What do you do with your photos?

[kenyc]

In the TCH..Egrets..Moorhens topic someone mentioned making a lot of money from a particular shot which triggered me to ask something that has crossed my mind a couple of times.

What do you guys do (if anything) with the photos you get? Is it just simply for the pleasure of getting the shot and sharing with us here in the forum? Do you market the images to magazines, books, stock sites? Is there anyone here who actually makes a living from bird photography?

I'm a newbie to bird photography for the most part, but am learning fast and get a reasonable shot here and there. For now I'm just happy to get them and to share them, but if the opportunity arose, I'd certainly work to sell the images.

KAC

[canonloader]

Most stock companies want RAW files shot from a 12+mp sensor camera. That leaves me out. Most stock companies don't want nature or bird shots. They don't even want you to submit them.

We have a Business Forum here (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=23). Check it out. :)

[Reyno]

It was an interesting comment that Alan made on my thread, but like most of us here, I do it for the pure fun and pleasure of getting the shots and sharing it with others on forums like POTN. I do not intend to turn pro but if someone would pay for my photos, I'd be most willing to negotiate.

[kenyc]

Thanks Mitch, like in Pirates of the Caribbean, that 12 MP is really just a guideline. :)

I'm sure the stock companies get way too many of the family dog submitted as well, but some of your shots and and many of the others here are better than many I see in the guides etc.

I'm aware of the business section, just curious what if anything the regular posters here in the bird forum do with their images.

As far as my position on the continuum I have strictly held my art/photography in the hobby/creative-release/please myself realm even though I have sold a few prints here and there.

KAC

[kenyc]

I was intrigue by Alan's comment as well but like most of us here, I do it for the pure fun and pleasure of getting the shots and sharing it with others on forums like POTN. I do not intend to turn pro but if someone would pay for my photos, I'd be most willing to negotiate.

:) Reyno, I understand exactly what you are saying and (see my response above) that's pretty much the place I'm in with my photography as well. Thanks for the reply.

KAC

[hTr]

I've had offers and turned them down because I'm not wanting to deal with petty BS to sell a print.

They buy a print and want to own your work.

Keep it fun and the rewards are far more important than money.

I think If your want to make some Money Setup several shooting sites and charge photogs for days shooting opportunity.

[kenyc]

I've had offers and turned them down because I'm not wanting to deal with petty BS to sell a print.

They buy a print and want to own your work.

Keep it fun and the rewards are far more important than money.

I think If your want to make some Money Setup several shooting sites and charge photogs for days shooting opportunity.

Thanks Gary, I understand. Yeah the BS I definitely don't want either and my whole point of this is to have fun, be creative etc.

Enjoy!
KAC

[pttenn]

I've sent photos to the Nashville Zoo and they have used 3 of them in their mail outs...I was thrilled and did not ask for money. Their marketing director asked if it was ok to send one of mine of a tiger to MSN to use in a story on diff.things to see in cities across the country. I said sure. Money would be nice but I'm not comfortable marketing myself so I just do it -like the guys above--for the pleasure it gives me. I love the thrill of the "chase" and getting a nice shot! Someone enjoying that same shot is just the icing on the cake! :)
Karen

[kenyc]

I've sent photos to the Nashville Zoo and they have used 3 of them in their mail outs...I was thrilled and did not ask for money. Their marketing director asked if it was ok to send one of mine of a tiger to MSN to use in a story on diff.things to see in cities across the country. I said sure. Money would be nice but I'm not comfortable marketing myself so I just do it -like the guys above--for the pleasure it gives me. I love the thrill of the "chase" and getting a nice shot! Someone enjoying that same shot is just the icing on the cake! :)
Karen

Hey Karen, very cool. That reminds me I did let the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge use several of mine on their website. Not sure if they are still there are not. I truly enjoy doing that sort of thing with my photos to hopefully get people more interested in preserving wild areas/animals/etc.

KAC

[Alex Paul]

Calendars for corporations.... I sell a few of my shots every year for them. The other thing I like to do is act as a contributing editor for magazines that cover hobbies I am involved with or just enjoy.... I cover events for R/C slope and thermal flying contests for 3 different magazines, and so far I have nailed all of the articles with my photos being used.... Not much money, but it is good to stay active, and get your stuff in print for others to see.... This slowly builds a portfolio, and shows what you are capable of for farming future business....But it is for the love of the game. I often see ads running in newspapers for photo contests and often times these are for corporate use..... They pay typically 400 to 500 per shot... I have hit multiples, and walked away with a couple thousand bucks, just for filling out the form, putting a few images on disk, and sending it in..... I think shooting for the love of it is what makes great images happen... You can pay for most of the gear you purchase, with your shots and still stay reasonably passive..... Good question..... Thats my take, and how I get occasional cake for doing what I would be doing anyway :D :D

[GyRob]

I shoot just for fun although i do have a couple of hundred shot's on a stock sight -but they wont sell as i haven't caption'd or titiled them lol .
Rob

[KIPAX]

90% fun. I put all my pictures onto my website and if I sell some then great.. If I don't then no matter. I currently have over 45 thousand pictures on my site at www.kipax.com :)

[Anthony J Howe]

I take shots of birds for pure pleasure and print and make albums of them, have slide shows of them and show to friends at home.
I'm really a wedding photographer and sell pictures for business, but regarding shots of our feathered friends, no sale.

[Sharpy]

When I mentioned making money out of one of the superb images Reyno posted recently, I did't mean to sound like a money grabbing photo mercinary - what I should have said is that it would be fantastic to see one of these images featuring in a quality glossy mag. (NG) - something we all dream of, and I'm sure the publishers offer money for the right to do so.
Alex Paul has summed it up far more eloquently than I can.
Sorry if my comment was not penned as well as it could have been.
Kind regards Alan.

[kenyc]

Hey thanks for all the responses. It's always fun to get to know a bit more about the photographers and what they do "behind the scenes." It's good to hear some of your are making a bit of money from the fun, that's always good, but I think perhaps more important is that most are doing it for the love of it.

Alex, cool on the calendars and sales here and there. I did a landscape calendar a couple of years back just for fun and a few christmas presents.

GyRob, you should give those some crazy titles and they'll sell. :)

Kipax, 45,000?? Wow and I thought I had a lot on my site. :)

Anthony, glad you know which is important and which is for bucks. :) That's why I work as a computer architect/software developer to support my artistic pursuits.

Sharpy, thanks for the comment in Reyno's thread that helped me remember I wanted to ask this question. Certainly didn't sound mercenary to me when you made the comment, more a praise of the image.

KAC

[Samdiver74]

I like to take Pics just for the chase and the thought of getting that one perfect image and to learn more about this art form,
I do get a great sense of accomplishment and satisfaction seeing and hearing the response from others when they see my pics and like others I wouldn't mind selling a few here and there and then injecting that cash back into more gear (Lenses) to eventually advance further into the hobby.

But purely as a fun and enjoyable hobby is all I want out of it.

I used to Dive for pleasure and then got into it Commercially, getting paid to do something you enjoy seemed like the ultimate job and it was just that for a long time.
I have however quit diving, the joy is no longer there and the pay is no longer great and to think that it was my hobby and after 10 years I gave it up.

I don't want that same thing happening with my photography, I really enjoy it right now.
I don't want to have a number of assignments and end up in different, dangerous & remote parts of the world.

Like Alex said it is the start to my portfolio, My next step is to get a website up and running so that I can have a gallery for people to see my images and like you mentioned Kenyc, if I can help people see a different side to the wildlife that is around us everyday, then I have achieved something to help with preservation of the different species that most people never see because of their busy schedules in their daily lives.
I know that I have a new found appreciation for all the spiders and other bugs that live around us since I got my 20D in December 2005.

I did a motorcycle photo shoot for a friend who built a bike called the "Midnight express" at the end of December last year and have recently recieved news that the pics are going to be published in two bike magazines in a few months so I am ecstatic about that.
Even though most of the readers won't care or understand about what aperture and Shutter speed were used, they'll just see another awesome looking machine but I'll see my images published.

[Samdiver74]

Did it again I don't know why it posted twice Sorry

[kenyc]

Cool Allan! Sounds like you have a plan. :) Like you I've avoided pushing my photography to make money because of a similar incident as your diving, I want to keep it fun and interesting and not load it down with the burden of having to put food on the table.

Enjoy,
KAC

[Mr. E]

I try to sell some at art and craft shows and plain old art shows. But, mostly, it's for the enjoyment! We have a few of my shots hanging around our house; I also try to get pictures of all the different birds I've seen- which I have NOT been very successful at!