How to Make Money in Stock and Microstock Photography

A career in photography can vary according to an individual's skill sets and commitment to the medium. For a semi-serious photographer like myself, stock photography '" specifically microstock '" allows me to keep my day job while I continue to explore and refine my technique. And it also helps when I can make a few extra dollars on the side.

What is Stock and Microstock Photography?

Stock photographs are images which are licensed for various uses. Whether for a print ad, brochure, or an annual report, stock photographs provide a vital visual resource for any number of business-related assignments.

Stock images are easily available through online websites that organize photographs into a searchable database and negotiate a licensing fee on the photographer's behalf. In exchange for the one-time license fee, the buyer is allowed to purchase the image royalty-free and use the image for various purposes (with limits as described in the licensing agreement). The value of the license is determined and based on how the image will be used, i.e., the medium (print or online), image resolution (size), the duration of use, print run, etc.

Microstock photography operates in much the same way as stock photography but the licensing fees are usually less expensive; as low as $1 or pennies per image, but is made up for in volume.

How Do I Get Started?

While serious amateurs can develop a decent stock portfolio, understand that this is a highly competitive field. The following pointers are just some basic highlights that a beginner should follow. As you hone your craft, you can build on these basic points to further advance your skills and technique:

Proper Exposure means Proper Equipment - Stock images should generally be brightly lit and free of too much shadows. If you have studio photography experience, using some key equipment like flood lights, reflectors, and lightboxes will help you shape and control exposure as well as properly frame your subject.

If you're a beginner and don't have all the fancy accessories, don't be discouraged. To start off, you should have three basic pieces of equipment: a solid digital camera (serious amateurs can start off with something like a Canon Powershot G11 or G12), a polarizing filter and a tripod.

Shooting outdoors is a great, inexpensive way to start your journey.

Sharp Focus - Images should be clear, crisp and free of any blur, noise, chromatic distortion, or over sharpening. Don't overprocess your images in Photoshop. Always view your image at 100% to make sure that this is the case.

Composition (use your rule of thirds) - Excellent composition is key to getting your photographs accepted. Avoid "snapshot" compositions as they do not make marketable stock images. Tighten your shots and try to isolate your subject on a white or uncluttered background.

Subject Matter - Images for your stock portfolio should be flawless in technique and possess high commercial value. You must constantly ask yourself who will want to buy this image and why? An image with high artistic merit may not always be suitable for commercial use, and therefore does not make a good stock image.

Isolated emotions, such as people who are smiling and laughing always sell well. But there's also a whole range of feelings that you can capture '" such as someone frowning, showing concern, or angry '" that are also viable images.

Also, there is a vastly growing need for models of different races and ages. Always consider photographing Asian, Latin, Middle Eastern or African American models. In addition, don't limit yourself to young subjects. Consider senior citizens and middle-aged models as well.

Most important of all, be persistent. For every image that gets accepted into my portfolio, I must have had 6 or 7 that were rejected or denied for various reasons. Don't get discouraged; this is what helps you become better.

To help you get started, below are some examples of reputable microstock websites for beginners who want to break into the business. Good Luck!

Bigstock Photo

Great site for beginners who are looking to break in. There is a review process where you have to submit some samples, but once you're accepted, they provide amazing feedback on your submissions. They also have a great discussion forum where you can share ideas and gain invaluable tips from other fellow photographers.

Shutterstock

Another great start up site. Similar to Bigstock, there is a review process at sign up and they tend to be more selective about submissions. Still, I found this site to be more rewarding in terms of sales. Shutterstock also has a great newsletter to which you should subscribe for networking and tips.

DepositPhotos

Just as the previous two, a review process is also standard for Depositphotos. The site has a great interface for photographers to check their stats, how many times their image was viewed, etc. They have a fairly strict review process, but they provide solid feedback and a thorough tutorial for photo submission guidelines.

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Sources: wikipedia.org