Selling photos online... official MoneySavingExpert.com discussion

Personally, I don't do any re-working of my images unless the site I am going to submit to allows it.

Below, I have listed the requirements for 2 of the sites I use and will add more as I can find them.

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Image requirements for image stock sites.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Alamy[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Images from at least a 6 megapixel DSLR or more. See site for list of un/suitable cameras.[/FONT]

• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]JPEG’s[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] saved at a high quality setting (i.e. Photoshop level 10 or above). [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Alpha-numeric file names ending in [/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif].jpg[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]RGB files, not single channel greyscale or CMYK. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Un[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif]compressed[/FONT][FONT=Arial, sans-serif] file sizes of more than 17MB. This means you must use a DSLR camera with at least 6 megapixels. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]We do not want:[/FONT]

• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Images from compact/unsuitable cameras. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Images that contain a watermark, contain glamour or pornography, or images which infringe the rights of any third party. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Images that solely feature a logo or trademark - this is a copyright or trademark infringement. [/FONT]
• [FONT=Arial, sans-serif]a series of similar images with almost identical compositions or only slightly different exposures. [/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]We reject images for :[/FONT]

[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Camera shake, chromatic aberration, colour cast, compression artifacts, data loss/corruption, from camera on unsuitable camera list, blemishes/dust bunnies/scratches, excessive sharpening, excessive similars (images almost identical), film rebate or border (when scanning films/negs), high contrast, interpolation artifacts, newton's rings/interference patterns, noise, noticeable retouching/over-manipulation, poor exposure, size, watermarking, unsuitable material, soft or lacking definition. [/FONT]
iStock (now owned by Getty Images)


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Files accepted in RGB .JPG ONLY. Tif, PSD & PNG image formats will be rejected.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Images must be 1600 x 1200 pixels or bigger.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]NO up-sizing of images allowed.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]iStock accepts images in the following categories -[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]Corporate shots, concepts & visual metaphors, food & beverages, groups & teams, holidays & seasonal themes, non-business jobs (i.e. mechanics, builders and Emergency Services), people interacting, religion & spirituality, science & technology, sport and social issues.[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]They don't want -[/FONT]


[FONT=Arial, sans-serif]3D rendered images/texts/modelling, airplane wings/out-of-window shots, flags, light blurs, nature shots (with exceptions), PS backgrounds/fractuals, people doing nothing, shadows of people/headless people, single fruit/food items on white background, sunsets/clouds/skies (unless it is an absolutley stunning image), symbols or your immediate environment.[/FONT]

lemontart wrote: »

Seriously thinking about alamy but concerned that usd payments will incur hefty fees to pay into uk accounts, do they offer alternatives such as paypal etc

If you have a UK account Alamy will pay you in UK pounds, they will convert and as far as your bank is concerned it will be a normal transfer in pounds.

Paypal is an option if you wish you can see more details about payments here
http://www.alamy.com/contributor/help/financial-transactions-faq.asp#faq4

Trouble with Instagram is that their user-base is shrinking. They lost 50% of their user base when they dropped Twitter support and a shed load more when they changed their T&Cs to state that 'Instagram does not claim ownership of any Content that you post on or through the Service. Instead, you hereby grant to Instagram a non-exclusive, fully paid and royalty-free, transferable, sub-licensable, worldwide license to use the Content that you post on or through the Service, subject to the Service's Privacy Policy.'

LeBerg wrote: »

Great thread everyone, thanks:beer:

I imagine there are a few people in my position in that i'm no professional, but every now and then I take a good snap! And if i can share those and make a few extra £'s a month then why not.

I need to take a good look at some of the sights mentioned, but I get the impression that Alamy or Ghetty are the way to go for someone like me. Any thoughts on this choice would be useful

Alamy (A) and Getty (G) are very different.
A So long as you use a suitable camera and pass QC you will be accepted.
G Getty will decide if you are accepted or not based on the quality and whether they feel your pictures will sell.
A Everything you send will be accepted onto the site provided it passes QC that is they are technically correct eg correct exposure no dust spots or artefacts etc. No judgement will be made on content.
G Same sort of QC but then what you send will be edited down to what G wants and thinks will sell.
A You get 50% of what the picture sells for.
G You get 20% for royalty free 30% rights managed for foreign sales 40% rights managed for UK sales. (I am assuming you come from UK which if correct will mean US sales have witholding tax on them.)
A You will not be paid until you have $75 in cleared funds, if you are really lucky that could be one sale but more likely to be anything up to about 10.
G A similar arrangement but a slightly lower payout level and funds do not have to have cleared, this does mean that now and then you get a minus figure deducted from your payout.

A and G Extra work will be involved in preparing your submissions.
Compare your work with that on the sites; do you feel you at least match it?
Are you prepared to possibly change to taking pictures that will sell rather than hoping the pictures you like to take will sell?
Do you really want to sell pictures, if so start checking books/magazines to see who sells, checking sites to see what sells, and what is required and start sending in submissions. Believe in your own ability and take no notice of any advice on sites like this.
Good luck let us know how you get on.