Comments on: An Open Access Photo Library http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library Marketing Your Photography Business Thu, 09 Feb 2012 13:28:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jim Walker http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1975 Jim Walker Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:22:38 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1975 I have been a "member" of fotoLibra for several years. I have sold pictures to book publishers through fotoLibra that I would not have had the exposure to. Sure, I would like to sell more, who wouldn't. The only negative is that the site is based in the UK, and, of course, has more call for UK and European photos, and I live in the US. Unfortunately, I have not found a US based stock photo agency that has a business model as good as fotoLibra. When you have to pay for the privelidge of storing and marketing your photos, you tend to only want to upload your best shots. I intend to continue my association with fotoLibra for the foreseeable future, and hope I can come up with one of those $1000 images. I have been a "member" of fotoLibra for several years. I have sold pictures to book publishers through fotoLibra that I would not have had the exposure to. Sure, I would like to sell more, who wouldn't. The only negative is that the site is based in the UK, and, of course, has more call for UK and European photos, and I live in the US. Unfortunately, I have not found a US based stock photo agency that has a business model as good as fotoLibra. When you have to pay for the privelidge of storing and marketing your photos, you tend to only want to upload your best shots. I intend to continue my association with fotoLibra for the foreseeable future, and hope I can come up with one of those $1000 images.

]]> By: Mario Cruz http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1973 Mario Cruz Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:40:10 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1973 I read this thread and visit the site, seems interesting to me and i decide to signup for the free version. I think that 12 photos is a small amount to test it, but in the end, i was sepnding nothing, so i decide to upload the 12 photos and try the service. Too luckly for me, i was the 20.000th user of fotoLIBRA and i get a gold membership for that. I'm very happy with the service, the proccess it's easy, the site has great features to help manage and organize the collections. I don't get a sell yet, but it's part my fault cause i've just uploaded 3 photos now. I definitly give it a try (and upload more photos) and be sure that i'll come back here and tell about the experience. I read this thread and visit the site, seems interesting to me and i decide to signup for the free version. I think that 12 photos is a small amount to test it, but in the end, i was sepnding nothing, so i decide to upload the 12 photos and try the service.

Too luckly for me, i was the 20.000th user of fotoLIBRA and i get a gold membership for that.

I'm very happy with the service, the proccess it's easy, the site has great features to help manage and organize the collections.
I don't get a sell yet, but it's part my fault cause i've just uploaded 3 photos now.

I definitly give it a try (and upload more photos) and be sure that i'll come back here and tell about the experience.

]]> By: tom collier http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1970 tom collier Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:59:20 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1970 I chose fotolibra for the very reason you have to pay to sell your wares. That very reasonable fee is enough to scare off most of the garbage that finds it's way onto free for all libraries. If you are confident in the quality you provide then they WILL sell.Actively marketing our work rather than just sitting on the fence is anouther plus, as is regular newsletters picture calls and advice on what to supply is all good information and well worth the money. How often do you see picture credits to Alamy in high quality publications/ Not that often me thinks. I chose fotolibra for the very reason you have to pay to sell your wares. That very reasonable fee is enough to scare off most of the garbage that finds it's way onto free for all libraries. If you are confident in the quality you provide then they WILL sell.Actively marketing our work rather than just sitting on the fence is anouther plus, as is regular newsletters picture calls and advice on what to supply is all good information and well worth the money. How often do you see picture credits to Alamy in high quality publications/ Not that often me thinks.

]]> By: Jacqui http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1967 Jacqui Mon, 06 Oct 2008 10:56:51 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1967 'Conventional agency' is exactly what fotoLibra sets out NOT to be. Have a look at this image: http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/81549/log-in-mist/ I didn't think it was that great, but who am I to judge? The buyers decide, and one buyer judged it was worth spending $900 to buy limited usage rights for this image. Professional buyers don't search by words and bland and generalised as 'business' or 'dog' (I don't understand the point Bateleur is trying to make here). They tell us to do their searches for them! 'Conventional agency' is exactly what fotoLibra sets out NOT to be. Have a look at this image: http://www.fotolibra.com/gallery/81549/log-in-mist/
I didn't think it was that great, but who am I to judge? The buyers decide, and one buyer judged it was worth spending $900 to buy limited usage rights for this image.
Professional buyers don't search by words and bland and generalised as 'business' or 'dog' (I don't understand the point Bateleur is trying to make here). They tell us to do their searches for them!

]]> By: Bateleur http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1949 Bateleur Wed, 01 Oct 2008 19:46:53 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1949 Hmmmm ... paying to have your images put up for sale? No submission assessment? Anyone can upload anything (if they pay)? Sounds like a recipe for a stock of rubbish that would be rejected by any conventional agency. So I did a check. I searched on the word 'business'. Then again on the word 'dog' Try it yourself, and see what you get ... Hmmmm ... paying to have your images put up for sale?

No submission assessment? Anyone can upload anything (if they pay)?

Sounds like a recipe for a stock of rubbish that would be rejected by any conventional agency.

So I did a check. I searched on the word 'business'. Then again on the word 'dog'

Try it yourself, and see what you get ...

]]> By: Embassy Pro Books http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1945 Embassy Pro Books Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:43:13 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1945 I agree with not making photographers pay for storage space, it will for sure scare away some from posting their photos but if a photo sells than a percentage for storage might be appropriate. I agree with not making photographers pay for storage space, it will for sure scare away some from posting their photos but if a photo sells than a percentage for storage might be appropriate.

]]> By: Viqi French http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1943 Viqi French Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:02:18 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1943 It's astonishing the number of photo libraries that I keep learning about anew. Thanks for telling us all about this one. But even more fascinating are the varieties of business models they're adopting. While there's quite a bit to be said about the assumed quality of images you'll find on a site where photographers must pay to play, this does make one wonder about the quality here and there. I'll have to click over to judge for myself. Viqi PS -- grab my free photography selling report: http://fiercelystrategic.blogspot.com It's astonishing the number of photo libraries that I keep learning about anew. Thanks for telling us all about this one.

But even more fascinating are the varieties of business models they're adopting. While there's quite a bit to be said about the assumed quality of images you'll find on a site where photographers must pay to play, this does make one wonder about the quality here and there.

I'll have to click over to judge for myself.

Viqi
PS -- grab my free photography selling report:
http://fiercelystrategic.blogspot.com

]]> By: Andrew http://blogs.photopreneur.com/an-open-access-photo-library/comment-page-1#comment-1934 Andrew Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:37:02 +0000 http://blogs.photopreneur.com/?p=716#comment-1934 Interesting, but I have to admit I'm dubious of any photo library that requires photographers to pay for storage space. Why not just sell your photos through Alamy? And what's wrong with a photo library being selective about the photos they sell? If you accept anything, you'll get rubbish, surely? Has anybody tried selling photos through FotoLibra? I'd be interested in hearing about your experience. Interesting, but I have to admit I'm dubious of any photo library that requires photographers to pay for storage space. Why not just sell your photos through Alamy? And what's wrong with a photo library being selective about the photos they sell? If you accept anything, you'll get rubbish, surely?

Has anybody tried selling photos through FotoLibra? I'd be interested in hearing about your experience.

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