Which Photographer
Do You Deal With?





          Advance Notes: Here’s an explanation of the difference between the stock photographer and the service photographer.

 
 
        Know thyself was the advice Plato gave his students. Good advice for the stock photographer, too, who wishes to market his/her stock photography. And a good watchword for photobuyers and researchers, to anticipate what to expect from the photographers they seek out.

         To apply Plato's recommendation: If you know a photographer's emphasis, in the vast spectrum of the world of photography, you'll have smooth sledding when it comes to efficiently honing in on the pictures you need, and you’ll simplify your transactions.

         You can find photographers who can be consistent resources for you, whether you need assignment (service) photography or stock.

'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 ("service" photography) are paid for on the photographer's day rate basis.

         Service photography is a fast-paced existence. ("We need the picture yesterday.") Work-for-hire means in most cases that the client owns the copyright. The photos are often "art-directed." ("We want a
girl with blonde hair and a 1960’s red dress.") While the resulting photographs have limited "lasting value" (have you ever looked at a graphic-design annual of the year's best photographs? --from 1995?), the large fees in service photography are attractive to photographers.

STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY:

         Stock photography, on the other hand, is at the other end of the spectrum. Photobuyers and researchers and stock photographers deal via the Internet, FedEx, and the postal service. Photobuyers can find fresh new talent to add to their select list of photo suppliers.

         Increasing numbers of photographers are establishing websites to be able to deal with buyers electronically, or joining a website that specifically gives photobuyers access to scores of photographers who have coverage in targeted areas of interest. One such site is PhotoSource International's own PhotoSourceGROUP, partnered with the electronic PhotoSourceBANK, which enable photobuyers to locate specific-content photos in seconds.

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. Telephone: 1 800 624 0266 Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: www.photosource.com/products


           


           

Tommy Thompson

Kerry Kolb

Jon Saban

Jake Nelson