{Stock Photography
…the supply of photographs licensed for specific uses. It is used … instead of hiring a photographer. … Often, they are produced in studios using a wide variety of models posing as professionals, stereotypes, expressing stereotypical emotions and [gestures] or involving pets. (www.wikipedia.com)
Definition
Images are submitted to an agency that acts as a go-between (between photographer and purchaser)
Some agencies buy the copyrights from the photographer; some agencies take a percentage of the sale or license; and some (few) agencies are non-profit
How It Works
Image pricing depends on the size of audience, the length of time and region the image will be used, the exclusivity of the use, and the photographer’s reputation
Typical earnings for photographers: $1-200 per image licensed
The Money
Getty Images Corbis ShutterStock iStockPhoto Dreamstime Stockxpert Fotolia MorgueFile
Agencies: A Sampling
Check out available images, and add types of images that are not represented
Look at sites’ “wish lists” as well as their guidelines
Start out with a free sharing site, like MorgueFile (www.morguefile.com)
Get feedback on your images by seeing how many people download them (for free)
Don’t expect to make money fast—you will have to fund your own projects for awhile
How to Get Started
Guidelines on iStockphoto
You are your own boss Freedom to take any photos, any time,
any where, any style Can easily be done “on the side” or as a
hobby
The Benefits
Income fluctuates and is unpredictable You need a strong grasp on copyright
and licensing issues
The Downside
(Royalty) Free: a “flat fee” to use the image multiple times for multiple purposes (with limits)
No time limit on when the buyer can use an image
The photographer retains exclusive rights to the image
Copyright Terms: Royalty Free
License value is determined by the use of the image
The terms of the license are clearly defined and negotiated
Provides assurance that an image will not be used by another buyer in a conflicting manner
Editorial is a form of rights-managed license when there are no model releases for the subjects; since there are no releases, the images can only be used for noncontroversial news or educational purposes
Copyright Terms: Rights Managed
As far as photography is concerned, “public domain” is the category for images in which the photographer has clearly forfeited intellectual property rights
These images can be used by anyone, anytime, in any way
Copyright Terms: Public Domain
Majority of images that sell contain people
You must have model releases for any identifiable people in your images
Do not include images of corporate logos or trademarks, and avoid recognizable products
Tag your photos carefully Include a short description, including the
name of the location if it’s significant
Tips
Today: Take photos to represent “school” (as well as anything else you wish).
Tomorrow: Create an account on www.morguefile.com or another agency site of your choosing. Upload at least two images from yesterday (you can Photoshop them first). Copy the link to your images on our wiki’s Stock Photos page (http://semiphoto.wikispaces.com/Stock+Photos).
Assignment
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