Nicholas Normandy asked:


The best tool a freelance digital photographer has, besides a digital camera, is photoshop. Mainly, because it can increase stock photo sales and generate more profit. It can work just as well if your more into just editing digital photos, or graphic design. You are still going to need a digital camera, but putting more focus on digital editing is really up to you.

With every coming year the population of graphic designers and photo editors has been increasing. Photo editors, like yourself, are trying to find a freelance income from their work. This can be hard with competition and location. So, a lot of those people turn to stock photo sites to start a career or earn extra income. If you don’t know what a stock photography site is, the definition is basically a site that provides graphic designers, advertisers, and marketers digital photos for whatever job they need. The people selling them upload their photos, the photos are bought through a stock photography site like Shutterstock and you earn a commission or a profit. It can be said that this is mainly a freelance digital photography business but lately that has changed. Actually having photo editing skills will benefit you in the long run and earn you more sales.

The people that are buying stock photos are graphic designers and photo editors like you. Which makes it easier for you to understand exactly what a buyer wants. You can utilize this information and make more sales by providing them with the types of digital photos they need for a particular job. It might not apply as much Photoshop and digital editing as one would want but its a freelance lucrative business that can earn you a pretty decent paycheck.

You are going to need two things right at the beginning: a digital camera and an internet connection. Then you can learn how to create your own digital stock photography portfolio. It’s important that you learn about keywords, uploading, traffic, best photos to sell and the best stock photography sites. There are some books that helped me, but one source in particular I recommend is a program called Camera Dollars. Basically, this program will teach you all the technical stuff that is hard for anyone to understand. (the link is on the site). That is where I learned this information when I was first starting out. I started out only selling digital photography and in the beginning I was only earning about $100.00 per site every day. I later started using Photoshop a ton more and increased my profits multiple times.

If you are digital editor or graphic designer then I definitely recommend trying to sell your work on places like Shutterstock to see if it’s right for you. If your a digital photographer you need to get photoshop for photo upkeep and presentation. If you work hard and spend several hours each week you will earn money fairly quick. You won’t need to quit your day job, you just need enough time to take and edit photos.

John M. Lund asked:


Photography is getting easier.  A lot easier!  Being a stock photographer is getting easier too, perhaps even to a greater degree than getting “good” pictures.  The result is a tremendous pressure on “pros” that make a living at stock to be able to continue making that living.  So what’s a pro to do?  The answer lies in using your whole brain, not just the left or the right hemispheres.  You need to use the left part for creativity and right for practicality, or pragmatism or whatever you want to call common sense.

As digital cameras continue to evolve and drop in price, and as Micro sites and online communities offer every greater degrees of education for would be stock producers, creating technically competent images becomes easier and more feasible for the masses.  Too, the masses are to an ever greater extent being made aware of the possibility of “making a few bucks” off of their hobby, and of the very real possibility (real but exceedingly elusive) of making that hobby into their profession.  Indeed, after a few hours of viewing Microstock forums it seems as if every amateur photographer out there is bent on becoming a professional stock photographer! The competition is increasing.

This brings us back to that increasingly important question, just how is a professional stock photographer going to thrive, or even survive, in this new environment?  I firmly believe that despite the “democratization” and “commoditization” of the stock photo industry, there will always be more reward for great images.  By great I mean images that fill a need and do it superbly.  A quick analysis of downloads at the current Mecca of Micro stock sites, iStockphoto, shows clearly that the best of the best images do return rather significant amounts to the photographer. There is still, and always will be plenty of money to be made.

Continued success is very simple really.  Make great images that fill a specific need.  To make those great images you need the left half of your brain; you need to be creative.  To make images that fill a need you have to use the right half of your brain.  You need to stay abreast of the images that are already out there, of what businesses need what kinds of images, and of what your competition is.  You need to have knowledge. I usually do a search on the major stock sites before I commit to creating an image just to make sure I am not re-inventing the wheel.  I am always amazed at what hasn’t been done, or hasn’t been done well.  In many cases the images that exist for a given need haven’t been updated in years, sometimes in many, many years!

While no one can know what the future will bring, I can see with my own eyes that it is still possible, at the time of this writing, to make huge amounts of money in stock photography.  Photographers are doing it in Rights Managed, photographers are doing it in Royalty Free, and yes, photographers are doing it in Micro stock. There is no magic bullet here.  There is simply putting the time and intention into coming up with creative ideas, putting the time and effort into researching the market, and having the gumption to actually do it. So what are you waiting for!

ben maffin asked:


Stock Photography Modeling

The popularity in coffee shop culture coupled with the rise of the internet has seen an explosion in the last few years of publications requiring stock photography.

 

Stock photography publications can include literally any printed or photographic or internet material. North West Model Agency’s project managers have worked with a wide selection of publications all requiring stock photography models.

 

What is Stock Photography Modeling?

North West Model Agency considers stock photography modeling to be just as important as any other modeling discipline. It is easy to define in that it can be literally used for anything.

