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Key words in this issue: Stock Photo
NEWSWORDS:
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## PhotoAimLite monthly newsletter for August ## 407
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PhotoAimLite, the monthly newsletter from PhotoSource
International. <
http://www.photosource.com> ==>ISSN 1530-0511
If you no longer wish to receive PhotoAimLite, see the instructions at the end of this newsletter.
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Cb78
Angie 7-23-04
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(21\08LB02)
Who Are the Players?
Who are the players in the stock photography industry?
The players, of course, are the photographers and the buyers – but there are two separate "games" they can play in, and the stock photos differ, depending on which game they're in.
To get a clear picture of this, take a magazine and tear out all the advertisements. The photos that are left are what we call "editorial photography" [game 1]. (The ads are "commercial photography" [game 2].)
Stock photography is used in both areas, but with some big differences.
Most commercial photos are shot in studios or on contrived locations and conform to the wishes of several parties:
The client, the ad agency, the art director, and only slightly, the photographer.
Editorial photos meet the wishes of the editor of a magazine, book, or newspaper, and/or, a photo researcher, but first and foremost the photo meets the wishes of the photographer.
Commercial stock photos can be designed and produced by the photographer, but are still under the dictates of having to conform to "what sells." The photographer must gear the photos to fit into commercial clients' needs, trends in the industry, and to appeal to a wide, general audience. The resulting photos are often called generic images because they can fit a variety of uses, appeal to a wide audience, and can produce multiple sales.
Editorial stock photos are produced by a different approach. Rather than appeal to the commercial needs of a client, the editorial stock photographer follows his or her own interest areas, own needs, and enjoyment, in photographing certain segments of life and culture. Examples: medicine and health, sports, social issues, travel, etc. The photographer then sells these photos to markets that use images in those specific subject areas.
Buyers in the commercial field range from graphic design houses, to corporate art directors, to ad agency creative directors. There's much turnover in these positions, so developing consistent working relationships with these markets is frustrating and difficult.
In the editorial field the buyers range from photo editors at books and magazines, to photo researchers -- the people who are hired by publishers and art directors to seek out highly specific pictures. There's less turnover and more longevity with editorial buyers, and editorial stock photographers can enjoy strong long-term working relationships with their buyers -- which translates to more consistent sales.
Welcome aboard!
Rohn Engh
is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. E-mail: info@photosource.com . Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: www.photosource.com .
17a\TRNTE76C CH 7/8/04 7/12/04 7/13/04
Phone Pictures
The increasing use of mobile phones that include a camera phone function now allows pictures to be shared as soon as they're taken. Sending holiday postcards may soon be a thing of the past. These pictures can be sent to friends, relatives, and even photobuyers worldwide via telephone lines. Following the introduction of the Multimedia Messaging System (MMS) a few years ago and the recent launch of UTMS phones, users can now rapidly send larger amounts of data around the world with ease. Camera phones are among the consumer electronics products with the highest growth rates worldwide. Examples of the diverse options opened up by mobile image communication will be on display at photokina 2004, which will take place in Cologne from 28th September to 3rd October. Leading suppliers, such as Samsung, Nokia, Deutsche Telecom and Sony Ericsson, will be presenting new camera phones and mobile image communication.
Ads97
Angie 7-25-04
Picasa Version 1.6
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Wrksh277
Angie 7-16-04
BHUTAN: KINGDOM IN THE CLOUDS, with Michele Burgess. October 23 – November 10, 2004. Cost: $5,175 from Los Angeles. Visit Paro Dzong, one of Bhutan’s most impressive and well-known dzongs (fort/monasteries), and among the finest examples of Bhutanese architecture. West of the dzong, a traditional wooden covered bridge spans the Paro River; earlier versions of this bridge were removed in time of war to protect the dzong. Other sightseeing includes the National Museum, Kyichu Monastery, and the ruins of Drukgyel Dzong. Contact: In Focus With Michele Burgess, 20741 Catamaran Lane, Huntington Beach, CA 92646-5513. Phone: 1 714 536-6104. E-mail:
maburg5820@aol.com . Web: http://www.infocustravel.com .
