HOW YOU CAN BECOME SUCCESSFUL AS A STOCK PHOTOGRAPHER
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Probably the most frequent question put to us here at PhotoSource International is: "How can I become successful at publishing my pictures?" Oddly enough, the answer is quite simple -- but it's not the answer most photographers expect. And that might be one reason why the answer is so elusive to many people. We might expect the answer to be: "Be born with TALENT." or, "Work hard!" To possess talent and to work hard of course are important, but we all know photographers with a lot of talent who are going nowhere. We also know a lot of "hard workers," who are going the same place. But to get to the point -- the prime answer is simply this: if your desire to become a published photographer is so strong that your personal constitution will allow you to "put up with and do without," then success is just around the corner for you.
Simple Answer
Put up with? Do without? Sounds simplistic. And it is. Whenever we follow up photographers who have come to us in the past with dreams, goals, and aspirations of publishing their pictures -- we find that years later, the ones who have met with success are the ones who have persisted and persisted, and endured.
First of all these photographers have "put up with" the inherent drudgery jobs, the unpleasant tasks, the necessary non-glamorous chores one faces daily in this business. As they face their day, they don't avoid the tedious chores. They have True Grit. They know that if they neglect the irksome task it won't go away, but will grow into a larger problem the next day, and by the end of the month, could create a complicated, time-consuming, catch-up mess or even an insurmountable barrier.
And what are these unpleasantries? As a stock photographer you face many daily tasks: refining e-mails or queries to prospective photo editors; spotting 35 mm b&w prints; making phone calls for everything from research to clarifying assignments; cataloging, cross-referencing, and labeling your pictures; writing captions; filing your contact sheets; packaging photos; and licking stamps.
If you are new to the field of stock photography, you'll nevertheless recognize these drudgery jobs as parallel to those in operating your household: every uncleaned paint brush or tool unreturned to its shelf, every unanswered letter in that pile of important letters, or that unbalanced check book are examples of the 'things we don't like to do,' that pile up until it becomes a habit with us not to get them done. Once this procrastination becomes habit, it becomes our "style" -- or, us. "Wishing away" those drudgery jobs never works. We can stick our heads in the sand and grow accustomed to our house needing a paint job, the garden that needs weeding, the uncut grass, the Christmas wreath still up in February, or the fender needing repair. Or, as the stock photographer: the list of photo editors that should be contacted, or that group of negatives that ought to be printed. It's quite simple: you cannot become a success at anything, unless you face the fact that your goal or your purpose must be worth more than the inconvenience of tackling those chores most people just don't like to do.
In our experience, we find that those stock photographers who "give up" and throw in the towel do so not for lack of talent, but because they are victims of their own failure to recognize this essential point: "Put up with the drudgery."
The second dictum is, "Do without," the creature comforts. Hopefully, this is necessary only in the initial stages of your career. How long you will "do without" depends on the goals you have set up for yourself. Some goals are short range and are easily attainable. Other goals you might set for yourself are long range, extremely worthwhile, and rewarding to the soul, but not immediately rewarding to the pocketbook.
Creature Comforts
In order to get established as a stock photographer, one must frequently do without the conveniences Madison Avenue is continually reminding us we must possess: air conditioning, color TV, latest model car, etc. In order to meet film costs, or the purchase of a new enlarger, or postage costs, one must often change a lifetime of supermarket habits to economize. One must "do without."
If you begin today to economize, plus tackle each "drudgery chore" as it comes along, you'll be surprised to find that you get into a habit of being a successful stock photographer. Not only that, what were once irksome tasks will become joyous ones for you, because you'll welcome and recognize the tasks as real accomplishments on your journey to your goal as a successful stock photographer. If you persevere, and develop the inner constitution to "put up with and do without," you will begin your success where others have failed. - RE
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