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 case, here is a bare-bones list of the 5 essential website types every independent photographer should have bookmarked and will be using constantly.
1. Stock Photo 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 some time and find a photo stock library that is a good fit for your work and your style. Confirm it leaves you in charge of your work and does not need you to give up your rights, or give your work away, solely to access their services.
2. 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 types of photo-uses emerge every week, so a live stock photo price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most people are blown away when they first use these... Simply because most photographers seriously under-value 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 News & 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 really good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to look them over 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 sites will give you all the crucial information in summary then include links for more information if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you require without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Sites
It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply can't function properly without. The incontrovertible fact we have already worked quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... Once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound familiar?
The flip side is, quite frequently we have got equally as much gear we should actually get rid of... And once again, if the Net was made for us then I am sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they've a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you've a cupboard of old camera gear that's not been utilized in years get it out and sell it, 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 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 case, here is a bare-bones list of the 5 essential website types every independent photographer should have bookmarked and will be using constantly.
1. Stock Photo 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 some time and find a photo stock library that is a good fit for your work and your style. Confirm it leaves you in charge of your work and does not need you to give up your rights, or give your work away, solely to access their services.
2. 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 types of photo-uses emerge every week, so a live stock photo price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most people are blown away when they first use these... Simply because most photographers seriously under-value 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 News & 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 really good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to look them over 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 sites will give you all the crucial information in summary then include links for more information if you want it, so you can stay current and get all the info you require without the info overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Sites
It's no secret, photographers are gadget-junkies! We're always searching for that next piece of must-have camera equipment that we simply can't function properly without. The incontrovertible fact we have already worked quite alright for years without it doesn't matter... Once we know it's out there we have to have it. Sound familiar?
The flip side is, quite frequently we have got equally as much gear we should actually get rid of... And once again, if the Net was made for us then I am sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they've a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you've a cupboard of old camera gear that's not been utilized in years get it out and sell it, 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 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 certain to visit their Sell Stock Photos blog & resources page.
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