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riccardofortericcardoforte Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
edited January 10, 2009 in Mind Your Own Business
Hello, everybody. Although I’ve been registered for a long time, I’m absolutely new on Digital Grin. I’m an Italian photographer, member of the smugmug community (so, be patient with my English).

I’m really interesting (may be anxious?) about “getting ready to sell stock photos” and I tried to read through all this debate (it’s a really long one). Personally I strongly appreciate all the work of the smugmug guys and the help I’ve received from them. And like many other members of this community I’m waiting for the release of a smugmug stock section, helping us to sell our works.
Meanwhile, I’d like to show up some personal problems about this topic. They may be shared by other photographers, or maybe not. Starting a new photo business and after reading a lot of books and articles about the photo business topic, I’m still concerned about the following issues:

1) Be able to produce saleable images (that doesn’t mean simply good ones)

2) Find the best way to present them in my own website (i.e., create an attractive online portfolio and galleries)

3) Find the best place to expose and sell my work and let my images known by the widest possible community of photo buyers.

All suggestions about these three issues will be very welcome. Bu specifically about the 3rd one –and waiting for the smugmug stock photography section- I’d like to read some ideas and proposals about some stock sellers on the market. For example, I’ve just explored the PhotoSourceBank website and the Shutterbug magazine has launched a new website to sell photos. Anybody has some ideas or experiences to share about these or other sites? Thank you.
And Happy New Year!
Riccardo

Comments

  • samcsamc Registered Users Posts: 11 Big grins
    edited January 8, 2009
    A tough market
    Selling photos via stock sites is really tough. There is usually very little money to be made, and the commission that most sites give the contributing photographers is really bad. I'm not sure about Shutterfly though. There are free sites for you to upload your photos, but you better have some very good shots and alot of patience.
  • leaforteleaforte Registered Users Posts: 1,948 Major grins
    edited January 8, 2009
    From one 'forte' to another, welcome riccardo! I do not have the answers, but it sure seems like you have done some research, and I can assure you, if dgrinners can help with your questions, they will.

    Your english is super!
    Growing with Dgrin



  • riccardofortericcardoforte Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited January 9, 2009
    Thank you for your reply
    samc wrote:
    Selling photos via stock sites is really tough. There is usually very little money to be made, and the commission that most sites give the contributing photographers is really bad. I'm not sure about Shutterfly though. There are free sites for you to upload your photos, but you better have some very good shots and alot of patience.

    I think you're absolutely right about patience (and of course good shots). Thank you.
  • riccardofortericcardoforte Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited January 9, 2009
    leaforte wrote:
    From one 'forte' to another, welcome riccardo! I do not have the answers, but it sure seems like you have done some research, and I can assure you, if dgrinners can help with your questions, they will.

    Your english is super!
    Hi "forte", and thank you for your message. I really hope you're right and dgrinners can help. See you.
  • xrisxris Registered Users Posts: 546 Major grins
    edited January 10, 2009
    Check out LicenseStream
    thumb.gif
    X www.thepicturetaker.ca
  • riccardofortericcardoforte Registered Users Posts: 8 Beginner grinner
    edited January 10, 2009
    xris wrote:
    Check out LicenseStream
    thumb.gif

    Very interesting. Thanks for your suggestion.rolleyes1.gif
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