Special Speech

Keeping up with the times…

Is It Still Called Stock Photography ?

A century ago, magazines featured mostly text. Graphics were secondary. Today, it’s reversed. If you include advertisements, our periodicals today feature more graphics than text. The new “automated” stock photo services (with Royalty-free photos that offer lower prices for photos), are providing quality generic images to publishers who previously couldn’t afford photography as an option. As a result, new markets are now opening up for photographers who produce generic images.

The stock photo industry has finally come around to recognizing a previously largely neglected major marketing principle (one that we actually have been espousing here at PhotoSource International since our beginning). To wit: there’s a vast market of photobuyers who are not interested in high-fee, RP (”rights-protected”) photos. They simply want an image they can temporarily use, one-time, in one of their low-circulation, limited-readership, publications.

Let me backtrack.

In the 1950’s, there were few stock photo agencies. When I returned from a trip through Africa in 1958, I sought out an agency from the few listed in the Manhattan telephone directory. My photos landed at Photo Researchers, then a two-person, New York City hole-in-the-wall on 42nd Street. Photo Researchers is still there today.

The dozen or so “managed-rights” photo agencies of the ’60’s have increased to several hundred agencies today. In the late 80’s this “managed-rights” stock industry was at its peak. Today it’s still thriving, with a major impetus being the emergence of the massive corporate digital agency (Corbis, Getty, Jupiter Media, Index Stock Imagery, etc.). The smaller stock photo agencies are folding or being absorbed in mergers, or have resorted to specializing.

THE TRANSFORMATION

The Digital Era has transformed other major industries: communications, transportation, banking, plus the military and government. It was bound to transform our stock photo industry, and it has.

In the past, traditional “managed rights” stock agencies demanded very high fees for their images, and why not? They had the market all to themselves. There was no “Kmart” counter in the stock photo industry.

The formation of micro digital stock agencies has changed all this. These new companies are able to reach out to markets that couldn’t afford the traditional high stock fees of the past. Using “volume” as their guide, rather than “managed exclusivity,” these digital agencies have proved that there was a sleeping market for their inexpensive on-line offerings.

This movement has opened a whole new market area for individual photographers whose files are filled with generic photos that, up to this point, have been going nowhere. Today, by using the power of automation, digital photo corporations are selling “Royalty-free generic images for very low fees: $35, $15, and $1.

Do these lower fees deflate the market? We have seen in other industries that they do not. The textbook progression is that after a leveling out period, thanks to lower fees, the market actually expands. If you have an automated volume product at a lower fee, the bottom line usually improves. The consumer benefits, and so does the corporation. It’s called free enterprise.

This marketing approach, of course, is what we have been espousing here at PhotoSource International since 1976 when we introduced our first marketletter, The PHOTOLETTER–still in existence today. Back then we observed there were thousands of small graphic houses, regional publishers, denominational houses, and small book publishers, whose budgets would not allow the use of $200, $300, or $3,000 images.

Many of our subscriber members, by concentrating on only a few specialized markets among these lower-budget buyers, found they could earn healthy incomes by selling to these markets in volume. Back in the 70’s, these photographers in effect automated their selling methods and reduced administrative costs, much the way corporate digital stock houses have learned to do today.

The theme of my first book, Sell & ReSell Your Photos, emphasizes this approach. If the picture is good, more than one photobuyer is going to want to use it, when there’s no cross-readership conflict and the price is within their budget. The early stock photography pioneers found it was a lot less stressful selling a photo 10 times at $75 to these lower budget editorial markets, than selling one picture at $750 in the high-pressure commercial arena.

- - - - - - - - -

WHAT IS EDITORIAL STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY?

You know what photography is, and you know what stock photography is — yes?

Take another look. During the past couple of decades, an aspect of photography has been growing to where it is now planted firmly on the scene as a photographic division in its own right: editorial stock photography.

These are the photos of everyday slices-of-life, the insights into the human condition, the events and vignettes and moments you spot — and then dive for your camera. Editorial stock photos show people involved, doing things; they feature specific geographical locations; they give a “real” look at every aspect of human activity and the world of nature. As legendary Magnum photographer Elliot Erwitt has said, “[Photos] have got to tell you something that you haven’t seen, or touch you in some way emotionally…” As to his personal preference, he says, “With regard to photography that I respect, my view is fairly narrow. I like things that have to do with what is real, elegant, well-presented and without excessive style. In other words, just fine observation.”

