Bran Sonny's Guitar WorldGuitar Music World, for musicians, music lovers and everyone interested in guitars, accessories and gear.

Compiled Advice from the Experts in Stock Photography

I have compiled the advice offered to photographers from the photographers, CEOs, agency owners, art directors, designers, photo researchers and others who I have interviewed over the last year.

Jack Hollingsworth, Stock Photographer, Blend Images Co-Founder, Social Media & Photography Consultant

The money is in getting the photography in front of the consumer.

Marc Romanelli, Stock Photographer (Stills and Motion)

I choose to shoot what I know, shoot what feels right, diversify by shooting motion, as well as stills, finding new agencies that want to build their collections quickly as Workbook did, loading them up with images but not forgetting the “girl that brought you to the dance” in the first place…that would be your bread and butter agency. In my case that agency is Getty.

 

Ellen Boughn, Stock Industry Consultant and Pundit

Think of your business as a multi-layered cake. Get your work into all the layers of the business. DEVELOP a specialty and be the best at it in the world. Even photographers on microstock sites need to build their brands within the site in order to get maximum downloads.

 

Colin Anderson, Stock and Assignment Photographer and Co-Founder, Blend Images

Shoot work that is unique and hard to copy, and keep expenses down to a minimum.

Jonathan Ross, Stock Photographer and Co-Founder, Blend Images

I would say keep costs down. Don’t buy that new camera this year unless it makes you more money. Research is a bigger part of the game, more then ever before. Do your homework and get your ducks in a row before you spend your money on a shoot. Invest in R & D and try to stay true to your vision instead of just copying what you see working for others or that you have already shot yourself. Most of all have as much fun as possible, that always brings the largest rewards, financially and personally.

 

Rick Becker-Leckrone, Stock Shooter, Co-Founder & CEO Blend Images stock agency

One thing is especially important to keep in mind – now is not the time for a shotgun approach to production. The last decade was about creating massive amounts of RF imagery. Now there’s too much similar content. RM has been underserved with new imagery, but it’s a relatively small market. Micro is interesting, but a lot of hard work and not completely clear one can generate the same returns as in traditional stock. (Yes, some do, but very few.) Chill out in 2009. Figure out what you’re truly good at shooting, figure out what the market is missing and make fewer, but better targeted content. Don’t count the success of your 2009 in the number of images you produce.

Shalom Ormsby, Assignment and Stock Shooter Stills and Motion, Co-Founder Blend Images

A short story, since I’ve been so long-winded. At the end of a talk the Dalai Lama was giving about true happiness, he was asked what was the happiest day of his life. The Dalai Lama smiled and said softly, “That would be today.” May today be the happiest day of your life.

Tom Joyce, Owner/Creative Director Creativewerks

Do whatever you do with great passion and make it as perfect as you can. Then let go of it and grab a beer.

Lanny Ziering, CEO SuperStock, Co-Founder Blend Images

Talk to people who buy pictures, find out what they want, go and shoot it.

Trevor Lush, Stock and Assignment Photographer

I see me moving away from the high-volume work I’ve been doing in the past, towards a much more targeted approach. Fewer images with more added value.

Patty Meyers, Owner, Bloodhound Stock Photo Research

I find more and more art buyers are going to these alternative sites for innovative work. Basically, my advice is to get your images out to as many traditional and alternative image sources as possible, watch the trends and keep your work contemporary, and try and find a niche which needs filled. That and find a partner with a real job.

 

Inti St. Clair, Assignment and Stock Stills and Video

Shoot what you love. There is not a lot that’s easy about being a pro photographer, and the sad reality is that very little time is spent actually shooting, but as long as you’re loving it, it’s all worth while.

Tom Grill, Stock Shooter, Agency Owner (Tetra), Blend Co-Founder

With declining RPI’s it’s becoming more difficult to earn a substantial living from stock photography. Now is a good time to honestly access your talents and resources relative to what it will take to make a go in the tougher times ahead. Follow the old stock market adage of getting out when the market is high and jumping in when the market is low. NOW – in this time of severe economic downturn — is the time to buy stocks in the stock market as well as pour images into the stock photo market.

