> So how do we figure out a way to get adequately compensated for our work by
> continuing to operate under a misperception? I not only reject the myth, I defy
> it by charging what I need to make a living. I operate in a market, not of the
> lowest price, but in the market of the highest quality, the best service, and,
> most importantly, as much as possible in the market of right livelihood. In other
> words I try to sell people things which they need, not things that purely
> generate income. If money's all I wanted, I'd sell drugs.
Ron:
The point I was discussing didn't have all this baggage added to it. I understand that we all
live by ideas that others call "myths" and that we must buy into them in order to function with
others. Ultimately though, I can't even approach the question from the angle you present.
The question I wanted to address was "how can I improve my images so people will want to
pay more for them?" I'm still anxious to discuss it, just on its own terms.
> I could go on for hours,
I'm not surprised. I myself would like to go on for hours on the subject of increasing the value
of my work too.
> I didn't realize my fame had spread so far. :)
Indeed, everybody in this office knows you.
> I continue to follow this site, because I have always wanted to sell stock, but
> the longer I wait to jump in, the colder the water gets. I always saw stock
> photography as a retirement thing, to boost my scant social security checks. But
> the world needs more travel photographers like it needs more nature
> photographers, which I also pretty much gave up on. I still dream about doing
> travel writing, though. It just seems a shame to have all these images and
> nothing to do with all but the few I decide to print and mat. It just seems like
> too much work to complete against micro-stock.
There's at least one myth in this paragraph; the idea of stock photography as retirement
income. I have no idea how this one got started but it has absolutely no grounding in reality.
This is very competitive business and has been so since I entered it in 1971. The idea that it
was once easier is yet another myth.
As for the water getting "colder," things aren't getting worse, you're just getting a better and
more realistic idea of what this business is all about.
My opinion? Try something far less competitive than stock photography in your retirement
like film acting...or perhaps less stressful, like air traffic control.
These days, I do travel writing too (something that I dreamed of also) and can assure you
that it is far easier than stock photography.
Brian Yarvin
Author, Educator, Photographer
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