15\Notice1e CJ 8/27/02 CH 7-21-04
#1
Can you advertise your stock photography 365 days a year to photobuyers? The answer is Yes. Watch upcoming issues of PhotoStockNotes for details about the new PhotoSourceBOOK 2005 from PhotoSource International, a powerful and unique desktop directory of stock photographers for photobuyers. Only $195. Check it out at
www.photosourcebook.com . -RE
Trvnt71a
Angie 7-1-04 CH 7/8/04
PHOTOGRAPHY, LOVE IT OR HATE IT!
Now that I am back home in the UK, I'm starting to go through the 8,000 pictures shot over nearly three months, eight weeks in Australia, and four weeks in Japan. As ever, it's a daunting task just to edit them, so I tend to do what most freelancers do at these moments: have another cup of tea, read a magazine, etc, anything but get on with it. But in the end I have to, and this self discipline is the most important asset for anyone who's a freelance, no matter what they do.
First I put them onto a lightbox, passing over each sheet of 36 exposures very quickly. This gives me the overall impression and lets me see the big picture. Then I go back over each sheet again, but slowly and looking for the frames with selling impact. What is that? I wish I knew for sure, but after a decade doing this I think I am beginning to understand what makes a picture sell. But then again, sell where? There are so many markets out there today. A look at the magazine racks in shops will tell you this, and they are the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Today, with selling pictures online, I have made sales into areas there is no way I would otherwise have been able to access or even know about: Hungary, Spain, France, Korea, China and even the USA are some since the start of 2004.
Sadly, because the Nixvue Vista 30GB portable hard drive I bought failed so spectacularly, losing the 250 pictures I'd already downloaded and erased from the CF cards, I won't be doing anything with those. Besides the time spent taking the pictures (wangling my way into Japan Airlines Business Class lounge at Osaka, shooting Brisbane at night), this is a real potential loss of future income of course. So I only used the Fuji S2 Pro digital from then on when shooting in difficult lighting conditions, at a winery in Australia where they were harvesting grapes during the night with just lights on the tractors for instance. But I can't get hung up about the loss, it's just one of those things, but you do learn from mistakes. I now think that the link between the digital camera and computer when out in the field is the missing one, and my experience backs me up. One day the whole process will be solid state, no moving bits that almost always go wrong, roll on...!
So now, when I get 'slidelagged' over the lightbox, I take a break and just do something else, but that will most likely be sitting at a computer, and yes, looking at more slides but on a screen.
In the end, like a lot in life, being a photographer means loving the good bits and hating the boring ones. It has its ups and its downs. But hey, I wouldn't swap it for anything else!
Happy Shooting!
Jeremy Hoare is a freelance travel photographer residing in London, England. Phone/Fax: +44 20 7722 2065. E-mail: jeremyhoare@hotmail.com. <Web:
www.travelwriters.com/jeremyhoare>.Travel photographers will find profitable information in the newsletter, TravelWriter Marketletter, published by Mimi Backhauser. For info:
mimi@travelwriterml.com . Ask for a sample to be sent to you.
Mcard5a
Angie 7-4-04 CH 7/8/04
The Memory Card
by David Arnold & Gail Rutman
Learning and Mastering Photoshop
With most programs you can just plunge in, play around, and learn enough to use them. But Photoshop CS has so much depth that the plunge-and-play technique won’t work well. So to save countless hours in the long run, take the time up front to go through a detailed instruction book to learn the fine points of this demanding tool. Here are some of the best books we've found to improve your Photoshopping:
Getting Started
If you’re new to Photoshop get a thorough grounding by working your way through all the step-by-step tutorials in either Adobe Photoshop CS Classroom in a Book (Adobe Press, 704 pages, CD, $45), or Sam's Teach Yourself Photoshop CS In 24 Hours, by Carla Rose (Sams, 552 pages, $24.99). To decide between the two, check their web sites at
http://www.adobepress.com/title/032119375x (book description, table of contents, image downloads) and http://www.samspublishing.com/title/0672325926 (descriptive table of contents, sample chapters, image downloads).If you can’t carve out the time for one of these books, less comprehensive but still excellent alternatives are Scott Kelby, The Photoshop CS Book for Digital Photographers (New Riders, 2003, 373 pages, $39.99); Barrie Thomas, The Photographer’s Guide to Photoshop (David & Charles, 144 pages, $29.99); or Maurice Hamilton, The Digital Darkroom Guide, (Amherst Media, 121 pages, $29.95). If you’d prefer a more visual (show-me rather than tell-me) approach, try Daniel Giordan, How to Use Photoshop CS: Visually in Full Color (Que, 324 pages, $29.95).
