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Getting Started in Stock Photography. Rich Legg Exclusive Contributor, iStockphoto www.LeggNet.com - www.RichLegg.com. My Background. Trained as a portrait photographer in 80’s Did no serious photography between 1993-2003 Discovered Flickr and Blogging Joined iStock in December 2005.
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Getting StartedinStock Photography Rich Legg Exclusive Contributor, iStockphoto www.LeggNet.com - www.RichLegg.com
My Background • Trained as a portrait photographer in 80’s • Did no serious photography between 1993-2003 • Discovered Flickr and Blogging • Joined iStock in December 2005
Growing with iStock • Didn’t take seriously until March ‘07 • Signed Exclusive with 500 Images Sold • Went Full-Time in January 2008 • Currently over 63,000 images sold
What is Needed to Begin • Digital SLR (recommended) • Image Editing Software • Basic knowledge of exposure, composition and post-processing • Patience and a thick skin
Steps to Becoming aniStockphoto Contributor • Sign up for free account • Fill out application • Take a basic quiz • Submit three sample images
Steps to Becoming aniStockphoto Contributor • Upon acceptance, contributor can begin submitting images for consideration • Every image is personally inspected by a paid iStock inspector to ensure it meets the required standards
Inspection Criteria • Lack of Artifacting • Clear Focus Point • Good lighting • Lack of Chromatic Aberration (Fringing) • Not Over-Processed • Suitable for Stock
My Steps in Editing • Shoot in RAW • Make Exposure Adjustments in ACR • Remove Logos, Clean Skin, etc in PS • Make Isolated Adjustments in PS • High Pass Filter Sharpening • Save as Highest Quality JPG
Subjects that Sell • Good Looking People • Portraying a Theme • Everyday Events • Unique Scenes
Subjects to Avoid • Landscapes • Sunsets • Grab Shots • Your Cat (Sorry Ann)
Shooting Models • I use real people and I pay them • Everyone signs a model release • Attractive • Don’t look like “Models”
The Financial Side • Base royalty is 20% of image price • Exclusives earn up to 40% • Gross image price varies by size • My average gross this year: $5.75 • Paid up to weekly (min. $100)
Thank You! • Blog: leggnet.com • E-Mail: rich@leggnet.com • Telephone: 801.259.3500 • Twitter: twitter.com/leggnet • Stock Portfolio: richlegg.com