Thinking of doing stock photography. I’m not expecting to make a lot of money or expect all my pictures to get approved, I just thought it’d be a fun way to make a few bucks.
First of all, I’m an amateur photographer. I have a good camera (canon powershot g7) and have complimented on my pictures, but as an amateur do I really have a chance at all at getting my pictures on a stock photo site?
Also, I got the gist of how stock photo sites work, but just so I’m clear… if they approve my picture, is the picture still “mine” or does that site now own it? On the website, would it be just a “generic picture” and nothing more, and I’d still be able to submit the picture to other sites, sell it, whatever else I want to do with it?
And some short questions…. Do I have to have a business license or patent of some sort, or can I just submit my stuff like that?
And do I have to claim it as an income for taxes, or is there a certain limit that I can make without having to claim it?
2007-03-11 14:10:35 · 3 answers · asked by SeattleGirl 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Visual Arts ➔ Photography
FAQ about Stock Photography: http://www.stockphoto.net/FAQ/index.php
Worldwide Stock Photo Agencies directory: http://www.stockphoto.net/libraries/
2007-03-12 07:59:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Anyone has a chance on stock photography. You don't need any license to submit a photo.
I played around stock photography with dreamstime and shutterstock. = wasting of time.
http://www.dreamstime.com/
http://submit.shutterstock.com/index.mhtml
Main idea is you keep the copyright. You give up only the use of your photo for commercial purpose.
You submit the photos and wait for approval. They looking for very high quality photos. A bit of noise or too common subject and your photos are rejected. After approval you wait to see if someone will buy/download your photo. If someone buy your photo you get your share.
Here comes the scam:
They pay very very low. Somewhere around 25 cents / photo. And they send the money only after you accumulate 100 USD.
So that means 400 photos sold. If you get a ration of approval of 1/3 (this is a very good one) and if you consider a ratio of sold/approved as 1/4 (a good one) all this makes to need at least 1600 very very good photos to be submitted. ... for each photo you will wait around 5-10 day for approval. Now think about I had photos rejected not because of the quality but because of "we have too many photos with this subject" = flowers, birds, city icons. And to be funny they don't tell you from the beginning which subjects are on that "black list".
So ... how long will take to do that 100 USD !?! ... years
IMHO: Give a try but don't waste too much of your time with stock photography.
2007-03-12 08:19:33 · answer #2 · answered by dand370 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Contact agencies and web sites and find out from each what the specific policy is - many have their own criteria for what they will accept - some will not accept unsolicited submissions.
In terms of photographic work, you might include postcard manufacturers on your list, and people who do travel books and calendars. At one point in my life I did very nicely selling my pictures to a company that did postcards and commercial slides for sale at tourist sites.
Who "owns" the picture, for how long and for what purposes will vary from agency to agency. As will credit - I used to sell a lot because I did not care if the picture was credited to me on the postcard or the slide packet. Some photographers do.
Any income you receive is definitely taxable - if you choose to report it. If you don't and get caught, you will face taxes, interest and penalties and one thing about the IRS - they have no sense of humor AT ALL.
Good luck
2007-03-11 21:17:03 · answer #3 · answered by Uncle John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