Author Topic: Specialized microstock agencies? (Read 7351 times)

Medvedev · « **on:** March 10, 2008, 09:08 »

Can anyone plese recommend a microstock site specializing in nature photography?

Smiling Jack · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2008, 13:27 »

Hi
I would be interested too, since all of my aerial photos, fall under the heading of "nature".
Thanks Smiling Jack

le_cyclope · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2008, 16:49 »

www.naturallifestock.com

Never tried it but it showed up in a search few months ago

Let us know if you give them a try!

Claude

Waldo4 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2008, 18:42 »

Nature is a tough one because you run into that segment of the photography world that typically is very experienced, does it out of love, and usually has great equipment: the birders (who also tend to get a lot of great nature/wildlife shots while out birding). I don't know of any specialized sites for the general photographer, though I do know a few guys that have pooled their resources and put together a fine art/stock site devoted to nature in general with a large bird section. Finding some people that share a common interest (I'm sure that there are a ton), that would like to get their work out their somehow and getting together your own website might be a good way to go. I recently pointed a buddy of mine on Flickr towards photoshelter with the same predicament, pretty good bird/nature photographer. I can show you an example of the group of guys' site that I'm talking about if you pm me. I'm sure that there is a way that a 3rd party could host the site and deal with any printing/downloading/financial interests.

Smiling Jack - I'd love to see some of your aerial work. I always whip out my camera when I fly (commercially) and I get nice clear skies, and I've got the PPing down to where I think that they look pretty darn good, not good enough technically to ever get accepted by a regular micro agency (if anybody has the PS skills to turn a 30,000 ft shot into a stock worthy shot, technically at least, wow, my hats off to you), but if there is any group of my photos that I just set to slideshow and enjoy, these are the ones.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waldo4/sets/72157602444373898/
I've got a ton more to process, but they take so long that I only work on one when I'm really up to it. I think that the evolution of PPing is definitely noticeable, maybe I'll do a Mize-like tutorial (sans the video) someday on my workflow and techniques for them. I'm sure some of the pro level guys here would find the PPing to be nothing special, but for the PS amateurs and learners, commercial aerials are IMO the most challenging type of shot and they are really where I learned and became comfortable with the different modes (RGB, CMYK, LAB) in PS, especially LAB, and where I really tuned and honed my eyes for color.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #4 on:** March 11, 2008, 03:23 »

I never heard that anyone had a sale on naturallifestock. I bet your nature images will do much better in all agencies to the right form the top down to Panthermedia. The other agencies below that I do not really know so I cannot say anything about them.

Smiling Jack · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2008, 11:01 »

Hi
Maybe i should have said my aerial photos would fall under the heading of Landscape. They are mostly of Montana and Africa.

Waldo4: mine were all taken from small aircraft at 500 to 10,000 AGL. I also have some photos of vintage and private aircraft. I have a few files at BigStock, DT and Shutterstock under JackA. As you know I am Newbie to microstock feeling my way to see if there is a market for the 3000+ slides I have collected over the yrs. Looking for any help you guys feel you want to give.
Thanks Smiling Jack

Waldo4 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2008, 23:10 »

Jack - Small airplanes definitely give the best shots, I've seen a bunch on Flickr from that altitude that I really love (without the scratched up, warped plastic covered polarized windows and 10's of miles of air distortion/tinting, the shots are way better from the camera). Do you do it professionally or as a hobby? I work with a few professional guys, occasionally on some of my bigger projects we hire some pros to come in and take some aerials for sitework planning. Not quite the same though as the ones of cool places. Almost daily I download NASA Landsat/Astronomer pictures and use them as my screensaver, simply stunning (I send way too much time staring at my screensaver).

Aircraft shots do well in my limited experience. My best seller is of an airplane (a business jet). I'm sure that there will be many more too as OEP airport access (all airports in general) in the RSA and TSA to active runways is something that I occasionally get at work (very, very few people do) (I design Navaids, especially VORs/DVORs, but a lot of ILSs too), and I am expected to have at least a PnS in my hands when I am there. He he. I know that there are quite a few aviation magazines, might want to page through those for ideas at least for what the aviation community is looking for, I always steal a few minutes when I'm in an FBO to flip through and look at the photos in the ads and articles. The whole vintage thing, especially dawn of flight/warplane (WW2 especially) I can see having a decent market outside of the regular aviation community, the more markets a shot is applicable too, the better it seems to sell.

Seren · « **Reply #7 on:** March 12, 2008, 02:15 »

Sounds good to me! My fella is in the RAF and I'm just itching to get a chance to shoot all the military planes... I think I have a few Army training Gazelle heli's in my portfolio, but that's about it. Certain agencies rejected them because the paint scheme is apparently a trademark. No point in arguing that the navy blue is the "standard" colour and the yellow cap is to let people know they're not qualified!

Phil · « **Reply #8 on:** March 12, 2008, 04:32 »

Quote from: Seren on March 12, 2008, 02:15

Sounds good to me! My fella is in the RAF and I'm just itching to get a chance to shoot all the military planes... I think I have a few Army training Gazelle heli's in my portfolio, but that's about it. Certain agencies rejected them because the paint scheme is apparently a trademark. No point in arguing that the navy blue is the "standard" colour and the yellow cap is to let people know they're not qualified!

I was in RAAF in the early 90's. First day on Base "you WILL NOT take photos of the planes, airfield etc etc"

Of course everyone did

Seren · « **Reply #9 on:** March 12, 2008, 04:37 »

That's funny, because the Warrant Officer at his last training posting gave me permission to photograph pretty much anything I want! Shame he left a week later!

snurder · « **Reply #10 on:** March 12, 2008, 10:55 »

I can't guarantee this list will be of specific help, but here it is anyway, since every is always asking for lists.

http://aphotoeditor.com/2008/02/27/stock-photo-agencies/

I don't know of any micro that specializes in nature. In the MS game, nature is not their bread and butter, it is the smiling girl with the telephone headset, the blank house for sale sign, etc. Nature is a tough gig. It is easily accessible for shooters, and the market is flooded. So unless the work is unique, it is a tough sell in micros.

But perhaps this list can get you exploring other options, such as selling choice photos as RM if you find the right place and not even offering them to the micros. Do note, that some of the links are for photographers housing their own inventories. So if anyone here is thinking in that direction, there are some good examples. From these photog sites, they'll usually have their best up front, so you can get a good idea of what is selling in the market.

About the list author - he lists the mcros as "crap" - take it with a grain of salt. It's his opinion is all.

Also do some deeper searches on Goog. I shoot food mainly, and I recently came up with a smaller specialist food agency that I have marked for my own future reference.

Smiling Jack · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2008, 13:40 »

Thanks everybody for the help.
Snurder: The list helped in that I tell what other aerial photographers have out there for stock.
Waldo4- I have been a CFI and Com.Pilot for over 60yrs. Right now my main buss. is making aerial mosaics(maps) for small land developers and farmers in PhotoShop. This buss. is kinda up and down so I was looking to microstock(or midstock) to fill in the gaps.
Thanks again Smiling Jack

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Author Topic: Specialized microstock agencies? (Read 7351 times)

Medvedev

Smiling Jack

le_cyclope

Waldo4

Freezingpictures

Smiling Jack

Waldo4

Seren

Phil

Seren

snurder

Smiling Jack

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