Editorial stock photos are in contrast to commercial stock photos, the latter being the slick scenic and product shots, the gorgeous sunset, the healthy senior citizen couple bike-riding through autumn leaves, that we see in advertisements and commercial promotions.

Commercial stock photos have to conform to “what sells.” The commercial photographer must engineer the photos to fit into commercial clients’ needs, trends in the industry, and to appeal to a wide, general audience. The resulting photos are often called generic images because they can fit a variety of uses.

Editorial stock photos are produced by a different approach. Rather than appeal to the commercial needs of a client, the editorial stock photographer follows his or her own interest areas, and targets certain segments of life and culture that they enjoy photographing. Examples: medicine and health, sports, social issues, travel, etc. The photographer then sells these photos to markets that use images in those specific subject areas.

Buyers in the commercial field include designers at graphic houses, corporate art directors, and ad agency creative directors. There’s much turnover in these positions, so developing consistent working relationships with these markets is frustrating and difficult.

In the editorial field, the buyers range from photo editors at books and magazines, to photo researchers — the people who are hired by publishers and art directors to seek out highly specific pictures. There’s less turnover and more longevity with editorial buyers, and editorial stock photographers can enjoy strong long-term working relationships with their buyers, which translates to more consistent sales.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. 1 800 624 0266; Fax: 1 715 248 7394. http://www.photosource.com

I’ve been invited to Abilene to speak at a church’s 100 year anniversary. The theme is “This Far by Faith.” My speech was planned months ago and contains Biblical references about longevity. I use BibleGateway.com for research. It allows you to use keywords and look in many different interpretations. I looked up the keyword - faith. The search produced dozens of scriptures. I put them in three sections; God’s faith in us, our faith in God, and our faith in each other. It was a little long, but I figured I would get inspired before I had to speak.

My road trip to Abilene was uninspiring. I got to my hotel without knowing which section I would use. My cell phone rang as I unloaded my car. My best friend was very upset on the other end. He just started dating someone new and he felt like he was under attack. The young woman he is dating is delightful. He told me all about her and I have spoken to her on the phone a few times. All of our mutual friends like her and I have been looking forward to getting to know her better. She is not someone that would make his friends worry. What happened?

While I boarded a crowded elevator, he unloaded the day’s events. I thought his new girlfriend had said or done something horrifying. She had not done a thing. His sister, however, successfully unloaded all of her own insecurities on him in a conversation from hell.

She told him that he had terrible patterns. She thinks that the new girlfriend might have ulterior motives. She wondered why he always “rushed” relationships. The conversation was painful. On the elevator, all I could do is say, “OK, OK, OK.”

My first reaction was that his sister was trying to be protective. When I got into my room, I told him that I understood that part. Then I told him how much I hate what she did. Friends, family, and sometimes people we barely know can step over boundaries and ruin a situation if we let them. The issue is not whether the girlfriend or the situation is perfect. No person or situation is perfect. The issue is whether or not we want to have faith that, no matter what, things will work out alright.

We take a chance every time we trust someone. Those “Big Sister Moments” are painful because the other person is telling us to never expect anything good to happen. I reject that, it is unacceptable.

Trusting is always an act of faith. The only thing that varies is the people involved. When I think of the dangers of the world I think of serial killers, diseases, natural disasters, and unavoidable accidents. Being warned that a new person in your life might hurt your feelings seems ridiculous. If someone has a good history with people, they are probably low risk. Nobody can predict the future, but most people are operating within a range of normal behavior. Dramatic, frightening warnings are hardly ever necessary, but dramatic, frightened people love opportunities to mess with your mind!

I always encourage people to have high expectations. Go for what you want! Living that way means accepting that you don’t get what you want 100% of the time. Sometimes it is 99% of the time, sometimes its fifty. There are times when what happens is far superior to what you expected. Those are the best! The worst times are when you make an investment in something that has no recognizable value. Avoiding the worst times is a matter of due diligence. What are you investing in and what are your chances of terrible loss? Another good question is what are you losing? Value often reveals itself later. We never really lose.

