Photographic agents

[dewmuw]

I recently won a competition and was surprised to receive an e-mail from a guy claiming to be a photographic agent and asking if I'd be interested in registering. Turned out to cost me a whole lot of money to do and reminded me of those people who publish their own books when no-one will buy them (vanity publishing I think it is called).

But it got me to thinking about agents and wondering if anyone here is signed up to one (eg Latent Light or the like). If you are have you sold any images?

[Conk]

Seems to me that anyone wanting to help you make money with your images shouldn't be asking you for money. :?

[cmM]

and what does a photographic agent do that you can't ?

[sGu]

If you not intend to live on it, then simply tell them that you can show them some samples to sell, if they makes profit, split it in a way that make both of you happy, otherwise, money upfront doesn't seem too wise to me, especially if it's a lot.

btw, can you show us your winning shot? :wink:

[Jon]

Seems to me that anyone wanting to help you make money with your images shouldn't be asking you for money.
and what does a photographic agent do that you can't ?

He doesn't do anything you can't do, but would you rather be photographing or selling? He also has more contacts already, while you still need to get a reputation.

[dewmuw]

I wouldn't know where to start selling my images! Isn't that what an agent has to offer?

[IndyJeff]

I wouldn't know where to start selling my images! Isn't that what an agent has to offer?

Yes that is precisely what an agent is for. He knows the market, he knows where your images will sell and who will pay top dollar for the images. Most of all, he knows what the images are worth. He will get you a better deal than you can probably get yourself and will have all the i's dotted and t's crossed to protect your from losing any rights.

Basically an agent is about the same as a stock agency, he already has built up a client list of people who will look to him for their image needs.

I don't know about the upfront money tho, I have never heard of an agent who wants upfront money unless it is to have sample prints made for his client to look at.

[Jon]

I don't know about the upfront money tho, I have never heard of an agent who wants upfront money unless it is to have sample prints made for his client to look at.

Sorry - didn't notice that at first. I agree - agents usually work off a percentage of each sale they make, so if he wants money up front it's definitely worth finding out what he's going to do for it.