This stock image about popularity and excitement required eleven models and hours of Photoshop time, but has a high chance of success because it stands out from the crowd.
A Strategy For A Successful Photography Career
One strategy that I think is a no-brainer for photographers
wishing to pursue a career in photography is to constantly shoot for your
portfolio…and put those images into stock. Create imagery that speaks to you at
the highest level you can, and then make those images work for you not just by
helping you get assignments, but by earning income as well.
A Market Hungry For Great Imagery
Such a strategy has some pretty obvious benefits. Despite
the insane over-supply of stock photography, the market is still hungry for
great images…and a great image will usually find a buyer in stock. Never
underestimate the creativity of art directors, designers and photo editors in
utilizing imagery. While not every image is going to do well in stock I believe
that if one consistently puts innovative imagery into the stock arena the
rewards will be well worth the effort.
Passionate Imagery And Revenue Generation
I have learned from my own experience that some pretty “out
there” images can actually generate significant revenue. If you are creating
photography that you are passionate about that passion will show through and
help raise your stock imagery above the vast morass of mediocrity.
Getting Noticed
Further, the more unique and exciting your images are the
more likely you will be noticed, and the more those images are seen the better.
Most photographers that are long-term stock shooters that I know, myself
included, have had the experience of getting assignments from art buyers and
such who have seen our stock images and tracked us down. It happens quite often,
which by the way, is another reason you really want to just put great imagery
into the stock pipelines.
Great Images, Financial Success And Creative Satisfaction
I have had great success at creating images that require
either a large financial investment (renting a lion for example) or required a
huge time investment in terms of post-production (happens to me all the time).
At least for me, investing in creating “portfolio” images has been a smart
strategy for stock. On top of that, creating top-notch images is way more
satisfying creatively. I would go nuts if I just churned out the same old
images day after day.
The More Great Images The More Success
Not every image shot for your book will be a commercial
success in stock, but it doesn’t have to be. Like everything else in life 80%
of your income will likely be generated by 20% of your imagery, but the more of
those awesome and unique images you have out there being seen the more success
you will have. Another thing I have learned is that I never know which of those
images will fall into that 20%, so I just think up those images, do them, get them
out there…then start in on the next.
Supplementary Images
Sure, I supplement those more challenging images with ones
that I believe will sell and are simple and inexpensive to create…but my heart
is in the images that are portfolio quality and by and large those are the images
that have driven my success in stock.
Shoot For Your Book And Put Your Images To Work
To sum it up, shooting for your book or portfolio provides
creative satisfaction and increases the chances of having imagery that will
stand out from the crowd. Putting those images into stock increases your
visibility and provides income…often for a long, long time. It is simply a no
brainer for anyone pursuing a career in photography.
