How to Use Stock Photos

With the vast technology of digital photography, a new venue of photography emerged, stock photography. Stock photography is a profession in which a photographer takes pictures of what he likes and uploads them to a stock photo distributor or gallery, which in turn makes sales to commercial publishers. How to use the vast number of photos taken by a photographer is the key to the profession. There are a multitude of ways to use your stock photos besides uploading to a distributor.

Things You'll Need

• Digital camera
• Web gallery

Instructions

1. Create a Web gallery and display your photos online. Market and network your Web gallery as you would any business venture. Add contact information to your gallery and market to the local business community for long-term contracts.

2. Upload your photos to several stock photo distributors. Research stock photo agencies and choose the top three or four to submit your photos to. Stock photo agencies will display and market your photos for you. Choose the best licensing for your photos as well as agreed upon prices.

3. Upload your photos to online travel logs. Photograph the entire journey. Create a set of travel photos that most people will find interesting. Add a commentary record of the incidents and events of your trip. Travel logs are a great marketing tool. They are a great way to get your name known for taking good quality pictures. Occasionally, a print magazine will call about publishing an uploaded photo.

4. Submit your best photos to photography contests. Submit one or two as required to several photo contests, both online and in print. Contests are another great marketing tool as well as the opportunity for cash awards.

5. Create a personal online photo album or blog. Create a family blog that will show off your family pictures. A blog will keep the entire family up to date with all events no matter where they live. Add names, dates and captions to your photos. Add commentary to tell about the events in your relatives' lives. Keep in mind that family photo blogs do not necessarily bring in money but can be used as marketing or networking tools.

6. Create your own personal stationery or marketing material with your stock photos. Create your own marketing stationery that not only tells the customer who you are, but also displays a few of your photos.

7. Print your best stock photos and display them in a gallery or art festival. Pick out an assortment of your best photos for professional printing and mounting. Arrange for a showing at a local art gallery or art fair. Many of these art galleries or fairs are set up for budding artists and photographers to get known and sell their work.

8. Create a photo journal e-book and self-publish. Produce your photos on CD-ROM or PDF Portfolio file, and mix in sounds, music and animation for a great photo journal of a trip that can be sold at art fairs and festivals or at your next gallery show.

Tips & Warnings

• Choose your venues with care. Any public space can be used as an exhibition area. You want to highlight your photos in the best and most professional way possible. When you upload your photos to the Internet, understand what you want to accomplish. Pick your venues accordingly.

References

• All Things Photography