Todd NesnickStock photography isn’t a glamorous career, but it is one that can be lucrative. That said, it’s not easy to get started or make your way into the world of stock photography. But with some hard work and dedication, you’ll be able to build up your own portfolio and find success in this field. This guide will give you all the tips you need to amp up your stock photography career—from entering contests to building profiles on social media sites.
Enter Photo Contests
Photo contests are a great way to get your name out there, and you can enter some of them even if you don’t have a portfolio. Their main drawback is that they can cost money.
If you want to participate in photo contests, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Make sure the contest is free or cheap. Some contests charge entry fees, while others require you to buy their images from them before submitting your work. Avoid these types of contests if possible.
- Consider entering with stock photos if you don’t have originals on hand—it’s better than nothing. Most publications want original photography when possible, but it isn’t always necessary or even preferable. Many publications run “stock-only” images on occasion as well—just make sure yours are high quality.
- When submitting your work, be sure to include plenty of information about yourself and your portfolio. If they want high-resolution images, ensure you provide them with those. The more effort you put into your submissions, the better chance you have of winning.
- If you do win, make sure to promote your win as much as possible. It can help build your portfolio and increase exposure for yourself.
Create Social Media Profiles
If you haven’t already, it’s time to get social. Though they may seem like an afterthought in the photography industry, social media platforms are a great way to connect with other photographers, share your work and get feedback on it, build your portfolio, and network with potential clients.
- Facebook: While many photographers like to use Facebook to keep up with their friends and family, it’s also an excellent platform for sharing your work and getting feedback. People will often comment with ideas or praise if you post regularly and include some information about the shoot. You can also search for other photographers in your area who may have some knowledge on how to improve your technique or get more clients.
- Instagram: Many photographers use Instagram as a way of sharing their work and getting feedback on it. You can post your work with the hashtag #photography to create an instant community of people who are interested in seeing what you’re doing.
Find Your Niche
Finding a niche is one of the most important steps for your stock photography career. You can’t just shoot whatever you want and expect to make it in this business, so it’s crucial that you do some research and figure out what you’re passionate about shooting.
Once you have an idea of what kind of work interests you, start putting together a portfolio for yourself. Make sure all your photos are taken with high-quality equipment and edited professionally by someone who knows what they’re doing—it’ll pay off when potential customers see how professional your work looks.
Work On Building A Portfolio
To get started on the right foot, it’s important to understand a portfolio. In short, it’s a collection of your best work—not necessarily all of your work. Your portfolio should reflect the quality of your best photos and show them off in an appealing way.
This doesn’t mean that you need to make an entirely new website just for stock photography; rather, if you want people to take notice of your photos when they visit your personal portfolio site (or whatever platform you use), then this section should definitely be included somewhere within it.
Go To Conferences
Conferences are a great way to meet people, learn new skills, and make connections. As a stock photographer, you’ll want to attend conferences that focus on your niche market. Conferences can also help you learn about trends in your industry so that you can anticipate what will be popular in the future. Conferences are also an excellent forum for learning about new software, equipment, and marketing trends.
You’ll also want to attend workshops and training sessions. These are great for meeting other stock photographers, learning new techniques, and building your portfolio.
Conferences and workshops are a great way to meet other stock photographers, learn new techniques, and build your portfolio. You should also consider joining a professional association or guild. These organizations can provide important networking opportunities and legal advice if you’re ever in trouble with clients or other photographers.
Conclusion
We hope these tips have been helpful for you to amp up your stock photography career. If you haven’t already, check out the previous posts in this series about editing your images and creating a portfolio.
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