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Free Marketable Photography Guide 2008

Comprehensive Guide to Marketable Photography
Showcase of over 600 Images Sold on ShutterPoint
Interviews with ShutterPoint's Finest Photographers

This 104-page e-book offers a no-nonsense step-by-step guide to understanding photo marketability and a versatile collection of amazing photographs that sell on ShutterPoint. Anyone interested in selling their photos will greatly benefit from this information and will be able to boost photo sales.

The good News is that this book is FREE! The bad news is that you have to subscribe to Shutterpoint to be able to download it. But having said that you can join for a full six months with 50mb of storage space for only $12 . So you can have your own shop window to display your photographic images for $2 per month.

First of all let me tell you about Shutterpoint. Not only can you sell your images 'Royalty Free' you may also set the prices. They recommend a minimum of $20 for your image. I usually price them at $50 then I can always negotiate if necessary. Here's what Shutterpoint have to say;-

Introduction
You have taken the absolutely outstanding shot. You are deciding its worth to be added to your ShutterPoint online albums, but if you ignore some of the very basic principles of positioning your photo properly, it may get lost amongst other photos, never attracting anyone's attention.

Whether you are trying to sell your photos, share your talent with the world, or just obtain comments on your work, you need to understand all the possible ways of finding photos hosted at our website. After all, if your photos are not found, they are definitely not viewed and not purchased. Additionally, you will need to know which types of photos are in higher demand, and therefore can sell better. Read all topics on this page and learn how to improve visibility of your photos, and how to improve chances of these photos being sold.

Search Spy
Search Spy is the feature aimed to help you understand what photo buyers look for. Our website logs search phrases actual buyers use to find photos. By exploring the phrases logged by Search Spy, you can get a better understanding about what the photo buyers' needs are, as well as see the most popular search phrases.

Subject of Photos
If you are submitting photos with the similar subject as subject already found at the website in large quantity, you are therefore reducing the visibility of your photo among other photos. Even though your photo may be more unique or more artistic than other photos, the likelihood of your photo being purchased may be low - the more similar photos exist, the less likely your photo will sell.

Keeping the above in mind, choose those subjects that are rare or lacking at the site, especially if you are targeting stock photo buyers who need images for commercial use. Comparing the sizes of different categories will give you a clear picture of their proportions. See the list of all categories, and try to submit photos suitable for those that are smaller, not to overgrown ones.

License Types
There are two types of licenses photo buyers can get when buying photos, which depend on whether a photo will be used commercially or in the editorial context. Both types are royalty-free, which means that a price is paid for a photo, not the number of times it can be used.

Commercial use license allows photo buyers to use photos on the commercial basis, and the type of photos usually sold under the terms of the commercial use license is generally called "stock photos". Stock photos represent majority of photos on ShutterPoint, and can be used on the book cover, as a postcard, in the ad, as part of the web site design, in the magazine, etc. Commercial use license does not explicitly prohibit any use of photos for the editorial content, and you should assign your images for sale under terms of the commercial use license whenever possible. Please remember that there are some restrictions to the subject of photos that may prevent you from using this license type. For example, photos containing recognizable and uniquely identifiable models or property cannot be sold for commercial use without release forms. Additionally photos displaying brand names, logos, product names, and other copyrighted or trademarked imagery cannot be sold for commercial use.

Editorial use license relaxes the restrictions mentioned above, but it also narrows the actual use of the photos to editorial articles or similar material that can only be used in the editorial context. Editorial use images are usually different from commercial stock images, they can be photos of celebrities, politicians, newsworthy events, and many more, however please keep in mind that a photo offered for editorial use should, first of all, make editors interested - it should be newsworthy.

Finally, marketing photos for editorial use can be quite different. Unlike traditional stock photos that can be purchased any time and used as needed, a photo of a today's event may be valued by a newspaper today, but not tomorrow (it is the most extreme case, and some news photos can be just as valuable for many years after they were taken). When it comes to editorial content, it may be beneficial to make a contact with your local news publications and use ShutterPoint to process payments and image delivery for you.

My Verdict

All I can say that I have rejoined. I used to be a member a couple of years ago but left to concentrate more on the then rapidly growing Microstock Photography Libraries. When I was a member I had sales with one image selling for $70. Shutterpoint also index your images quickly on the search engines, you can search your user or business name in Google within a couple of days. Therefore I recommend that you use your business name as you login name.

You are not going to become rich overnight, but again it's another income stream for your camera and you images will be getting top ranking on the search engines. I would definitely rate this opportunity to showcase your photography with FIVE STAR's

Get further details here

Latest Microstock Photography Trends

Here is the latest list of subjects that are in demand by Big Stock Photo. Try to interpret these subject categories with creative images that will really stand out from the others and you will be well on your way to making regular sales.