Family and friends are usually trying to protect you, but it is not necessary to adopt their lack of faith. My best friend’s tailspin was completely out of character. He is accustomed to being trusted. I do trust him and I will not use his trust in me to cause emotional harm. He will recover. There is no reason to treat one ill-conceived conversation like the end of the world.

I’m rearranging my scriptural references for the speech in Abilene. I will open with a question. If you don’t love your brother whom you can see, how can you love God, who you can not see? Please, have faith in each other.

Dr. LaMar researches, writes, and speaks about mentoring relationships among professional women. She also consults with growing businesses about how personality and processes can affect workplace dynamics. Her books “God Provides The Sacrifice: Women Discuss Making Their Hardest Decision” and “Drama Free Workplace” can be purchased in e-book format and paperback from her web sites or by calling 806-203-4094.
http://www.DrLaMar.com
http://www.DramaFreeWorkplace.com
http://www.PhenomenalWomansGuide.com

The influence of your personal environments on your health, creativity, and well-being is often subtle, yet profound. You can use the environments you live in to support you in feeling good about yourself, to experience less stress, and to be more productive.

Personal environments can include your relationships with family, friends, and colleagues, your work environment, networks, ideas, learning environments - and your physical environment - such as your home, the community you live in, nature, your garden, the technology you use, the information you absorb - everything that you surround yourself with. It can also be the foods you keep in our house, the beautiful objects and colors around you, the books, magazines and newspapers you read, the movies you watch, and the thoughts you think.

Personal environments can also include your ‘internal surroundings’ - your belief systems and thought patterns. As you work on raising your awareness of your inner thoughts and eliminating negative or unproductive thoughts, you might notice increased levels of energy and focus.

It’s possible to revitalize your surroundings or environments and design them so they bring out the very best in you, so that they evolve you toward a successful, inspiring, struggle-free life. As you develop your personal environments, you develop yourself and your capacity to be creative and to receive ongoing inspiration and support.

The goal is to design supportive environments that will inspire you to be your best and do great things. Success and personal development are more sustainable when there are environments and failsafe structures which support it.

ASSESS YOUR PERSONAL ENVIRONMENTS
Being fully alive calls you to play a much bigger game in life…evolving to your optimal potential or ‘greatness’. Do the environments around you bring out your best? Do you receive enough creative inspiration? Do you know what sparks your muse? Is there enough intellectual and spiritual stimulation in your life?

1. When you are feeling fully alive, what is going on for you?

2. How do you feel as you walk into your workspace? Into your home?

3. On a scale from 1-5, with 5 being the most desirable, how much would you say your environments are supporting you in living the life you most desire?

4. What is something in your environment that you are tolerating that could be removed?

5. What is something that is missing from your personal environments that, if added, would inspire you to do and be your best?

6. What methods do you use on a daily basis to raise your energy level?

7. What beliefs most profoundly affect your way of thinking?

TRY THIS
If inspiration is an energy that flows through the spaces we inhabit, it is wise for us to remove any items that might block its path, and add items that would increase its presence.

Choose one physical environment in your workspace or home to concentrate on. If you could change one thing in your surroundings starting today, what would you change? Each day, do one task in that environment to establish order, create space, remove items that block your creativity, add items that you love, perhaps add color - and design surroundings that will inspire you to be and do your best.

Creating an environment that truly supports you in being your best can be a very worthwhile long-term project. Envision what an inspiring, stimulating environment would be for you, and have the patience to build that vision a step at a time. It’s worth the work!

FINAL THOUGHT
“If you have not used something in the past year, regardless of how attached to it you are, pass it along. You have used up its usefulness to you… letting go of attachments is a rewarding way to feel positive about yourself, and to keep things flowing back into your own life as well.” ~ Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

Copyright © 2005 Jan Marie Dore. All Rights Reserved. Newsletter publishers are most welcome to reprint this article provided it is published in its entirety, without change, including contact and copyright information. Please send an email to admin@janmariedore.com advising the ezine’s name & URL, and the date the article appeared.

Jan Marie Dore, Professional Certified Coach, Speaker, and Writer, publishes articles like this one in her free ezine ‘Living From Intention’, designed to inspire, challenge, and support you in creating a life that is meaningful, authentic, and a joy to wake up to every day. You can sign up for your own subscription by sending a blank email to subscribe@janmariedore.com . For free resources and programs on living a purposeful life, visit Jan Marie’s website: http://www.janmariedore.com.