By Rohn Engh
Today I want to talk about the people who send you checks... photobuyers. How do you know what photos you should be sending to them, - how do you know what they need?
Since we talk with a dozen or more editors (photobuyers) a day here at PhotoSource International, -we pretty well know what's important to them, and how they go about finding the photos they need.
Now, when I say photobuyers, I'm not talking about commercial art directors at advertising agencies, corporations, and graphic houses . . .
I'm talking about photo editors in the editorial stock photography arena -book publishers, magazine publishers...
These people work within a dependable budget, -usually $50 to $150 per picture (for inside use - covers are more). That's standard. But there are two important points for editorial stock photographers to keep in mind. 1.) Most photo editors are authorized to pay more than $150 per picture (inside use) if the image is a difficult one to find. And number 2.) Photo editors don't buy just one picture; they buy many in that same subject area.
So if you ever wondered how some stock photographers hang in there and make a success of stock photography... and continue to live where they want to live, work at their own time schedule, be their own boss -this is their secret:
1.) They focus on a specialized area -or a select few areas -that they love to photograph.
2.) They build a deep selection of photos in that area or areas (because that's their passion), and they continue to photograph all aspects of that subject matter.
There are thousands of subject areas that a beginning stock photographer can choose from. The range is huge. For example, horses -but not horses in general: pintos, quarter-horses, thoroughbreds, etc. -and western, eastern, dressage, working horses, polo horses, etc. etc.
Or your interests maybe in aviation, or WWII airplanes, or single engine airplanes.
Medicine. If you are a nurse or doctor, you can gain access for photo coverage where the rest of us might be denied, or find it more difficult for thorough and frequent coverage.
The same with law enforcement.
Horticulture. Gardening, but what area of gardening? Flowers, rose gardening? Vegetables, rhubarb? Field crops, sunflowers?
That's why successful editorial stock photographers find they have very little competition in their very specific areas of specialization. And the longer they stay with their particular subject areas, the more knowledgeable they become and the more expertise they build up.
And as a result, the more valuable a resource they become for the photobuyers at the publishing houses that produce magazines and books in those areas of interest.
CAN YOU MAKE MONEY ?
These publishing houses have monthly budgets ranging from $20,000 to $50,000 to $175,000 per month to lease the photography they need.
You might ask, "Has the Internet, with its expanded search engine capabilities, replaced print publishing?"
The answer is no.
Have you been to a Borders or Barnes and Noble recently? Have you visited a magazine rack at Wal-Mart or the airport? They are big and growing. People are hungrier than ever for information, entertainment and education, and that includes "in print" form.
If you know how to produce good images with your camera, and you have researched the web to find publishers of books, magazines and periodicals that need photos in the subject areas you love to photograph, you're going to find that those publishers will consider you an important resource.
Rohn Engh is the best-selling author of "Sell & ReSell Your Photos" and "sellphotos.com." He has produced several eBooks including, "How to Make the Marketable Photo." For more information on how to sell stock pictures and to receive his free eReport: "8 Steps to Becoming a Published Photographer," visit his website, PhotoSource International or call 800 624-0266.
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