• Business Images
• Always popular... huge sellers.
• Travel Industry Images
• Big sellers. Beautiful vacation type shots, leisure and luxury images, etc.
• Food Photos
• Very popular. High glass food shots are always useful in many industries and we see a growing need for these.
• Seasonal Images
• Christmas, Halloween, Hannukah, Thanksgiving, Valentines Day... all very popular images for several months a year. (Easter's coming up soon so shoot for next Years market and upload in January 2010)
• Images of Baby Boomers and Mature Seniors
• Adults aged 50 to 65 and seniors older than that... there is a glut of companies out there marketing to these Baby Boomers now and they need images of seniors and baby boomers doing anything and everything.
• Cultural Diversity
• Images showing Black, Indian, Mexican, Asian, etc. etc. - needed in every category.
• Commerce and E-commerce Images
• Growing in demand segment.
• Spa and Personal
• Growing in demand segment.
• Medical and Health Care Profession Images
• Growing in demand segment.

Unique Portrait Photography Business Opportunity

Technically it’s not Microstock Photography but if you’ve ever even considered Portrait Photography as a way of generating an income from your hobby you need to watch this video. It’s the first time that I’ve been so excited about a product in ages.

The concept of the business is one that I have seen before but never seen it offered in such a complete package. You can go into the Portrait Photography Business almost immediately with this package and a camera, a light source and a white background. If you have any intentions of making money with your camera click here and watch the video. As you will see in the video it is a complete package for a Portrait Photography Business - Click here to find out more

If You Liked My Article on Still Life..?

Then you’re going to love this. Searching eBay I have found numerous Soft Box Photo Cubes manufactured for still life and tabletop photography. The items are new but I must admit I don’t know how many are available. But I can assure you for the price set by the seller he will soon sell out!

It is an 80cm cube (approx 32 inches), so it’s certainly big enough for the wine glass and bottle shots. It comes complete with four different coloured backcloths and a front panel that has a aperture for your camera lens. (Although I rarely bother with it!). Anyway here’s what you get for a ‘Buy it Now’ price of £9.99 plus £6.99 post and packing.


The Sellers Description
Photograph Light Tent Cube Softbox
Ideal for eBayers, online sellers, photography lovers and collectors
It filters the light to reduce the glare and reflections on shiny objects especially metal one
The light will be more evenly spread on the object
It enables you to control where and how light falls on to your product
You can choose more lighting options to produce optimal results, for example lights from both sides, from the top, from the back or from all sides
Can be used with all light sources including natural daylight, household lamps or photographic 'daylight emulation' lighting
The detachable front door cover with camera lens slit is ideal for taking shoots for highly reflective objects such as silver and glass
Four background cloths (Black/White/Blue/Red)
A spring wire supporting frame sewn into the light tent fabric allows the pop-up tent to be folded flat within its carrying bag for easy cube storage
Size: 80 x 80 x 80cm

HELP! - I Want to Earn Some Extra Cash With My Camera!

As the current financial climate is really beginning to bite, more people are looking to earn money from their photographs and saying that they want to generate an income with their camera. They want to know how to sell their photographs online or how to start and build a wedding/portrait photography business etc? But at the present, people are spending less and everyone is tightening their belt so what are your options?

The first question that you must ask yourself is – Are my photographs good enough to sell, do I have the confidence to photograph people and do I have the commitment to see it through? Making money with your camera is not an instant quick fix for your finances. Don’t forget there’s the seasoned pro photographer out there also trying to drum up more business and if they are struggling, well what about the newcomer?

But things are not all bad. The large company has to still market their goods and services. Couples are still getting married and there are still opportunities for the portrait photographer. Even in the hard times people still have money for luxuries but you have to market your photographic services and marketing usually involves spending some hard earned cash. But if you’ve got the money, confidence and commitment, then go for it!

As the owner of a Digital Camera you do not have any film or processing costs. You can shoot as many pictures as you want without using any spare cash that you may have. One market I would certainly look at is the Microstock Photography Market, but don’t expect to be rich overnight. The big plus with submitting your photographs to the Microstock Photography Market is that you don’t have to layout any money to get started. The pictures that you upload to the libraries, who sell them on your behalf, charge no joining or subscription fees. They take their commission when and only when your image has been downloaded from their library.

I know it sound too good to be true, selling pictures each and everyday and receiving your commission cheque at the end of every month, well it is too good to be true. The commission that you receive from a download can be as little as twenty five cents. But before you stop reading let me explain. You can have that image registered with any number of Microstock Libraries. You could sell hundreds a day in theory, but I doubt that you will until you have built up a really good portfolio.

I personally, on average earn six dollars every year for each image that I upload to the Microstock Photographic Market. So if I were to upload ten images from my day out this Sunday I should earn over the next twelve months sixty dollars and another sixty dollars in the next twelve months. Some of my images have not sold yet; others are downloaded very other month. My top selling images sell on a regular basis and bring in a regular income.

My personal view of Microstock Photography is that it is an additional regular monthly income, my pension for later in life. I also regard it as a release where I can be creative and shoot my own thing. If you love taking pictures, look forward to building a future income, setting a goal to aim for all without spending any cash, Microstock Photography could be for you. Yes you can make good money from it but you must be totally committed and upload images on a regular basis. As a long term option then Microstock Photography could be regular passive income from your camera that you are looking for!

