Stock photography service on MFLenses

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Michael , Sorin your registration is activated and I did gave you admin rights at the beginning we can play together with configuration to find best settings what is possible to get out from Gallery.

I think hardest part how can we popular for both side photographers and buyers too. Buyers want everything cheap or free , photographers want to earn some money, me too Smile

Good resolution is essential for payable customers that for sure. Perhaps we can start with watermarked images for viewing and two resolution like 1600 + full for same price for all customers.
Selling price should low as possible at least for a while.

cooltouch · Joined: 15 Jan 2009 Posts: 9096 Location: Houston, Texas

Good ideas, Attila. Thanks for the activation.

I don't think the lowest resolution needs to be 1600. The stock photo sites barely give about 500 pixels horizontal for their low rez, which I think is too small. I think the forum limit of 1024 is fine, and I don't really see why it needs to be bigger than that. Just my thoughts.

Screamin Scott · Posted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 9:01 pm Post subject:

I'd be interested as well Atilla....Haven't been posting much as of late...Working extra on my day job & with the time change, it's been dark both going to work & getting off, so not taking many photos either...

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Great Scott register there and let's we set first a good setup and if it is done we can start to fill content.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

I will partecipate also.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Great !!

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

However, it is important that there is a serious quality control on the pictures that are submitted.
Somebody must be charged of it and the partecipants must accept his decision, whatever it is.
If we start selling pictures with visible defects, this will affect the reputation of the whole store and damage also the sales of the good pictures.
I know this is not going to be a popular comment, but either we do it "comme il faut", or we'd better not.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Himself · Expire: 2013-05-30

I see a stockphoto section of this site as a big endeavor.
First of all the quality of pictures.
I`l reiterate what Orio said: somebody must check them. And it`s not about hands/legs cut off but straight horizon, noise, dirty sensor, nudity, model releases ( for both persons and property).
Picture storage. As you know fellas, it`s all about size. I wouldn`t say fortunately or not, I`ll let you decide that:D
Now, in photography size matters. What size do we upload? What size is available to the potential buyer? I, for example, could say: my 50D gives me averagely a 7Mb picture which can be upsized to 9Mb whithout quality loss. Considering the space constraints I can upload only a 500kb. What's the garantee that I have the big ones secured? None.
By the the time I sell a picture my computer crashed 2 times and I've lost everything. ( not aplicable to me that scenario-I have three (3) copies of my pictures, one of them deposited to a friends house).
Have a look at this type of photo stock which is primarely based on submissions

http://www.photographersdirect.com/

Hari · Expire: 2015-05-27

If we don't try, we'll never find out

Attila, count me in too buddy - I will also participate

francotirador · Joined: 17 Sep 2009 Posts: 894

Attila your idea is very interesting.

DigiChromeEd · Joined: 29 Dec 2009 Posts: 3462 Location: Northern Ireland

Any update on this topic - I'm interested too!

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

I found a good and inexpensive software which is looks complette, ready to install

Take a look on this.

http://www.ktools.net/photostore/featured.php

one example who use it

http://www.freestockphotos.es/

If you like it we should share it's purchase price and buy it, I will install it. stockphoto.mflenses.com or something else good domain if we find an available better domain name.

Orio · Expire: 2012-12-04

I'd say go on!

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

So please use donation button and send 25 USD to my account we need 10 participants at least to reach purchase price and I will buy it and install it.

I will do what need for a working website. I look for helpers who are register into current stockphoto sites , study their policy , prices and we should plan better prices for both side photographer and designers and quality services for sure.
This info is essential for start.

I did inform 10+ people in pm who said it here willing to participate.

PaulC · Joined: 23 Dec 2008 Posts: 2318

Attila, who is doing the quality control? what do they know about the marketing? How is this going to be promoted? What is the exact concept and the target market?

I think that maybe MF lenses could open a niche for itself, maybe with more "old time" look photos and a lot of film and B&W, but it isn't something you can make work just because you have the software. You need a strategy, a budget and a staff.

I think I am getting great results from my Leica R4s and black and white film but the agencies won't be interested. Show me a reason why you could find buyers for traditional photos and I will back you.

These days, you need about a million images to make an impact in the micro world. MFL would need to be above that, in the "traditional pricing" section, with marketing and follow-up. Can you really do that?

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Good thoughts ! My wife in graphic designer business from many years, here is her references.

http://hqdesign.hu/html/arculat_tervezes.php
She works every day with stock photos, she knows well what designers want.
At the beginning we will don't have money for staff all helper welcome in any fields.

We can make categories for non-typical stock photos what other sites offer, they will have place here. To attract buyers most of them I believe will be designers we need to offer quality selected stock photos. Surely nice if we have other choices , but seperatelly to not make a silly mass like many stock-photo sites offer.

visualopsins · Expire: 2025-04-11

Hey there might just be a niche market for stock photos of the MF lenses, and, secondarily, for photos made using particular MF lens, something like in the 'Best of Lenses' Gallery.

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Olivier · Expire: 2015-08-06

Donation made, Attila.
Let's start and we'll see what good comes out. Wink

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Got it ! Many thanks!

trifox · Expire: 2014-05-29

Attila -- paid 25 USD - the PayPal didn't allow me to add comment 'STOCKPHOTO'.

@ PaulC -- I understand what you are trying to outline ....

My experience with stock images:

I have done a great job for agencies such as MARK/BBDO and EURO/RSCG - both successful advertising companies focused on marketing communications - totals years = 4 = (both 2 years)

We sometimes used GettyImages pictures paying huge amount of money - from my point of view - (graphic designer) we were mostly scratching our heads rather saying: that's a good choice - the problem was that CUSTOMER had the final word - what they said that had to be done Smile

mostly with no sense for art - simply selling motifs were the best to our customers...
the good thing was that we were able to add something special to the pictures and made them more interesting .. or funnier lol Smile

Otherwise -- majority advertising agencies choose their own sources especially for ABOVE THE LINE activities (billboards, TV spots, bla bla)
their photographers with own marketing strategy and creative ideas.

Above the line activities are more important for advertising business. Therefore, there is only tiny room for stock images where agencies like MARK/BBDO spend their money - a few leaflets or manual brochures -- not too much ...

The market is fragile now..

Then a few guys (I worked with) set their own businesses in advertising biz and -- this is funny -- they do their own pictures -- even istock has no chance to be a successful source of pictures because of this era -- I mean digital era -- creative people have finally a cheap source of cheap digital cameras they meet their expectations - I mean FULLY - and any good graphic designer is able to adjust and retouch their own pictures for the own needs -- and the camera is CHEAP and FAST .. who needs a stock images then? Smile

The times when 'Getty' was on the top is behind us but - on the other hand -- there is more competition on this market..

Digital camera is SO CHEAP now and quality of the image is STUNNING even from a little devices such as mobile phones. Smile

I would say -- let's try, Attila and we shall see Smile

tf

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Thank you Stan!

exaklaus · Expire: 2011-12-02

Not sure, if it will work at the end. Nevertheless I've spent that 25.
klaus

Attila · Expire: 2025-11-18

Thanks Klaus!