 

Stock photography modeling is used to ‘fill in’ or ‘round off’ publications and is used in many magazines where an article has been written about a given subject and they need an image to ‘fill in’ the space.

 

This can range from family photos to single high impact images. The scope is so huge and sometimes so specialized that it takes a professional agency such as North West Model Agency to match the model, the photographer and the assignment together.

 

Publications can also include adverts, websites, brochures. The list is almost limited to the imagination of the marketing department. The advantage stock photography modeling has over other forms is the lack of height, age, or weight restrictions. This makes it an ideal career for girls who do not fit the “sample” size required by fashion houses.

 

Remember that stock photography modeling can include just about anything. There are plenty of stock photography websites out there on the internet, have a look and you will see the sheer range of possibilities to get you going.

 

Technology in Stock Photography Modeling

With the onset of digital photography it is possible to get very high definition (commonly called Ultra High Quality or UHQ) stock photos almost instantly.

 

Because North West Model Agency use the most up to date technology UHQ Editorial photos turn around can be very quick. Combine this with North West Model Agency’s state of the art graphic studio, images can be blended, altered and emailed for a printed or online publication in minutes.

 

North West Model Agency’s studio can also deal with new media and the internet. This is the fastest growing area of Editorial modeling, and one which many ‘old school’ models and photographers do not understand. North West Model Agency can guide you through the advantages of having an online portfolio and how to promote your image. It’s to our advantage that we make our models as well known as possible!

 

Pitfalls of Stock Photography Modeling

Make sure your modeling agency and photographer are reputable. North West Model Agency vets it’s photographers before using them and will insist upon a client brief (so you know what you will be doing) before shoots and a chaperone during shoots.

 

Also be aware that many modeling agencies will charge you to make a portfolio on the pretence of work, though they never have any intention of giving you any assignments.

 

North West Model Agency will not charge you for a stock photography portfolio. They may refer you on to a preferred professional photographer if you wish to have stock photography added.

 

Stock photography modeling competition is not as intense as other modeling professions, though the gains are not usually as good. We will assign you to the most suitable role and will always make sure you are comfortable with the assignment before you undertake it. Editorial modeling is a good place to start when modeling as it allows you to ‘cut your teeth’ in an industry.

 

We ask all our models to fill out a North West Model Agency Feedback form when they have completed an assignment, so we constantly monitor our clients and models expectations.

 

As with all modeling stock photography modeling is not easy. North West Model Agency advises all want to be stock photography models to really think about the lifestyle it involves. Travel is inevitable though sometimes great fun. Although the ideal place for an assignment is a warm studio or a sunny beach it is always worth remembering that some of the best shots out there were taken on a cold day with bad weather looming.

 

Future of Stock Photography Modeling

North West Model Agency believes the future of stock photography modeling lies very much in cyber space. It is a growth industry and looks set to keep on growing.

 

Stock photography modeling is changing, make no mistake it has to if it is to survive. Stock photography modeling has languished in the prehistoric age for far too long. This can be partially attributed to the industry being formed on the old print press method of publication (calendars, magazines, tabloids). It is no secret that print is in decline and many modeling agencies are missing out on the new media and an increase in broadband access.

 

North West Model Agency is highly experienced in online promotion and the use of photographic material on the internet.

 

North West Model Agency’s one stop shop approach to stock photography modeling is a fantastic starting point for potential and experienced stock photography models alike.

 

Conclusion

If you’re fun loving, outgoing, and cannot do (or simply not interested) in other forms of modeling it is possible make a career from stock photography modeling.

 

North West Model Agency’s approach is honest and open, but remember that you’ll need to have a thick skin to survive in stock photography modeling.

 

If you are interested in stock photography modeling and you want to experience the future of Editorial modeling then visit North West Model Agency’s website at www.northwestmodelagency.co.uk

Victor Mars asked:


Stock Image includes stock photography and stock footage, means images that can be licensed for specific uses. their uses are very popular with designers, graphic artists, art directors, advertising agencies, and marketing professionals, in magazine advertisements, websites, and marketing brochures. Instead of hiring a professional photographer to create an image. A collection of stock photography may also be called a photo archive, picture library, image bank or photo bank.

Since 1920’s, images could be filed at an agency that negotiates licensing fees on the photographer’s behalf in exchange for a percentage. With the advent of the digital photography, and so many people armed with cameras of high enough quality to shoot great photos, it is a good idea to make these photos available to each other, at a low price, while paying the photographers a commission for each photo sold. Today, the Internet wave pushes this business increasingly blossoming online, especially with the newer micro-stock models.

In this industry, a important feature is so-called “Royalty-free”. “Free” in this context means “free of royalties (paying each time you use an image)”. It does not mean the image is free to use without purchasing a license or that the image is in the public domain. Details:

1. Pay a one-time fee to use the image multiple times for multiple purposes (with limits).

2. No time limit on when the buyer can use an image.

3. No one can have exclusive rights of a Royalty-free image (the photographer can sell the image as many times as he or she wants).