If you're sick of deleting photo after photo, tired of not understanding how to use your camera, and want an easy way to master photography, continue reading.

Photography can be tough. I know. There's the complex camera that's filled with dozens of buttons that seem to have no meaning. Composing the shot so it looks nice. And to top it off...if the light isn't right you'll end up with dark, blurry, or overexposed shots.

No wonder so many beginners give up fast.
Al Sanchez Professional Photographer

Still Life Photography for the Microstock Photographer

Shooting ‘still-life’ or ‘table-top’ images in the comfort of your own home can’t be too bad and you can sell the image through the Micro stock Photographic market?

By ‘still-life’ or ‘table-top’ photography I’m not talking of bowls of fruit or dying flowers. I mean images that illustrate a point or tell a story, taken at home when the weather outside is just too bad to go out.

Just to prove my point that you don’t have to create a photographic masterpiece to achieve sales in Microstock Photography, this very simple image of a 'copper pipe elbow'was downloaded for a fee of $28 this week. It was shot outdoors on a piece of white card and by using my home made still life reflector to soften the shadows. The home made still life reflector is a sheet of A4 card. You can also use aluminium foil if you way a stronger reflection of light.

This a perfect example of the type of income that can be generated by shooting simple images in your own home. For only a few pounds you can buy a simple table studio or Soft-Box Cube that you can use outdoors in natural light if you don’t have any lighting. I started by using two simple electronic flashes and making notes of the camera settings. I then used the same setting each time and I almost always got the exposure spot on.

Possibly the hardest thing is to come up with the ideas. Just take a close look at the world news and the events that are happening now! Try and predict the eventual outcome and illustrate it in a still-life image. Do that and you could be on to a winner.

Only a couple of months ago we were seeing images of the petrol pump and the dollar sign. The nozzle dripping dry signifies the shortage of petrol or gas as our friends across the water call it. But that’s all changed as the prices have plummeted. So anyone who had the foresight to shoot images to illustrate this will be selling their photographs like crazy.

For the Microstock Photographic Market I think it is better to keep things simple. If you browse through the libraries you will see that some of the best sellers are the simplest images. For example isolated objects sell well. You need to use a clean white background. I always used to buy white paper but you will find that it soon gets dirty and marked so I now use a piece of laminate or Formica. The advantage of this is if you are shooting liquids any spillage can easy be wiped up. You can also buy sheets of ‘Perspex’ in various colours although white is the best choice. You can light it from underneath or from behind to make the object appear to float in mid air. You could also add coloured gels to change the background totally.

10,000 Downloads in Microstock Photography

I’ve finally done IT! I’ve got my 10,000th download in Microstock Photography. The image of ‘Ollie’, my pet dog was downloaded from Shutterstock this morning. I should have known that the image that achieved my milestone would have been shot at home, just as I wrote in my post 'The Magic Of Microstock Photography - The Fastest Growing Market For Your Images'. I must admit that during the past couple of months I have been concentrating on my website and setting up this blog. But I have at last hit the 10,000 mark. Now I’m getting creative to reach the next big milestone 25,000 downloaded images in Microstock Photography!

Industrial Photography is a Much Needed Subject in Microstock

I’ve often talked about the important of finding your niche when it comes to supplying the Microstock Photography Market and one of the most ‘in-demand’ niches appears to be Industrial Images. It could be a superb opportunity for the photographer who likes the idea of photographing technical details, gadgets and machine parts etc.

You don’t have to go far to find Industrial subjects. We are not talking about the large organisations but the smaller business units that have sprung up all over the place in recent years. If you were to offer a free photo’s in return for the owner signing a property and model release then your earning potential should be pretty good. Also you could charge the owner for additional prints but I would advise that you agreed the finer details before progressing.

I looked up the word industry on ‘iStockphoto’ and the top image had been downloaded over 3000 times. So you can see the earning potential. I would recommend that you browse the libraries to see the type of ‘Industrial image that is selling. If you can get a signed ‘Model Release’ and ‘Property Release’ then your income could triple.

One thing that I would add is that you take extra care at all times. You will be taking photographs in an Industrial environment and there are many dangers. Whilst taking your pictures it is very easy to forget where you are and pay little attention to the risks around you. Be aware of the dangers at all times and I am sure that you will come away with many images to upload to the Microstock Photography market.

If you are interested in this niche and wish to delve further into the possibilities I suggest that you take a look at this book, ‘Start Making Money Shooting Industrial Product Photography’ by Stephen Spreadbury. It’s not about Microstock Photography but it does explain how to approach this speciality niche and shoot Industrial images.

Microstock Sales in Percentages for February 2009

My Microstock sales were slightly up on January. Although I did upload new images only a few were selling online. The majority of my sales coming from my regular downloaded images. As you can see from the graph, for the second month running iStockphoto was my number one income source with Shutterstock in a close second place. Dreamstime, who are usually very close to my main two were left behind this month. I managed my first sales at Fotomind, which isn't bad when you consider that I only started to upload a handful of images there in late January.

