Every artist wants to make a buck. Every artist wants to become famous, get published, participate and get exhibited.
But at what cost?
If a site is asking you to supply your images in high resolution in order they promise you possible sales, stop a minute, ask yourself... Why do they need the images in large format? Are they a reputable image stock bank with a solid business history behind them? etc...
Years ago when my present agent communicated with me via e-mails, after seeing my work getting featured in a very reputable Italian photo magazine, my first reaction was, "Are you for real?" "Don't ask me to supply you any portfolio off the bat in high resolution." "Let's see sales"... I supplied him with low web resolution images at first. When he found clients for a specific image I supplied the high resolution versions. Then I waited for my payment at the end of the month...
I believe it takes once to get s*****! But make it at least a small loss that you can stop further heart acke...
Yes, I got paid... And the rest is only a history now. We have an amazing working relationship. I trust him...
Last year through another photographer friend, some of us discovered a new competition site... They were offering even money without asking a competition entry fee to the first winners in each category. And this was going on weekly. WOW! It was too good to be true.
So I have participated for few weeks with only with 11 images. Once I won a first place in a category, I got $20.00. Yup.
But then my agent started warning me. What was the catch behind the company collecting high end photography in relatively high resolution format. Yes you could easily print an 8"x10" print from the minimum size of image files they were requesting.
I stopped participating after my 11 image entries.
Please do not misunderstand me. Sites such as this one might be great web sites for you if you like to keep your competitive edge on a high level by participating at their weekly photo competitions. You might sell a limited edition 5"x7" with a digital signature they are asking you supply them. You gotta be kidding me right?
Never supply your signature in digital format to anyone.
All successful businesses have to start somewhere. I believe in that. But at what cost to you, the participant?
In a large pool of such web sites you go and become a member of, which one is truly will be selling your images and paying you instead?
January 16th 2012 I got an e-mail from this competition site.... I was awarded something even though I had entered only with 11 images the entire last year.
Here is my badge of honour in color, their company name is blurred.
I wish the owners all the best of luck in their huge collection of images from around the globe from some great photographers... Some participants have uploaded each over 400 TOP quality image files last year. Almost their entire portfolio.
What the site operators will do with all these images? Surely you don't think that your limited edition 5"x7" digitally signed photo with bring you a huge whopping sale to pay your rent and food...
I have a feeling with success and polpularity, such site operators are very clever in their business plan. There is a sale going each and every day in the Internet land. Big fish buying the small promising fish to eliminate competition... It is called mergers. That's how these type of sites make money. And meanwhile you, the artist hope to get famous and make a sale.
Photography business isn't an easy one. Like any business it is a business before everything else. Art is art, but it rarely pays the bills.
Cheers,
Hera Bell
