Stock photography involves photographers submitting photos to agencies that license the photos for businesses and other clients to use. Agencies make money by charging clients licensing fees to use the photos and photographers typically earn $1-200 per photo licensed. Popular stock photo agencies include Getty Images, Corbis, and ShutterStock. To get started, photographers can upload photos to free sharing sites like MorgueFile to build their portfolio and get feedback before submitting to paid agencies. Photographers need to understand copyright and licensing issues to succeed in stock photography.

1. {Stock Photography

2.  …the supply of photographs
licensed for specific uses. It is used
… instead of hiring a photographer.
… Often, they are produced in
studios using a wide variety of
models posing as professionals,
stereotypes, expressing
stereotypical emotions and
[gestures] or involving pets.
(www.wikipedia.com)
Definition

3.  Images are submitted to an agency that acts as
a go-between (between photographer and
purchaser)
 Some agencies buy the copyrights from the
photographer; some agencies take a percentage
of the sale or license; and some (few) agencies
are non-profit
How It Works

4.  Image pricing depends on the size of audience,
the length of time and region the image will be
used, the exclusivity of the use, and the
photographer’s reputation
 Typical earnings for photographers: $1-200 per
image licensed
The Money

5.  Getty Images
 Corbis
 ShutterStock
 iStockPhoto
 Dreamstime
 Stockxpert
 Fotolia
 MorgueFile
Agencies: A Sampling

6.  Check out available images, and add types of
images that are not represented
 Look at sites’ “wish lists” as well as their
guidelines
 Start out with a free sharing site, like
MorgueFile (www.morguefile.com)
 Get feedback on your images by seeing how
many people download them (for free)
 Don’t expect to make money fast—you will
have to fund your own projects for awhile
How to Get Started

7.  Guidelines on iStockphoto

8.  You are your own boss
 Freedom to take any photos, any time, any
where, any style
 Can easily be done “on the side” or as a hobby
The Benefits

9.  Income fluctuates and is unpredictable
 You need a strong grasp on copyright and
licensing issues
The Downside

10.  (Royalty) Free: a “flat fee” to use the image
multiple times for multiple purposes (with
limits)
 No time limit on when the buyer can use an
image
 The photographer retains exclusive rights to
the image
Copyright Terms: Royalty Free

11.  License value is determined by the use of the image
 The terms of the license are clearly defined and
negotiated
 Provides assurance that an image will not be used
by another buyer in a conflicting manner
 Editorial is a form of rights-managed license when
there are no model releases for the subjects; since
there are no releases, the images can only be used
for noncontroversial news or educational purposes
Copyright Terms: Rights Managed

12.  As far as photography is concerned, “public
domain” is the category for images in which
the photographer has clearly forfeited
intellectual property rights
 These images can be used by anyone, anytime,
in any way
Copyright Terms: Public Domain

13.  Majority of images that sell contain people
 You must have model releases for any
identifiable people in your images
 Do not include images of corporate logos or
trademarks, and avoid recognizable products
 Tag your photos carefully
 Include a short description, including the name
of the location if it’s significant
Tips

14.  Today: Take photos to represent
“school” (as well as anything else you
wish).
 Tomorrow: Create an account on
www.morguefile.com or another agency
site of your choosing. Upload at least
two images from yesterday (you can
Photoshop them first). Copy the link to
your images on our wiki’s Stock Photos
page (http://semiphoto.wikispaces.com/Stock+Photos).
Assignment