A lesson learned

kokopedal · 01-13-2008

Over the last few years I have taken and or created some photographs that I think are good enough to sell or display professionally. I think every person who has ever picked up a camera has such a dream. I finally did something about it. I finally contacted a company that buys and sells artwork for a wide variety of reasons and publications. They also sell to interior designers around the world. I gathered my portfolio and we met. Just as we were ready to get serious about some of my work (they were actually impressed with it) the subject of format, bit rate, and megapixels came up. Lesson number one... Only pictures of 10 megapixels or more will be acceptable.

Lesson number two... Only pictures shot in RAW format will be acceptable. They must be saved in Tiff format.

Lesson number three... Only pictures of 16bit or higher will be acceptable.

Even though they were genuinely impressed with some of my work, nothing could be used by the agency. They did however promise to meet with me as soon as I can put together a portfolio in the right format. (Buy a new camera) My heart was crushed to say the least but I am glad I took that step and tried. It is my hope and dream that by the time I retire from my current career I can subsidize my income with photography.
The lesson here is a hard but vital one to any of you that carry the same ambition that I do, and that is to someday sell a photograph or piece of artwork professionally.
I have so much to learn. The agency is a locally based company in Hawaii You can check out their website at Printscapes.com - Fine Art & Photography Prints Delivered

**tamlin** · 01-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by kokopedal

Even though they were genuinely impressed with some of my work, nothing could be used by the agency. They did however promise to meet with me as soon as I can put together a portfolio in the right format. (Buy a new camera) My heart was crushed to say the least but I am glad I took that step and tried.

Don't be too downhearted, koko. Look at the positives:

The agency was impressed with your work
You now know what is required (from a technical point of view) for your pics to be accepted
You've got a promise from them that they'll meet with you again

I realise it's not the ideal outcome, but it's a long way from being a kick in the teeth, either. Useful information for anyone else considering the same course of action, too.

turvas · 01-13-2008

Note to self: Remember to write the next note.

Note to self: I have dreamed of getting a camera for a very long time, just haven't had the resources to do so. Now I know what do look for... far in the future. Thanks.

NikonErik · 01-13-2008

This is very strange to me. -An agency that will only accept Raw files?? The 16-bit color part gives it away . . . How much are they paying you to hand over files so they can manipulate that which you are the author of? Do you even retain any license to your work? I don't know. Without more information, this sounds like they're looking to take advantage of photographers.

Sounds to me that they are looking to rook you for a "Work Made For Hire". Here in the U.S. this is a term reserved for works of art created under explicit contract to do so or while working as an employee of the consumer of the work. The law does not prohibit a party to draft a contract that essentially buys the work as a WMFH and thus take exclusive rights to the work. there are even ways to write the contract that hides the fact that the work is being purchased as a WMFH.

Once they do this then they own the work and if the work continues to make money, and get re-purposed all over the place then the artist loses and is out of the picture, no pun intended.

Again, without more information, it sounds like a "sell-out" to me.

**tamlin** · 01-13-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikonErik

This is very strange to me. -An agency that will only accept Raw files?? The 16-bit color part gives it away . . . How much are they paying you to hand over files so they can manipulate that which you are the author of? Do you even retain any license to your work?

In the Printscapes Terms Of Use, under the section titled Ownership of this Web Site and Images it says:

Quote:

Pacific Stock, Inc. and/or the individual contributors who created the images own the copyrights to the images on this web site.

so I'm assuming that the copyright ownership is detailed as part of the contributor's contract, although that's obviously something you'll need to verify.

kokopedal · 01-13-2008

Barbara Bundage is the owner of the company. In my conversation with her we discussed ownership and copyright of said photographs. I will maintain ownership and copyright of all material handed over to them. However I am licensing them to sell my work on a royalty basis, since I am not paid up front for the work. This is just a vehicle used to get your work out there and over a period of time start receiving an occasional check in the mail. They do however retain certain rights and privileges but at this point in time I am not too terribly concerned, I think the exposure might be beneficial. If and when I take that Pulitzer shot, then we'll talk serious money. The other positive is that now my wife will be a little easier to convince that I need that new camera.
I just thought it might be of interest to others of you that carry the same hopes and dreams that I do to make the investment in time and material now rather than later. As some of you pointed out, they didn't leave the room laughing, instead they encouraged me to continue. I would like to pass that same encouragement on to the rest of you.
Aloha

photostar73 · 01-14-2008

by the fact seems to me right what said by nikon erik: what they are asking is very strange.
I work with some stock agencies, adn teh ywould never accept or request a raw file.
I also work for some motorsport magazines, and they never asked me raw files: almost all needs jpg files, and also tiff files are needed only and eventually for printing, but seems to me something linked to the past times.
Anyway it's ever good to look at the technical requests of the agencies befor to present our own works.
Also, if you're skilled with photoshop, you don't need a very professional machine: consider that many professionals use for the stock agencies simply the Canon 400d and not more!
Thanks anyway for your post, bye!

TheBetwixt · 01-24-2008

I'll be honest, I don't know a thing about working with agencies. But I wanted to say, based on what was posted in reply to you, is to go to other agencies as well, and see what their requirements are. It'd be a shame to rework an entire portfolio for one agency, much less invest in all the money for a camera to rework it as well, only to find out they have much different rules and requirements than anyone else.

DanielM · 01-24-2008

To keep your dream alive is one of the hardest things to do it takes vigilance and constant practice.I was once told Before you play the game learn the rules. I had one of my art pieces end up on a crappy menu.Once biiten twice shy. Wishing you strength and patience in all you persue

alchemist2112 · 01-24-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamlin

Don't be too downhearted, koko. Look at the positives:

The agency was impressed with your work
You now know what is required (from a technical point of view) for your pics to be accepted
You've got a promise from them that they'll meet with you again

I realise it's not the ideal outcome, but it's a long way from being a kick in the teeth, either. Useful information for anyone else considering the same course of action, too.

My thoughts exactly. Just know that your experience was quite positive. Much better than being laughed out of the building.

As you are just starting out, there is a learning curve. Look at it as a learning experience. Most of my beginning work in Photoshop graphics was done with the resolution at 72dpi (screen resolution). I had built up a nice collection of work I thought. Obviously I came to realize that all what I had done was completely WORTHLESS when looking to get quality prints made. Still, I did learn a lot, and that is all you can take out of it.

kokopedal · 01-25-2008

Thanks for all your support and advice guys. As I mentioned earlier, my wife is now convinced that I need a new camera. Wooo Hooo.