The Importance of Keywords for your Photographs – Creating a Keyword Directory File

I cannot stress enough the importance of keywords for you images, especially when submitting to the Microstock Photography Market. It doesn’t matter how good the image is if the designers fails to find it because the appropriate keywords are not added to your image file.

Unless you keyword you image file correctly the chance are that the libraries will reject them on the grounds of ‘Inappropriate or poor keywords’. It’s hard enough to get images accepted these days for quality and subject matter so you certainly don’t want to be rejected for poor keywords. Remember that the keywords that you choose can make or break your Microstock sales figures.

Let’s face it, it’s a chore or a boring chore that most of us hates. I have tried to make it simpler and easier by trying out various systems and I have come to the conclusion that whatever I do I don’t enjoy adding keywords to my images. However, it has to be done so I have developed a system which I find does make the job easier.

In an attempt to simplify my keyword chore, I have created a simple four column template in Excel (click here for a FREE download), a Keyword Directory, which I now use as standard.

The first column is the ‘Category’ of the image such as ‘Portrait’ or ‘Yorkshire Dales’ etc although I do abbreviate the categories to suit the column. As long as you know where to find the keywords then any text will do. In the second column I enter the ‘Title’ of the image and in the third the ‘Description’. The fourth column is where I enter all the appropriate keywords.

Putting this system into practise, I keyword my Microstock Images as I tweek them in ‘Photoshop’. For example if I have shot a view of the Yorkshire Coast, I’ll look for an existing image similar to the one that I’m working on. If I can find one I simply copy and paste the keywords into the data file. If I can’t find one that’s exactly the same but is similar then I’ll select, copy and paste the appropriate keywords. If there is no previous image data that is close I create a keyword file in Excel.

If you don’t have the software to add keywords to the image file then simply copy them from Excel and paste them into the template on you ‘File Upload Page’. I have found this method simplifies the whole process of uploading especially when uploading similar image file.

If you try out my template for the next few image files that you are uploading to a Microstock Photographic Library I'm sure that you will find it usefull. Once you get into the swing of using the directory template it will become easier, almost automatic to use. Another advantage of this method is that you can write, edit and adjust the data for the photograph without opening it. I sometime keyword when I get home from a day out whilst it is all fresh in your mind. Then all you have to do is tweek the image, upload, and copy and paste the keywords and description, sit back and wait for the photograph to sell.
Download your Free Excel Template here

Creating a Shop Window for Your Photographic Business

If you’re thinking of, or you are already are earning some money with your camera then you really do need to create an online presence. Not necessarily a multi-paged website but maybe places where you can post some images or even sell them to the visitors. I’m not talking Microstock Libraries here; I’m talking about a shop window or online portfolio where you as the author of the image can have full control over the sales and prices etc.

There are many options available to you depending on exactly what you require and how much time and money you wish to dedicate to your enterprise. There is no need to spend a fortune in getting everything set up if you don’t want to. You can start with a few pounds or dollars and have you images for sale within a couple of hours. Let’s have a look at the easier option which is simply to register with a website that will display your images, take the buyers money and process the sales on your behalf.

When you first go to the site you need to create an account and fill in a simple form. This is the usual required information such as name, address, email etc. Once your account is set up simply login and you will be taken to your homepage. It is on this page that you can add a short bio about yourself. It’s certainly worth doing because the search engines will pick this up and help to create the online presence that we are trying to achieve.

To upload your images you first of all need to purchase some storage space on the site. Shutterpoint currently charges $12 for 50mb of storage which lasts for 6 months. This is the cheapest initial package, you can pay for a year or add more storage space as and when you need it. The more space you buy the cheaper per mb it gets.

Uploading to the site is fairly straightforward using their control panel. You can create your own albums and add keywords and titles etc. The most important thing is that you can set your own prices. They advise you on pricing but I suggest that you look at the files that are already online to see how much other photographers are charging.

The sales are all handled automatically and payments are process and sent to. The money you can make from this might not be life changing but it is possible to create an income from your hobby. On a personal basis I have sold images from this site, the highest price was $50 which adds up to a lot of downloads in Microstock.

My own personal opinion regarding this market is that you can create an online portfolio with the possibility of making some sales. I also think that by creating multiple sales opportunities for your images, the proceeds from all the opportunities will grow into a sizeable income. I am also certain that the initial cost of creating an online shop window of the benefits far outweigh the risk involved. How many other businesses can you start for $12. Click here for further details.

How Big Is The Market For Microstock Photography?

This is a question that I get asked frequently, mainly by the newcomer to the business. (The emphasis being on business and not a hobby). Well for a start ‘iStockphoto’ are paying out over 1.1 million dollars per week to their contributors, so if they are only paying out 25% commission then do the sums in terms of their sales per week. You can see it really is big business.

Then I get asked of how many photographs do I sell per week? Like all businesses you have highs and lows in term of sales. I have had images that have only sold once or twice in a year or more then have made ten or twenty sales in the same month. Other images that I have uploaded to the libraries sell week in and week out. Others images are being downloaded only a few times per month, but on a regular basis. What I will tell you is that within the next week, my total image downloads will have reached 10,000 (watch this space) through my GBPhotostock account.

