Which Photographer Are You?

To apply Plato's suggestion: If you know where you fit, in the vast spectrum of the world of photography, you'll have easy sledding when it comes to marketing your pictures.

Why? First of all, there's no one quite like you. You have a treasure of experiences: knowledge, know-how, and interests. Plus, you are a talented photographer. When you know your own strengths and select your markets accordingly, you'll find that photobuyers like to work with photographers whose files of stock photos match their layout needs. In other words, you speak their language.

Know thyself. You are an important resource to photo editors, if you do your homework and find the photobuyers whose photo needs match the photos you like to take.

'SERVICE' PHOTOGRAPHY:

Many newcomers to the field of stock photography initially set their goals toward advertising, PR, industrial, fashion, and assignment photography. These and similar "work for hire" areas are what we call "service" photography. Clients pay for your services - at your day rate - to shoot their visual needs.

There are drawbacks, however. Assignments don't come easy. Service photography is a fast-paced existence. ("We need the picture yesterday.") Your pictures rarely belong to you. (Work-for-hire means in most cases that the client owns the copyright.) Your pictures are often "art-directed." ("We want a girl with blonde hair and a 1960s red dress.") The resulting photographs have limited "lasting value." (Have you ever looked at a graphic-design annual of the year's best photographs? --from 1995?) However, the large fees you receive may make the service photography area attractive to you.

STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY:

Stock photography, on the other hand, is at the other end of the spectrum. Stock photographers deal via the Internet, FedEx, and the postal service, selling photos they like to take, on their own timetable, which they direct to selected photobuyers who welcome fresh new talent to add to their select list of photo suppliers.

Know thyself. Are you more interested in selling yourself (service photography) or your photos (stock photography)? Do you prefer the glamour of a whirlwind lifestyle or the rewards of the quietude of living at a self-directed pace?

Rohn Engh, veteran stock photographer and best-selling author of Sell & ReSell Your Photos and sellphotos.com, has helped scores of photographers launch their careers. For access to great information on making money from pictures you like to take, and to receive this free report: 8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer, visit http://www.sellphotos.com

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