Lance Lee, Stock and Assignment Photographer, Mentor, Entrepreneur

For our stock photography projects, I’m encouraging our photographers and production team to work as if they are working in a film production. The process is pretty much the same – creative story telling translated into pictures.

Dan Heller, Stock Photographer And Stock Industry Analyst

Photographers are going to have to get behind initiatives that encourage openness, distribution, and wider-scale adoption of intellectual property. This is the one and only path that will help bring order to the chaos of images on the Internet. And with that comes ranking and prioritization, much like how Google ranks websites.

And when that happens, “quality” images will percolate to the top, and reward those photographers who truly are better than others. If one assumes that most “pros” are better photographers than consumers, the only way pros’ images will be found and licensed by buyers of any sort, will be when there are business incentives for companies to build those technology solutions.

 

Sarah Fix, Creative Director, Blend Images

A photographer’s greatest assets are their creativity and ability to speak to the market. What is your creative advantage? What do you do better than most?

There is always opportunity during challenging times. Right now in our industry there are fewer images being created, fewer shoots with higher production value, social networking is making it easier to give and receive information, the rights managed licensing model is in need of new content, motion is gaining momentum with affordable cameras that capture both stills and motion – how do you plan on taking advantage of this moment? Adapt as the market changes.

Jeremy Woodhouse, Stock Photographer and Educator (Photography Workshops), Blend Images Co-Founder

Take time to get grounded in a location, check out the bookstores, post card racks, see where the “hot spots” are and work around them. Look for new ideas; introduce some of your own technique/style into a location. Use the light, not only the edge of the daylight but even midday light can work, especially with HDR. You can beat the contrast big time. Revisit the same locations several times in different light.

 

John Feingersh, Stock Photographer, Co Founder Blend Images

Hold on, keep your chins up, find those holes in the files and fill them with great imagery.

Charlie Holland, Stock Shooter, Former Director of Photography, Getty Images

Be smart, direct your efforts. Spread your submissions out over collections, over time and over business models. Do not overspend on your productions.

Sarah Golonka, Stock Shooter, Stock Photography Consultant, Art Director/Editor

Keep your head up and look back to help prepare yourself for the future. Be aware of and open to change and work with it vs. against it. Analyze your sales history and draw your own conclusions as to why your images did and did not sell, then apply that information to your future shoots. Keep taking creative risks and stick to shooting what you are good at vs. trying to reinvent the wheel.

 

Trinette Reed And Chris Gramly, Stock and Assignment Stills And Motion (Trinette is a Cofounder of Blend Images)

Trinette: Be open minded and open to change, experiment, use the downturn to focus on what you really want to be doing, stay connected.

Chris: Stay open to the changes and open to learning; don’t pretend to know what you don’t know.

Don Farrall, Stock and Assignment Photographer

I used to counsel photographers about getting into stock and can be credited for bringing a handful of photographers, and even a few illustrators, through the process of securing a contract with Getty; back in the days when that was a Golden ticket. I would have to say that I am much less “Bullish” about it now. These are difficult times to be encouraging, so I suppose I would want to see someone’s work first before I answered that question for them.

Offir Gutelzon, CEO PicScout

Making content available for more marketing applications and promotional use, while selling content as RF, is essential. Photographers should follow your actions, like those you’ve taken that improve rankings on search engines, and promote themselves in new ways, even at the risk of image infringements.

About the Author

John M. Lund Stock Photography: Rain pours down on the desert in this stock photo

John Lund’s Funny Animal Photos: Sunset Wing Jet Adventure Freedom

Conceptual Stock Photos & Funny Pictures: Standing Out from the Crowd Stock Photo

Checking New Old Stock Resistors

AR15 Carbine Stock Wrench Tool $4.49 This universal AR15 M4 Carbine Stock Wrench tool easily removes your old extension tube and installs a new style. This tool is perfect for any gun enthusiast.

