Often it appears the Internet was made solely for photographers. On a social level it lets us share photos with friends and families, we can get together and talk camera gear and photographic technique, and it helps a lot of us overcome the isolation that frequently goes hand-in-hand with a photography career.
On a pro level, it provides the resources to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the complete stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the wherewithal to monitor trends, monitor what our peers are doing and see the photography our clients are using.
And for all that, the unfortunate reality is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of a hindrance than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and choosing what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a chore, and as a consequence they generally tend to brush over the vital stuff and get way-laid with the insignificant.
Well if you ever find yourself in that situation, here is a bare-bones list of the 5 essential site types every independent photographer should have bookmarked and may be using regularly.
1. Stock Image Library
Few freelance photographers would not have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they are more established, or have more photographs. These days that's just not mandatory and the simplest way tosell photographs online is to start early and add to your stock catalog consistently over time.
Stock photography is a long term business though, so do take it steady and find a stock library that fits your work and your style. Ensure it leaves you in charge of your work and does not expect you to hand over your rights, or sell your work too cheap, just to stay in the game.
2. Stock Photo Price Calculator
To that end, make sure you bookmark a good online stock photography price calculator. We all used to handle this with hard-copy books, but things move fast nowadays and new kinds of usage appear each week, so a live stock photography price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most photographers are blown away when they first use these... Just because most photographers seriously undervalue their work.
If you have never looked at a Stock Photography Price Calculator before, I'd suggest you jot down a list of 5-10 of your main markets, and then list 2 'average ' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it convenient and you've a ready-reference guide if a Buyer ever puts you on the spot, but just as significantly, you will get a totally new insight to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business Reports & Info
If you are keen -- and you don't mind sitting at a computer all day -- you can subscribe to many different newsletters and blogs to try and start up to date with goings on in the industry. Or you'll find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are a few truly good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to check them out and follow a couple until you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location and so on. The best ones will give you all the vital news in brief, then include links for full info if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you want, without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply can't function properly without. The incontrovertible fact we have already worked quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... Once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound familiar?
The flip side is, often we've got as much gear we should truly get rid of... And again, if the web was made for us then I'm sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they have a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you have a cupboard of old gear that hasn't been put to work in years get it out and post it, while it still has some value to someone!
5. Online Photographer Community
Professional photography is usually a solo career so the option to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of photographs on any particular day, but to be in a position to look at new pictures and discuss them with other photographers is priceless. Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at Camera Clubs or waiting around at the Pro-Lab, but the web forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to interact with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you are not making good use of them, you're probably stagnating!
Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark internet site types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways that we never could before, so be sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, makes for a dull photographer!
On a pro level, it provides the resources to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the complete stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the wherewithal to monitor trends, monitor what our peers are doing and see the photography our clients are using.
And for all that, the unfortunate reality is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of a hindrance than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and choosing what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a chore, and as a consequence they generally tend to brush over the vital stuff and get way-laid with the insignificant.
Well if you ever find yourself in that situation, here is a bare-bones list of the 5 essential site types every independent photographer should have bookmarked and may be using regularly.
1. Stock Image Library
Few freelance photographers would not have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they are more established, or have more photographs. These days that's just not mandatory and the simplest way tosell photographs online is to start early and add to your stock catalog consistently over time.
Stock photography is a long term business though, so do take it steady and find a stock library that fits your work and your style. Ensure it leaves you in charge of your work and does not expect you to hand over your rights, or sell your work too cheap, just to stay in the game.
2. Stock Photo Price Calculator
To that end, make sure you bookmark a good online stock photography price calculator. We all used to handle this with hard-copy books, but things move fast nowadays and new kinds of usage appear each week, so a live stock photography price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most photographers are blown away when they first use these... Just because most photographers seriously undervalue their work.
If you have never looked at a Stock Photography Price Calculator before, I'd suggest you jot down a list of 5-10 of your main markets, and then list 2 'average ' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it convenient and you've a ready-reference guide if a Buyer ever puts you on the spot, but just as significantly, you will get a totally new insight to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business Reports & Info
If you are keen -- and you don't mind sitting at a computer all day -- you can subscribe to many different newsletters and blogs to try and start up to date with goings on in the industry. Or you'll find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are a few truly good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to check them out and follow a couple until you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location and so on. The best ones will give you all the vital news in brief, then include links for full info if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you want, without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply can't function properly without. The incontrovertible fact we have already worked quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... Once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound familiar?
The flip side is, often we've got as much gear we should truly get rid of... And again, if the web was made for us then I'm sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they have a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you have a cupboard of old gear that hasn't been put to work in years get it out and post it, while it still has some value to someone!
5. Online Photographer Community
Professional photography is usually a solo career so the option to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of photographs on any particular day, but to be in a position to look at new pictures and discuss them with other photographers is priceless. Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at Camera Clubs or waiting around at the Pro-Lab, but the web forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to interact with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you are not making good use of them, you're probably stagnating!
Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark internet site types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways that we never could before, so be sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, makes for a dull photographer!
About the Author:
Matt Brading is a stock photographer & writer with GlobalEye Digital Stock Photography. For other photography business articles be sure to visit their Sell Stock Photos blog & resources page.
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