I have been a member for a few years. They seem to be a quality organization. However, I have never sold anything through them as their requests seem to be so highly specific that I never have what they are looking for. It is kind of fun to see what requests come through.
I joined this site several years ago - at least three. In fact I haven't been logged in there for at least two, until your post here.
I can't say anything bad about the site - it's just one of many, many websites trying to make a buck in photography. I have no problem with that, but will say that I've never had any sales thru this site. Personally, I don't see the harm in joining.
John,
I am a member of PhotographersDirect and, like Lon, I haven't made a sale through them. I have had one request from one of their buyers about one of my images - a tulip. I guess my price was too high, though, because I didn't make the sale.
I like them as an outlet for my images. I have uploaded a couple of times for their requests from buyers for specific content but, to date, haven't made a sale through PD. My last upload for a request was for a horse shoeing article and my pics made it into the selection process but I still don't know if any of my uploads were chosen or not.
I've been a PD member for a couple of years, and have made a few sales - which have lead to others.
While its not my primary business sales, I'll keep my account open and have had good experiences.
Kathy
www.kathyweigand.com
Posted by Fadil Aziz on September 14, 2008 at 9:54 AM
everybody seems have different experience. but i come from the no-sale camp. i joined PD for about two years now with no sale too. i have a couple hundreds of images (about 300 and maybe its too low i don't know). as far as request, most of the time it's been difficult images to fulfill. I have the impression that clients search in PD for images they can't find on other agencies. but again, it's free (except you want to pay for premium membership) but you should also consider the time investment. me, i don't upload photos to their searchable stock database anymore but still follow thru the request.
I have zero, zip, nada, kein experience with PD, but I've got to chime in.
There's something that makes it look attractive: The requests for specific and difficult-to-find photos.
Talk about a gold mine!!
The stock shooters I know who make a living at it derive most of their income NOT from the images they have on file, but from the requests sent out by the stock houses. Whenever possible they rush out and take photos to fulfill the requests. Talk about opportunity and instant sales!! Remember too that rare and difficult photos also are usually worth more than photos available from multiple sources.
Think of all those requests as assignment shooting, and you'll be putting jingle in your pockets, and pronto!
Discussion
8 repliesHave any problems with their image ratings ? or with them changing image ratings ?
I joined this site several years ago - at least three. In fact I haven't been logged in there for at least two, until your post here.
I can't say anything bad about the site - it's just one of many, many websites trying to make a buck in photography. I have no problem with that, but will say that I've never had any sales thru this site. Personally, I don't see the harm in joining.
good luck,
Lon
I am a member of PhotographersDirect and, like Lon, I haven't made a sale through them. I have had one request from one of their buyers about one of my images - a tulip. I guess my price was too high, though, because I didn't make the sale.
I like them as an outlet for my images. I have uploaded a couple of times for their requests from buyers for specific content but, to date, haven't made a sale through PD. My last upload for a request was for a horse shoeing article and my pics made it into the selection process but I still don't know if any of my uploads were chosen or not.
Lou
I've been a PD member for a couple of years, and have made a few sales - which have lead to others.
While its not my primary business sales, I'll keep my account open and have had good experiences.
Kathy
www.kathyweigand.com
There's something that makes it look attractive: The requests for specific and difficult-to-find photos.
Talk about a gold mine!!
The stock shooters I know who make a living at it derive most of their income NOT from the images they have on file, but from the requests sent out by the stock houses. Whenever possible they rush out and take photos to fulfill the requests. Talk about opportunity and instant sales!! Remember too that rare and difficult photos also are usually worth more than photos available from multiple sources.
Think of all those requests as assignment shooting, and you'll be putting jingle in your pockets, and pronto!