Getting Proficient
If you've been working with Photoshop for a while (or are new to it but willing to make a serious commitment), three books deserve serious consideration:
David Blatner and Bruce Fraser, Real World Adobe Photoshop CS (Peachpit Press, 2004, $49.99). The definitive power user’s bible. If you’re shooting raw, Chapter 14, "Building a Digital Workflow: Making Quick Work of Raw Images," is alone worth the price of the book.
Martin Evening, Adobe Photoshop CS for Photographers (Focal Press, 2004, 576 pages, CD, $44.95). Aimed at professionals and advanced amateurs already familiar with Photoshop basics. Chapter 11, Digital Capture, and 13, Color Management, are especially good. The CD contains almost three hours of first-rate video tutorials.
Barry Haynes, Wendy Crumpler, and Seán Duggan, Photoshop CS Artistry (New Riders, 460 pages, CD, $55). Especially good on color correction and color management. For time-challenged readers, the color-coded Table of Contents indicates which chapters are essential and which discretionary.
Richard Lynch, The Hidden Power of Photoshop CS (Sybex, 307 pages, CD, $39.99) is less comprehensive than the above three, but will show you how to leverage the power of some important lesser-known aspects of Photoshop.
Finally, join the National Association of Photoshop Professionals (
http://www.photoshopuser.com). $99 a year brings you their invaluable Photoshop User magazine, access to their site’s members-only section with tutorials, discussion forums, and Photoshop tech support, and much more.David Arnold and Gail Rutman are Oregon-based photographers who have been writing about photography, computers, and other topics since 1980. Their website is at
http://www.arnoldrutman.com.??????????????
Gstuf799
Angie 7-4-04
Where’s the Photoshop CS Manual? Remember when software companies published thick manuals that not only got you started, but answered all the questions that came up later? Adobe still does, but you’ll have to pay extra. At
http://www.adobe.com/store/products/master.jhtml?id=catCreativeSuite (scroll to the bottom of the page) you can order the 351 page Photoshop CS User Guide, containing explanations of, and step-by-step instructions for, virtually every single Photoshop CS tool and feature. It comes bundled with separate guides for three other Adobe CS (Creative Suite) programs (Illustrator, InDesign, and GoLive), plus a Getting Started booklet for Acrobat Professional, for $49. Most of the same content is available in the online help, but you might find the bound version’s convenience well worth the expenditure. –David Arnold & Gail Rutman
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Angie 5-31-04 6-8-04
NANPA ANNOUNCES COLLEGE STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY. The North American Nature Photography Association (NANPA) is again providing an opportunity for up to ten full-time college students to attend its Annual Summit in Charlotte, NC, from January 17-23, 2005. Students interested in the program must qualify as scholarship recipients through an application process that includes submission of a portfolio. For information about the NANPA College Student Scholarship Program contact Jerry Bowman at NANPA headquarters at 1 303 422-8527. E-mail:
jbowman@resourcenter.com; or Linda Helm, Chair of the NANPA College Student Scholarship Program, at linda@fineprintimaging.com . Updated information about the 2005 selection process will also be available on the NANPA website, http://www.NANPA.org .
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Angie 5-31-04 6-8-04
SEEING GARDENS, A Personal Celebration of the Variety and Subtle Beauty of Gardens, by Sam Abell. Abell has selected 125 of his images to open readers’ eyes to the beautiful, exotic and often startlingly unconventional world of gardens. The photographs are accompanied by compelling personal stories that give meaning and context to each image. (ISBN: 0-7922-7956-5; $40) Contact: National Geographic Books, 1145 17th St NW, Washington, DC 20036.
http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#0792279565
Gstuf779
Angie 5-9-04
CREATIVE CANINE PHOTOGRAPHY, by Larry Allan. An award-winning animal photographer, Larry Allan, has created an expert guide to taking best-in-show photos. Creative Canine Photography offers invaluable advice for creating stunning, natural photos of both domestic and wild canines. ($24.95; ISBN: 158115-321-X) Allworth Press, 10 E 23rd St, Ste 510, New York NY 10010.
