| Photography Article 41 |
Photography Article 55
Which Photographer Are You?
By:
Rohn Engh
To apply Plato's suggestion: If you know where you fit, in the
vast spectrum of
the world of photography, you'll have easy
sledding when it comes to marketing your pictures.
Why? First of all, there's no one quite like you. You have a
treasure of experiences: knowledge, know-how, and interests. Plus,
you are a talented photographer. When you know your own strengths
and select your markets accordingly, you'll find that photo buyers
like to work with photographers whose files of stock photos match
their layout needs. In other words, you speak their language.
Know thyself. You are an important resource to photo editors, if
you do your homework and find the photo buyers whose photo needs
match the photos you
like
to take.
'SERVICE' PHOTOGRAPHY:
Many newcomers to the field of stock photography initially set
their goals toward advertising, PR, industrial, fashion, and
assignment photography. These and similar "work for hire" areas
are what we call "service" photography. Clients pay for your
services - at your day rate - to shoot their visual needs.
There are drawbacks, however. Assignments don't come easy. Service
photography is a
fast-paced existence. ("We need the picture
yesterday.") Your pictures rarely belong to you. (Work-for-hire
means in most cases that the client owns the copyright.) Your
pictures are often "art-directed." ("We want a girl with blonde
hair and a 1960’s red dress.") The resulting photographs have
limited "lasting value." (Have you ever looked at a graphic-design
annual of the year's best photographs? --from 1995?) However, the
large fees you receive may make the service photography area
attractive to you.
STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY:
Stock photography, on the other hand, is at the other end of the
spectrum. Stock
photographers deal via the Internet, FedEx, and
the postal service, selling photos they like to take, on their own
timetable, which they direct to selected photo buyers who welcome fresh new talent to add to their select list of photo suppliers.
Know thyself. Are you more interested in selling yourself (service
photography) or your photos (stock photography)? Do you prefer the
glamour of a whirlwind lifestyle or the rewards of the quietude of
living at a self-directed pace?
Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of
“Sell & ReSell Your Photos” and “sell photos .com,” has helped
scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great
information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to
receive this free report: “8 Steps to Becoming a Published
Photographer,” visit
http://www.sellphotos.com
Article Source:
EzineArticles.com
|
Photo Articles
