Just got some images accepted to Getty!

Originally Posted by Charmed

I haven't missed the point at all.
The guy who sold the photo isn't a professional, therefore he would not command the sort of fee a pro would. Once he gets more of a name for himself, then he will be able to command a better fee. Everyone has to start somewhere.
I understand where you are coming from, and if he does decide to go down the route of charging for his photo's on a more regular basis, then yes he will need to do more research. But that time wil come, and thanks to people like you he will know what he needs to do when that time comes.
Now how about giving him some encouragement rather than putting him down.

:P Old pros don't bother me. They're just grumpy that their market is getting oversaturated with competition and know that there is little they can do about it.

The important thing is that I'm happy about the transaction, not worrying about what could've been...and I'm really enjoying the Sigma 70-200 f2.8

[ressalg]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

And then a marketting company offered me $500 for one of my photos on Flickr, and is now in Camel cigarette ads all over the U.S.

It just occurred to me... do you have a link to the ad? It might give the rest of us an idea of what sort of picture(s) ad agencies are looking at. Was your image altered in anyway?

Originally Posted by ressalg

It just occurred to me... do you have a link to the ad? It might give the rest of us an idea of what sort of picture(s) ad agencies are looking at. Was your image altered in anyway?

I don't have a link to the ad. Originally, they were going to use it in magazine ads (like in Rolling Stone, Maxim, etc), but they ended up just using it in Point-of-Sale ads...so I went from "with nation-wide distrubition in the world's most popular magazines" to "next to Earl at the Quickie Mart". I actually saw it for the first time on Saturday, but was in a hurry to get to a wedding so I didn't have time to acquire it (figured I'd offer the girl behind the counter $10 for it).

The entire photo wasn't used. They actually covered up the balloon area with an orb of some sorts, and only the spray is in view. I'll see if I can get ahold of the ad soon and post it here.

But like I said, both Istock and Shutterstock have rejected that photo.

[sarahdavis]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

I don't have a link to the ad. Originally, they were going to use it in magazine ads (like in Rolling Stone, Maxim, etc), but they ended up just using it in Point-of-Sale ads...so I went from "with nation-wide distrubition in the world's most popular magazines" to "next to Earl at the Quickie Mart". I actually saw it for the first time on Saturday, but was in a hurry to get to a wedding so I didn't have time to acquire it (figured I'd offer the girl behind the counter $10 for it).

The entire photo wasn't used. They actually covered up the balloon area with an orb of some sorts, and only the spray is in view. I'll see if I can get ahold of the ad soon and post it here.

But like I said, both Istock and Shutterstock have rejected that photo.

Hi, just had to comment on this thread once I saw the photo. I LOVE what you do, I knew who you were as soon as I saw the photo. And while it would be great to be offered a lot more than $500 for the incredible (to me anyway!) things you do, but I'd take the $500 in a heart beat too.

I think there are times on this site when the really experienced pro photographers get frustrated with those of us who are...Well, inexperienced enough that we're absolutely thrilled if someone offers us $500 for a photograph that we were just happy to have come out just the way we were hoping for.

Sometimes I don't ask questions here because I do things differently. Or because I dare to ask a question that someone who has been coming here for years has already seen 20 times. But it's totally different to reply to some 6 month old thread that's already been talked to death than to start talking to someone who chose to answer you and participate in the conversation.

Sorry, this thread really spoke to me because I don't ask a lot of things even though I understand things better when they're explained one on one I guess, and I like hearing a lot of people's opinions. Because I'm always waiting on someone to jump down my throat & tell me all the things I'm currently doing wrong.

Anyway, another awesome photo for you & way to go. Hope you continue to sell many many more and work your way up to that 3K per photo.
Sarah

[Jim Bryant]

I'm not grumpy. Just trying to get folks to sell their damn photos at market value. It's not hurting me, but you. I wouldn't mind it so much if the competition was good, but that's not the case around here (not on DPS, there's some very fine talent, but in my area of the woods).

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

I don't have a link to the ad. Originally, they were going to use it in magazine ads (like in Rolling Stone, Maxim, etc), but they ended up just using it in Point-of-Sale ads...so I went from "with nation-wide distrubition in the world's most popular magazines" to "next to Earl at the Quickie Mart". I actually saw it for the first time on Saturday, but was in a hurry to get to a wedding so I didn't have time to acquire it (figured I'd offer the girl behind the counter $10 for it).

The entire photo wasn't used. They actually covered up the balloon area with an orb of some sorts, and only the spray is in view. I'll see if I can get ahold of the ad soon and post it here.

But like I said, both Istock and Shutterstock have rejected that photo.

Do you actually have a clue as what those magazines charge to run an ad? All, I'm saying is that you should have done your research before letting the image go for $500.00.

But hell, guess you're right, $500.00 for nuthin...........that's what you got compared to what an experienced photographer would have commanded.

BTW...it is a sweet shot..........

Originally Posted by Jim Bryant

Do you actually have a clue as what those magazines charge to run an ad? All, I'm saying is that you should have done your research before letting the image go for $500.00.

But hell, guess you're right, $500.00 for nuthin...........that's what you got compared to what an experienced photographer would have commanded.

BTW...it is a sweet shot..........

I hear what you are saying Jim. It may sound like my business sense is screwy, but I usually think things through pretty well. Even my $100 wedding had a strategy...less than a week after posting 20 or so of the best images to Facebook (another big no-no, so I'm told), I've gotten several inquiries for performer headshots, baby photos, and another wedding (at $1000 this time). It saved me a bundle on advertising and bridal shows, and way more effective. And you know as well as I do, one job can build into 2 or 3 more...

I did a little research before agreeing to $500, and found the range to be about $500 to $5000, depending on several factors (used Getty Images as a source). They specified that it was going to be less than 1/4 page, and was going to have a graphic partially over it. So from that aspect, I didn't feel $500 was an unfair price. Plus, I was concerned about asking much more, considering they could probably find a similar photo for a similar price (you never know what alternatives they have lined up).

And thanks! To date, that has been my best water balloon shot...and it was during my first session.

And I just got a copy of the ad last night. I was in the check-out line at my local grocery store, and they had 5 of the ads behind the counter. The check-out girl was nice of enough to let me have one. I'll take a photo of it later and post it.

[arsifferlen]

congrats...that's an awesome feeling that i want to experience one day!! great job.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by Photoboothguy

I hear what you are saying Jim. It may sound like my business sense is screwy, but I usually think things through pretty well. Even my $100 wedding had a strategy...less than a week after posting 20 or so of the best images to Facebook (another big no-no, so I'm told), I've gotten several inquiries for performer headshots, baby photos, and another wedding (at $1000 this time). It saved me a bundle on advertising and bridal shows, and way more effective. And you know as well as I do, one job can build into 2 or 3 more...

I did a little research before agreeing to $500, and found the range to be about $500 to $5000, depending on several factors (used Getty Images as a source). They specified that it was going to be less than 1/4 page, and was going to have a graphic partially over it. So from that aspect, I didn't feel $500 was an unfair price. Plus, I was concerned about asking much more, considering they could probably find a similar photo for a similar price (you never know what alternatives they have lined up).

And thanks! To date, that has been my best water balloon shot...and it was during my first session.

And I just got a copy of the ad last night. I was in the check-out line at my local grocery store, and they had 5 of the ads behind the counter. The check-out girl was nice of enough to let me have one. I'll take a photo of it later and post it.

Good to see your photo in print. Guess there is a method to your madness Anyways, nevertheless, of what I think, you still did a great job on the photo and in this day in age every penny counts.

[Jim Bryant]

See....you're not so stupid!