What you have to remember is that you are selling stock. What you have to do is to aim your sock at the market. I had one photographer ask me why his images rarely sold. I discovered it was because the niche that he was photographing was too narrow. But he didn’t want to photograph anything else so his sales slumped almost to zero. What you have to do is to shoot images that will sell. I make a point at checking out the top 50 images that are selling each week. Note which images are in the top 50 week in and week out. I’m not saying copy them but to ask yourself why they are selling and meet the same criteria in you images.

Another question that I am frequently asked is how much traffic does the libraries get per day, week or year? I have taken the trouble to research the traffic volume and I was surprised to say the least. These are the top five Microstock libraries that I contribute to and their average number of visitors per day!

1 - istockphoto.com 2433628
2 - fotolia.com 918196
3 - dreamstime.com 775740
4 - shutterstock.com 716612
5 - bigstockphoto.com 68183

(figures taken from http://www.websiteoutlook.com/)

I must admit I was amazed that ‘Shutterstock’ down in fourth place as it has produced my greatest number of sales. What I have discovered is that subjects sell better with one library rather than another. Again only by uploading and recording your sales will you find the most suitable library.

Microstock and The Wedding Photographer

One of the best places to shoot saleable images for Microstock Photography Market is at a wedding. Most wedding images are always in great demand and because you are in a crowd of picture takers, you won’t be noticed so you can move in close and treated simply as a guest and not a photographer.

Over the years, some of the images that I have shot at Weddings have produced some of my best selling images in the World of Microstock Photography. Weddings are a popular subject both on and off line and because fashions change new updated and fresh images are always in demand. The trick is to shoot your pictures without the faces visible so they subjects cannot be recognised. This ensures that they will be available to a wider audience and I don’t have the bother of ‘Model Releases’ etc. What you have to think of whilst you are shooting the pictures is ‘How can I illustrate the subject without identifying anyone?’

For example a close-up of the bouquet in the hands of the bride is always a certain seller. You’re only showing the hands and the flowers but it is instantly related to a wedding. Hymn books in the Church or the Bride and Groom’s hands linked showing the rings. You can catch off moment close-ups of drinkers and smokers. Look for the wedding guest that is adjusting the flowers in their button hole or the holding of the Top Hat. Hands that are getting ready to throw the confetti or close-ups of the confetti with an out of focus Bride and Groom in the background.

Wedding cars are always in pristine condition and detailed shots of gleaming parts can add to your online portfolio. A sure seller if the Top Hat on the bonnet or the bride’s hand waving through an open window. Focus on the front grill with the Bride and Groom out of focus in the distance.

At the reception there’s the table settings which invariably are in tip top condition and excellently presented. Some of the guests will be leaning over the crowded bar and relaxing with a much deserved drink. Children will be running all over the place and maybe playing hide and seek.

All these subjects can be captured without showing any identification or recognisable features. You can shoot away at a wedding without looking conspicuous because most of the other guests will be taking pictures. There are photo opportunities all around you and you’ll never be stuck for the next wedding photography idea of what to shoot. That’s why one of the best opportunities for a Microstock Photographer is a good old fashioned wedding ceremony!

The Wedding Photography Blueprint is the most in-depth digital wedding photography ebook on the web that is designed to give anyone the chance to become a successful wedding photographer, regardless of experience or knowledge. These extensive and easy to understand tips will make your learning curve as easy as "painting by numbers".

Cleaning The Sensor of My Digital Camera Continued

Within couple of days of confirming my order for the 'Sensor Cleaning Kit' the Postman shoved a small ‘Jiffy Bag’ through the letterbox. Gingerly opening it I found five spatulas things with a fabric on the end, a small bottle of fluid and the instructions. Apparently the width of the fabric on the spatulas was exactly the same as the sensor on my 10D. I still wasn’t convinced after reading the very simple instructions at least three times. I then progressed to reading and re-read the instruction book that came with the 10D, subconsciously to delay the actual act of cleaning the sensor.

It did note that the instructions were very specific in emphasising that the battery in the camera should be fully charged so it would hold open the shutter and keep the mirror out of the way. As a preferred alternative you could, by using the mains adapter, power your camera from the mains. I carefully added the stated four drops of the cleaning fluid to the spatula and very gently dragged it across the sensor. I turned the spatula over and repeated the process. Looking into the camera I could see the solution evaporating rapidly. I turned the camera off and replaced the lens. Now was the time of truth!

I set the aperture to f22 a pointed the camera at the overcast sky and pressed the shutter. I took out the card and put it into my computer, opened up Photoshop at opened the file.

To my amazement the filth, or muck as we call it, had all but gone. There was an odd mark but far less than before. Even more to my amazement the sensor looked in perfect condition and I was delighted. I couldn’t see the gouges that would be left on the sensor if the stories that I had read were anything to go by. I must admit that because of my new found confidence I did repeat the cleaning and the marks have now disappeared completely.

As a result my images are not only cleaner but they appear sharper, crisper but that could be my imagination, I don’t know. But what I do know is that after years of reading and hearing about the horror stories of sensor cleaning, never again will I hesitate to clean it. Of course I also believe in prevention rather than cure so I will take the extra care not to let the dust in. No doubt my new found confidence will diminish when the time comes around again to cleaning the sensor of my digital cameras.

