Friendly Image Libraries - Do they still exist?

[ted_smith]

Hi

I have been reading 'Photos That Sell' by Lee Frost. It dates back to 1999 and refers mostly to the days when image libraries were still largely film based. In it, he makes frequent reference to the importance of having a good relationship with "your image library" and he stresses the importance of "liasing with your image library before going on a trip" etc etc to see what images they need.

In this modern day of the digital age and stock photo sites being web site centric, are there any such libraries around these days that you can have a personal business relationship with. i.e. a library you can call and say "Hi, it's Ted. I'm going to Cornwall this month. Are there any images of specific places from there that you need?" Somewhere where you can pop in and have a cup of tea even! You see my point? My 'image library' (or stock photo site if you prefer) is at www.digitalrailroad.net and although they seem OK, they are nothing like the library that Lee discusses in his book.

Are any of you members of any such image library? If so, which one - I'd like to see if I can join!?

Ted

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

I am a member of http://www.photographersdirect.com. It is a pretty good library. Basically you apply and if accepted you can upload your images and keyword them. Then they are ranked and you are given more disk space based on the quality of your images. They send out several photo requests daily to photographers too. The big thing is that you get to negotiate your price and copy rights on your own. Then you pay photographersdirect.com 20%. They call it fair trade photography.

I have also started my own online searchable library that I market to photo buyers. It take a lot of time key wording all those images though.

D.

 

[Akki14]

I don't think stock photography is where it's at if you want money or fame. What's your goal here? Most people who use stock photography are news agencies and they tend to just grab and steal from the internet if they can't find what they want anyway. Or use the BBC News website method of just getting people to send in random cell phone pictures for free that they can use forever for whatever they like.

 

[Derek Lofgreen]

Umm, not true Heather. Most publishers, books and magizines, use stock and there are a lot of publishers out there. You may not get rich selling stock but you certainly can make some lunch money with images you have sitting around. Why not sell them? Image buyers are always looking for new images. Anything different they can use. So they search for them everywhere not just the big stock houses. That is usually the last place they look.