How To Sell Digital Photos And Make A Career

August 12, 2009
by Danny Haberg

Making a living from knowing how to sell digital photos, or anything which stems from a passion or a hobby can be one of the most rewarding and fulfilling achievements in life. People have a vast array of talents within them, and being able to express them as well as making money can instil an overwhelming sense of pride. Getting up every morning an knowing that your are living the life you want thanks to something you have a great talent at can make the mornings that much brighter.

You know that you are good at taking pictures. You know all about composition, lighting and have all the right equipment. But knowing how to sell digital photos may just be a new skill that you will require to add to your portfolio.

A portfolio is something that you will need in order to show potential buyers the full range of your photography. This is a professional way to make an impact and display not only your pictures, but the talent which lies behind them. The skill and eye for art of the photographer.

The portfolio should be broken down into categories, or themes. This will help buyers navigate easily and find their way around what you have to display. Having to wade through a disorganised array of photos could put someone off purchasing from you.

Taking advantage of the demand for stock photographs is a great way of knowing how to sell digital photos. Why? Because the digital photograph format allows people to receive what they want quickly and efficiently. Customers may want your photographs for usage on their website and will want them quickly. By gearing some of your portfolio specifically towards stock photography, it can help generate extra money for you.

When looking how to sell digital photos to the stock field, then Stock Agencies are available to help you. They exist to purchase high quality photographs which can in turn, be sold onto to the like of graphic designers, web designers and advertising agencies. The re-selling is done by licensing the pieces of art for specific uses, while the photographer receives their share of the deal through commission based earnings. While stock photography, while you will be unlikely to make a great earning off it, it is a wonderful and creative way to subsidise any income.

Always be fully aware of your legal standings when it comes to using models in your photography. When someone’s face is used for your art, and is then sold, the recognisable person in your picture has a right to say how their face is used, unless they waive their rights. Always make sure that your model release forms are in order when submitting pictures to Stock Agencies. It can save a lot of hassle in compensation cases down the line.

The photographs themselves should of course be clear, well composed without blur and digital noise in them. Pictures which look like they have been taken by a tourist will likely not get anywhere. Stock photography opens avenues so it is worth exploring exactly what kind of agency would suit you.

Volume is a good way to help you progress your photography career. You will invariably love taking pictures, so take as many as you can. This will increase the chances of you getting the perfect shot of a subject, and increase the quality of your portfolio through a rigorous selection process. For anyone buying photographs, quality will always rise above quantity.

Always carry a business card, a photo business card for you never know when opportunity will strike a pose for you!

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