How to make money from macro photographs

[C Hutton]

Hello everyone,

I've been shooting macro photographs of insects and other small creatures for about a year and half now and I think I've reached a point where it's good enough to sell. Please feel free to check out my site and let me know what you think: http://colinhuttonphotography.com/

My main question is who would buy these kind of images? I'm going to look into stock agencies, but beyond that does anyone have any suggestions specific to my work? I don't expect to make a living from this, but a little extra cash would be nice.

Here's a few samples:







Thank you for your time.

Colin

[Jonbar18]

Your work is VERY good (and a little frightening, to be honest ). Problem is, I don't see much of an audience in the general public for your work. No offence, but I do not want to be eating with a closeup of a spider staring at me (than again, I have a personal thing against spiders, others might actually like them.) I would think your best bet would be something like NatGeo, Discovery Magazine, or some of the other big** names in science or what not.

That was originally "bug names". What a happy coincidence...

[DFphoto]

I agree with Jonbar18.

Your work is stunning. I agree the private market would be limited.

Start contacting the Magazines, as Jon suggested, I could see this work in a number of publications.

[zephod]

Great pics and BTW the logo is awesome...

[andyw]

Very good shots - rather limited market.

Get hold of the Photographers Market handbook (US) and the Freelance Photographers Market Handbook (UK) which both list hundreds of magazines and spe******t agencies some of which will be able to market your work better than you can.

If you check out the "normal" stock sites (istock and the like) you will find they do have loads of insect shots, so check out what the sales/downloads are like on them. You will have to ensure that you keyword them with their proper names (both common and latin names).

Can't be of anymore help as it is not an area I have ever got into.

[OsmosisStudios]

Originally Posted by Jonbar18

Your work is VERY good (and a little frightening, to be honest ). Problem is, I don't see much of an audience in the general public for your work. No offence, but I do not want to be eating with a closeup of a spider staring at me (than again, I have a personal thing against spiders, others might actually like them.) I would think your best bet would be something like NatGeo, Discovery Magazine, or some of the other big** names in science or what not.

That was originally "bug names". What a happy coincidence...

Pretty much this. Macros of bugs aren't big sellers, even in the fine-art market, no matter how good they are - and yours are fantastic. Sorry to say, but you won't find much in the way of a market.

[C Hutton]

Thanks everyone! This has been very helpful.

I sometimes forget that most people don't really care for spiders even though they're my favorite thing to photograph. I just recently started to concentrate more on butterflies and dragonflies which I hope will have broader appeal. When Spring arrives I will add more 'pretty' insects to my portfolio.

I will get those handbooks and contact some magazines. I would love to see my work get published.

Thanks again for all the advice.

Colin

Throw some up on shutterstock, istock, and dreamstime. It's not a huge money-maker, but good enough to get a lens or two a year.

If you put them up on Flickr, sometimes that stuff goes viral (mine stuff has a few times). The last time it went viral, I made several thousand selling art prints to several businesses.

Really great stuff too...this has big potential of going viral.

[ajsuk]

They are amazing shots, I think PBG's advice is pretty sound.

[bigben6]

I'll just restate whats been said, amazing shots, I cannot see a huge market out there though... but i think they are neat for sure, i wonder if you could PS something together that would have a broader appeal... technically and visually very good though....