixer at precicely the same time I have run out. Good excuse to shoot color for a few weeks :-). I like the idea of "how far into the light to I bring this subject," especially with musicians :-) (we tend to be a rather dark lot from time to time...of course, that could be because most musicians here go to sleep at sunup and wake up as the sun sets...we used to joke that we really had no proof that the other band members were NOT vampires because we played together for 6 months before we did an outdoor festival and actually saw each other in the daylight...a frightening sight :D).