M:\wp\9\07QJ13A
Keep yourself up-to-date with address and e-mail changes of photobuyers -- subscribe to the weekly PhotoStockNotes…only $14.99 per year.
For more info
http://www.photosource.com/products/psn.php
Gstuf784C SL 5-15-04 SL 5-19-04 MDB 5-26-04 CH 6-1-04
The Big Open, On Foot Across Tibet's Chang Tang, by Rick Ridgeway, photographs by Galen Rowell. The photos in the book are documentary in nature, showing the rugged terrain and the rigors of the trek. This expedition tragically became wilderness photographer Galen Rowell's last; he and his wife Barbara died in the crash of a private plane shortly after his return to the United States.
Exploration, endurance, and discovery, through one of Earth's least-known, most inhospitable regions. This book combines high drama with serious science, and is an inspiring account of the major contribution of four men to a worldwide campaign to stem Central Asia's trade in rare and endangered species.
The endearing Tibetan antelope, the chiru, is the source of the world's finest wool --shahtoosh-- sold as high-fashion scarves from India to 5th Avenue and Beverly Hills. For millennia, chiru have migrated every year across the 16,000-foot-high Chang Tang plateau, but their numbers have drastically dwindled due to their slaughter to obtain their wool. The goal of the four world-renowned mountaineers in the trek across The Big Open is to find and document the unknown calving grounds of the chiru, to then use this discovery to help the Chinese authorities protect the region before poachers discover it. Wildlife groups around the world are educating the public as to the inestimable cost of shahtoosh, and several countries have declared marketing shahtoosh illegal, but much remains to be done. ($26; 15BN 0-7922-6560-2; National Geographic Books, 1145 17th St. NW Washington D.C. 20036-4688; 212-725-7707)
http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#0792265602
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Angie 5-31-04 6-8-04
LEE FROST’S SIMPLE ART OF BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY, Easy Methods for Making Fine Art Prints, by Lee Frost. Lee Frost demonstrates what a simple, expressive and rewarding medium black and white photography can be. This book also: covers all the essential techniques, from what equipment to use to the finer points of printing and toning; presents simple accessible techniques for great results with a no-nonsense approach; contains a stunning collection of over 150 black and white photographs. (ISBN: 0-7153-1633-8; $24.99; 144 pages) Contact: David & Charles, an imprint of F & W Publications, Inc., 4700 E Galbraith Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45236. Phone: 1 513 531-2690.
http://www.photosourcefolio.com/bookstoreone.htm#0715316338
Legal113a
Angie 7-1-04 CH 7/8/04
Photographer Awarded $1.8 Million in Legal Fees in Defending Case
I have written on occasion about the subject of either plaintiffs or defendants being, at least in theory, eligible for attorneys' fees in copyright infringement litigation.
Tom Forsythe, an artist and photographer, was in the unfortunate position of being sued by Mattel, Inc. for copyright infringement. Forsythe had produced a series of 78 photographic images of Mattel's Barbie Doll, showing her nude in or around various household appliances. Forsythe displayed his photos at art fairs without, apparently, much commercial success.
Mattel, however, was apparently not amused, and in 1999 sued for copyright and trademark infringement. Mattel was not very successful in its suit, losing a motion for a preliminary injunction and ultimately having the suit dismissed in August 2001 on the grounds that Forsythe's work was a parody, and thus protected as a fair use under the Copyright Act. Mattel appealed from the dismissal and Forsythe appealed the refusal of the District Court Judge to award him legal fees.
In December 2003, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the fair use defense but sent the case back to the Trial Judge to reconsider the issue of attorneys' fees.
Upon reconsideration, the Trial Judge has now awarded attorneys' fees to Forsythe in the sum of $1.8 million! The Judge slammed Mattel's determination to continue its attempt to, through its hefty economic clout, coerce an artist to give up his artistic rights. The Court specifically alluded to Mattel's "access to sophisticated counsel who could have determined that such a suit was objectively unreasonable and frivolous," and that Mattel "forced [Forsythe] into costly litigation to discourage him from using Barbie's image in his artwork."
The Court concluded that this was just the sort of situation in which a court should award attorneys' fees as a deterrence to oppressive and frivolous litigation.
