Why stock photography??

[tegan]

I really don't understand why any photographer would want to sell their work to stock agencies.

I did just the opposite. I bought the rights to half a million stock shots about 12 years ago. I used them in digital presentations along with text and graphics, in presentation titles, colour notices of community events, posters, small business advertising, etc. and made much more than I paid for them.
The advantage in using stock photos for some of this work was that because I did not have to set up my own photos I could complete the projects extremely fast and at a lower cost factor to the customer than any of my competition, and at a higher profit for me.

The reverse approach to stock photography should be considered.

Tegan

[Marko]

Hi Tegan,

I think you are missing the point for the majority of people.
Whatever you used the stock photography for...most people simply don't need it for their purposes. Why would a photographer need to do what you did unless he/she was in an academic field, or regularly made business presentations? I would suggest that the majority of photographers are coming from a totally different place.

ALL most photographers want to do is sell their pictures and MANY people including photographers are terrible marketers. Marketing takes time, effort and skill. Photography is a completely different type of skill, and many photographers unfortunately don't spend enough time marketing.

Stock photography makes it easy for many people. True enough you're basically getting raped on the prices they offer. But, if the shots are great, many stock photographers make some pretty good coin with no effort. They take the shots and upload them, that's it.

On another level, many amateur and even pro photographers have more than 1 job and pursue photography in their leisure hours. Again the time investment in self-marketing is WAY LESS than sending photos to a stock agency and making some extra money.

Just for the record - I personally have never sent anything to a stock agency but I completely understand why the market exists and why photographers would choose to use their services. If anyone wants a bit more info on the topic we did do a podcast on it with a stock photographer (actually a scientist that does photography for leisure) here: http://photography.ca/blog/?p=30

Hope that explanation gives some insight,

Marko

[CTMoore]

I flirted briefly with a sales position at a firm that did both online order fulfillment and stock photography, and I was shocked by the hostility that I encountered when pitching photographers. Many of them wouldn't even hear me out simply because the company did stock, and they felt that online stock sites had killed their livelihood.

I've also tried supplying my own stock photography from time to time, and it was a disaster every time. I'm surprised at just how much I underestimated the skill that goes into a good stock photo.

[miguelcandela]

In a way I agree with you that stock photography is a rip off. In my case, I dont want to sell a photograph for 50 cent or 1 dollar. They are just using you...and I prefer not to sell anything than selling it badly. If you let them think that they can use you as they want (and making money), then there is not satisfaction on taking picture and be proud of your work.

If you want to be famouse, then you have to work like crazy. Not just for being a stock photography will change your status career. So I dont recommend it. It might be better you go to a photography agency.