Often it seems the Web was made solely for photographers. On a social level it lets us share photographs with friends and families, we will get together and talk camera gear and photographic technique, and it helps a lot of us overcome the isolation that commonly goes side by side with a photography career.
On a pro level, it provides the resources to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the complete stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the wherewithal to monitor trends, monitor what our peers are doing and see the photography our clients are using.
And for all that, the unfortunate truth is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of an impediment than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and choosing what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a pain, and as a consequence they have an inclination to brush over the important stuff and get way-laid with the unimportant.
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 Photography Library
Few serious photographers wouldn't have a stock photo agency catalogue of some type, but lots of photographers still leave it as something to do later when they're better established, or have more photos. Nowadays that is not obligatory and the best way tosell images 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 it steady and find a stock library that fits your work and your style. Ensure it leaves you in charge of your work and does not expect you to hand over your rights, or sell your work too cheap, just to stay in the game.
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 have never looked at a Stock Photo Price Calculator before, I'd suggest that you write down a list of 5-10 of your most important markets, and then list a couple of 'average ' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it convenient and you have a ready-reference guide if a Customer ever puts you on the spot, but equally importantly, you will get a whole new insight to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business Stories & Information
If you are eager -- and you don't mind sitting at a P. C. all day -- you can subscribe to dozens of different newsletters and blogs to try to start recent with goings on in the photography industry. Or you can 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 Websites
It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply can't function properly without. The incontrovertible fact we have already worked quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... Once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound 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 Photographic 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 is my top 5 must-bookmark website types. The web offers us the chance to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways in which we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, leads to a boring photographer!
On a pro level, it provides the resources to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the complete stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the wherewithal to monitor trends, monitor what our peers are doing and see the photography our clients are using.
And for all that, the unfortunate truth is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of an impediment than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and choosing what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a pain, and as a consequence they have an inclination to brush over the important stuff and get way-laid with the unimportant.
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 Photography Library
Few serious photographers wouldn't have a stock photo agency catalogue of some type, but lots of photographers still leave it as something to do later when they're better established, or have more photos. Nowadays that is not obligatory and the best way tosell images 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 it steady and find a stock library that fits your work and your style. Ensure it leaves you in charge of your work and does not expect you to hand over your rights, or sell your work too cheap, just to stay in the game.
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 have never looked at a Stock Photo Price Calculator before, I'd suggest that you write down a list of 5-10 of your most important markets, and then list a couple of 'average ' usages for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each usage. Keep it convenient and you have a ready-reference guide if a Customer ever puts you on the spot, but equally importantly, you will get a whole new insight to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business Stories & Information
If you are eager -- and you don't mind sitting at a P. C. all day -- you can subscribe to dozens of different newsletters and blogs to try to start recent with goings on in the photography industry. Or you can 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 Websites
It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply can't function properly without. The incontrovertible fact we have already worked quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... Once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound 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 Photographic 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 is my top 5 must-bookmark website types. The web offers us the chance to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways in which we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, leads to a boring 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.
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