Often it seems the Web was made solely for photographers. On a social level it lets us share photographs with friends and families, we will get together and talk camera gear and photographic technique, and it helps a lot of us overcome the isolation that commonly goes side by side with a photography career.
On a pro level, it provides the resources to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the complete stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the wherewithal to monitor trends, monitor what our peers are doing and see the photography our clients are using.
And for all that, the unfortunate reality is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of a hindrance than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and choosing what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a chore, and as a consequence they generally tend to brush over the vital stuff and get way-laid with the insignificant.
Well if you find yourself in that scenario, here's a bare-bones list of the 5 necessary internet site types each freelance photographer should have bookmarked and should be using continually.
1. Stock Image Library
Few freelance photographers would not have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they are more established, or have more photographs. These days that's just not mandatory and the simplest way tosell photographs online is to start early and add to your stock catalog consistently over time.
Stock photography is a long-term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't want you to surrender your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, simply to be involved.
2. Stock Photo Price Calculator
To this end, ensure you bookmark a good online stock photo price calculator. We all used to manage this with hard-copy books, but things move fast these days and new types of photo-uses emerge every week, so a live stock photo price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most people are blown away when they first use these... Simply because most photographers seriously under-value their work.
If you've never looked at a Stock Photograph Price Calculator before, I'd recommend you make a list of 5-10 of your principal markets, and then list two 'average ' uses for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each use. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever places you on the spot, but just as importantly, you'll get a completely new understanding to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business News & Info
If you're ardent -- and you do not mind sitting at a PC all day -- you can subscribe to lots of different newsletters and services to attempt to start current with goings on in the business. Or you'll be able to find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are quite a few extremely good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to test them out and follow a few till you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all of the important stuff in a nutshell, then include links for more in-depth info if you need it, so that you can stay up to date and get all of the information you need, without the information overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's widely known, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always looking for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we have functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... When we know it's out there we must have it. Sound all to familiar?
The flip side is, often we've got as much gear we should truly get rid of... And again, if the web was made for us then I'm sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they have a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you have a cupboard of old gear that hasn't been put to work in years get it out and post it, while it still has some value to someone!
5. Online Photographer Community
Pro photography is generally a solo career so the facility to have interaction with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see dozens of pictures on any given day, but to be in a position to look at new photographs and discuss them with other photographers is priceless. Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at Camera Clubs or waiting around at the Pro-Lab, but the internet forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to engage with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you're not making excellent use of them, you're quite possibly stagnating!
Well that is my top 5 must-bookmark website types. The web offers us the chance to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways in which we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, leads to a boring photographer!
On a pro level, it provides the resources to showcase our work to Clients, access new markets and conduct the complete stock photography sales process without leaving our office. It also offers the wherewithal to monitor trends, monitor what our peers are doing and see the photography our clients are using.
And for all that, the unfortunate reality is, for many photographers, the pure volume of information and options becomes more of a hindrance than a helping hand. They only have so many hours in a day, and choosing what's worth their attention and what isn't becomes a chore, and as a consequence they generally tend to brush over the vital stuff and get way-laid with the insignificant.
Well if you find yourself in that scenario, here's a bare-bones list of the 5 necessary internet site types each freelance photographer should have bookmarked and should be using continually.
1. Stock Image Library
Few freelance photographers would not have a stock library presence of some sort, but plenty of part-timers still leave it as something to do later when they are more established, or have more photographs. These days that's just not mandatory and the simplest way tosell photographs online is to start early and add to your stock catalog consistently over time.
Stock photography is a long-term business though, so do take your time and find a library that suits your work and your style. Make sure it leaves you in control of your work and doesn't want you to surrender your rights, or sell your work for peanuts, simply to be involved.
2. Stock Photo Price Calculator
To this end, ensure you bookmark a good online stock photo price calculator. We all used to manage this with hard-copy books, but things move fast these days and new types of photo-uses emerge every week, so a live stock photo price calculator is essential.. Be warned though, most people are blown away when they first use these... Simply because most photographers seriously under-value their work.
If you've never looked at a Stock Photograph Price Calculator before, I'd recommend you make a list of 5-10 of your principal markets, and then list two 'average ' uses for each. Then open the calculator and work out a price for each use. Keep it handy and you've got a ready-reference guide if a Client ever places you on the spot, but just as importantly, you'll get a completely new understanding to the value of your photography.
3. Photography Business News & Info
If you're ardent -- and you do not mind sitting at a PC all day -- you can subscribe to lots of different newsletters and services to attempt to start current with goings on in the business. Or you'll be able to find a single Photography/Business site that does it all for you.
There are quite a few extremely good websites out there if you go looking. My suggestion is to test them out and follow a few till you find one that does the job right for you, your field of work, your interests, your location etc. The good ones will give you all of the important stuff in a nutshell, then include links for more in-depth info if you need it, so that you can stay up to date and get all of the information you need, without the information overload.
4. Shopping & Auction Websites
It's widely known, photographers are gadget-junkies! We are always looking for that next piece of must-have camera kit that we simply cannot function at our best without. The simple fact we have functioned quite alright for years without it does not matter... When we know it's out there we must have it. Sound all to familiar?
The flip side is, often we've got as much gear we should truly get rid of... And again, if the web was made for us then I'm sure the creators of eBay are either photographers themselves, or they have a few in the family. So bookmark it and use it. If you have a cupboard of old gear that hasn't been put to work in years get it out and post it, while it still has some value to someone!
5. Online Photographer Community
Pro photography is generally a solo career so the facility to have interaction with your peers online should not be taken lightly. We all see dozens of pictures on any given day, but to be in a position to look at new photographs and discuss them with other photographers is priceless. Pre-Internet, it was something that only happened at Camera Clubs or waiting around at the Pro-Lab, but the internet forums and portal sites now give working photographers to capability to engage with their peers, share ideas and info and truly grow as artists. And if you're not making excellent use of them, you're quite possibly stagnating!
Well that is my top 5 must-bookmark website types. The web offers us the chance to 'round-out ' our photography businesses in ways in which we never could before, so make sure you are getting maximum value from the time you spend online... And remember all work and no play, leads to a boring photographer!
About the Author:
Matt Brading is a stock photographer & writer with GlobalEye Digital Stock Photography. For other photography business articles be certain to visit their Sell Stock Photos blog & resources page.