If you use a search program like Google, you already know the benefits. Why spend time in a reference library searching hours for information that you can find in seconds on the Internet? If you need hardcopy, well, then you can visit the local library. Or, you can buy the book through Amazon.com. But it doesn't end there. Rumor has it that Amazon.com is now developing a process to upload all of the world's literature and have it available for research. And, naturally, Amazon will have the hardcopy available for sale.
Does this give you a clue on how your stock photo collection of the future should be handled?
Photobuyers have two available methods of locating pictures. If they need a picture that illustrates a concept, they visit an on-line picture library and choose a trendy image. If they need a specific "needle-in-a-haystack," they choose a text-based system to swiftly narrow down their search.
Are you an editorial stock photographer? Take advantage of this fact that editorial photo researchers are choosing to use text ("keywords") to locate specific images that they need. If you include keywords (what we used to call "captions") along with your images that you list or display on the Web, your chances to make sales have vastly improved.
BUILDING BLOCKS
The future of your stock photo collection will be tied to the attention you put into providing thorough text descriptors for each of your images. Web crawlers such as Google periodically go through the world's websites to gather information about images. If you have definitive descriptions of each of your pictures, photo researchers will be able to locate images on your personal website and negotiate sales with you.
A quicker way to succeed through this method of research that is now coming of age, is to place your collection of text descriptions in a service such as the PhotoSourceBANK here at PhotoSource International. You are provided with your own Web page, on which you can enter your specialties and 3,000 words or phrases describing specific photos available in your files. Each day hundreds of photobuyers check in to the PhotoSourceBANK to look for the photos they need.
It's more important than ever to look at keywords as "building blocks" for the future of your photo collection. Each time you come back from a trip, vacation, self-assignment, or assignment, add keywords to your Internet presence. Over the long term you'll see your efforts result in increased sales.
Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. E-mail: info@photosource.com . Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: www.photosource.com.
Trust: The Photographer - Photobuyer Relationship
In these times of emerging technologies, it's more important than ever to communicate with the photobuyers you have worked with over the years. You may be able to help guide them on some sticky Internet or search engine questions, like how to choose keywords for a search in Google.. Be prepared to advise, but not to lecture, and your assistance will eventually be rewarded.
Know the special interest areas of your photobuyers. Do your homework to pinpoint what content they need and see what their website and print publications look like. Use a major search engine to research the publishing house(s), magazines, and special interest(s) they represent.
Here are nine suggestions on how to build a good relationship with your photobuyer contacts.
1. Present a “give” list. Don’t be a “gimmie." Don't contact photobuyers to ask questions to help yourself -- help them. Let them know you can provide them with photos in such and such areas (the areas you've found out are the focus of that particular buyer) and that you are in a position to be a regular supplier of such photos. In the course of your conversations, you draw out what specific current needs the particular buyer has, all the while emphasizing what experience or qualifications put you in a position to be an important resource for the photobuyer and his/her publication(s).
2. Introduce yourself cheerfully. The way you open the conversation will set the tone for the entire exchange and impression.
3. Be open. Be candid. Evasiveness or ambiguity won’t work. Beforehand, clarify to yourself your purpose for the call, the points you want to provide to the photobuyer, and then straightforwardly go for it. For example, don’t use the excuse, “I am updating my database.”
4. Be enthusiastic. Exude a sense of confidence. A positive attitude will encourage your buyers to want to see various ways they can use your services. Yet don’t be overbearing or confident to the point of arrogance.
5. Be complimentary. A well-paced, well-meaning compliment about the photobuyer’s publication, a recent layout, insightful coverage, etc., will serve you well.
6. Interest Briefly bring up one or two current topics related to the photobuyer’s area of concern. The more social you are, the more likely you'll elicit a favorable response. Of course, don’t overdo it! The photobuyer will appreciate your awareness that he/she is busy and has deadlines.
7. You might share with the photobuyer some bits of information you have learned from other sources in the field. However, be certain not to betray anyone’s trust.
8. Be charitable. Allow that 75 percent of photobuyers don’t have time to return phone calls from unknown (to them) prospects, especially after a deadline has passed. Solution: It’s nothing personal. Maintain equanimity and sail on. Persevere with new submissions for new needs, and you’ll score at some point.
9. Understand model releases. Even though model releases are not required 99 percent of the time for editorial usage (illustration purposes in books and magazines), this subject strikes fear in the heart of many photobuyers. Some seem to think they need model releases to protect themselves and their jobs. They’re not fully aware of their or your first amendment rights. When photos are used to inform and educate and entertain, model releases are not required. If the magazine or book photobuyer you’re speaking with requires releases, it’s a signal to you to politely end the conversation and move on to the many markets who know their first amendment rights; that is, who are aware that for 99% of their needs they don't need model releases.
Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. E-mail: info@photosource.com . Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: www.photosource.com .
Business
Notepad
MEETING PLACE
-- Interactive Flickr Now for everyone. Yahoo has finished a redesign of its Flickr home page that emphasizes the photo-sharing site's social aspects. The new home page shows off more of a user's own photos and more from the user's contacts, and it surfaces social activity such as comments on the user's photos, replies to comments the user made on others' photos, and new photos posted to the user's ... Full
Story
When in Rome. . .