Although it is likely that Mattel will appeal the amount of the legal fees awarded, the decision certainly sends a loud and clear message to those corporations who attempt to protect both copyrighted and trademarked brands against every possible use by others, whether or not such use constitutes infringing acts.
Attorney Joel L. Hecker lectures and writes extensively on issues of concern to the photography industry. His office is located at Russo & Burke, 600 Third Ave, New York NY 10016. Phone: 1 212 557-9600. E-mail:
HeckerEsq@aol.com.
Onlin146a
Angie 7-4-04 CH 7/8/04
Do-Not-Spam List Nixed
No surprise here. The Bush administration has decided against the creation of a national do-not-spam list, similar to the do-not-call registry. Interestingly, the Federal Trade Commission's reason was that it would be "largely powerless to identify those responsible for misusing the registry." If the list contained email addresses used by children, for example, what would prevent unscrupulous spammers (are there any "scrupulous spammers"?) from mining the list for children and targeting them with inappropriate messages. Rather, the commission preferred to leave it up to new authentication technology, such as that proposed by Microsoft and other leading vendors, to solve the problem. These proposals, which are aimed at making it more difficult to falsify the e-mail's origination, are currently under industry consideration.
What's a Sheepdip?
In computerese, a sheepdip computer is one that is used for checking data contained on external media, like floppy disks, tapes, and CDs, for viruses before allowing the media to be accessed by any other computer. Such sheepdip computers are used solely for virus checking, and are generally isolated from all other computers. The virus checking databases are kept current on a daily basis. Most of us can't afford the luxury of a dedicated sheepdip computer, which is one more reason to install and keep current your anti-virus and firewall programs. You may be familiar with the farming use of the word, which is the process used to rid sheep of vermin and sheep scab, or to clean wool prior to shearing.
As Our Disks Turn
Keeping track of your photos using 3" x 5" index cards does work. And it works well, provided you have a relatively small photo library. When your library grows, the index card system can't keep up. Now, take that mental image and multiply it by, say, a million or so, and you have an idea of what it's like with files stored on your computer's hard disk. Everything's fine, as long as you remember where it all is. Sure, you can use the find feature of your operating system, and it generally works well for the average search. But it can take a long time, depending on your search parameters, and it can even miss files such as photos and music. Even Microsoft acknowledges its search technology could be better (and they're referring to the latest version in Windows XP). (Yes, I know that later versions of Windows have an indexing feature, but when Indexing Service is running, it can slow other operations.) Ever wonder how you can search the Internet and get results in a fraction of a second? The answer is indexes. Search engines don't really search the Internet when you enter a request. Instead, they search indexes that were created from their on-going searches of the Internet. What's the point? This same technology is being applied to desktop computers--creating an index that can be searched on demand much faster than plodding through all the files each time a search is requested. The following are samples of what's available now. Some, like www.hotbot.com/tools/desktop, are free, while others, such as http://www.x1.com, www.caleo.com, www.etsearch.com are not free. We haven't tested them ourselves, so let us know, if you decide to try, how they work for you.
Bill Hopkins is the Webmaster of PhotoSourceFolio* (
www.photosourcefolio.com) and a regular contributor to PhotoStockNotes. Send comments via e-mail to wh@photosourcefolio.com. Fax: 1 818 831-0916. For on-line questions, contact Bill on the Kracker Barrel at www.photosource.com/board.
*Display 6 of your own images for photobuyers to view, on your page on the PhotoSource website.
Ads93B
Angie 2-10-04
Was: 9/08QA28 HC 1/28/04 2/16/04 2/17/04
White Mailers
Sending a disk or slides? Look like a pro. Stiff white cardboard mailers are available at: MAILERS, 575 Bennett Rd, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007, Attn: Pat Pulver; http://www.mailersco.com . Phone: 1 800 872-6670. Fax: 1 847 731-2603.
17A\Gen658a BR 04\21\99 LH 4/22/99 LH 5/6/99 CH 6-28-04
SL 6-29-04
FOLLOW YOUR THEME
"It's all very natural," I said to a fellow stock photographer when she questioned me about why one should specialize, in the stock photography field. "We are all specialists, not only in our photography, but in everyday life."
Look at the magazines you subscribe to. They follow a few specific themes, don't they? Open your garage door, or your storage area. Your belongings all follow a theme - it might be gardening, or outdoor recreation. Your clothing also follows a theme. So does your home's interior decoration.
