ALYN Loc: Lebanon, Indiana

YEARS AGO--before retirement, I was a magazine editor. I got proofsheets from stock photo companies.It was assumed that all submissions would be good. Not great art. Remember--the print will be about one inch square. How will your shot look reduced to 1-inch. Cut out everything--everything--but the subject. Think about it this way--pick out one word and try to illustrate it. Love. NEW.Joy. Surprise. WOW.
Hot. Cold. Weather. Travel.Young. Old.

Get the picture ?????
Maybe this will help.
ALYN

Dietxanadu

Well you go and do what Bruce Livingston did and open your own Stock House. Then when Getty Image comes around, sell it to them for 50 million.

Kind of reminds me of what happen at Huffington Post.

gledor42 Loc: Folsom California

The best advice ever. Thanks!

artlover Loc: NM

Thank you, it is appreciated. :-)

artlover Loc: NM

Thank you, it is appreciated. :-)

artlover Loc: NM

Thank you, it is appreciated.

:-)

artlover Loc: NM

I had forgotten the first name of the "Cunningham". Took for
granted that it a "guy". My bad. Adams & Weston I remember
seeing them few times in the 11 yrs. Cunningham only once.

I appreciate your clearing up my misconception.


:-)

photocat Loc: Atlanta, Ga

:) happens to us all.

Just trying to fill in the blanks. Of course in those days it was more unusual for a woman to be a successful photographer.

Basically, she was a stay at home mom for a long time.

artlover Loc: NM

Wonderful shot. Thank you. :-)

edmixon Loc: Orange County CA

I asked previously about how to connect with magazines for stock photos.
Still waiting??

valleymiss Loc: Mississippi

All of you have valid questions and I can only add my 2 cents worth. I have submitted to several stock agencies within the last 6 or 7 years. Like many of you, I had some of the same thoughts and questions.And like you there were rejections,and rejections,and rejections...and ...well you get the point. My best place to upload is bigstockphotos.com. I have finally gotten over 600 approved. I haven't uploaded any in quite awhile,but those 600 still make me a little money here and there. You don't make a lot of money unless the image is very exceptional.So far I have earned a little over $250.00 on this particular site. $114 on another and on one site I earned $195.00 for 1 image...(It was an image front and back of an uncirculated $500.00 bill. That was the most for one image I had ever earned. {That site is out of business...I have no idea why.}

Anyway, I think it would be very hard to make a living from this source unless you are very dedicated and work very hard at it. I had help from one of the admins of the site, who patiently explained some of the whys and why nots about stock. So I was fortunate there. Thankfully I only do it as a hobby and I enjoy it,but you surely don't make much money.

As someone mentioned the stock agencies don't look at your photos as a means for aesthetic beauty. Their job is to have images that can be used in print,either in magazine ads,tv commercials,books, business endeavors and such. They look at the commercial benefits of the image. I have one of Chimney Rock in Nebraska,and it has sold numerous times... Once for the travel magazine the state of Nebraska publishes for tourism... ( I think I may have gotten a couple of dollars for that one ..depends upon the license and the size.

Didn't mean to write a book,but hope this helps.

valleymiss Loc: Mississippi

'Too similar is one of the most used rejections.Why ? I have no idea!

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

Surely it's self explanatory. "We already have a very similar picture in stock. Why would we want yours too?"

Cheers,

R.

Roger Hicks Loc: Aquitaine

What sort of magazines and what sort of stock photos? What sort of information are you after?

Cheers,

R.

ALYN Loc: Lebanon, Indiana

Many magazines have on-staff photogs. Why would they pay for your stuff ? (I was one for a few years..) But--if you want to "fight" it... I would suggest you go for the small regional mags. Or organizational mags. Begin with an enquiry, including a half dozen samples. Follow up with a phone call. Try to establish a relationship. Editors are not sitting around waiting for Heaven to drop a photo in their laps. ALYN