Microstock Information
Stock Photography
Stock photography is a collection of images with no specific purpose. These images are available for review and purchase being used in books, articles, ads etc. Stock agencies pay more money per image than microstock agencies but it is very difficult to become a contributor. Your photos need to be of professional quality and may never sell because of such high asking prices.
Microstock Photography
Microstock photography has high quality standards but is a more affordable option for stock buyers. Amateur and semi-pro photographers will get accepted as image providers. Images are sourced via the internet and sold worldwide at micropayment prices. As a microstock photographer you have the potential to make good money relative to your time and money investment.
Microstock Agencies
There are many good microstock agencies to sell your photos such as: Dreamstime, iStockphoto, 123rf, Fotolia and Shutterstock. Each company uses a different pricing and payment scheme. Contributors can upload the same pictures on multiple sites or have the option to become exclusive and receive a higher commission.
Microstock sites charge you no fee to post your photographs. However, these companies do not accept all photos submitted. Every picture will be reviewed for technical quality as well as commercial merit. The mindset of microstock supporters is that quantity will prevail and that many small microstock sales will exceed a few sales of traditional stock.
Basic Requirements
1) You must own the copyright to the image.
2) The picture should focus on an object or concept.
3) Good lighting, sharp focus and little or no noise.
4) No snapshots. Images should be well thought out.
5) Every recognizable face, even your own, must have a signed model release.
Subject Matter
Certain images sell better than others. Business situations, people interacting, lifestyle and food related photographs are popular. Photos of sunsets, flowers and pets are likely to get rejected.
Photos promoting healthy living and seasonal images always sell well. Upload holiday related pictures months beforehand. Check out popular photos on microstock sites to see what is selling but please don't try to recreate another photographer's image.
Digital Camera
Although it is possible to have pictures from a point & shoot digital camera accepted, quality standards are continuing to rise and it is becoming more difficult. To guarantee an acceptable quality image a digital SLR (DSLR) is soon to be the minimum requirement. Amateur photographers are beginning to have excellent skills because it is so easy to purchase a quality digital camera capable of producing thousands of images without incurring much cost.
If you choose to try using a film camera make sure your skills are very good. The additional costs of processing film and the extra time to scan prints make the return on your investment less profitable.
Photo Editing
Shooting your pictures in RAW format yields the best quality photographs. RAW files are like producing digital negatives. They contain all of the camera sensor information so you will be able to make more adjustments during the editing process.
Photos generally do not sell as well straight from the camera. Some editing is usually required. Color saturation, white balance, contrast, removing imperfections and brand names are done using software. Editing software can be expensive but it doesn't have to be: Photoshop Elements or Microsoft Digital Imaging are two that work extremely well.
Rejections
My least favorite subject but rejection is a part of microstock. Realize from the beginning it is likely that around 50% of your images will be rejected even if you are an accomplished photographer. The reasons given for rejected files may seem odd and inconsistent. Some microstock agencies may reject photos that are your best sellers at other sites. Over time you will learn what sells and what each agency is likely to accept. Your approval rating will increase. Just keep submitting. Dedicated microstock photographers can make decent $$$.
If you would like to join me in selling stock photographs simply click on the image below and you can soon be a contributor to Dreamstime. There are no sign-up fees!!
Free Web Traffic Reseller/Advertiser Account
FREE Search Engine Submission
Profotos.com - All Photography. All the Time.
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Stock photography is a collection of images with no specific purpose. These images are available for review and purchase being used in books, articles, ads etc. Stock agencies pay more money per image than microstock agencies but it is very difficult to become a contributor. Your photos need to be of professional quality and may never sell because of such high asking prices.
Microstock Photography
Microstock photography has high quality standards but is a more affordable option for stock buyers. Amateur and semi-pro photographers will get accepted as image providers. Images are sourced via the internet and sold worldwide at micropayment prices. As a microstock photographer you have the potential to make good money relative to your time and money investment.
Microstock Agencies
There are many good microstock agencies to sell your photos such as: Dreamstime, iStockphoto, 123rf, Fotolia and Shutterstock. Each company uses a different pricing and payment scheme. Contributors can upload the same pictures on multiple sites or have the option to become exclusive and receive a higher commission.
Microstock sites charge you no fee to post your photographs. However, these companies do not accept all photos submitted. Every picture will be reviewed for technical quality as well as commercial merit. The mindset of microstock supporters is that quantity will prevail and that many small microstock sales will exceed a few sales of traditional stock.
Basic Requirements
1) You must own the copyright to the image.
2) The picture should focus on an object or concept.
3) Good lighting, sharp focus and little or no noise.
4) No snapshots. Images should be well thought out.
5) Every recognizable face, even your own, must have a signed model release.
Subject Matter
Certain images sell better than others. Business situations, people interacting, lifestyle and food related photographs are popular. Photos of sunsets, flowers and pets are likely to get rejected.
Photos promoting healthy living and seasonal images always sell well. Upload holiday related pictures months beforehand. Check out popular photos on microstock sites to see what is selling but please don't try to recreate another photographer's image.
Digital Camera
Although it is possible to have pictures from a point & shoot digital camera accepted, quality standards are continuing to rise and it is becoming more difficult. To guarantee an acceptable quality image a digital SLR (DSLR) is soon to be the minimum requirement. Amateur photographers are beginning to have excellent skills because it is so easy to purchase a quality digital camera capable of producing thousands of images without incurring much cost.
If you choose to try using a film camera make sure your skills are very good. The additional costs of processing film and the extra time to scan prints make the return on your investment less profitable.
Photo Editing
Shooting your pictures in RAW format yields the best quality photographs. RAW files are like producing digital negatives. They contain all of the camera sensor information so you will be able to make more adjustments during the editing process.
Photos generally do not sell as well straight from the camera. Some editing is usually required. Color saturation, white balance, contrast, removing imperfections and brand names are done using software. Editing software can be expensive but it doesn't have to be: Photoshop Elements or Microsoft Digital Imaging are two that work extremely well.
Rejections
My least favorite subject but rejection is a part of microstock. Realize from the beginning it is likely that around 50% of your images will be rejected even if you are an accomplished photographer. The reasons given for rejected files may seem odd and inconsistent. Some microstock agencies may reject photos that are your best sellers at other sites. Over time you will learn what sells and what each agency is likely to accept. Your approval rating will increase. Just keep submitting. Dedicated microstock photographers can make decent $$$.
If you would like to join me in selling stock photographs simply click on the image below and you can soon be a contributor to Dreamstime. There are no sign-up fees!!
Free Web Traffic Reseller/Advertiser Account
FREE Search Engine Submission
Profotos.com - All Photography. All the Time.
