GET STOCK IN!
BEATA MOORE shares her experiences of earning an income from selling her images as stock, and reveals her top tips
BEATA MOORE IS A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER AND AUTHOR. CURRENTLY SHE IS FINALISING HER LATEST BOOK, PHOTOGRAPHING SURREY AND SUSSEX, WHICH WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE IN THE FIRST PART OF 2021.
HOW MUCH OF YOUR INCOME COMES FROM SELLING STOCK IMAGES?
I travel widely on both personal and commissioned projects for commercial and editorial-related clientele. My work is diverse, from wider views to smaller details, therefore it’s ideally suited for stock photography. On average, I receive 50 per cent of my income from selling stock images.
WHAT STOCK SITES DO YOU SELL YOUR IMAGES ON?
I have been providing images for Alamy and the National Trust for many years. The stock-photography industry has drastically changed over the last ten years – with the introduction of digital technology and smartphone cameras, the market has exploded. Despite all these changes, stock photography has proved to be a reliable source of income for me. My secret is to generalise, but to retain the quality of a specialist. My frequent trips to European countries allowed me to cover a wide variety of the photographic needs of the travel industry.
WHAT TYPE OF IMAGES DO YOU FIND SELL BEST?
The most-requested photos tend to be the ones including people, especially when they represent positive messages or clear concepts. Stock photography is also about adapting to new trends, but most importantly, it is a numbers game. Years ago, a stock photographer could expect a reasonable income from a few hundred photos; nowadays one needs to have a few thousand. The main advantage of selling stock images is the freedom of not working to a brief, and the welcome balance between commercial demands and personal work.
WHAT ARE YOUR TOP TIPS FOR SELLING STOCK IMAGES?
For photographers wanting to start working in this field, I would recommend building a strong selection of images. Make sure that you adopt new trends, try using different approaches, tell a story, capture decisive moments, and remember about clear and simple messages. Most importantly, be patient, as it takes a few years before your images are going to reach the first pages of searches and start bringing you an income.