Selling Pictures
 

I was just wondering, do any of you guys sell your pics on the web? If so, how and where?

I've signed up to Canstock, but so far they are not impressing me with their service. It's a file library service and it looks as if they want waivers (releases) for any pictures that have people or buildings in! So I would have to find out who owns all the castles and go and track down all the people in my street shots I've photographed and get a release signed lol. They even intimate that you would have to sign releases for pics of your own house!

So I'm looking for something that doesn't charge the earth in subscriptions or rip you off on fees. Any ones that anyone has used or can recommend, even if you get a referral fee out of it, I'm happy :D

I briefly dabbled with Alamy.com but never really got in to it properly, put only 4 or 5 shots there and never heard anything more, but to be expected. I think you need to establish a reputation to be even looked at, and that normally means putting hundreds of shots up. Think they stillness release form for buildings etc but it's no subscription.

As the majority of my pictures are motorsport, they can't go on there anyway so never followed it up.

Lots of copyright involved. People, places, cars and the list goes on and on.

I used to sell/rent my slide photo's. If I sold the picture then i would have to hand over the copyright and then it was no longer mine. Usually a fixed fee, £50. But if I rented it out to the company then I would get a fee back every time it was used, fee was usually £10 for every time it was used. And I kept the copyright. When the company finally folded, then I got all my rented slides back but those I sold were never returned.

Now I work, very occasionally, on a commission basis. All pictures belong to the person hiring me. Generally they give me a sd card and I then give it back when finished with. I do not copy any of the pictures but will back up a copy if asked to do so. Again that becomes the property of whoever is paying me.

I am a member of a photograph forum and I know that some of the members have sold their photos for as much as £30 each. Is that the sort of ball park figure you are thinking of? Less or more? The topic occasionally comes up when someone complains about a copyright infringement and asks for advice.

I sometimes enter photography competitions for cash prizes etc, but have never considered selling any of the photos as it is a hobby :)

Thanks for that, just had a look, they will allow commercial and editorial (where you don't need a release), so I might upload a few to them. ;)

To be fair, I don't mind stock if it works out, or individual sales, £30 each is certainly around ball-park (as long as my stuff is good enough). Problem with individual is there are places online that offer it, but charge too much for the subscription, them it's extra for "promotion", "banners" etc and soon it costs more to be there than you earn!

Great post Bob..... Fascinating :bowdown:

Buddy of mine is professional and sells from people seeing his work on Flikr, so he sells multiple copies of his own shots from himself. I think that way he retains copyright. He has had stuff published and was commissioned for Transport For London.

I wouldn't feel confident being trusted with a wedding etc, muck that up and you're in a world of pain:getmecoat:

I tell you what, I will have a look at the site and PM you the results if it looks as though they are any good to you ;)

Excellent! That would be great. Finders fee lol