Digital Photography: Participation Analysis
Of the royalty-free stock photo websites
that I have looked at so far, the two that are a best fit are BigStockPhoto and iStockPhoto.
Both sites require you to create an
account, read basic material on photographic composition and
stock photography requirements, and pass a simple test on the
material.
Did that!
Once past the test, you’re in
business as a contributing photographer at BigStockPhoto, and I’ve been uploading photographs. As
of today, I have 31 photographs approved and included in my
portfolio there; 22 other photographs have been disapproved for
one reason or another (noise, blurriness, composition,
subject).
iStockPhoto requires
that you upload and gain approval of three photographs before
your application as a contributing
photographer can be approved. It took
much longer than I expected, but I did finally manage to gain
approval of three photographs, and thus am now approved as a
contributing photographer there as well.
Since my goal is not to become a stock
photographer, but rather to supplement other income sources by
monetizing photography that I’m doing anyway, I should be
mindful of opportunities for photographs that might, without
extra effort or added cost, be posted for sale as stock.
Subjects for
Stock Photography
Stock Photography
• Conceptual (e.g., illustrating
concepts such as “success” or “joy”)
• Occasional (e.g., holidays)
• Nature/outdoors (e.g, beaches or
rivers, especially with wildlife; no flowers!)
• Food (e.g., ingredients or fresh
fruits and veggies — check local farmer’s markets)
• Activities or events (e.g., local
races or fairs or exhibits)
• Buildings (e.g., residential,
commercial, historical)
• Isolated, single objects with
clipping paths (but avoid common objects — they’ve
been done!)
