Sometimes it looks the Net was made just for photographers. On a social level it lets us share pictures with friends and families, we are able to get together and talk camera gear and photographic method, and it helps a lot of us overcome the isolation that often goes hand in hand with a photography career.
On a professional level, it provides the means to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the whole stock photography sales process without leaving our desk. It also offers the resources to monitor trends, see what our peers are doing and see what our customers are purchasing.
And for all that, the sad fact is, for many photographers, the pure volume of info and options becomes more of an obstruction than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and deciding what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a bore, and as a result they tend to brush over the significant stuff and get way-laid with the trivial.
Well if you find yourself in that scenario, here's a bare-bones list of the 5 necessary internet site types each freelance photographer should have bookmarked and should be using continually.
1. Stock Image Library
Few professional photographers wouldn't have a photo agency catalog of some kind, but lots of photographers still leave it as something to do later when they're better established, or have more pictures. Nowadays that's not necessary and the easiest way tosell photos online is to begin early and add to your stock catalogue regularly over a period of time.
Stock photography is a long-term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't want you to surrender your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, simply to be involved.
2. Stock Photo Price Calculator
To that end, make sure you bookmark a good online stock photography price calculator. We all used to handle this with hard-copy books, but things move fast nowadays and new kinds of usage appear each week, so a live stock photography price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most photographers are blown away when they first use these... Just because most photographers seriously undervalue their work.
If you've never looked at a Stock Photograph Price Calculator before, I'd recommend you make a list of 5-10 of your principal markets, and then list two 'average ' uses for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each use. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever places you on the spot, but just as importantly, you'll get a completely new understanding to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business Reports & Info
If you're ardent -- and you do not mind sitting at a PC all day -- you can subscribe to lots of different newsletters and services to attempt to start current with goings on in the business. Or you'll be able to find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are a few really good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to look them over and follow a couple until you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location and so on. The best sites will give you all the crucial information in summary then include links for more information if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you require without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Sites
It's widely known, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always looking for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we have functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... When we know it's out there we must have it. Sound all to familiar?
The flip side is, quite often we have got just as much gear we should really get rid of... once again, if the internet was made for us then I am sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they've got a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you've got a cupboard of old camera equipment that's not been used in years get it out and put it up for auction, while it still has some value!
5. Online Photographer Community
Freelance photography is often a solo career so the ability to engage with your peers online shouldn't be taken lightly. We all see tons of images on any specific day, but to be able to look at new images and talk about them with other photographers is priceless. Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at Camera Clubs or waiting around at the Pro-Lab, but the online forums and portal sites now give working photographers to ability to have interaction with their peers, share ideas and information and really grow as artists. And if you aren't making efficient use of them, you are possibly stagnating!
Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark internet site types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways that we never could before, so be sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, makes for a dull photographer!
On a professional level, it provides the means to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the whole stock photography sales process without leaving our desk. It also offers the resources to monitor trends, see what our peers are doing and see what our customers are purchasing.
And for all that, the sad fact is, for many photographers, the pure volume of info and options becomes more of an obstruction than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and deciding what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a bore, and as a result they tend to brush over the significant stuff and get way-laid with the trivial.
Well if you find yourself in that scenario, here's a bare-bones list of the 5 necessary internet site types each freelance photographer should have bookmarked and should be using continually.
1. Stock Image Library
Few professional photographers wouldn't have a photo agency catalog of some kind, but lots of photographers still leave it as something to do later when they're better established, or have more pictures. Nowadays that's not necessary and the easiest way tosell photos online is to begin early and add to your stock catalogue regularly over a period of time.
Stock photography is a long-term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't want you to surrender your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, simply to be involved.
2. Stock Photo Price Calculator
To that end, make sure you bookmark a good online stock photography price calculator. We all used to handle this with hard-copy books, but things move fast nowadays and new kinds of usage appear each week, so a live stock photography price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most photographers are blown away when they first use these... Just because most photographers seriously undervalue their work.
If you've never looked at a Stock Photograph Price Calculator before, I'd recommend you make a list of 5-10 of your principal markets, and then list two 'average ' uses for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each use. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever places you on the spot, but just as importantly, you'll get a completely new understanding to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business Reports & Info
If you're ardent -- and you do not mind sitting at a PC all day -- you can subscribe to lots of different newsletters and services to attempt to start current with goings on in the business. Or you'll be able to find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are a few really good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to look them over and follow a couple until you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location and so on. The best sites will give you all the crucial information in summary then include links for more information if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you require without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Sites
It's widely known, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always looking for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we have functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... When we know it's out there we must have it. Sound all to familiar?
The flip side is, quite often we have got just as much gear we should really get rid of... once again, if the internet was made for us then I am sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they've got a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you've got a cupboard of old camera equipment that's not been used in years get it out and put it up for auction, while it still has some value!
5. Online Photographer Community
Freelance photography is often a solo career so the ability to engage with your peers online shouldn't be taken lightly. We all see tons of images on any specific day, but to be able to look at new images and talk about them with other photographers is priceless. Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at Camera Clubs or waiting around at the Pro-Lab, but the online forums and portal sites now give working photographers to ability to have interaction with their peers, share ideas and information and really grow as artists. And if you aren't making efficient use of them, you are possibly stagnating!
Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark internet site types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways that we never could before, so be sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, makes for a dull photographer!
About the Author:
Matt Brading is a stock photographer & writer with GlobalEye Digital Stock Photography. For other photography business articles be sure to visit their Sell Stock Photos blog & resources page.
No comments:
Post a Comment