Stock photos?

kds1

Not sure where would be the best place to post this question, but here goes. Does anyone have any info to share about selling stock photos? In layman's terms?

As in, what is the standard set up or deal, can you work with several different stock photo companies selling your images (and can you have the same images for sale with multiple companies)? How is price determined?, etc. and any other info you are kind enough to share.

Oh - and do the images have to have been created in a particular format? In other words, no matter what processing software you use, do you have to use layers in order for them to be truly saleable? I saw a brief comment from someone on another site that she uses layers (even if she takes the shot just as it is?) in order for buyers to be able to change background colors and all that easily. In other words, in this lemon shot, would I then have to create layers for the lemon and the background?



Thanks!

Kara

Cygnus Studios

kds1 wrote:

As in, what is the standard set up or deal, can you work with several different stock photo companies selling your images (and can you have the same images for sale with multiple companies)? How is price determined?, etc. and any other info you are kind enough to share.

There are loads of stock sites out there, and each will determine what you may or may not do with the image(s) once accepted on their site.
They will also set the guidelines for sizes and quality. Most also set the price. Micro sites are really the moving market currently selling images for around a dollar each.

I have seen some that allow the photographer to choose a price, but why would a customer pay a lot more when they can get something that works for a dollar.

The few photographers who claim to be successful at the stock sites say that they upload thousands of images on a regular basis and string the keywords to keep the potential customers looking.

Kinkajou

I applied to iStockPhoto just to see whether I could actually make some money off of it. They are very strict about what they will accept and have some instructions regarding the images they're looking for and how they should be shot (composition, etc.).

The only downside is that you don't get any $ until you earn at least $100 in profits from your images. I don't actually know how they calculate your profits off of each image though, so I have no idea how many images you'd need to sell before you saw any money.

But, it's a crazy-popular site for stock photo, so it might be worth a try. I have my second round of submission coming up (as I was rejected the first time around - sad). I had really underestimated the quality that they were looking for, so I had just submitted the first three decent looking photos I came across).

Angelo

Kara:

please use our SEARCH feature;

enter iStock and you'll find several threads dealing with stock images

orljustin

"I don't actually know how they calculate your profits off of each image though, so I have no idea how many images you'd need to sell before you saw any money."

Do you always sign up for things without understanding them?

http://www.istockphoto.com/faq.php?FormName=FaqSearchForm&Category=25#faq114

" Does anyone have any info to share about selling stock photos?"

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=selling+stock+photography

Blaker

kds1 wrote:

Not sure where would be the best place to post this question, but here goes. Does anyone have any info to share about selling stock photos? In layman's terms?

Here is an interesting story about how an iStock photog earned a mere $30 and no photo credit for a Time magazine cover
(which usually pays in the vicinity of $3000).

http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2009/07/real-new-frugality-time-style.html

RicherSea

Blaker wrote:

Here is an interesting story about how an iStock photog earned a mere $30 and no photo credit for a Time magazine cover
(which usually pays in the vicinity of $3000).

http://photobusinessforum.blogspot.com/2009/07/real-new-frugality-time-style.html

I'd agree with the sentiment above. If you want to sell stock then go to a stock agency that actually pays you real money, rather than a few cents an image.

Kinkajou

orljustin wrote:

"I don't actually know how they calculate your profits off of each image though, so I have no idea how many images you'd need to sell before you saw any money."

Do you always sign up for things without understanding them?

http://www.istockphoto.com/faq.php?FormName=FaqSearchForm&Category=25#faq114

No, I just started the process more as a 'why not?' thing than anything else, and haven't committed to it yet since I didn't take the time to do the the research to really know what I was getting myself into. It would've been nice if they had provided that info from the get-go so that it would be clear to potential contributors.

Thank you for posting that link.

Cygnus Studios

RicherSea wrote:

I'd agree with the sentiment above. If you want to sell stock then go to a stock agency that actually pays you real money, rather than a few cents an image.

You would have to ask yourself if you were the one looking for a generic stock image which service would you choose? The one that sells images at $50 or the one that sells images for .50 cents?

There is a reason why these microstock sites are booming, and it unfortunately does not include making money for the contributors.

I think with some effort you could make as much money selling prints at local businesses and art shows in your community.

Angelo

as mentioned above there are several threads on this subject already. here is one specifically dealing with iStock: http://www.dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=97325



regardless of anyone's general opinion of micro-stock, iStock is a fairly good resource exhibiting integrity with their approval, selection, pricing, selling and commission practices.

they work on a "credit" system in that buyers purchase a bundle of credits based on their intended needs for the day, month or year.

the price one pays for the credits ranges from $.95 to $1.50 depending on quantity purchased.

images are sold based on their "credit value" and artists are paid commissions ranging from 20 - 40%

so, example - you have an image loaded at iStock listed at 20 credits. that translates to a dollar value of $19 - $30, again, based on what the buyer paid for their credits.

assuming the low end - the buyer pays 20 credits valued at $.95: image valued at $19. - artist is at a 20% mark - artist receives $3.80

at the high end? $1.50 per credit and 40% - artist receives $12

when you consider you might be uploading images you might otherwise not use and there is no printing involved, no repetitive file transfers and no CDs to burn and any given image may sell over-and-over-again.... dollars can and do add up.


.

kds1

Wow. A LOT of helpful info there, and thank you, Angelo for the link to the past threads about stock photos. I'm sorry I didn't check in earlier to view your responses - I only got one email that one person had replied and then got slammed at work and home with some stuff. So sorry.

And many thanks to all of you for your input. It really helps.

Kara