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artuk View Drop Down
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Joined: 06 July 2007
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Posts: 3751 		Post Options Post Options   Quote artuk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Recommended Stock Libraries
    Posted: 15 July 2016 at 14:56
Just wondered if any other members can recommend any stock libraries?

I would be interested to hear any experiences as a photographer regarding issues, sales, and any suggestions or recommendations?

Thanks in advance.
Art
 



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angora View Drop Down
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Posts: 4664 		Post Options Post Options   Quote angora Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 August 2016 at 09:19
wow, this seems to be a popular subject?!
(but Could be a matter of timing? hopefully?)
very interesting subject n also looking FW to replies?!!

me? no experience whatsoever! but I've heard a few things?
1st of all your pics have to be immaculate, without a single artifact, perfect and so on. rejection seems to be the habit. rather than acceptance. they will also expect you to be very creative n to come up with many, maaany keywords to accompany every pic.
if you finally manage to have your pics accepted, they'll pay you a whopping 10 cents or 10p or so per pic (which I consider to be very insulting?!! ).
assume you're familiar with micro stock vs stock?
and yet, rumour went that even the micro stock market could be very lucrative, even for photographers?
many image banks will pay more if you submit your pics there exclusively.

if you were me, you'd try to figure out what kind of photography is hot? e.g. a few years back you could hardly find an advertisement or brochure without people jumping, really annoying. lens flares are hip as is vintage, even light leaks are added (!), typography has changed n nowadays people seem to serve their tea + branches of mint in jars instead of mugs. or in old fashioned tea cups. for instance? ;-)
you could also check what kind of pics you'll find when entering a keyword of the kind of photography you're specialised in?

of course, libraries like Getty are well known n very prestigious.
as far as I know 500px pays best? competition is killing, there are so many shockingly good pics there!! but you'll find many 'average' pics there as well. I often see lousy pics on the news/tele here for instance, even from Getty?!!

good luck!!! hope you'll keep us posted?!    
   
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mikey2000 View Drop Down
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Joined: 10 January 2008
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Posts: 11659 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mikey2000 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 24 August 2016 at 18:12
Oops, I didn't spot this.

I've been signed up with Getty Images for a few years now.    This post reminds me that I need to upload some pics to them (It's been a while since I sent my last batch)

They only give me 20% of what they sell but that's fine by me. If I tried to sell anything, I'd probably not make a single sale. I'd be keeping 100% but 100% of zero isn't that good!

Getty seem to have a worldwide client database so I get a steady trickle of sales. Some months are bad, some months are surprisingly good with the occasional bumper-bonus from a big one-off sale.    I average about 800US Dollars per year. That makes me happy

Here's my Getty Gallery linky   Some of the pics sell repeatedly - my chess board DPC winner and several of my Oktoberfest 2013 macros sell well, along with a random pic of some gardening tools (????)   If you look at my gallery, you will see a rather wide range of quality levels

The best selling pics are those with a simple conceptual idea.


Also, Getty have a 'needs' list which I use to get ideas. (Rememeber my Golden Rubber Duck photos...???? - They earned me 15$ ) Also, there is an app with some 'right now/soon' requirements which I check from time to time then mine my archive for suitable pics. I also have access to various 'shoot briefs' with some updated info on current trends and general fashions. It sometimes helps, but I don't have access to a huge studio for big staged photoshoots with models galore. I just make do 'around the edges' of there needs and many times just upload some of my recent favourite any-topic pics to see what gets through.


I get a slightly better than 50-50 ratio of acceptance to rejection. I don't take it personally - for me, this is just a bonus. To make a living as a stock photographer must be almost impossible.

I don't have any ideas about other agencies. I tried RedBubble and had not one single sale in two years. (Maybe the wrong sort of stuff for their style?)
Want to know more about Fred_S? Just click!
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Sarbey View Drop Down
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Joined: 22 December 2016
Country: Armenia
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Posts: 3 		Post Options Post Options   Quote Sarbey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 December 2016 at 20:47
I know about Getty Images and Flicker.
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angora View Drop Down
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Joined: 02 March 2014
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Posts: 4664 		Post Options Post Options   Quote angora Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 22 August 2018 at 14:09
and?

(did you take the plunge?
just curious, just wondering... )


btw- TY, Mike! very informative!!
and great pics! :-)


Edited by angora - 22 August 2018 at 14:12
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mikey2000 View Drop Down
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Posts: 11659 		Post Options Post Options   Quote mikey2000 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 September 2018 at 21:26
:-) Thanks!

As an update, I've not been uploaded to Getty much recently and my sales per month has been steadily declining, especially the last 12 months where I have hardly uploaded anything. (No time!)

It seems Getty Clients definitely like New Photos.

Also, the 'needs' list has become somewhat challenging at times (eg: "Brazilian Office Workers, in an outdoor setting, surrounded by other people. All models must have full model releases."   Not the kind of setup within the reach of most amateurs!
Want to know more about Fred_S? Just click!
 



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