Equipment for Stock Photography

Hi List,

I have just submitted 15 test images to Alamy and would like

to get more into Stock Photography. I have a heavy investment in gear

based around two Super A bodies. At the monent I can produce 200mb 48

bit image files from negs and slides.

 

Should I stay with this gear or move to 6x7 system or an all digital

system based on a 12+ million pixel sensor?

 

The 6x7 option worries me - what of the future for 120 film?

 

My decision must be based on producing saleable stock images; the

majority of which will be landscape and abstract work.

 

Thanks,

 

Pat Curran

"My decision must be based on producing saleable stock images; the majority of which will be landscape and abstract work. " <br> From little that I know about the subject lanscapes are pretty much a closed market, if you want to make a profit and not just see your name in print (assuming they even do that, which they might not) you probably wnat to maximize the number of slides submitted (on order of thousands), hence better to stay with 35mm ... besides super A to 67?! there's a big jump there

Pat,

 

If you really are SERIOUS about stock photography the name of the game is volume and often specializing in one area. You can't thnk of this as an artist but rather as a business person. You will need upwards of 1,000 perfect images just to get started. What is going to be you cost analysis/image? The issue I would have if I were you would be to take serious cost analysis of how much it is going to cost you to produce those images, what your target market is going to be.

 

Lets say you move into 67 images. How do you plan to scan them? Flat bed? A dedicated 67 scanner ($2500)? Drum scanner? ($10,000) I shoot 67 myself and use an Epson scanner, fine for my personal needs but not for professional needs.

 

Worth some thought.

Pat,

 

If you really are SERIOUS about stock photography the name of the game is volume and often specializing in one area. You can't thnk of this as an artist but rather as a business person. You will need upwards of 1,000 perfect images just to get started. What is going to be you cost analysis/image? The issue I would have if I were you would be to take serious cost analysis of how much it is going to cost you to produce those images, what your target market is going to be.

 

Lets say you move into 67 images. How do you plan to scan them? Flat bed? A dedicated 67 scanner ($2500)? Drum scanner? ($10,000) I shoot 67 myself and use an Epson scanner, fine for my personal needs but not for professional needs.

 

Worth some thought.

Forget the 67 move it's too costly, your best bet is to use what you have until

you make some sales. Use the money from sales to finance future

purchases...digital needs for stock are around 12MP plus you need a better

computer, software, cards, readers, portable storage etc....the files of most

major Stock Agencies are full of great landscapes, yeah it hurts to hear it but

it's true. The Grand Canyon ain't changing much over the nest 20 years, but

what does change constantly and what Agencies need are people "Lifestyle"

shots are the best sellers always have been and always will be. If you are

going to shoot for Stock you need to start including people in your landscapes

otherwise you'll end up with the odd sale here and there. I've been down this

road and this has been my experience.

Thanks Guys,

If my images make it through QC at Alamy, I'll post a link to them here - perhaps some of you might give me some feedback as to the right market for my style of image.

 

Thanks to all.

 

Pat