4. A Royalty-free image usually has a limit to how many times the buyer can reproduce it. For example, a license might allow the buyer to print 10,000 brochures with the purchased image. The amount of copies made is called the print run. Above that print run the buyer is required to pay a fee per brochure. Those magazines with a large print run cannot use a basic Royalty-free license and therefore they either purchase images with an extended license or have in-house photographers.

There are two kinds of licenses, Basic and Extended.

With a Basic License, licensee may print or use the image for their personal use in any size provided that there is no subsequent sale or transfer to other persons. The images that users download under the Basic License may be used to make fine art prints, on web sites, in magazines, newspaper, products, software, newsletters, advertisements, flyers, packaging, marketing material, school assignments, presentations, and within films or videos, books or booklets, in either printed or electronic media, as long as the item in which the image appears does not contradict some restrictions. Note that the maximum number of copies for printed materials is limited, for example 10,000 copies. The images that users download with the Basic License also may be used as “editorial use” to illustrate truthful articles or broadcasts appearing in magazines, newspapers or any other editorial context, in either printed or electronic media.

But only With a Basic License, users may not use the images in products in which these images are dominant feature if the product is to be subsequently sold or distributed. Examples include posters, postcards, greeting cards, mugs, T-shirts, canvas, hats, mouse pads, magnets, art prints, paintings, or calendars, and screensavers, web templates, software, web page builders, gallery, or any system where the image file can be unincorporated from the software or system or be shared among, transferred to, or otherwise distributed to a number of users. It is also forbidden to make the image available on a website for download (as wallpapers for example). The use of images for these purposes under the Basic License is not permitted. In these cases, users should buy Extended Licenses.

The following licenses offer extended types of usage for Basic Licenses. These are additional licenses to the rights included within the Basic Licenses. Note that the other restrictions still apply.

1. Increase Max Copies: Extends our Basic Licenses to a maximum amount of printed copies, let us say up to 1,000,000 copies, etc.

2. Electronic Items for Resale: this license includes the right to use the images for web templates that are sold to more customers, screensavers, e-cards, PowerPoint presentations or as wallpapers on cell phones.

3. Physical Items for Resale: includes the right to use the photos for T-shirts, postcards, greeting cards, mugs, mouse pads, posters, calendars, framed artwork that is to be sold to other customers.

Note, buying the high-resolution image (purchasing the license) does not transfer the copyright.

Another important feature of web-based stock photography collections is that the images have been embedded with meta-data, therefore making the images searchable by using keywords. This feature helps users finding photos or footages very quickly over the Internet and make the cost lower and lower. Finally, more and more people can enjoy high quality digital images and videos, and the world becomes more and more beautiful.

Nicholas Normandy asked:


Selling digital photography to stock photo sites or selling photos over the internet can be a very profitable business if you know all the nuances that will get you a good amount of sales. Learning the technical aspects is very important, and really paints the fine line between making money and wasting your time. I don’t mean to discourage anyone, because it should be conveyed that anyone with a digital camera, an internet connection and a little spare time can do quite well. A lot of people sell their freelance photos through stock photography sites or through their own page/web host without a particular theme and do fairly well, but I will take more time and effort. A better battle plan is to find a particular type or subject of digital photography that you can easily focus on.

To explain further what picking a theme really does for photography sales, it helps consumers easily find what they are looking for when they type in specific descriptions or set of keywords. This benefits you because if a consumer types in your specific subject there is a good chance that it will bring them directly to your freelance photography. If you don’t already have the program called Camera Dollars, then labeling and specifying keywords is something you have to learn, but this tool will help you. And after you read the Camera Dollars lessons, you need to sign up with these companies and do a bit of research in order to figure out a profitable theme to pick for your photography.

Here are are several different types of freelance photography themes and short descriptions of each.

The method of taking pictures as a Theme:

Some examples of this would be macro, scenery, black and white, geometric, architecture, abstract, micro, motion, portrait, or panoramic.

These are usually recognized by simple types of photography and aren’t usually profitable on their own. Usually you want to combine this with other themes, like instead of “50’s Television” you could use the theme “Black and white 50’s televisions.”

Nominal Themes:

Simply put these themes based on any object, person, or place. Examples are Dvd, chair, cookware, doorknobs, Bahamas, Britney Spears and so on.

Themes Based off of Photo Utility:

Instead of think of what to take pictures of think of what the person buying the photo is using it for. You can base your theme off of a particular job or usage for the photo. To give an example a lot of graphic designers buy digital photos off the internet, do some research and try to sell particularly to them.

Intangible Themes:

Intangible digital photography themes are based off of ideas, emotions and other ambiguous images. Here are some examples: Love, hope, existentialism, correction, trust, triumphant, justice.

Your digital photography doesn’t have to be specified by just one form. Any of these three types of subjects can be put together to make an even more specific category of photos. An example of mixing two themes would be like Motion and friendship, which can be a picture of two friends doing some activity together or otherwise being in the state of “motion.” You could have hundreds of themes by the time your done, but it is better to focus on a few at a time. Do your research and in order to learn about how to sign up or start your own business check out Jobs in Digital Photography