And your music and art preferences, or TV watching. They're all in a select few themes. You specialize in your tastes.
If you look at the photos you've taken to date, they intrinsically follow one or a specific few themes. You might gravitate to dark moody backgrounds. Or your pictures might be light and airy.
AN ARTIST IS BORN
Many beginning stock photographers start out by capturing scenics with their camera. Most of these scenes are not much different from typical post card views. As a photographer advances in competence, he/she usually develops a style. And it's this style that sets one photographer apart from another. It's a signature that makes you unique.
Discover your style. Your pictures will speak to you. You have a specialized feeling for what you've captured in your images. Once you recognize your theme, or themes, it's time to refine your style and your content. But go easy on modifying anything abruptly. In some cases, you'll discover that some of your earliest photos are the best.
And how does this relate to marketing your work?
In the past, getting your photography "out there" was relegated to exhibits and lectures. Fifteen years ago it was difficult to sell your photos yourself, because buyers liked one-stop shopping, using the convenience of a stock agency. To sell your work you needed to have your photos in an agency, and had to accept a 50% to 40% portion of any sale.
The Digital Age of photography and the electronic advances in technology now change all of this, and allow the individual photographer to display their pictures for the world -- and photobuyers -- to see: using CD-ROMS, on-line services, business websites.
You can be a part of it. If your stock photography specializes in one or a select number of definite themes, your strong coverage and expertise will attract photobuyers who need coverage in those subject areas, and who will consider you an important resource.
PHOTOGRAPH WHAT MOVES YOU -- THE DOLLARS WILL COME
I have a friend who loves to play ping pong, or as she calls it, table tennis. She also loves photography.
It's a joy to watch her matches. She destroys her opponents (usually men) with an entertaining combination of ferocity and grace.
When she's not engaging in her sport, she's photographing. The results are usually beautiful landscapes and rural scenics. I once asked her if she ever sold her work.
"I've tried, but no dice. If I could just make a few sales, I could pay for my photography habit," she grumbled.
"But you can make sales, many sales," I said. "You're just putting your energy in the wrong direction."
"You mean I should stop my table tennis and concentrate more on my photography?"
"No, you should concentrate more on what you love doing most, - your table tennis. There are few photographers who understand the particulars of table tennis. You are one of them. At this moment, there are photobuyers looking for authentic pictures of table tennis."
"How do I find these buyers?" She asked.
"Photo editors look for table tennis pictures one of two ways: sometimes and always," I said. "The sometime buyer is producing a textbook, brochure, CD-ROM, encyclopedia, etc. They might need a table tennis picture only once a year, or once a lifetime.
"The 'always' buyer is the photo editor who works for a special interest magazine, pr agency, or corporate publication, that has table tennis as its focus."
"I know several of those," she said. "I never thought of supplying them with pictures."
"And you'll be one of their best suppliers because you speak their language. You understand table tennis. Your pictures will reflect your knowledge of the sport. And when there's a national or international event, they'll hire you because of your experience and track record, rather than go to a local photographer who has no knowledge of the sport."
"O.K., I know how to find the 'always' buyers, but how do I find the 'sometimes' photobuyer?" she asked.
"There are several ways, but be patient, they all take time.
"Insist on a credit line whenever your photos are published. That way other photobuyers can track you down. Get yourself listed in photo source directories. Build a website and feature your specialty (not your landscapes). Build a computerized data base of buyers who use sports pictures, including table tennis. Send reminder post cards, promotional calendars, or 'sell sheets' to them. Attend publishing and sports trade shows. You can make yourself known as 'The Table Tennis Photographer.' "
DRAW A PARALLEL
Does this story give you pause to consider whether you may be pointing your camera in the wrong direction? If you are involved in a hobby, sport or occupation that others would find fascinating to learn about, perhaps you should consider focussing a measure of your photographing and marketing efforts to an arena where you already are an expert. As the World Wide Web now allows photographers to expand their market areas beyond the usual limits, start now to begin building depth of coverage in a category or categories of great interest to you. You'll discover your pictures will be in great demand by your buyers.
With your stock photography...LET YOUR PASSION GUIDE YOU.
Call it passion, love, desire; call it compulsion. If you love doing something, you'll put 100% of yourself into it.