If you are attempting to sell your stock photography abroad, be prepared to do some haggling. It won't be the same experience as at a fish market in Marseilles, but it'll be pretty close. Europeans don't' go by "standard" prices, and photobuyers expect to negotiate. A new book, "Stock Photo Fees and Terms of Business in Europe, " lays out the details of rates generally paid from one country to another. These can be used as the basis for negotiations.
The biggest hurdle is the economy. According to the book's authors, European stock photo prices have declined in the last couple of years, despite increased usage of photos on the continent.
One positive factor: The Euro is now the official currency of most European countries, making it easier to get a grasp of the fee differences from place to place.
You can get a good picture of stock photography rates and terms of business in the major European countries in this latest book, which is available in German and English.
(Available from: PIAG, Tel. +49 7221 301 7560, Fax 301 7570, e-mail: office@piag.de ; 240 pages, price Euro 28,- in Europe postage paid.)
Rohn Engh is the best-selling author of "Sell & ReSell Your Photos" and "sellphotos.com." He has produced a new eBook, "How to Make the Marketable Photo." For more information and to learn how to sell photos and to receive his free eReport: "8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer," visit his website, PhotoSource International or call 800 624-0266.
They Said It:
"Whenever you find that you are on the side of the majority, it is time to
reform."
-Mark Twain
Of
Interest
Re-publication Permits Privacy Suit to Proceed
Although the language of each state statute may vary, the use of a
person’s name, portrait or picture in a photograph cannot be used for
advertising, commercial or trade purposes, without the person’s written
consent.
This is called the Right to Privacy. The time to bring a lawsuit for
invasion of the Right to Privacy is one year from the first publication
in New York and most other states, but is subject to what is called the
single publication rule. Under this rule, the statute of limitations
begins to run on the date the material at issue is first published or
used. Accordingly, subsequent distributions or uses of the images does
not constitute a separate publication or continuing wrong which would
extend to the date the initial claim accrued.
The purpose of this rule is to avoid an endless tolling of the
limitations statute. For example, a distribution of a work to a library
would be the initial date for statute of limitations purposes, and that
initial date would not be extended each time the ... Full
Story
Digital Photography As Art
By Darren Rivers
Artistic expression through photography can be a rewarding hobby and can sometimes lead to a secondary career. Digital photography as a form of art has been gaining in popularity in recent years. As digital technology improves and camera prices continue to fall anyone can participate in this art medium.
To produce digital photography art you need to have: some basic equipment, a little training, and a willingness to experiment. You see, digital photography art is part skill and part expression. Once you have the equipment a little training can help open your eyes to the possibilities available through this means of expression.
For the beginning digital photography artist any decent quality digital camera will do. As you expand your horizons you'll want to add other equipment (tripod, lenses, external flashes, filters, etc.). Dedicate some time learning advanced techniques and understanding the equipment available before you make any big purchases. Once you have a solid understanding of how equipment will be used, you'll be able to make a better informed purchase decision when the time comes.
As you get started in the hobby of digital photography art, I highly recommend looking into classes. Photo classes are typically a lot of fun and teach you things from basic rules of composition to advanced photography techniques to specifics about your equipment. There are even free digital photo classes offered online.
As you get more into the hobby, you'll begin to expand your horizons. Good digital photography art often breaks the rules of traditional photography, but every good digital photography artist has a solid foundation in traditional photographic technique.
As you grow your skills, you'll find photo opportunities present themselves in the most unlikely of places. Don't rule anything out. Some of the most highly regarded artistic photos arise from obscure subjects. This is where the willingness to experiment comes into play. Shooting in digital is free. Shoot often and you'll soon develop an eye for artistic photography. Keep at it long enough and you'll begin to see the world as "frames". You won't be able to go for a walk without spotting something you want to shoot to capture a certain feeling. This is the point at which, many say, you've become a digital photography artist.
Darren Rivers is an avid digital photography hobbyist. When he's not out shooting pictures he spends his time maintaing his digital photography website that teaches others about digital photography equipment, how to find and evaluate digital photo classes, and digital cameras lens.
COST OF TRAVEL OVERSEAS is always prohibitive for the stock photographer
just starting out. One way to skirt around this problem is to become a
Travel Agent.
HOW DO THEY DO IT? Yuri Arcurs - Microstock Entrepreneur - Not content with an
annual microstock income of US$1.3 million and being the top selling microstock photographer, Yuri Arcurs is creating a microstock empire. Here's a summary of his new entrepreneurial activities.
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/meet-the-new-yuri-arcurs-microstock-entrepreneur.html
WHO SAID PHOTOGRAPHERS CAN’T WRITE? History in the Buffer - David Burnett, photojournalist, wrote this piece about his experience "in the buffer" covering the election night in Chicago. A remarkable diary of his election night experience.
http://werejustsayin.blogspot.com/2008/11/history-in-buffer.html
TAKEAWAY: When TIME Magazine made “the computer” the Man of the Year, they sent David Burnett to Pine Lake Farm to photograph me and my new Radio Shack TRS-80 Model II. You can see the picture TIME used at:
http://www.photosource.com/rohntime