Cleaning a Sensor of a Digital SLR Camera

I can’t believe it but I’ve had to admit my worst fear – The sensor on my beloved Canon 10D is dirty! Well not exactly dirty but filthy.

I couldn’t believe how filthy the dam thing was until I tried to shoot some isolated Still Life shots against a clean white background using a light tent. Then when I viewed the results, there they are. Not just one but several of the dam things. Big black blobs on the images, I was devastated to say the least.

Until recently I have always used my 40D for still life shots, I don’t know why, but I decided to use my 10D. I’ve only rarely used it in the studio before. I like the chunky feel of it, so it usually goes out with me. Saving the 40D for special occasions such as portraits and weddings, but this time I was shooting for Microstock so I thought the 10D would suffice.

So I’ve searched the web, as you do, and have taken on board what I think is best according to the information overload I have received. I have made a decision – I am going to clean the sensor?

I have ordered a kit from eBay and I wait for the dreaded day when it arrives and I have to do the dirty deed. Or is it clean deed, who cares I am dreading it. After all you hear so many horror stories don’t you?

Well all I can say is that I’ll keep you posted and we’ll see how it goes. But if the worst happens I’ll be back on eBay

Selling a well used Canon 10D for spares or repair!

The Continued Growth Microstock Photography In A Recession

I suppose the easiest and most graphic way to illustrate what’s happening in the World at the moment is to relate to a wildlife program. The large companies are the Wildebeest happily roaming the plains, grazing on the abundance of grass without a care in the world. Until a lion or other predator decides that he is hungry, he is the recession.

So which animal does the predator go for the fit fast thinking one or the slow lethargic unfit one at the back? Well that’s how a recession works. Although every company is at risk, the unhealthy ones are the most likely to fall or be attacked.

So what’s all this got to do with the Microstock Photography Market you’re wondering? Well in a buoyant financial climate the companies have money to spend and don’t look for cheaper alternatives. When it comes to marketing and advertising it’s a case of no expense spared.

But then along comes the recession a threat to all businesses. The unhealthy ones are attacked and fall by the wayside. They have no resources and run out of ideas when the recession bites. However, the healthy companies have the resources and on. They don’t stop marketing and advertising but market more aggressively and more cost effectively.

So where as before they would employ a photographer to shoot a simple illustrative photograph, they now look at stock images. Turning to the Microstock Photography Market they are able to satisfy there needs, yet saving thousands of dollars in costs. If the big companies do this think about all the small businesses who also have the ability to market both aggressively and cost effectively. They will be scouring the internet for images to compliment there marketing and advertising as you read this article.

The images they will come across will already be in the Microstock Libraries as they had already been marketing aggressively for the past few years and they are already established in the market place. So whilst many other markets are suffering from over indulgence in the past, the Microstock market is just starting to evolve. When companies and businesses have to market and advertise more aggressively yet cost-effectively and tighten their belts, the high quality yet low cost option of the Microstock Library is going to boom.

So it’s with this information in mind that I urge you to get your pictures uploaded to the libraries. 2009 may be a gigantic year for Microstock sales and you can be a part of it by uploading NOW! I know that some of you have been rejected and feeling downhearted. Don’t be! Don’t give up at the first hurdle. Take a look at your submission and weed out the weak shots and submit again and again if necessary!

Why not join me in meeting the growing demand for Photographic Images? Go to my website at www.gbphotostock.com for more info!

Photographic Business – Talent & Commitment?

I suppose it’s a dream of nearly all dedicated amateur photographers to start their own Photographic Business. To go out and take pictures for a living, earn your wages from doing something you love – taking pictures.

But what about the reality of a business where you earn money with your camera? You are maybe the greatest landscape photographer that the world has seen but how do you sell your work. Maybe portraits or glamour photography is your thing but again it’s getting yourself known. How about wedding photography, there’s a test for any man (or woman)? Do you really fancy being outside a church, whatever the weather every Saturday afternoon? The conditions don’t matter you have to deliver the goods. No reshoots or going back, take the shots that need to be of a very high standard in one take.

I suppose the burning question is do you really want to build a business around your hobby? That depends on you and you’re commitment to building a Photographic Business. Then you need to look at your photographic talents and ask yourself if the quality is good enough. It’s O.K. for your family and friends to say that your pictures are good enough to sell, but would anyone buy your images or pay you to take their picture.

One idea that could help you to decide, access the marketplace and judge the quality of your photographic images is to submit your digital images to a Microstock Photographic Library. Recently, due to the increased market and the number of contributors, the main libraries have got very particular in the images that they accept and I (and many other photographers) can tell you that if you can satisfy their needs then you are pretty dam good. It won’t cost you anything to contribute, but you will get an unbiased professional opinion of you digital images.

Another factor about Microstock is that you can upload your images as and when you want to. If you want to really go for it then you can. However, if you simply want to earn a bit of extra cash then you can. You are in control of what you shoot, when you shoot it and how much time and effort you want to dedicate to your business.

