Stock photos?? is it for me?

[ies photos]

any one sell their photos on stock sites? If so which ones? I'm not au fait with this area but am looking at maybe getting into it so any help would be appreciated. Have a look at my site and see if my images would be any good for the stock sites? http://www.iesphotography.co.uk (http://www.iesphotography.co.uk/)

I've seen Alamy, Shutterstock and a few others.......

cheers
Ian

[Gerry@Rick]

I used to run a general practice photo firm. We did just about everything except wildlife and landscape for some surprisingly famous names but we liked variety so didn't want to specialise. Out of that came selling photos through stock agencies. Now that I'm tapering work down I write and illustrate my own articles or supply stock libraries.

I began by searching all the reference books that had details of all the photolibraries that were available at that time. Despite their preferences for exclusive representation I found half a dozen that specialised in those areas I enjoy most - there's no point in doing photography of subjects that bore you to death.

I simply asked them for a wants list and whenever I had a spare moment I'd go and shoot images to suit their needs. I'm still doing that and although it isn't big money it is fairly constant. I now work for those libraries that don't expect me to produce output like I am a factory, that can be stressful and unless you are working full-time at it sometimes very difficult to do.

Concentrate on producing quality images and edit very strictly, if you wouldn't buy it then neither will the agency's clients so don't enter it in the first place. That way the agency ex[ect class material and are happy to get what you supply.

Just remember to keep what you supply up to date and avoid material that will date because of fashions or car models unless you are willing to keep updating.

[peterdoomen]

Ian,

you've got some really good photos on your site, so why not give it a try (I've made a small booklet with valuable tips if you want to try stock, it is available at http://www.aboriginemundi.com/photo/Ten-Tips-for-Success-with-ShutterStock.pdf).

Another tip: stock buyers don't like names to be visible on photos, for example trade names like "Dunlop". So your "best stock photos" would not necessarily be your "best photos".

Hope that helps,

PeteR.

[Davidsl222]

Ian,
http://www.aboriginemundi.com/photo/Ten-Tips-for-Success-with-ShutterStock.pdf) (http://www.aboriginemundi.com/photo/Ten-Tips-for-Success-with-ShutterStock.pdf%29).


This link isn't working. Any thoughts. Thanks.

[Dchemist]

Get rid of the ")" and it works:

http://www.aboriginemundi.com/photo/Ten-Tips-for-Success-with-ShutterStock.pdf

[Davidsl222]

Thank you.

[peterdoomen]

Fixed the link. Thanks!

P.