Often it appears the Internet was made solely for photographers. On a social level it lets us share photos with friends and families, we can get together and talk camera gear and photographic technique, and it helps a lot of us overcome the isolation that frequently goes hand-in-hand with a photography career.
On a pro level, it provides the wherewithal to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the entire stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the means to monitor trends, watch what our peers are doing and see the images our buyers are buying.
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 Photo Library
Few freelance photographers would not have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they are more established, or have more photographs. These days that's just not mandatory and the simplest way tosell photographs online is to start early and add to your stock catalog consistently over 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 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've never looked at a Stock Photograph Price Calculator before, I'd recommend you make a list of 5-10 of your principal markets, and then list two 'average ' uses for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each use. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever places you on the spot, but just as importantly, you'll get a completely new understanding 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 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 Websites
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
Professional photography is usually a solo career so the option to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of photographs on any particular day, but to be in a position to look at new pictures 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 web forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to interact with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you are not making good use of them, you're probably stagnating!
Well that is my top 5 must-bookmark site types. The Net 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 pro level, it provides the wherewithal to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the entire stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the means to monitor trends, watch what our peers are doing and see the images our buyers are buying.
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 Photo Library
Few freelance photographers would not have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they are more established, or have more photographs. These days that's just not mandatory and the simplest way tosell photographs online is to start early and add to your stock catalog consistently over 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 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've never looked at a Stock Photograph Price Calculator before, I'd recommend you make a list of 5-10 of your principal markets, and then list two 'average ' uses for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each use. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever places you on the spot, but just as importantly, you'll get a completely new understanding 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 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 Websites
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
Professional photography is usually a solo career so the option to interact with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see hundreds of photographs on any particular day, but to be in a position to look at new pictures 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 web forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to interact with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you are not making good use of them, you're probably stagnating!
Well that is my top 5 must-bookmark site types. The Net 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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