Today's a momentous day over at PhotoShelter; you may notice there's a new tab on the blogroll. See?
Wow, what is this School of Stock?! Well, it's an instructional (and often very entertaining) online repository of information about how to shoot stock imagery. Our incredible COO Emily Hickey spoke to literally hundreds of buyers and photographers who work with stock photography every day. The content was also culled and honed according to a survey answered by over 700 buyers. This thing is fascinating; take a look at the pie charts and line graphs to see what buyers consider the greatest stock image needs.
The blog will build as time goes on, but it's starting with the stock category of Lifestyle photography-- specifically: Youth Culture, Seniors, Kids, Diversity, Green Living and Couples & Families. Each category engages photographers and image buyers to help those new to the business learn what sells. Eventually the hope is that the blog will function as a sort of stock imagery Wikipedia; those in the know are encouraged to send in feedback, shot list suggestions, and new category ideas.
Here's a taste of the current SOS content:
Youth Culture
Wow, what is this School of Stock?! Well, it's an instructional (and often very entertaining) online repository of information about how to shoot stock imagery. Our incredible COO Emily Hickey spoke to literally hundreds of buyers and photographers who work with stock photography every day. The content was also culled and honed according to a survey answered by over 700 buyers. This thing is fascinating; take a look at the pie charts and line graphs to see what buyers consider the greatest stock image needs.
The blog will build as time goes on, but it's starting with the stock category of Lifestyle photography-- specifically: Youth Culture, Seniors, Kids, Diversity, Green Living and Couples & Families. Each category engages photographers and image buyers to help those new to the business learn what sells. Eventually the hope is that the blog will function as a sort of stock imagery Wikipedia; those in the know are encouraged to send in feedback, shot list suggestions, and new category ideas.
Here's a taste of the current SOS content:
Youth Culture
photo by Alex Tehrani
"I always think when I'm shooting, I'm a newcomer to this world, what could I do with this? That's 50% of every project. I have been photographing Ultimate Fighting lately - the fastest growing sport on earth. I spent time researching it, got on YouTube, saw who else was shooting this, and figured out my own approach to it. If a magazine or ad agency hired you to shoot, chances are they want your style, not something generic." - Alex Tehrani
Seniors
"I always think when I'm shooting, I'm a newcomer to this world, what could I do with this? That's 50% of every project. I have been photographing Ultimate Fighting lately - the fastest growing sport on earth. I spent time researching it, got on YouTube, saw who else was shooting this, and figured out my own approach to it. If a magazine or ad agency hired you to shoot, chances are they want your style, not something generic." - Alex Tehrani
Seniors
photo by Glenn Glasser
"Make sure you are happy with everything you submit to clients or for sale - once you submit, they pick what they want from that point - so the edit needs to be true to your standards and style." - Glenn Glasser
Kids
"Make sure you are happy with everything you submit to clients or for sale - once you submit, they pick what they want from that point - so the edit needs to be true to your standards and style." - Glenn Glasser
Kids
photo by Kathy Quirk-Syvertsen
"I do a lot of location scouting. I consider that composition in a way. And I try to use as much available light as possible - so I am always looking for good light. Also, you have to take advantage of where you are. Think about what an advertising agency would pay for someone to go on location for in your area and shoot it. My background is fashion so when I moved to Minneapolis I used to travel to Paris to shoot - but it was really forced. I've learned to take advantage of what's around me - the small town look, the Finger Lakes, parks, gardens, nature - I don't try to do urban gritty photography here. Figure out what's unique or sellable about your surroundings and embrace it." - Kathy Quirk-Syvertsen
Diversity
photo by Nancy Ney
"Agencies are really picky. I've been doing this since 1983. In the beginning they took everything, hundreds of pictures. That has decreased dramatically - to 2-3 accepted images from a shoot. If I had 5 images accepted from a shoot I'd be thrilled. Sometimes it's none. Try to do at least 2-3 situations within a shoot - change outfits - and that could help you get more accepted." - Nancy Ney
Green Living
