SELECT A COMMERCIAL CHANNEL
Image users are varied and numerous. Choose functions for which your shots are most suited
Nature photography is a highly competitive genre and few photographers make a living solely from shooting in this area. The best solution is to be versatile and open-minded to the potential destination for each of your images. Finding multiple uses will increase the financial return from each shoot, by increasing the value of each file. However, this presents its own set of challenges; a deep understanding of how the requirements of each end user varies is a prerequisite skill.
Before attempting to enter the commercial arena, research the common specifications requested by image publishers, to assess how best to approach each image in the field. This will aid in the recognition of common causes of image rejection early in the production process, namely subject positioning, background composition, camera angle and of course, general technical quality. To begin with, target your work at related products and media such as calendars and postcard publishers, or guide book publishers and stock image websites. These pairings share common default specifications, providing a simplified shooting process – as the photographer you will be able to concentrate on capturing your subject to a less complex itinerary of requirements in the first instance. As your experience grows, you will be able to predict when images suitable for specific uses will materialise and be prepared to capture these as part of a predefined shot list.
A grasp of the intended function of your images is also of utmost importance if your work is to have widespread appeal. Not all users of photography place emphasis on the same aspects, since they do not expect images to have the same effects on their target audiences. Truly commercial uses – those which function to generate revenue, either directly or indirectly – encompass calendars, diaries, notelets and popular publications such as general interest magazines respectively. Images supplied to these customers will likely focus more heavily on the most identifiable features of a subject, much in the same way as popular travel shots show famous landmarks for extensive public appeal. These are often less contextual, using tighter crops for viewer engagement on a shop display, for example. Conversely, images for science or conservation functions are often more analytical, exploring finer details but also illustrating the subject in a wider ecological context.