Stock Photography

Adrian.Sadlier

Does anybody on boards submit/make money from stock photography? As an exercise (in futility?) I applied to iStockphoto and eventually got accepted. I uploaded the sum total of 5 shots (I won't mention how many they rejected) and over the period of about a year managed to earn the princely sum of $3.50.

I'm guessing its either a mugs game or its a question of numbers - i.e. you need a few hundred accepted shots before you start to earn any noticeable amount.

Can anybody offer any advice/recommendations (other than "I've seen your work - give up photography") :-)

Adrian

Hugh_C

I've made a few quid through Getty, but I think you'd need thousands in the library to make anything out of it ...

sebphoto

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

Does anybody on boards submit/make money from stock photography? As an exercise (in futility?) I applied to iStockphoto and eventually got accepted. I uploaded the sum total of 5 shots (I won't mention how many they rejected) and over the period of about a year managed to earn the princely sum of $3.50.

I'm guessing its either a mugs game or its a question of numbers - i.e. you need a few hundred accepted shots before you start to earn any noticeable amount.

Can anybody offer any advice/recommendations (other than "I've seen your work - give up photography") :-)

Adrian

All you need is time and huge portfolio.
Submit different photographs and different subjects.
Food, people, editorial content is desiderable.
Also take a look here for more details.
Stock market is not easy and it require a lot of hard work.

nucker

Since there are a plethora of photographers who tend to be really good, the market have really made the prices of stock photos so low that you would have to probably have to have a large catalogue behind you

Snowie

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

Does anybody on boards submit/make money from stock photography? As an exercise (in futility?) I applied to iStockphoto and eventually got accepted. I uploaded the sum total of 5 shots (I won't mention how many they rejected) and over the period of about a year managed to earn the princely sum of $3.50.

I'm guessing its either a mugs game or its a question of numbers - i.e. you need a few hundred accepted shots before you start to earn any noticeable amount.

Can anybody offer any advice/recommendations (other than "I've seen your work - give up photography") :-)

Adrian

My dads been involved in stock photography for 35 years or so.. If you want i can pm you his email he'll give you the best advice he can.
if you want.

sebphoto

Snowie wrote: »

My dads been involved in stock photography for 35 years or so.. If you want i can pm you his email he'll give you the best advice he can.
if you want.

even i want

Snowie

sebphoto wrote: »

even i want

Leave it with me as I may have an idea that could suit every one and a lot less time consuming for every one!

Bare with me

Teferi

I've looked into this in the past and it seemed to be a game of numbers that you really have to commit to. A lot of hard with no guaranteed return at the end.

On the other hand you could build a portfolio passively over a number of years before submitting them. This is more long game though.

thatsnotmyname

I have done okay through Getty this year.

Like HughC said you would need to have a lot licensed through them to make serious money out of it.

one of my contacts on flickr who is based in Dublin
seems to do very well through Getty.

bullpost

Was at a talk by a member of Tallaght camera club who is very successful with Getty - see her portfolio here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/catmacbride/sets/72157621934251014/

Adrian.Sadlier wrote: »

Does anybody on boards submit/make money from stock photography? As an exercise (in futility?) I applied to iStockphoto and eventually got accepted. I uploaded the sum total of 5 shots (I won't mention how many they rejected) and over the period of about a year managed to earn the princely sum of $3.50.

I'm guessing its either a mugs game or its a question of numbers - i.e. you need a few hundred accepted shots before you start to earn any noticeable amount.

Can anybody offer any advice/recommendations (other than "I've seen your work - give up photography") :-)

Adrian

thatsnotmyname

bullpost wrote: »

Was at a talk by a member of Tallaght camera club who is very successful with Getty - see her portfolio here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/catmacbride/sets/72157621934251014/

That's who i was referring to!!:D
she is very creative and its no surprise that she does so well.

ScumLord

You also have to consider what people look for on stock sites. For the most part they'll probably be making brochures for companies so no matter how good your landscape looks it's not going to attract someone looking for a boring picture of people in an office.

Adrian.Sadlier

Snowie wrote: »

Leave it with me as I may have an idea that could suit every one and a lot less time consuming for every one!

Bare with me

I wait, with bated breath :-)

dinneenp

there's loads of article on it, best sites, key words to use (even a great site that will suggest key words for your images).
You can get lucky- I have about 10-20 images on getty, ESPN EMEA bought 1 for 2 years in a row for internet/tv usage. I got about 150 each year from it. but this is the exception.

some other sites where people can buy your work on canvas etc can be good but I suppose that's not stock photography, kind of...

Lao Lao

Snowie wrote: »

Leave it with me as I may have an idea that could suit every one and a lot less time consuming for every one!

Bare with me

Would be interested in hearing this as well please!