Selling photos to stock agencies

[Mr. S]

I recently thought about selling photos to fund my chronic GAS and came across this list. I think most pages listed there look good but is there anything else I can do to make the most (money-wise) of my photos?

I dislike charging people for shooting at their events (that's not good, I know) but I might have to consider starting doing that as well...I can't justify running around with gear worth a small car and not charging a dime anymore. :/

 

[Danny]

What is it about charging people for shooting their events you don't like?

 

[Mr. S]

What is it about charging people for shooting their events you don't like?

I just don't like asking charging people for something. I wouldn't make a good cashier.

I hate asking for money, no matter if I work or forgot my wallet at home. I.e. I'd rather skip lunch than having a colleague pay for me that day, even if it's being offered without asking.

 

[Danny]

That mindset is very polite, but it ain't gonna pay the bills! 'If you're good at something, never do it for free'. Please excuse the fact I'm quoting a fictional character.

The only photography I've done has either been as part of my Advertising/Marketing courses or for recreation so I am by no means an expert on the subject, but after a brief delve around:

'I have a hard time asking to be paid'

Aaaaand a few choice bits. I tried to pick the most key statements from both sides of the argument for/against asking for payment but everyone seems pretty 'J'aime charging'.

Tell the person asking you to do 6 hours of shooting at no charge that you'd like them to do 6 hours of work for you at no charge.

You'll still get projects - trust me.

I have never charged for a portrait session. I have only done it for friends and family and for class and didn't charge, which was a mistake because of how much I put into it.

If someone wants your time but doesn't want to compensate you, then you have to revisit why you're doing it. Sure it feels good to be needed and desired, but it also feels good to be able to provide for yourself at the same time. If you value yourself, it shows. People will respect you when you are clear about your limits. More importantly, you will respect yourself. When you are scared to state your price, and scared thinking about the possible rejection, try to keep in mind how good it will feel when someone says yes.

Look at your competition and decide where you fall on the quality scale, or whose work is comparable in quality. Look at their prices. That might help you feel better about the accuracy of your price point when you talk to clients. Lots of people have a hard time asking for what they are worth. It's a hurdle a lot of people have to overcome. Maybe try to see this as another part of learning your profession.

What's the worst that can happen when someone turns down your fee? Nothing. It wasn't like you were going to get paid. Would you work for a grocery store for free if they turned down your job application?

...you have to always realize that it costs you money to work. You have camera gear, computers and so much more that you need to pay for and upgrade and/or replace at some point. Next, consider what you could be doing with the time that you're giving away.

The day my business turned around for me was the day that I realized that I was entitled to live as well as my clients.

If you can't place a dollar value on your time and work then you clearly don't value it. And if that's the case then it's not surprising that other people don't value it either.

Tom - Do NOT volunteer to shoot a wedding for free, even for a close friend. Weddings take a huge amount of work, before, during, and after, and you will likely be resentful if you aren't compensated for your time.

My first wedding shoot was for a good friend and former boss. I charged probably a quarter of what the job was worth, but I did charge, and the couple was happy to pay it. I did throw in a free engagement shoot however.

.it doesn't really matter how large your portfolio is. What matters is.....How good are the Images. THAT will determine how much you should charge.....so what you really need is some expert opinions on your work.....not just a blind "how much"?

In the past, (and even still in some circumstances), I have found that quoting an appropriate hourly price, might seem difficult or uncomfortable when the person you are dealing directly with is an employee of a company or institution and paid only a fraction of that rate. You or they might be comparing your fee to what an employee's hourly pay rate or salary is. This can also be true, but less pointed, in a day rate or job rate quote.
In this situation I find it helpful to explain to them that they aren't hiring a guy with a camera to take photos; instead they are hiring, (or contracting), a business to perform a service. Comparing the two situations is an apples to oranges situation.
Your cost of doing business must be taken into account as well as your "salary". In addition to the capital investment of equipment, there are the costs involved with maintaining your office or studio, and other business expenses such as insurance, etc. You must also charge for all the non billable time spent; both on their project directly, (client contact, etc. etc.), and the time spent on your business as a whole, (book keeping, marketing, etc. etc.), which is necessary in order for your business to exist in order to perform services to your clients.

Edit: What I can do however, is offer advice from a business and marketing-oriented point of view. If you have difficulty asking for payment (as a lot of people do, often allowing businesses to run rings around them) then consider revising your plan of how you ask. There comes a point where to be compensated for the work, you may need to be straightforward with asking, if they haven't mentioned if or offered at that point.
The most common issue I'd imagine (and it sounds like you may have this) is that it can sound a bit cheeky, almost like, perhaps subconsciously, you're asking for money for nothing, which isn't the case at all. What I would suggest in this instance is more for your own benefit, to soften 'the blow' while asking. Maybe approach your point of contact in a manner such as 'I set a flat rate of Xp/hr, but we're open to negotiation'. It doesn't need to be a huge space for negotiation, and you may wish to offset it by offering slightly more than you might initially have planned, but it shows a willingness to compromise. There's also the psychological price involved. People put their own value onto things, and will make their own decision about the service/price relationship. That's something that can't be avoided. Showing willingness to compromise demonstrates a personal touch, and may bump up their perception of quality-of-service. I think the problem is that you may feel a need to justify yourself more. If you weren't any good or not reputable, it's unlikely people would be going to you approaching you or conversing with your business (let's call it what it is) to begin with.

 

[Mr. S]

Yeah, I know all that - that was my field of study. Marketing, accounting and all that stuff.

For now I'm mostly looking to sell photos to stock agencies or over the internet, step by step.

 

[35mm]

I say go for it. But bear in mind that:

- The stock agencies are very demanding. Right at the beginning, when applying for the bigger/best ones, don't be surprised if they turn out your photos half a dozen times. And don't even think about sending them a file with any noise or even slightly out-of-focus. They have to be perfect and they have to have commercial use (don't forget that!).

- Preparing the photos and having them on various stock agencies is hard work; don't be fooled to think otherwise. Naming them, tagging them, putting them into categories, etc., can be a real pain. It's very time consuming if you want to do it right;

- Don't expect to have lots of money coming in just as you upload. It takes a long, long time before you can even receive your first payment (which has to be over $50 or even $100 in some companies).


I don't want to discourage you, just give you a heads-up that you'll have to invest much more time than you think in something like this.

And yes, I have some photos on stock agencies, for about a year, a year and a half. I have around $100 in sales in total (and also about 100 photos sold), but it's all scattered around 7 or 8 agencies, so I've never received a dime. Having said that, I've spent too little time around this business. I really wish I had more free time for it, though.

 

[Mr. S]

Will do, thanks.