Yep! You read it right. I've faced my fears, pushed aside the demons and given in to the process. I am going to take a long form journey into the world of what is known as "Stock Photography." It's not a new or earth shattering idea. In fact, a great excuse is to say, "it's too late." A correct assumption is that it is not 2001 anymore and an online endeavor of any sort is going to take a good plan, funding, skills, persistence and patience. It is, however, something a photographer can do to create an income stream if they so desire.
I'm not starting at a complete Zero -0- in any way. Im confident in my photography skills and have been capturing images since the days of film. Over the past few years I have also done some fits and starts with stock photography. but I have not been consistent with the effort. I've got a full time job. It's not in photography. But choosing stock photography to use for social media, blogging and web site design does come into play quite often. Finding music for videos is a weekly adventure. I see what is going on. I'd like to think I know what is missing. I run an online marketing firm. So, I spin a lot of plates. I also have two monthly contract photography customers. Recently I had a little epiphany that drove me to start my Steemit mission here, documenting what it takes to have a stock photography business. Those two monthly clients take up a pretty good chunk of my "free time." But wait! They also force me to create some pretty deep libraries of stock photography for their vertical in the commercial world. Even though I've licensed the photos to them they are still my photos! Winning!
With that in mind, today, I said to myself that I either did this or I quit fooling around with yet another platform. I'm a newbie. I don't even own any tokens, vouchers or crypto. I don't know an SP from my SBD. Yet. But my fairly deep understanding of the internet totally aligns with the concept of blockchain technology and the frontiers and opportunities it provides in what certainly seems like a diminishing world for the everyday person, otherwise.
So, with all that said, here is the plan; If you are into stock photography or want to learn about it that is what I am going to devote my time to here going forward. My goal is to publish no fewer than one post a week that digs into the various aspects of having a stock photography business. Im being a little selfish. If I stick to the plan and create a primer like this, some time in the future I should be able to report to you that it worked. Right?
Lets not waste any time! The first ingredient to a stock photography business is the ownership of photos you have taken. I've met people who claim to have a stock photography business and the only equipment they have is their phone! While I could not get substantiation, I have heard the story on more than one occasion. I'm not doing it with my phone. Most of my phone pics stay on the phone for passing around at the holidays! I happen to use Canon and Olympus cameras currently. I've been with Canon since the D was put into DSLR. The Olympus is a nifty MFT kit (micro four thirds) mini-sized camera and lenses with high quality technology.
Step two? Take pics! You laugh! But guess what? If you have a job, or kids, or both and more, it is hard to get time to take photos. If you do have a family you can start there. After all, its pretty easy to get a model release from your four-year-old son and get him that baseball uniform for time in the park. You are off and running! There are two categories of stock photography that are just hot. On fire as they say. Lifestyle and Business. Business is a no-brainer. Millions of businesses need imagery to create and reflect their brand. But guess what? Lifestyle is everything else! Kids, Dogs. Kids and Dogs. Couples. Young Families. Maybe your household also has a grandmother in it. Oh this is getting good! Do you see what I mean? Devote at least 30 minutes a week just to brainstorm and create goals for the next week. No matter what your circumstance is you can create stock photography with just what you have! Quirky. Serious. Playful. Dramatic. Including people in your stock photography adds a new dimension. Even if you copy the poses you see in stock photography catalogs when trying to figure out what the heck to do. I know it sounds crazy but there are several dozen people right this moment looking for a pic of a husband, wife and small child doing the dishes LOL!!! I think you get my point. Your natural surroundings and what you do every day put you in contact with potential stock photography sessions. Take notes. Make plans. Keep in mind the best time to take dramatic outdoor photography instead of ho-hum is early morning (dawn to 8ish) and the hours surrounding sundown.
We will always be brainstorming about photo ideas over the course of my time with this. But right off the bat, you need to be thinking a little differently from here on out. Jot down session ideas where you could create a complete series of photos that work together or alone. Then every week, take an idea and plan it out; the when, where, why, who, and what of it. Giving the dog a bath. Painting an old chair. Writing down a list. These are all visuals people use in their online communications and why they turn to stock photography to fulfill the need.
My only multi-selling piece of stock work, thus far, is an anonymous office building square, at night. It is a looping video time-lapse of lights going on and off in the office buildings. I should shoot more of this and I will. If I stay out an extra hour after sunset I can get it done. Put it on the list!
I tried to embed the video here with code to no avail !@#$% Here is a link to that piece: https://www.gallereplay.com/mItnildqkf/
In the next installment of my story, we'll begin to look at the myriad of places you can submit your photos to. I have done this in a few places and we can use them as examples. Lets also talk a little bit about how you store and process your photos. They are both giant subjects to understand. But I feel its important to lay some foundation early on in this adventure. Some of the things that go on here at the processing level are (not, can be) extremely important to the automated world of stock photography. I will be able to give you some real world blunders already done by, moi, to miss!
I'm also looking for comments, suggestions and criticism with regards to all of this at any time. I'm hoping it won't be just me here :-)
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http://www.christuckerphotography.com