If you feel that would like to take the opportunity of trying out the Microstock Photographic market, which incidentally, is the biggest growth market for your photographs take a look at my website www.gbphotostock.com as it will give you an idea as to the subjects and quality of the images that are accepted. If you do choose to go ahead and build your own Photographic Business and earn from you hobby, I wish you all the success.

The Magic Of Microstock Photography - The Fastest Growing Market For Your Images

For nearly forty years I have been interested, or should I say obsessed with my camera and photography. For the past twenty five years I have been earning a small amount with my camera, shooting the odd wedding and portraits in my spare time. I have even sold my pictures to magazines. Now that was a confidence booster if you ever need one.

Then about three years ago I came across a website called iStockphoto. It was a Microstock Library. I thought then that it was called Microstock because of the poor payment for the use of your images. I didn’t take a lot of notice because there was no way that I was going to sell my photographs for twenty cents. I’d rather keep them on my hard drive, or so I thought.

A few months later I came across this site again. This time I was looking for inspiration in the form of picture ideas. What did surprise me was the number of photographers I thought were almost giving their images away. As I am a bit of a ‘Stat Master’ and like to keep a check on the figures etc, I bookmarked the site, going back and checking the stats everyday.

What really hit me was the number of images waiting to be reviewed. Then never went down, the total number of images that had been submitted increased each and everyday. I thought that it was time to have a closer look.

I browsed the photographs that were on file and thought to myself, I could take that or I have a better shot than that. Then it hit me.. In the past few months how many images could I have sold? If I had twenty files per week downloaded for the past six months at twenty cents each, I would have earned one hundred and four dollars. Not life changing but the money was for nothing. No fees, no costs and I already had some decent images sat gathering dust on my hard drive.

So I registered and submitted my images. As each image was accepted I couldn’t wait to upload more. It became my new obsession. Within a week my hard drive was empty of the images that I thought that were any good, or rather suitable to upload so I started to photograph anything and everything. If I went out for the day I would shoot images to upload. If I stayed in I would shoot images around the home to upload. I even took my camera to work with me.

So after three years of submitting to iStockphoto and over nine thousand downloads do you know which images sell month after month, year after year? Well it’s the photographs that I took in my own home. Forget the Yorkshire Dales or the Yorkshire Coastline, and as for my holiday in Florida, the photographs hardly sold. The images that I took in our home of the kitchen radiator, fire surround and our white w.c., outsell them all.

But that’s the magic of Microstock Photography. Almost any subject will sell if it’s different and the quality is O.K. The main subjects that sell will vary from one library to another so submit to them all. The secret is to make a start and submit some of you photographs providing they meet the specified guidelines. Then once you are accepted just keep submitting, shooting more images and keep submitting. You won’t generate a life changing income overnight. But over a period of time who knows?

To show you what I mean I’ve put the top six selling Microstock Photographic images on my website www.gbphotostock.com so you can take a look and see for yourself. And I guarantee that you’ll end up saying – I could do that or I have one of those.

The Tripod - Essential Equipment To Improve Your Photography

When I started out taking what I would call serious photographs I was told about a piece of equipment that would improve my picture taking enormously. This was back in the olden days of film, but it is still as true today as it was thirty odd years ago. This weapon in the photographer’s arsenal would not only improve the images that I produced but I would improve me as a photographer.

Today with the Microstock Photography market demanding the increased quality, this bit of equipment won’t guarantee success but it will cut down the rejections. So what is this amazing bit of technology and where can you get one? Well, the item that all photographers must have is a - Tripod. Yes that’s it, a tripod. Forget all the electronic gadgets and the digital meters etc. Buy yourself a tripod.

One of the hardest things to do when you are taking a picture is to hold the camera steady or rather rock solid. When I first started out on my journey into photography I was told to use a rule of thumb which went like this. The slowest shutter speed that you can use is equal to the lens size millimetres. So if I was to use a 50mm lens the slowest shutter speed that I should use is a 1/50th of a second or 1/60th on the shutter speed dial. If I used a 200mm lens I’d have to shoot at 1/250th of a second. Although this rule generally worked I still did get the odd image suffering with camera shake.

In the past days of film we could get away with a very small amount of camera shake. As lenses are far better nowadays and combined with the increased resolution and the digital technology available that enables the photographer to record every minute detail and at the same time highlighting the slightest flaw. You need to be shooting as close as possible to perfection therefore as digital photographers we need to take more care when shooting our pictures. By the way, I know that the 35mm film has effectively more pixels per square centimetre but digital images are recorded to increase the overall quality and clarity of the image. So whilst we have the equipment and technology to get better results all this is wasted by even the smallest amount of camera shake.

By fixing the camera to a tripod, and I mean a decent sturdy tripod, you will eliminate camera shake. Not only that but because you have taken the effort to use a tripod you tend to take more care and think about the subject. Landscapes for instance, when you are using a tripod you can evaluate the scene before pressing the shutter. This should improve your results as you can concentrate on the composition and forget about holding the camera.

