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 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 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 Image 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 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 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 Reports & Info
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 truly good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to check them out 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 ones will give you all the vital news in brief, then include links for full info if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you want, without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Internet Sites
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 Photography Community
Pro photography is generally a solo career so the facility to have interaction with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see dozens of pictures on any given day, but to be in a position to look at new photographs 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 internet forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to engage with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you're not making excellent use of them, you're quite possibly stagnating!
Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark internet site types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways that we never could before, so be sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, makes for a dull 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 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 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 Image 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 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 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 Reports & Info
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 truly good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to check them out 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 ones will give you all the vital news in brief, then include links for full info if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you want, without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Internet Sites
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 Photography Community
Pro photography is generally a solo career so the facility to have interaction with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see dozens of pictures on any given day, but to be in a position to look at new photographs 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 internet forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to engage with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you're not making excellent use of them, you're quite possibly stagnating!
Well that's my top 5 must-bookmark internet site types. The internet offers us the opportunity to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways that we never could before, so be sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, makes for a dull photographer!
About the Author:
Matt Brading is a stock photographer & writer with GlobalEye Digital Stock Photography. For other photography business articles be certain to visit their Sell Stock Photos blog & resources page.
|
0 nhận xét: