Getting Started

Obviously, you can’t sell stock photos if you don’t have a camera to take pictures.  But will any old camera do?  Can you get by with a typical point-and-shoot model or do you need something fancy (i.e., expensive) with lots of bells and whistles?  Should you use your old film camera or update to digital?

The answers to these questions depend on 1) how serious you are about stock photography, 2) what equipment you already have, and 3) what you are willing to spend.  At the very least, you should have a decent digital camera; if you already have a film camera, you will need to invest in a good scanner anyway, not to mention other expenses.  You might get away with a high-end, point-and-shoot camera at first, if you are very creative and talented.  Sooner or later, however, you will probably want more creative control and the ability to shoot RAW images.  Also, many agencies have minimum file size requirements, typically around 5 MBs, which a low-end camera may not meet.

I recommend a good, single-lens reflex (“SLR”) digital camera.  With an SLR, you can change lenses and get the perfect composition every time.  Most SLRs shoot RAW and other formats and have more features than you will ever need.  Although they tend to be more expensive ($500 and up for just the body), you can reuse the lenses if you update the camera later.  Remember, however, lenses are designed for particular manufacturers, so once you pick a brand you’ll be wedded to it unless you have money to burn.  Also, a cheap consumer model may seem like an attractive option, but it will wear out or brake much sooner than its professional counterpart.  As with any major purchase, do your research!

What else?  Well, you can’t process images with out the necessary hardware (computer) and software (an image processing program).  I am a longtime PC user, but a Mac is a great option for all sorts of media.  You’ll want a good graphics card, lots of memory, and a calibrated monitor.  As for software, many cameras come with their own programs, but you might want to purchase a professional program like Photoshop Elements or check out some free image processing programs.  Again, it all depends on how much time and money you want to invest.

If you purchase a camera, you’ll no doubt be bombarded with all kinds of deals on accessories.  Although you certainly can do without many of these extra expenses, you might want to consider a tripod, extra media cards, a media card reader, and some cleaning equipment.  An extra battery, shutter release, filters, and external flashes may be good ideas depending on of what, how, and where you take pictures.

As your collection of images grows, you’ll want to think about storage and backup.  A large hard drive is a good place to start, but what if it crashes?  You should have at least one external hard drive and the ability to burn CDs/DVDs for backup.  With a photo printer, you can not only produce your own products, but also create physical copies of your favorite creations.

Sifting through 500 GBs or 1 TB of images can be a daunting task.  Repeatedly submitting the same photo to an agency can get your account suspended or revoked.  It is best to come up with a system for naming and cataloging your files at the beginning.  Think it through and stick with it.

I name my photos with the date and order they were taken.  I then input that and other information, such as brief descriptions and keywords, into a database; originally, I used Microsoft Excel, but now it’s Access.  When I submit photos to an agency, I can copy and paste the appropriate information to the site, saving a ton of time and effort.

Specialized programs exist to help organize and catalogue your collections, but I prefer something that I can customize.  Use what works for you.  Remember, part of the joy of stock photography is the learning process.  I also use my database to track the status of submissions and record any reasons for a rejection.  Keeping track of images saves not only time and frustration, but also teaches you what sells and why.