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 professional photographers wouldn't have a photo agency catalog of some kind, but lots of photographers still leave it as something to do later when they're better established, or have more pictures. Nowadays that's not necessary and the easiest way tosell photos online is to begin early and add to your stock catalogue regularly over a period of time.
Stock photography is a long-term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't want you to surrender your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, simply to be involved.
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 Photo Price Calculator before, I'd suggest that you write down a list of 5-10 of your most important markets, and then list a couple of 'average ' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it convenient and you have a ready-reference guide if a Customer ever puts you on the spot, but equally importantly, you will get a whole new insight to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business News & Info
If you're ardent -- and you do not mind sitting at a PC all day -- you can subscribe to lots of different newsletters and services to attempt to start current with goings on in the business. Or you'll be able to find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are quite a few extremely good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to test them out and follow a few till you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all of the important stuff in a nutshell, then include links for more in-depth info if you need it, so that you can stay up to date and get all of the information you need, without the information overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's widely known, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always looking for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we have functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... When we know it's out there we must have it. Sound all to 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 Photographic Community
Freelance photography is often a solo career so the ability to engage with your peers online shouldn't be taken lightly. We all see tons of images on any specific day, but to be able to look at new images and talk about 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 online forums and portal sites now give working photographers to ability to have interaction with their peers, share ideas and information and really grow as artists. And if you aren't making efficient use of them, you are possibly stagnating!
Well that is my top 5 must-bookmark site types. The Net offers us the chance to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways in which we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, leads to a boring 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 professional photographers wouldn't have a photo agency catalog of some kind, but lots of photographers still leave it as something to do later when they're better established, or have more pictures. Nowadays that's not necessary and the easiest way tosell photos online is to begin early and add to your stock catalogue regularly over a period of time.
Stock photography is a long-term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't want you to surrender your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, simply to be involved.
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 Photo Price Calculator before, I'd suggest that you write down a list of 5-10 of your most important markets, and then list a couple of 'average ' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it convenient and you have a ready-reference guide if a Customer ever puts you on the spot, but equally importantly, you will get a whole new insight to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business News & Info
If you're ardent -- and you do not mind sitting at a PC all day -- you can subscribe to lots of different newsletters and services to attempt to start current with goings on in the business. Or you'll be able to find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are quite a few extremely good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to test them out and follow a few till you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all of the important stuff in a nutshell, then include links for more in-depth info if you need it, so that you can stay up to date and get all of the information you need, without the information overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's widely known, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always looking for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we have functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... When we know it's out there we must have it. Sound all to 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 Photographic Community
Freelance photography is often a solo career so the ability to engage with your peers online shouldn't be taken lightly. We all see tons of images on any specific day, but to be able to look at new images and talk about 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 online forums and portal sites now give working photographers to ability to have interaction with their peers, share ideas and information and really grow as artists. And if you aren't making efficient use of them, you are possibly stagnating!
Well that is my top 5 must-bookmark site types. The Net offers us the chance to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways in which we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, leads to a boring 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment