Getting Started in Stock Photography
Rich Legg
Exclusive Contributor, iStockphoto
www.LeggNet.com - www.RichLegg.com
My Background
• • • • Trained as a portrait photographer in 80‟s Did no serious photography between 1993-2003 Discovered Flickr and Blogging Joined iStock in December 2005
Growing with iStock
• • • • Didn‟t take seriously until March „07 Signed Exclusive with 500 Images Sold Went Full-Time in January 2008 Currently over 63,000 images sold
What is Needed to Begin
• Digital SLR (recommended) • Image Editing Software • Basic knowledge of exposure, composition and post-processing • Patience and a thick skin
Steps to Becoming an iStockphoto Contributor
• • • • Sign up for free account Fill out application Take a basic quiz Submit three sample images
Steps to Becoming an iStockphoto Contributor
• Upon acceptance, contributor can begin submitting images for consideration • Every image is personally inspected by a paid iStock inspector to ensure it meets the required standards
Inspection Criteria
• • • • • • Lack of Artifacting Clear Focus Point Good lighting Lack of Chromatic Aberration (Fringing) Not Over-Processed Suitable for Stock
My Steps in Editing
• • • • • • Shoot in RAW Make Exposure Adjustments in ACR Remove Logos, Clean Skin, etc in PS Make Isolated Adjustments in PS High Pass Filter Sharpening Save as Highest Quality JPG
Subjects that Sell
• • • • Good Looking People Portraying a Theme Everyday Events Unique Scenes
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QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompre ssor are neede d to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompre ssor are neede d to see this picture.
QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompre ssor are neede d to see this picture.
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QuickTime™ and a TIFF (Uncompressed) decompre ssor are neede d to see this picture.
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Subjects to Avoid
• • • • Landscapes Sunsets Grab Shots Your Cat (Sorry Ann)
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Shooting Models
• • • • I use real people and I pay them Everyone signs a model release Attractive Don‟t look like “Models”
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The Financial Side
• • • • • Base royalty is 20% of image price Exclusives earn up to 40% Gross image price varies by size My average gross this year: $5.75 Paid up to weekly (min. $100)
Thank You!
• • • • • Blog: leggnet.com E-Mail: rich@leggnet.com Telephone: 801.259.3500 Twitter: twitter.com/leggnet Stock Portfolio: richlegg.com