"I do a lot of location scouting. I consider that composition in a way. And I try to use as much available light as possible - so I am always looking for good light. Also, you have to take advantage of where you are. Think about what an advertising agency would pay for someone to go on location for in your area and shoot it. My background is fashion so when I moved to Minneapolis I used to travel to Paris to shoot - but it was really forced. I've learned to take advantage of what's around me - the small town look, the Finger Lakes, parks, gardens, nature - I don't try to do urban gritty photography here. Figure out what's unique or sellable about your surroundings and embrace it." - Kathy Quirk-Syvertsen
Diversity
photo by Nancy Ney
"Agencies are really picky. I've been doing this since 1983. In the beginning they took everything, hundreds of pictures. That has decreased dramatically - to 2-3 accepted images from a shoot. If I had 5 images accepted from a shoot I'd be thrilled. Sometimes it's none. Try to do at least 2-3 situations within a shoot - change outfits - and that could help you get more accepted." - Nancy Ney
Green Living
photo by Andrea Wyner
"You have to really know that being a photographer is something you want and really be able to deal with the roller coaster of it. Or maybe decide to do something else in the business that's not actually photography. Don't take anything personally. Stick with it. Even if you're getting a lot of work or one month you make a lot of money, it's never a sure thing. A lot of incredibly successful photographers still panic that they're not going to do anything next month! It's hard. Also, it does take a long time. And it's all about who you know, so be good to people and don't burn any bridges. Treat people well." - Andrea Wyner
Couples & Family
"You have to really know that being a photographer is something you want and really be able to deal with the roller coaster of it. Or maybe decide to do something else in the business that's not actually photography. Don't take anything personally. Stick with it. Even if you're getting a lot of work or one month you make a lot of money, it's never a sure thing. A lot of incredibly successful photographers still panic that they're not going to do anything next month! It's hard. Also, it does take a long time. And it's all about who you know, so be good to people and don't burn any bridges. Treat people well." - Andrea Wyner
Couples & Family
photo by Jon Ragel
"Someone asked me one time if I had different pictures on my studio wall than in my commercial portfolio - and if so, address it - you shouldn't have these two separate lives, make sure you working on stuff that is closest to your heart. And editors know that. I've talked to so many editors - when they see the personal section of your site that's where they go first, they don't go right to your tear sheets. You reciprocate what you cultivate. If you only show stuff that's close to your heart then that's what people will hire you to do. The key is to stay true and not waver, and it's tough." - Jon Ragel
Check out the new blog for TONS of information along these lines. In addition to discussion about Lifestyle photography, there are lighting clinics, keywording and model release information, file processing hints, and my favorite-- a primer on production values. What's good styling, and what's bad? Good location/ bad location? Take a look and be amused. Here's my favorite (this one's for casting):
BAD CASTING
GOOD CASTING!
photos (l-r): Thayer Gowdy, Andrea Wyner, and John Ragel
Watch out for zebra stripes, my friends. Not stock-friendly.
"Someone asked me one time if I had different pictures on my studio wall than in my commercial portfolio - and if so, address it - you shouldn't have these two separate lives, make sure you working on stuff that is closest to your heart. And editors know that. I've talked to so many editors - when they see the personal section of your site that's where they go first, they don't go right to your tear sheets. You reciprocate what you cultivate. If you only show stuff that's close to your heart then that's what people will hire you to do. The key is to stay true and not waver, and it's tough." - Jon Ragel
Check out the new blog for TONS of information along these lines. In addition to discussion about Lifestyle photography, there are lighting clinics, keywording and model release information, file processing hints, and my favorite-- a primer on production values. What's good styling, and what's bad? Good location/ bad location? Take a look and be amused. Here's my favorite (this one's for casting):
BAD CASTING
GOOD CASTING!
photos (l-r): Thayer Gowdy, Andrea Wyner, and John Ragel
Watch out for zebra stripes, my friends. Not stock-friendly.
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