Feel free to e-mail me directly so I get your message.
I would rather not. The forums work based on public responses that all can share. And it means that if what I say next is a pile of BS, others will say so.
My only point is that the stock field can be more lucrative than $2 and image. That might be what you make at istockphoto aimed at the low end market, but higher end stock houses can pay triple digit fees, and if you get several sales from a shoot over time, it can work out to be lucrative.
My only point is that the stock field can be more lucrative than $2 and image.
Rights managed stock photos cost way more than that. (Don’t know what cut the stock agency takes though, since I buy)
As a content producer, I would say that there’s many ways to utilize a photographer…the biggest key isn’t amount of services provided but the quality and reliability of the photographer. Usually when I look for an image, I know what I need and I’m willing to pay a couple extra bucks to get a quality image from someone who can prove they know what they’re doing. On the other hand, if that person is selling their images on iStockPhoto for $2, then why should I pay $200 for it? Be aware of your competition and offer quality and reliability, I guess is what I’m saying.
You DO!
Well I personally don’t, but work does (though we are guilty of getting stuff at istockphoto and fotolia too)
You were saying, "when I look for an image, I know what I need and I’m willing to pay a couple extra bucks to get a quality image from someone who can prove they know what they’re doing. On the other hand, if that person is selling their images on iStockPhoto for $2, then why should I pay $200 for it? "
Yes, if we’re talking stock photography, that’s great to make $200 on one image. Short of stock photography, then we’re talking about custom shoots. I have to take the appt., arrange to do the shoot, set up equipment, do the shoot, get paid. And then I’m a nobody until someone needs me again.
Which beckons the original question, which was in essence, what else can I offer my clients other than just taking pictures? Is there any way I can offer Photoshop services? I’m not just talking about finding ONE client who needs 2 hours of Photoshop. I’m talking about a bigger business, ie, can I find 300 clients who have a regular need for such services?
Thanks,
jeff
is there any way I can offer Photoshop services?
Absolutely, we hired a photographer last year who provided us not only with product shots, but did the close cutting for them too.
A lot of the work I do is retouching (and I’m not a photographer)
Cybernetic Nomad, if I were to offer retouching work like you do, what kinds of clients would I contact in my area? For example, I could contact IBM, but what department? How often do they need these services? What kind of department would I be contacting, for example, their marketing division, etc. Aside from companies, what groups of companies would need such services, would they be PR firms, ad agencies, etc.? What I’m looking for, is what would amount to a steady flow of work from a regular number of say, 30 to 50 of them that each would be sending me work from time to time, cumulatively totaling up to something reasonably steady.
Thanks,
Jeff
Since I’m (really) not a salesguy, I can’t really answer that.
My entire sales pitch is: "Yes" and it’s usually given when someone asks me if I can do such and such a thing. This has ranged from logos and flyers to retouching old photos and trade show booths.
There’s a reason I work (as an ’employee’) for others and only do freelance on the side
I do alot of the same kind of work that you do Cybernetic Nomad. I worked for a studio for a few years and even though I was hired on as a photographer, I was glued to my Mac for 9-10 hours a day. Scanning medium format, retouching portraits, etc. We did a lot of architectural photography for home builders, so I was often removing this object or that. I don’t work there anymore but I still get asked to do alot of that for people. Photo restoration has been pretty lucrative for me, and archiving too. I think that if you market yourself right and really get out there, you can make pretty good money doing it.
I miss that job…
A well planned web site e-book could be of some help, perhaps to promote your services?
Any large business is likely to have an in-house design dept. or to have a contract with an agency to provide pictorial services as required for a monthly fee.
