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 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 ever find yourself in that situation, here is a bare-bones list of the 5 essential site types every independent photographer should have bookmarked and may be using regularly.
1. Stock Photo 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 this end, ensure you bookmark a good online stock photo price calculator. We all used to manage this with hard-copy books, but things move fast these days and new sorts of photography-uses emerge every week, so a live stock photo price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, many photographers are blown away when they first use these... That's because most photographers seriously under-price 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 News & Info
If you are keen -- and you don't mind sitting at a computer all day -- you can subscribe to many different newsletters and blogs to try and start up to date with goings on in the industry. Or you'll find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are quite a few extremely good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to test them out and follow a few till you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all of the important stuff in a nutshell, then include links for more in-depth info if you need it, so that you can stay up to date and get all of the information you need, without the information overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's common knowledge, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always hunting for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we've already functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... After we know it's out there we simply have to 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 Photographic Community
Professional photography is usually a solo career so the option to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of photographs on any particular day, but to be in a position to look at new pictures and discuss 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 web forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to interact with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you are not making good use of them, you're probably 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 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 ever find yourself in that situation, here is a bare-bones list of the 5 essential site types every independent photographer should have bookmarked and may be using regularly.
1. Stock Photo 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 this end, ensure you bookmark a good online stock photo price calculator. We all used to manage this with hard-copy books, but things move fast these days and new sorts of photography-uses emerge every week, so a live stock photo price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, many photographers are blown away when they first use these... That's because most photographers seriously under-price 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 News & Info
If you are keen -- and you don't mind sitting at a computer all day -- you can subscribe to many different newsletters and blogs to try and start up to date with goings on in the industry. Or you'll find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are quite a few extremely good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to test them out and follow a few till you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all of the important stuff in a nutshell, then include links for more in-depth info if you need it, so that you can stay up to date and get all of the information you need, without the information overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's common knowledge, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always hunting for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we've already functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... After we know it's out there we simply have to 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 Photographic Community
Professional photography is usually a solo career so the option to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of photographs on any particular day, but to be in a position to look at new pictures and discuss 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 web forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to interact with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you are not making good use of them, you're probably 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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