Photo Stock Agencies

Hello all

 

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I have many questions re: stock agencies ranging from what they are to what they charge, etc, etc. Basically, my knowledge is minimal and I wish to know:

What they are?

What do they do?

How do they sell your stuff?

What are their charges?

Circa how much do you get for each image used?

Do you have to declare this as extra income?

Does this mean that you are self-employed?

Do the agencies sort out all the paperwork?

What format/context do they prefer?

Is there a great deal of competition for images out there?

How would you set up an agency????

Thanks again

Peter, this is much too big a question to answer in a forum like this. There are a number of books on stock photography available. Look under "Stock Photography" at amazon.com. George Schaub has a book that should answer most of your questions.

I do agency stock full time and will try to tackle some of your questions...

 

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I have many questions re: stock agencies ranging from what they are to what they charge, etc, etc.

Basically, my knowledge is minimal and I wish to know: What they are?

 

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They are comanies that find photos for picture buyers.

 

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What do they do?

 

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They edit and collect photos, file them, publish them in catalogs and promote them.

 

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How do they sell your stuff?

 

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They price it by useage.

 

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What are their charges?

 

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This varies wildly. Most US agencies charge fees to be in catalogs, have dupes made etc... Outside the US (where most of the sales are) there are few agencies that charge any fees at all. A few European agencies charge fees only to Americans.

 

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Circa how much do you get for each image used?

 

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$50 - $300 per shot would be typical sized shares of sales - It varies much more widely than this of couse.

 

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Do you have to declare this as extra income?

 

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Do you remember the line about "death and taxes?"

 

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Does this mean that you are self-employed?

 

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This depends on how the agency does it's own paperwork. Sometimes.

 

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Do the agencies sort out all the paperwork?

 

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Hopefully.

 

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What format/context do they prefer?

 

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35MM and MF are fine, 90% of stock sales are pictures of business or "lifestyle." Check out the web pages of the big agencies to see this.

 

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Is there a great deal of competition for images out there?

 

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It depends on subject matter - nature, travel, and wildlife sell poorly in the stock agency enviroment, but many agencies are flooded with people who want to shoot those topics. Far fewer people shoot better selling subjects like business, medicine, and family.

 

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How would you set up an agency????

 

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I have no idea, it's hard enough shooting those images.

 

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I hope this helps.

 

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Brian

for pricing check out seth resnicks web site.

 

Raj