Along with a tripod I like to use a shutter release. But if I’m shooting still-life I put the camera onto self-timer. This will ensure that there is absolutely no movement as the camera has ten seconds to stop moving after I have pressed the shutter.

I realise that you cannot use a tripod in all situations and for some subjects you need to move around freely. But on the occasions when you can use a tripod, use it! As I said earlier, if you want to submit your images to the Microstock Photography market the acceptable quality for digital photographic images has got even higher. The answer is to meet the demand with higher quality images and your trusty three legged friend will help you to do just that! After all, if a photograph is worth taking.. it’s worth taking right!

Mathew Street Festival, Liverpool

For the past seven years Every Bank Holiday in August has been spent at the Mathew Street Festival in Liverpool. Having living on the opposite side of the country, I must admit until 2002 I had never been to Liverpool.

The history and musical connections with the sixties groups such as The Beatles, Gerry and The Pacemakers, The Merseybeats, The Mojos, The Searchers, The Fourmost, Farons Flamingos, The Undertakers and The Dennisons but to name a few. Then there is the most famous club in the World, The Cavern, Mathew Street, Liverpool, where it all started back in the late fifties.

Although the original Cavern has was closed in 1973, the new Cavern is a replica of the original. I can remember walking down the stairs, the heat, sound and humidity increased with every step down. The atmosphere was electric. The bar was packed and trying to get served at the bar was an experience.

As my interest is photography I had to capture the moment. But as soon as I took my lens cap of the lens steamed up and I couldn’t see a thing. As the camera warmed up the lens cleared, I was able to take some descent shots of the acts belting out the sixties music.

As you climbed the stairs back out, all thirty two steps I believe, you could feel the air getting fresher and colder. Saying that, remember that this is a sunny day in August. It just appeared cold after an hour in The Cavern.

Then there are the Pubs. We like to visit as many of the back-street pubs as we can. Not just for the drink but maybe there’s a chance of a seat to take a well earned rest for ten minutes or so. The atmosphere in almost every pub is almost like a party.

Most of the weekend was spent at the various stages set around the city. It’s a party atmosphere that is hard to comprehend unless you have been there. On the Bank holiday Monday the streets are closed and the party really starts. By Monday evening you begin ache from the standing and walking. There’s very few places to sit, but there again you don’t want to - you want to see the acts.

Will we be going this year? Well now I’m getting on a bit now, in fact I’m the same age as the original Cavern. But will I be at this year’s Mathew Street Festival? – You bet I will!!

Setting Up Your Own Microstock Photography Web Site

Although Microstock Photography is without any doubt the biggest growth market for your photographic images many of you may be put off selling your photography through the libraries because of the small returns per sale.

The business model for the Microstock Photography market is ‘Royalty Free’ images at a very low price. You are looking at around a dollar per download from the library less the libraries fees of up to 80%. So this leaves you with as little as 20 cents per sale. It doesn’t sound good but when you consider multiple sales of all the photographic images you have submitted to various libraries, you can still create a regular income.

However, you have to get you image accepted by the libraries. With so many subscribing to the Microstock Market, the required quality of the images that are accepted has rocketed over the past year or so. So it’s getting even harder to get accepted with the Big Boy’s. What’s even worse is when you get a photograph reject for ‘No Commercial Value’. It’s happened to me on a number of occasions only to be a regular seller with another agency.

The obvious answer is to set up your own on-line photographic library where you can upload what you like, set the price and even enrol more photographers on your fully automated site. If you were to specialise in a niche you would be able to charge more per download. You can set up the website and sell prints, mugs and tee shirts etc. All automatically whilst you concentrate on your photography.

To bring you back down to earth with a bang I’ll let you into a little secret.. That’s the easy part of the business. The hard part of this and most other on-line businesses is the small overlooked fact of marketing. Getting your well stocked website into the marketplace takes time and money along with bags of commitment. Of course it can be done, as many photographers already have.

Apart from your photographic talent you need persistence. Persistence to see the whole project through, not just for the next few weeks but months or even years before you see the true value of your work. Of course, whilst you are building your photographic empire you can still submit to the Big Boys and continue giving away 80% of your income. But that 80% that they take is for administration, marketing and promotion.

If you do think that you could set up your own library selling your images whilst you keep 100% of the income then go for it! I can assure you that when you make your first sale through your website that was down to your marketing and promotion, you will feel totally fulfilled. You will need to be fully focussed on your goal throughout. You will need to invest in marketing your site. You may decide to enlist other photographers to submit their photographs to your site. But whatever you decide to do, Microstock Photography is a long term investment of your photography, time and money.

If you do decide to go for it I can recommend a website that will allow you to sell your images and automatically take the money, then allow the files to be downloaded, automatically sell other items such as prints, mouse-mats and tee shirts etc. Other photographers can upload their images for you to edit and accept to your site. You set their commission so you can make what money you want from the sales. This site is paid for on a monthly basis so there’s no massive financial outlay. To find out more about the website click here (At the moment they are offering the first month FREE!) or learn more about Microstock Photography – The biggest growing market for you photos - go to www.gbphotostock.com