Stock Photography – The Basics Of Stock Photography
Stock Photography – The Basics Of Stock Photography
By Eric Imboden
Many photographers have problems understanding how stock
photography works. The common idea is “give some photos to an
agency, get some money back”. However, it’s not as simple as it
looks and having 200 nice pictures will not get you far. Let’s
review the basics of stock photography from a photographer’s
viewpoint.
First and foremost, quantity matters. To certain extend, it
matters more than quality. Most clients come to a stock photo
agency because they want to have choice, not because they
distrust photographers. More often than not, they don’t have
access to them! Many photographers prioritize quality over
quantity because they believe they’ll shot the perfect picture
that everyone will like. It’s every artist’s dream… but it is
just a dream. Keep building your stock over time: each photo is
an investment that will pay back later or add value to the rest
of your stock. Think about the planets and the law of gravity:
the bigger they are, the stronger the attraction is.
Diversity adds value. It doesn’t mean you have to shot flowers
on day, industrial machinery the next, although it would not
hurt. It means that you need to shot flowers in different
contexts: individually, in group, in the countryside, at any
ceremony, how they are ‘produced’… your florist might teach
one thing or two. Diversity is essential because the buyer has a
different life experience than you and perceives beauty
differently and you do not know which one. In order to build up
motivation, it’s a good idea to try to tell a comprehensive
story, or many stories, about your subject: it will encourage
you to see as many aspect of the subject as possible.
Go out and meet the world. No need to climb the Himalayas or
shot models on a tropical island. See your surroundings with a
beginner’s mind: buyers need photos that convey meaning and
photographers need to illustrate the world by removing “noise”
from the object/subject. That’s your added value. Sure having a
great subject/object is helpful but you should not attach too
much importance about it as composition is one of the things
that make your stock photos valuable: learn how to tell a short
story with your photos. Even a big city congestion needs your
know-how: the first car’s make is meaningless if the story you
want to tell is about the endless stream of cars.
Last but not least, don’t pay too much attention about the
“what sells” lists. Why? Because it might sell, but at lower
prices too. Think about those faked business environments
photos: they are meaningless and sell for nothing. Besides, if
you don’t like the theme, it’s not going to help you: you won’t
keep doing something you don’t really enjoy, even if it brings
you some money.
Some photographers may look down on stock photographers, but
there’s no boundary between fine art photography and stock
photography. Stock photography really is an art and it has to
come from your guts, from your perspective on your world. Do it
to communicate your ideas and stories to people. The successful
photographers are those who don’t get shy, show their work to
people, and keep on improving. Art is a journey, not a
destination.
About the Author: Eric Imboden is passionate about stock
photography. He can be seen at http://www.kumaru.com/ where he
helps photographers promote their photos and sell them
commission-free. He always welcomes new ideas or comments about
his website or articles. Email him at: info@kumaru.com
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