[STOCKPHOTO] basic questions on the stock photo field
ein...@yahoo.com
I'm new to this listserve thing. Am just beginning to explore the
possibility of trying to sell my several thousand images,
largely flowers in close-up,plus garden vignettes. Got to do
something with them besides enter and win competitions, show at local
galleries...The last few messages on this list have been daunting, as
you all appear to be pros trying to navigate some kind of new world,
but here my questions go---
Notwithstanding all my research into stockphoto agencies,
short of calling or writing them:
1. Just why are contracts so long, at 3-5 years of my life? Why are
they [apparently]exclusive, so you do not seem able to have contracts
with several agencies at once?
2. Why won't anybody in their guidelines talk about how much images
sell for?? I don't mean the 50/50 split, but the actual range or
variety of prices under different conditions? Only Getty seems to
make this available, but only to buyers, not the photogs. And just
who/how prices are established?
3. On the technical side, when you have several[or many]
exposures/views of given slide subject, how do you know which to
submit[as in a portfolio to get foot in door? Many of my slides are
equally good, just show subject in a different mood/lighting.
Hope I'm really "subscribed" and can actually read some responses in
the near future! Thanks for this opportunity!---Rosalie Frost
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Pat Hunt
>
> Notwithstanding all my research into stockphoto agencies,
> short of calling or writing them:
> 1. Just why are contracts so long, at 3-5 years of my life? Why are
> they [apparently]exclusive, so you do not seem able to have contracts
> with several agencies at once?
It takes a lot of time, effort and money to put you into an agency's system,
assign you an editor and represent you in their marketing. It's not worth it
for a shorter commitment of time. Most agencies are "image exclusive", so
you can belong to several agencies.
> 2. Why won't anybody in their guidelines talk about how much images
> sell for?? I don't mean the 50/50 split, but the actual range or
> variety of prices under different conditions? Only Getty seems to
> make this available, but only to buyers, not the photogs. And just
> who/how prices are established?
Pricing is highly varied according to usage, and whether it is editorial,
commercial, consumer, broad or narrow. Pricing is also negotiable. You can
get some ideas about it on various sites, such as the large agencies and EP.
Pricing is complicated and takes Account Executives a while to grasp at
agencies.
> 3. On the technical side, when you have several[or many]
> exposures/views of given slide subject, how do you know which to
> submit[as in a portfolio to get foot in door? Many of my slides are
> equally good, just show subject in a different mood/lighting.
50 to 100 is usually a good amount for a first submission. You much pick the
ones you think best represent your talent. After you are accepted, you can
submit more. If the agency will put all images on line, they will edit very
tightly, as the cost is so high.
Pat Hunt
Stock Photography Consultant
www.1portauthority.com
David Riecks
>1. Just why are contracts so long, at 3-5 years of my life? Why are
>they [apparently]exclusive, so you do not seem able to have contracts
>with several agencies at once?
>sell for?? I don't mean the 50/50 split, but the actual range or
>variety of prices under different conditions? Only Getty seems to
>make this available, but only to buyers, not the photogs. And just
>who/how prices are established?
>exposures/views of given slide subject, how do you know which to
>submit[as in a portfolio to get foot in door? Many of my slides are
>equally good, just show subject in a different mood/lighting.
1. 3-5 is a short contract. If your agency is using paper catalogs it might
take a year before they get out to potential buyers. Most catalogs (at least
in the past) would sit on agency shelves for an average of 7 years. If you
pull your work from the agency, they can't sell them, even though they may
still be in the catalog! Most are image exclusive as Pat Hunt mentioned, so
you can have several agencies representing you.
2. Prices change all the time, and are negotiable. If you want an idea of
what they should go for spend the bucks and buy a copy of Jim Pickerells
book, or buy a copy of the Fotoquote software.
3. If you aren't sure about which "view" send them all, I'm often amazed
that my agents pick out the images that I would have dropped out if it
wasn't for my wife rooting for that particular view. We may well be our own
worst enemies.
Hope that helps.
David
David Riecks * http://zillionbucks.com
Midwest/Chicago ASMP * Webhosting and domain consulting
http://www.riecks.com * for Internet-Savvy businesses...
Brian Seed
> 2. Prices change all the time, and are negotiable. If you want an idea of
> what they should go for spend the bucks and buy a copy of Jim Pickerells
> book, or buy a copy of the Fotoquote software.
>
> 3. If you aren't sure about which "view" send them all, I'm often amazed
> that my agents pick out the images that I would have dropped out if it
> wasn't for my wife rooting for that particular view. We may well be our
own
> worst enemies.
On the first point, Jim Pickerell's latest, long awaited, and highly
regarded stock photo pricing book will be available in early October.
Ordered by September 21 its cost is $34.50, inclusive of postage and
handling. The last edition of this book was in 1977.
For more info: www.pickphoto.com/nspp.html
Secondly, I don't think you should give picture editors unnecessary work by
sending near duplicates, or images that don't represent your absolutely
best work. Be very citical of technical quality: color and sharpness. Your
flower picture work will be up against the work of very experienced flower
photographers.
David makes an excellent point about getting a second opinion. This is
often very helpful as we all have blind spots where our own images are
concerned. Try to choose someone who is knowledgeable and whose opinion you
respect.
It is vitally import that your flowers, a prime subject for you, be fully
captioned. An agency & the photo buyers to whom it is going to market
flower pictures will want to see the flowers captioned with their latin
names. This is not to say that images without this kind of caption
information will never sell, but the detailed and accurate caption will
indicate to the agent that you know your subject, and this information will
often be demanded by the buyer.
Speak to prospective agents and get their request to see your pictures
before you send anything. Then, select a very secure delivery service, one
that requires a receipt from the recipient. Many of us use Federal Express,
but there are other services you can use, including recorded delivery post.
Much depends on your budget. Federal Express is best. Include a delivery
note detailing the images you are sending. Keep a copy for your files.
If you get stuck trying to locate possible agencies send a brief message to
me at: bs...@wwa.com, and I'll give you a few names both in the U.S. and
overseas.
Brian
Brian Seed
Stock Photography Consultant
Phone: 847-677-7887 (Chicago).
John Blair
Brian Seed wrote:
>
> On the first point, Jim Pickerell's latest, long awaited, and highly
> regarded stock photo pricing book will be available in early October.
> Ordered by September 21 its cost is $34.50, inclusive of postage and
> handling. The last edition of this book was in 1977.
I also have a 1995 edition ISBN 1-88646-903-2 and am looking forward to
the new edition since even that one is getting old.
John
--
John Blair
John G. Blair Studio
Occidental, California
(about an hour north of the Bay Area)
David Riecks
>David makes an excellent point about getting a second opinion. This is
>often very helpful as we all have blind spots where our own images are
>concerned. Try to choose someone who is knowledgeable and whose opinion you
>respect.
>
Brian and Rosalie:
I should have qualified that by telling you that my wife used to be the
photo-editor for a trade magazine before we were married. Her background was
in communications, but she did some photography at trade shows, assigned
photographers and selected the best for reproduction.
But Brian is right, the second opinion should be someone who "has an eye"
and understands art if not photography.
David
David Riecks * da...@riecks.com
701 W. Washington St * Midwest/Chicago ASMP
Champaign, IL 61820 *
ph/fax 217-239-FOTO(3686) * http://www.riecks.com/