Selling to iStockphoto-Tip #1

This shot was taken for my first photography show in May of 2008. It was one of my favorite shots, and for this reason I thought it would be a shoe in for selling at istockphoto.com. Well little did I know, finding photos they would accept was not as easy as I initially thought. As I began reading the email informing me one of my favorite photos was not adequate enough, I became discouraged, but as a read on I began to see why. Some photographers may tell you that losing some quality with a higher ISO isn't a big deal compared to using a slower shutter speed. In fact, I am taking a college course on photography and my instructor said this just this week. While this is true if you are taking photos for personal pleasure, or if you have low lighting conditions but still want to 'capture the moment,' if you plan on selling your photographs, especially online, the lowest ISO possible is necessary. I took this photograph at an ISO of 400, and for this reason there was too much noise for it to be sold online. After recognizing this problem, I began shooting all my photographs that I intended to sell at an ISO of 100, and it made all the difference! Having photos accepted into the world of stock photography does take skill and talent, but at least give your shots a chance by keeping them at the highest quality, because as you can see from this example, even a photograph that would otherwise be considered great will not be accepted.

Have any specific questions about selling photos to istockphoto.com? Shoot me an email and I would be glad to answer!

Patience...

Recently I ventured into Yosemite National Park for five amazing days. I had my eye up to the camera more than not and ended up with plenty of great shots, but my favorite BY FAR was taken on my way out of the park-after I thought the best of my shots from the trip had already been taken. Approaching an immense fire, all I could think of was the negative influence it was having on the land it consumed and those working to put an end to it. We pulled over to the side of the road to make a few car adjustments, and as I opened my door and looked up my jaw dropped. Before taking out my camera I knew it was the shot I had been waiting for. Fires, although in many cases devastating, can have a positive side to them too. In nature, fire has kept the giant sequoias alive for thousands of years by clearing out other trees that may otherwise have taken the nutrients necessary for them to survive. In photography, although maybe not as drastic, fire can create the most unmatchable of lighting. While we can go out searching for great photographs, sometimes the best thing to do is simply be prepared for when the great ones come to us. For this reason, one of the best pieces of advice is to take your camera everywhere! Sure sometimes it can be a hassle, but once you capture that shot you have been waiting for, I promise you will realize it was worth it.