how to sell nature/macro shots, etc.

[Metalhead]

I understand that the best way to find business is with portraits since people always like professional pictures of them or their kids. However, I love doing nature photography--especially insects and butterflies, etc. Short of taking pictures and trying to sell them to a zoo or following around specific conventions and setting up a booth, I can't see much of a way to market it.

What's a good way for me to market my nature and macro work? Any ideas?

Here are some examples of what I mean

[ttusa]

Try getting into a stock agency. I have experienced a lot of rejection letters or just plain non responses, but I finally this past summer got into a medium sized agency out of New Mexico and made my first sale shortly after to Inner Reflections calendar.

[Metalhead]

Originally Posted by ttusa

Try getting into a stock agency. I have experienced a lot of rejection letters or just plan non responses, but I finally this past summer got into a medium sized agency out of New Mexico and made my first sale shortly after to Inner Reflections calendar.

forgive me for being ingnorant on the business side of things, but I don't think I fully understand what a Stock Agency is. Is it like a company that just purchases a lot of pictures and then sells them to a secondary agency for printing?

How would I look for one?

Thanks for the advice

[ttusa]

Originally Posted by Metalhead

forgive me for being ingnorant on the business side of things, but I don't think I fully understand what a Stock Agency is. Is it like a company that just purchases a lot of pictures and then sells them to a secondary agency for printing?

How would I look for one?

Thanks for the advice

A stock agency, if they approve your images, markets your images to calendars, book publishers, etc. Usually if you make sales, the agency gets 50% and you 50%. I would advise you to purchase Photographers' Market 2008. It's very informative as to different ways to get your images out there in various ways.

P.S. I'm no expert at this sort of thing, but I'm learning as I go.

[Steelsun]

Originally Posted by ttusa

. I would advise you to purchase Photographers' Market 2008. It's very informative as to different ways to get your images out there in various ways.

That's what I was going to suggest.

Also read this blog - http://blogs.photopreneur.com/

[Hikin' Mike]

You can try and sell your photos at Art's and Craft shows. I've been doing that for a few years (when I wasn't in the hospital).

Here's a copy/paste from another forum...

Here's my list of my vendors:

Prints - Mpix
Greeting Cards - Photograper's Edge
Card Display - Card Display
Mats, Frames, Clear Bags - Documounts
Print Racks - Jerry's Artarama
Canopy (10 x 10) - Caravan
Mesh Walls (pricey, but worth it) - Flourish

Here's my booth:

[kenw]

Mike, being in California you wouldn't realize it, but....in Texas you'll need to add:

10,000 BTU air conditioner: Home Depot

j/k, nice setup.

[dbphotos]

Hikin' Mike,

Off topic - I really like your site and love the photos! Great work. I really enjoyed the photos of your cars, I wish I had all of them. :-)

[dbphotos]

Metalhead,

Two other avenues you may want to try. Both www.DigitalRailroad.net and www.PhotoShelter.com are hosting sites that also market your images through their agencies. Photoshelter will actually review and then approve (or not) your images for placement into their agency web site and Digital Railroad allows buyers to search all images hosted with them. They both offer recommended pricing and accept credit cards, etc. so the buyers can pay immediately and download the image immediately.

If you don't have thousands of images to submit to one of the large stock agencies, then you may want to try this route.

[Hikin' Mike]

Ken - It get pretty hot there too!

David - Thanks!

[xseption]

Great info! thanks for sharing!!

~ edd