Hogue Pau Ferro Ruger Blackhawk Vaquero Wood Grip $57.54 This Hogue wood grip is made from Pau Ferro wood and hand polished to a non-slippery sheen using natural Carnauba wax. This grip is designed to fit Ruger Blackhawk, Vaquero, Single Six and new model excluding old model ‘Flat-Top’ frames, firearms.

History of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (Hardcover) $27.35 A short of history of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the people that developed itAcclaimed author Raymonde Sacklyn kept copious notes of the events which took place in Hong Kong during the stock-market revolution in 1969, and now the times …

The Ultimate Soup Cookbook (Paperback) $11.9 Includes hundreds of recipes for savory soups–such as Old-Fashion Chicken Noodle, New England Potato, Santa Fe Chicken Chili, Herbed Gazpacho and Mushroom Barley –including more than 40 stocks and broths, quick and easy dishes, health choices and slo…

A Christmas Story Leg Lamp Kit (Paperback) $8.86 “It’s a major award!”—“Old Man” Parker from the holiday classic A Christmas Story, would say. We call this kit the perfect stocking stuffer (no pun intended) for the millions of fans who tune in for repeated…

Night Before Christmas (Hardcover) $10.76 Let the holiday magic begin!Stockings hung by the chimney with care. Visions of sugarplums dancing. And that jolly old elf, St. Nick, with his eight tiny reindeer.  That can mean only one thing: it`s The Night Before Christmas…

If I Ran the Zoo $9.38 A young boy imagines the kind of zookeeper he would be. First, he would get rid of all the old-fashioned animals like lions and tigers, then he would stock his zoo with such never-before-heard-of creatures as an Elephant-cat, a scraggle-foot Mulli…

Porsche 356 Guide to Do-it-yourself Restoration (Paperback) $21.72 The second edition of this book continues the restoration of  a 356 Porsche to driver level condition. This book does not spend time or money creating the “perfect” 356, and does not necessarily search for NOS (new old stock) repl…

F Is for Fenway Park (Hardcover) $11.41 “”Historic and nostalgic Fenway Park is introduced from A to Z with rhyming poems and informational text. Topics include green monster, Jimmy Fund, Kenmore Square, Peskys Pole, the lone red seat, and Van Ness Street.”-Prepared by the Publisher”–

The Canoe And the Saddle $11.74 In 1853, with money in his pocket and elegant clothes in his saddlebags, a twenty-four-year-old New Englander of aristocratic Yankee stock toured the territories of California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. The Canoe and the Saddle

If I Ran the Zoo $16.82 A young boy imagines the kind of zookeeper he would be. First, he would get rid of all the “old-fashioned” animals like lions and tigers, then he would stock his zoo with such never-before-heard-of creatures as an Elephant-cat, a scraggle-foot Mulli

Santa`s Big Big Book to Color $4.94 Stockings, gingerbread houses, and jolly old St. Nick himself are only a few of the merry images in this gift from the Golden archives that will evoke fond memories of Christmas seasons gone by. The simple, joyful scenes and brightly flocked cover will…

Austin Lounge Lizards – Never an Adult Moment $13.12 Disc 1:Grunge SongHillbillies in a Haunted HouseForty Years Old and I`m Living in My Mom`s GarageRasputin`s HmoHundred Miles of Dry, ABig Rio Grande RiverIllusion Travels by Stock Car, TheBig Ol` B…

The Rogues of Sherwood Forest (DVD) $11.39 Decked out with leftover sets and stock footage from 1946`s BANDIT OF SHERWOOD FOREST, Columbia`s ROGUES OF SHERWOOD FOREST stars John Derek as the son of legendary do-gooder Robin Hood. When King John (George Macready) revives his old cycle of taxatio…

The New Sell and Sell Short (Paperback) $23.19 A detailed look at one of the most underestimated aspects of trading-selling In The New Sell and Sell Short, Second Edition, Dr. Alexander Elder explains how to exit a stock at the right time and how to initiate a short position to pr…

The Hanging Hill (Paperback) $6.92 While working at a summer stock theater, eleven-year-old Zack and his stepmother encounter the ghost of one of Connecticut`s most notorious criminals.

