Putting Microstock on the Back Burner
November 11th, 2008
Published in
Photography
9 Comments
Tags: 12 Seattleites, Etsy, microstock, personal, Ultra Mega 2000
I’ve been heavily involved with microstock for several years now, and before I say anything else, let me make one thing clear: It’s been an awesome, life-altering experience that I wouldn’t trade for anything in the world. Look at it: I’ve said goodbye to 9-5 working, I’ve met a wonderful woman and started a new life in a new country, I’ve learned more than I can put to words and met some incredible people along the way. It’s no exaggeration to say, that microstock has been at the root of my career as a photographer and an artist. That said, I’ve decided to put microstock on the back burner for a while.
By that I don’t mean to imply, that I won’t be uploading anything or not keeping up to speed. It just means that other aspects of photography will recieve first priority. More specifically, I want to focus on more artistic efforts, such as my “12 Seattleites” project. I’m already working on a few of these personal projects, but the difference is that I am now allowing myself to do so, without feeling guilty about ignoring my stock portfolio.
So I’m calling it “taking a break” mostly for the sake of my own conscience, but there is at least one good reason beyond that: I sometimes feel that working intensely with microstock for so long, has limited my artistic vision. I tend to look at all my own photos with the question: Would this work as stock? And that is not the right mentality, for someone working on an art project. I must unlearn the standards, I am so used to enforcing, that I may grow as an artist.
The coffee-sign photo used with this post, is an example of a shot that would never work for stock. I shot it while experimenting with cross processing and Holgas. I want to do more stuff like that.
Because I work best with time-frames and deadlines, I have given myself the rest of 2008 and all of 2009 to do this. It happens to fit with my Seattle project, which I’ve already budgetted a year’s time for, but I’m hoping to do a lot more than just this one project. I want to do a similar project about my first home, Copenhagen, and I have several other ideas as well.
I have already taken a few baby steps in this new direction. First, I set up a photo blog, where I can post single pictures. This really wasn’t needed, since I also use Flickr, but I like having a more personal, limited outlet. Besides, I put all sorts of snapshots on Flickr, which I am not doing on the blog. Secondly, I have set up an Etsy-store. I’ll be experimenting with selling prints through there, and already, I’m astounded at the influence that has had on my Twitter account (about ten new fellow etsy-sellers added me in just a few hours). Let’s hope some of that spills over into sales.
Microstock has given me freedom to do these things. I am definitely not quitting microstock. It just so happens, that right now, I have a lot of other things, I want to try. Among these is also having a go at selling pictures through Getty, rather than iStock. Something I have yet to try, but my contributor account is already set up, so whatever I do shoot, I’ll probably be uploading there (though my current camera, a Canon 20D, is too crappy for Getty, but that’s a different issue). I will still be keeping up with everything microstock, still inspect thousands of photos every month on iStockphoto, offer portfolio consultations and all that good stuff.
But first and foremost, I’m going to focus on telling stories and exploring techniques in my photographic work, in the year to come. It will be an exciting journey, no matter where I end up.
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November 11th, 2008at 3:06 pm(#)
I know what you mean about microstock suppressing the artistic side of our brains. I make an effort to not think that way now (”would this work as stock?”) and even do my best to photograph with film now-and-then. I’ve even had a few good sellers on iStock that were never initially intended to be stock photos!
Good luck with everything
November 11th, 2008at 8:30 pm(#)
I was in a similar situation around last year at this time. For the last year, I’ve felt as though I needed a change that allowed me to think outside the box of stock photography. After joining the Philadelphia Grid Project and being involved with others who were more fine art photographers really opened my eyes. I’ve been able to see things differently, open my eyes and photograph things that I normally wouldn’t have photographed before because it wasn’t stock worthy. I still upload to istock, but I’ve taken other paths to discover the other potentials that I have as a photographer. It’s definitely opened many doors for me and I’m sure that it will for you as well.
November 11th, 2008at 10:10 pm(#)
So let me get this straight: You’re changing from:
1. shooting for iStock
2. inspecting for iStock
3. doing microstock consultations
4. writing your book
5. writing your blogs (3 by my count)
6. doing the 12 Seattleites project
7. keeping us all entertained on Twitter
to:
1. shooting for Getty
2. inspecting for iStock
3. doing microstock consultations
4. writing your book
5. writing your blogs (3 by my count)
6. doing the 12 Seattleites project
7. keeping us all entertained on Twitter
Yeah, I can see how that’ll free up some time for you Ras! Do people use the words “over achiever” around you often?
November 11th, 2008at 10:53 pm(#)
Lee: Well, when you put it that way… But seriously, to answer your question, I have never been called over achiever in my life. To my face, at least.
November 12th, 2008at 2:38 am(#)
I like photoblogs. They give a different sense of place than the photo streams on flickr. I like to sit and look at individual photos without being disturbed by all the social networking.
B and I have been posting photos to our own photoblog at factorytakeover.com for a little while now. It’s mostly scanned analogue photos and I enjoy posting half-cleaned scans with the washes out colours I get from my consumer scanner. Too ugly and out-of-focus for flickr, but perfect for the web.
November 12th, 2008at 5:08 am(#)
Best of luck Ras in your endeavours! Look forward to reading here of how you get on.
January 3rd, 2009at 7:51 am(#)
“Allowing” yourself…without feeling guilty are the words that ring a bell to me. This year I’ve started a new collaboration and I have no doubt it will open doors to all kinds of new projects. 2009 will be a fantastic Year Ras. I wish you much success and know you’ll do what you set out to do. Cheers!
January 14th, 2009at 12:58 pm(#)
[...] an eye opening experience, to let go of that idea. You may remember that I purposely decided to stop focusing on microstock, in the hope that I might grow as an artist, but I did not expect it to happen so [...]
January 14th, 2009at 3:45 pm(#)
Hi Rasmus,
when Lee Torrens is supposing you to be an over-achiever, why don’t you tell him, that you are just another Dane, that hasn’t burned out yet?
But I’ve got to read Lee’s and your good advcice on microstocking a little bit more, it seems worth while for an old Danish amateur.