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Finalise on the 'right' stock agency to use. Alamy? PS Collection?

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Alex Hibbert

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Hi everyone,

I've been working towards moving my portfolio onto Alamy for some months now (greatly helped by new AlamyUpload and Excel bulk keywording)

and have now reached the point of no return where I really need to commit to an agency and put the hours in, uploading my stock and getting it ready to sell.

What do you guys think? Alamy? Photoshelter Collection? Any others with a similar system?

I'm not interested in microstock and am looking to the long-term as I don't want my hours to be wasted on the 'wrong' agency.

I shoot wildlife and expeditions mainly.

Any input, similar stories or advice and experience appreciated!

Thanks

Alex.
 
I am no wildlife shooter myself but from what I have heard wildlife shots don't sell very well at general interest agencies. Would put a little more research in finding agencies specialized in your preferred subject and offer only the more generic shots via Alamy. Otherwise you would invest a lot of time for keywording and processing images that will never sell.
 
Hi,

Thanks for the advice. I actually shot for a 'natural history' specific agency a while back and found the system quite disjointed and slow, along with a poor commission rate. I've decided to go for a general agency due to the larger client base and slicker interfaces. I'm also after an agency that I can really be confident is there for the long-haul, and so am attracted to the bigger ones.

Alex.
 
Thanks for that! I haven't come across Featurepics before but may well give them a go for a few months and assess their performance. I wonder how large their client base is.

Alex.
 
Do a search of FeaturePics on the Internet, I've seen this mentioned on a few stock and photography forums. Some say FeaturePics has a small client base at present, but I think it will grow or at least that is what I'm gambling on, but Featurepics is discussed quiet a bit on a few photography forums I noticed when I first considered them.
JD
 
Have you tried going back to your customers and asking them what agencies they prefer?

I can´t help you with macrostock so far I have only been at istockphoto. I just received the contract for Getty, but haven´t finished the paperwork yet. It will be interesting to see if they are really as good at selling images as they are supposed to be.

Many people mix micro and macrostock. You might want to ask around on specialized stock forums for peoples experiences. The macros are coming down in price, the higher quality micros are raising their prices. I wouldn´t be suprised if both worlds converge in the next two years.
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http://www.lightcapture.com
 
I too was drawn in by the 'Slicker interfaces' and appeal of upload services you mention by the likes of Alamy. Big mistake; haven't sold a thing.

As a previous poster said before, especially if you have high-quality specialised stuff, e.g all Wildlife, I'd opt for a far less well managed, far less slick agency who can promote your work specifically, on its specific merits.

The bottomless pit of Alamy is probably not where Wildlife picture buyers are looking...
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http://www.jamesballphotography.co.uk
http://www.photobumf.blogspot.com
 
Hey Alex,

Not yet; but I've been reviewing the contract I've got with Getty. Mind you; I dont want to bash Alamy too much; I just think theres a few issues out there in terms of sheer numbers.

Indeed, I'm sure Gettys got its problems too, but I've sold there and through others - and even though I still can't get my head around the contractual business; I've got confidence in them.

James
Alex Hibbert said:
Thanks. So what agency/agencies do you use now? Have you left Alamy?

Alex.
Click to expand...
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http://www.jamesballphotography.co.uk
http://www.photobumf.blogspot.com
 
directly contact people that shoot your type of images at any agency you are considering. Any established pro will gladly give you honest input, only the wannabee amateurs get cagey with info like that.

Contact five photographers with similar content at Alamy, Getty, Corbis, etc and go with your gut feeling after that.
 
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