Views of Stock Imagery Houses?

[kawter2]

Preface, I am posting this because I promised to get more opinions about it

Ok I was signing up for an account with Alamy.. and I had a friend tell me EVERYTHING they hated about stock photo agencies.. That they ruin artists, the industry etc... Ok I agree that for me, Istockphoto would be a bad move, but I have heard a LOT of good things about Alamy..

The main point my friend left me with was not that the agencies are evil (that was kind of her original stance,) but that it will ruin me as a photographer..

OK NOW!!>>>
I understand that if i sell an image to them I have in all aspects "ruined" that image in the fact that it will be rough to ever sell it for anything but what I'm getting on the stock site.. However I don't understand how having images at a stock agency would jeopardize my "worth" to ANY client.

I even told her that I thought I am a big fan of an open economy and if there is a buyer and a seller, it is good for economy/industry.. that said, even istockphoto is good, it makes everyone selling $$$ images make sure that they are providing a profit that is worth the $$ any way before i get flamed my 2 questions are

The other point she made is that "HARDLY ANYONE" pays for stock, they all steal it..


Q.1>> Will a stock agency ruin my "worth" to a future client or just the images i sell, or neither?

Q.2>> Does it matter if they steal my stuff off of these sites? I know it probably wont have the same visits, but they can steal them of my personal site as well.. I would think it would be good as well, because then I can take legal action

My bottom line point to her was "Even though it might be a rip off to sell my shot for 35% of $50, it is a lot more than 100% of $0 that it is making sitting on my shelf


Thanks In Advance

[LesE]

My bottom line point to her was "Even though it might be a rip off to sell my shot for 35% of $50, it is a lot more than 100% of $0 that it is making sitting on my shelf


I have just sold my first image with Alamy, an image which I would not have been able to sell anywhere else and it would otherwise have been, as you say, "sitting on my shelf" BUT ..... we ain't talking about 35% of $50 here - I got 65% of $441!

Made your mind up yet?

[LesE]

Forgot to mention ... another point is that big, reputable, companies don't steal images. There is so much money in advertising and publishing that, to these companies, $400 is a steal anyway!

[kawter2]

I have just sold my first image with Alamy, an image which I would not have been able to sell anywhere else and it would otherwise have been, as you say, "sitting on my shelf" BUT ..... we ain't talking about 35% of $50 here - I got 65% of $441!

Made your mind up yet?

Yes i say WOW ;) Would you mind answering a few questions?


BTW It looks form that, you use licensed images vs royalty free? (would you recommend one over the other?)

also Can you lend me a little insight as to your "up-scaling" process? I have been using standard bi-cubic smooth one time, but I have read SEVERAL methods... and also see people using genuine fractals... any insight?

Are you using any sharpening (they say not to use ANY, but I think canon images always need a lil )

[jfrancho]

Can only answer #1. That depends on what you are selling to stock agencies, and what you are selling to customers. I would assume that minimizing any crossover would be the goal.

[Rob612]

As of today, I have 61 images on Alamy (you can see them here (http://www.alamy.com/stock-photography-contrib-browse.asp?cid={1A69C3A1-D724-4B0B-8F5D-852783BE9E12}&name=Roberto+Aquilano) if you wish, nothing special, by the way). Still none sold, but those have been online for more or less a week, and I have another 100 or so still to pass QC.

I do not really know if that type of work ruins the market abroad, but over here getting into the pro business is such a huge problem that I choosed to take the risk or "ruin" my name and see what happens. I am not - and probably never be - a pro, but the idea of finding a way to at least partially finance my hobby honestly tickles me.

I choose not to go with the penny stock agencies because that is really ruining any professionalism that is involved. At least Alamy - that probably sells very cheap compared to what it the standard, direct market - sells for prices that are not that bad. Other thing I've done, the vast majority of my pics on Alamy are under Licensed and not RF, another little thing to try to save the professionalism of others more than mine.

BTW, Lese, how long did it take for you before selling a pic on Alamy ? Just out of curiosity, and of course if I may ask.

[Rob612]

I have been using standard bi-cubic smooth one time, but I have read SEVERAL methods... and also see people using genuine fractals... any insight?

Are you using any sharpening (they say not to use ANY, but I think canon images always need a lil )

Personally - but as I have already stated I have sold nothing in the few days that my images have been online - I use Lizardtech GF for resizing (and I must say that it does an amazing job) and no sharpening, unless the image is really extremely soft, in that case i give it a little USM, but really just a touch.

In other words, I'll just do the way they want them :)

[LesE]

Answer to Rob612 first - it took about 6 weeks BUT I can't see that there is any reason for one image to sell over another. You don't get any feedback as to who bought the image and for what purpose. I would guess that part of it is building up a reputation, putting as many top quality images on as you can, and hoping that buyers will notice you. At the beginning I think it is just hit and miss.

To Kawter2 - I was terrified that Alamy were going to reject my first submissions at Quality Control! If you take a look at some of the images on there, however, you will see that a little bit of care goes a long way. I process my images initially for myself and for printing - and then think about Alamy. I ALWAYS sharpen everything in Photoshop using Photokit Sharpener which has a very delicate 'capture sharpener' which is much more complicated than Unsharp Mask. You gotta pay for Photokit Sharpener but I think it was one of my wisest investments. That first copy with minimal sharpening plus levels, contrast and whatever I feel it needs to look good is my master. Any further sharpening for specific purposes is done as a copy of this.

For alamy I have saved an action that increases the size in 10% increments up to the 50MB size Alamy require - straight bicubic NOT smoother. Do it this way and it is just as good as examples I have seen with Genuine Fractals (and a LOT cheaper!). I have to admit the full size image can look a touch grainy but all my photos have passed Alamy QC so far. It's best to stick to 100 or 200 ASA though. So it's just the initial delicate sharpen and upsize but don't forget good levels and contrast can make a photo look sharper.

Finally the image was sold Royalty Free which - to my mind - is the best way to go. I figure that you want to put as few obstacles in the buyers path as possible and if he feels he can use the image in more ways than one, he is less likely to baulk at paying $400 or so. Royalty Free seems to me to give a little more incentive to the buyer and I'd rather have his money now than hold out for a few dollars more.

Hope this helps.

[Rob612]

Answer to Rob612 first - it took about 6 weeks BUT I can't see that there is any reason for one image to sell over another. You don't get any feedback as to who bought the image and for what purpose. I would guess that part of it is building up a reputation, putting as many top quality images on as you can, and hoping that buyers will notice you. At the beginning I think it is just hit and miss.

Surely its an hit & miss thing, and 6 weeks seems to me pretty quick. Congrats on your first sale and thanks.

[kawter2]

LesE, mind sharing your Alamy stuff with us?

[Rob612]

LesE, mind sharing your Alamy stuff with us?

That would be nice, indeed.