Our most successful members often say that they take their camera everywhere they go.
It’s a good idea. After all, sometimes it’s the quick, spur-of-the moment photo that ends up selling.
So, your challenge for the weekend is to take your camera everywhere. Get in the habit of having it with you, and see what photo opportunities you find.
Jill and John were both with us in Tanzania last year. The both sell their photos as stock and Jill also sells them to magazines. It’s fun watching their progress…
>>>>Photo Success Case Study #9: Jill Friedman
Professional background: Ship’s captain
Main photo market: Stock photography
Profile here: https://www.bigstockphoto.com/search/?contributor=JP+Shorebaby
What’s been the most rewarding thing about adding photography to your repertoire?
The most rewarding thing is the feeling that I get when I discover one of my photos somewhere out in the world. I saw one in a magazine recently and it really made my day. It’s nice to know that others appreciate my work, they want to share it, and they even want to pay for the privilege.
What’s the most recent photo you’ve sold?
The most recent photo I’ve sold was on Bigstock. I took it with my little Olympus Tough (waterproof) camera while I was out sailing on one of last year’s Icicle Races in Galveston Bay. It’s a vertical shot, looking forward through our blue-trimmed sails to a couple of other boats in front of us.
What would you tell someone who is hesitant to give photography a try?
If you’re going for stock, just do it! Really. I was told my camera wasn’t good enough for stock, but most of the photos I’ve had accepted so far have been taken with my little point-and-shoot. I eventually did get a better camera, but I don’t always have that one with me. I almost always have my little one in my pocket.
And keep trying. Take note of what they tell you when they reject you, learn from that, and try again. Try different agencies: Bigstock, Dreamstime, Canstock, Fotolia, etc. They all have slightly different criteria. One might accept one photo and another will reject it. It’s a numbers game, so don’t give up. Just do what you can, when you can, and you’ll eventually see results.
>>>>Photo Success Case Study #10: John Keselyak
Professional background: Dental industry, industrial design
Main photo market: Stock photography
What’s been the most rewarding thing about adding photography to your repertoire?
Photographs are like bookmarks for travelers. When looking at one of your images, it takes you back to a specific point in time. You remember the smells, people, time of the year, culture, and how all these affected you. A single image contains more information than you could possibly write in the same flash of time.
What’s the most recent photo you’ve sold?
This photograph recently sold on Shutterstock; it was taken in Alaska. I can’t wait to go back again.
What would you tell someone who is hesitant to give photography a try?
The main reason people don’t take more photographs is the fear that no one will like them. If you want to sell your images to publications and/or stock agencies, then this is valid fear but one that can be overcome with practice and some reading.
You don’t need expensive equipment or software. Concentrate on your images being in focus, not over- or under-exposed. And don’t put your main subject in the center of the image. With older film cameras, it was expensive (film and developing) to make mistakes, but with new digital cameras (even inexpensive point-and-shoot models), photos only take up memory that can be erased and reused. So just have fun and take photos.