The Riders of High Rock (Compact Disc) $19.6 Hopalong rode into cattle country just east of the California line looking for his old friend Red Connors. He found Red holed up in a mountain cave with a bullet in his side and a story to tell. The ranchers around Tascotal had been losing their stock,…

Scarlet Thunder $9.85 Seventeen-year-old Trent is helping his uncle film a television documentary about Scarlet Thunder, a stock car racing team, when he begins to suspect that someone is sabotaging the shoot.

The One-hundred-year History of the Phelps-stokes Fund As a Family Philanthropy, 1911-2011 (Hardcover) $135.63 This book covers the history of the Phelps-Stokes Fund and the extensive role it played in African American, African, and Native American history. Started in 1911 with funds bequeathed by Caroline Phelps Stokes, it is the oldest continuously operating …

Rolling Down Black Stockings $21.78

Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges $39.1 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

2 inch; Suspension System (Stock-Light-Medium Load) by Old Man Emu $721.94 2007-11 JK Wrangler.2-door models.Stock to medium load capable.Old Man Emu shocks included.Max Tire Size:35×12.50

Front Soft Shock by Old Man Emu $89.99 1976-86 CJ with stock suspension;Superior ride and control

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Gauge Set 1708 $283.69 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Gauge Set 1708 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Gauge Set 1708 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Gauge Set 1709 $385.43 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Gauge Set 1709 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Gauge Set 1709 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1715 $40.83 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1715 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1715 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1716 $40.83 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1716 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1716 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1717 $40.83 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1717 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1717 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1718 $40.83 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1718 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Fuel Gauge 1718 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Clock 1785 $63.31 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Clock 1785 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Clock 1785 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Speedometer 1787 $144.62 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Speedometer 1787 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Speedometer 1787 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Voltmeter Gauge 1791 $39.1 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Voltmeter Gauge 1791 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Voltmeter Gauge 1791 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Speedometer 1796 $100.44 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Speedometer 1796 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Speedometer 1796 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Tachometer 1797 $123.45 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Tachometer 1797 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Tachometer 1797 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Tachometer 1798 $114.23 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Tachometer 1798 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Old Tyme Black Tachometer 1798 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. Autometer Old Tyme Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

ZAGGskins (Billions In Stock 1) $19.99 ZAGGskins (Billions In Stock 1)

ZAGGskins (Billions In Stock 2) $19.99 ZAGGskins (Billions In Stock 2)

Vic Firth Stock Pad $34.99 Vic Firth Stock Pad

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Speedometer 1287 $276.23 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Speedometer 1287 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Speedometer 1287 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Voltmeter 1292 $65.11 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Voltmeter 1292 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Voltmeter 1292 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Tachometer 1297 $208.41 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Tachometer 1297 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Tachometer 1297 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White II Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1690 $147.35 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1690 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1690 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Voltmeter 1692 $48.47 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Voltmeter 1692 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Voltmeter 1692 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Speedometer 1693 $124.52 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Speedometer 1693 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Speedometer 1693 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1694 $153.05 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1694 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1694 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1695 $141.62 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1695 customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Tachometer 1695 are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.

AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges $48.47 AutoMeter Performance Gauges in stock now! Read AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges customer reviews. AutoAccessoriesGarage.com has the best selection of AutoMeter Gauges at the lowest prices around. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges are chosen by auto enthusiasts everywhere to personalize their vehicles. AutoMeter Street Rod Old Tyme White Series Gauges available now at AutoAccessoriesGarage.