How do you tell if you love doing something? Take a day and make a test by once every hour asking yourself, "What are my thoughts centering on at this moment?" Exclude, of course, the basic homo sapiens' survival and perpetuation of the species drives (food, sex, etc.).
If you find that your mind consistently wanders to thoughts of gardening, aviation, fishing, or whatever it is that you enjoy doing when you get the chance, you're investing yourself in that interest big-time.
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"Take photographic advantage of your passion..."
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Take advantage of it. Become a mini-expert in that field. The time you have for it may not equal what you put to your current occupation, but in the future, your abiding interest may become your livelihood.
In one of my seminars, during the image critique section, a photographer submitted several photographs of insects. My response to him was to say they were very excellent shots, but specializing in insects was going to be a tough row to hoe. Calls for insects were few and the competition would be fierce because there were 20 photographers in the nation known to be specialists in insects, and they had a lock on the marketing opportunities.
His response: "There's going to be 21 pretty soon."
That conversation was about ten years ago. I've often wondered if he persisted with his specialty area. If he did, a ten-year build-up of photos in one specialized area makes for a strong collection. Once he is "discovered," he'll become known for having the kind of photo bank that photo researchers are grateful to have as a resource.
It's always enjoyable to be in the presence of someone who loves what they're doing. The enthusiasm rubs off.
Don't be timid about your stock photography. If you love it, dive in. Sure, there'll be rejection slips and the nitty gritty work that often accompanies anything that is worth accomplishing. And you might have to drive a taxi for awhile to make ends meet. Keep in mind that actor Alan Ladd was a bartender, Rock Hudson drove a truck, and Harrison Ford was a carpenter, until they "made it" in their chosen field.
If wild horses can't pull you away from your stock photography, persist. We'll cheer you on, and the world will be watching for your photo credit line.
Ads96
Angie 7-5-04
Wp/9/08QE05a MDB 05/08/04 SL5-15-04
Send your disks in a professional-looking envelope. Two types offered: the first is made from .010 SBS material; this is a light-weight postage-saving CD mailer, weighing less than one ounce with a CD inside. It includes a peel and seal closure. The second product is made from .014 SBS material; this light-weight CD mailer features a mylar window, and also offers expandable mailers and mailers for DVD cases, photos and slides. Contact: Mailersco., 575 Bennett Rd., Elk Grove Village IL 60007. Phone: 1 800 872-6670. Fax:1 847 734-1958. Web: http://www.MailersCo.com.
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This month's featured photographer on PhotoSourceFolio: ?????????????????:
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http://www.photosourcefolio.com)########################################
Watch for developments in the field of stock photography in PhotoAimLite's
PHOTOGRAPHY IN THE NEWS
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You'll be the first to know…
Note: If the URL is long, it may extend to two lines. In that case - clicking on it won't work. Instead, "copy and paste" the URL.
Short one this time….
I’ll e-mail this also . . . .
PITN\0811
HENRI-CARTIER BRESSON , one of the 20th Century's most important photographers, has died just weeks before he would have celebrated his 96th birthday.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3536724.stmKodak Raises the Bar with its New EASYSHARE DX7590 Digital Camera
http://www.creativepro.com/story/news/21723.html?cprose=dailyStock photography is becoming popular with creative professionals, thanks to growingONLINE COLLECTIONS, price competition, improved search techniques.
http://www.creativepro.com/story/feature/21734.html?cprose=dailyMicrosoft Upgrades SOFTWARE FOR DIGITAL PICTURES -
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040810/tc_nm/tech_microsoft_digitalimage_dc_1
Leiper’s Creek GALLERY cuts new edge with photography exhibition-
http://reviewappeal.midsouthnews.com/news.ez?viewStory=24234&Form.sess_id=1979859&Form.sess_key=1092152273
35th Anniversary of WOODSTOCK Inspires Rare Photographic Exhibit at Soho Gallery
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-in/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-10-2004/0002228497&EDATE=
Outlook: Tackling common digital PHOTOGRAPHY ISSUES
http://www.emedia.com.my/TECH/Computimes/Outlook/20040809120955/wartrevamp
Photographer and His Art Are HOME AT LAST
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/10/arts/design/10NEWT.html?ex=1092801600&en=5848fc60506743a5&ei=5006&partner=ALTAVISTA1
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