Stock Photography Master Class

This video was created from a presentation given to the Winchester Camera Club and gives a broad overview of the stock photography business with specific examples of how much you can earn, which types of images sell the most, my best selling images on various microstock agencies and much more!
You can find more details about my approach to stock photography at www.backyardsilver.com

[@CatMilton1]

Excellent video. Thank you so very much for going to the effort of sharing this talk. One of the best videos I've seen on Stock Photography (and I watch quite a number!) I wish, for those interested in Stock Photography, this garners a far bigger audience!

[@SteveHeap]

Cat Milton thanks Cat! I probably should do more videos, but I find writing easier!

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks Cat! I'm glad it was useful to you!

[@aydencalvin3031]

i guess im asking randomly but does any of you know of a method to get back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost my password. I would love any tips you can offer me.

[@terrencetheo568]

@Ayden Calvin Instablaster :)

[@elijahlovkoff160]

Cool video Steve, very useful and informative.

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks Elijah! Great to see that it is appreciated!

[@millefloreimages3957]

This is a great master class on stock photography, Steve, and I agree with other comments that you are an excellent teacher, and should definitely do more!

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks Annie - the big question is what I should create (and also why, to be honest!). Work should result in a payoff somewhere down the line!

[@ksnax]

This talk alone is gold. Downloaded your books as well!

[@SteveHeap]

Hi Kip - thanks for that kind comment!

[@jademoralesfernandez9715]

I'm just starting out in stock photography and not much knowledge about how it works. This video has helped me a lot! Thanks sir!

[@zacharycedeno6638]

You sir are an excellent teacher, I feel like you have helped me rise miles above others already thanks!

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks!

[@Storystein]

Thanks for uploading this! It was very helpful video. I'm a humble starter in the stock world with drone footage, and just made their first sale. Gotta start somewhere! Things like sticking different backgrounds to your popular surf boards shot would never have crossed my mind. Thanks for the clear examples and explanations. Take care!

[@AtulKumarVermaOnline]

This talk has more information than all of the other KZbin videos combined!

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks! Glad you found it useful!

[@jessesarrazin8713]

Outstanding video - thank you very much for making it!

[@tombaker2778]

great Vid Steve!

[@rullweh]

thank you steve, this is very helpful, and a lot of knowledge that I got, thanks again😁

[@egyptiansphinx3036]

Amazing insight... thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

[@shaunwaller8913]

A great overview. Thanks!

[@VincentVega987]

1$, that's all a photo is worth these days .. Shutterstock: hold my beer

[@roycefaggotter6860]

Very interesting to watch and listen to, I am doing stock myself.

[@WhatAboutNepal]

I'm from the US but retired in Nepal. I find the people are happy to cooperate with me if I just ask. We also offer them money if we sell an image or footage and they provide a phone number or email. They usually don't mind if they get money or not. We borrowed some of the village kids and put them in an old building with bars on the windows and they were amazing. They looked like they were trafficked. One of the mothers asked if her daughter might get discovered. But if the person says 'no' I never want to use the photo. My not-so-sage advice would be to smile, chat them up a bit and then ask. However, be careful to fill out the model release forms properly. They are really picky about each line.

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks! I agree that people can be happy to cooperate, but then getting them to fill out a model release is a big step too far for me. Partly because I don't want to be bothered and partly because I'm not that sure I would end up with shots that are very sellable. But it does depend very much on how you much you enjoy interacting with locals on your travels!

[@PeteLeong]

Very good info thank you Steve!

[@rcj1uk280]

Excellent talk and presentation

[@touchedbynature5445]

Very helpful and informative. Many Thanks for sharing.

[@canadamalayalichizzayon4346]

Thank you Steve, I am in Canada but was always reluctant to take pictures in public places where people are involved. It seems like Canadian and US laws are similar on this when I reviewed after watching your video. Thanks again

[@SteveHeap]

I don't know about Canadian law, but I think the US position is reasonably clear. The publisher is the one who is legally at risk, because they chose the way that the image is actually used. So unless you go out of your way to make someone look stupid, I believe you are reasonably safe in selling images with people as editorial usage. I think it is best to make the people one of the subjects of the image rather than the main subject. With travel photography this is reasonably easy to do. Steve

[@canadamalayalichizzayon4346]

@@SteveHeap thanks Steve.. will try as per your advice 👍🏻

[@BrettHondow]

Awesome video, thanks for sharing. I submit stock to 8 or 9 agencies but have a pretty ordinary portfolio of around 800 images. Looking to step up my game in the future as a useful steady source of income. Thanks for the inspiration. :))

[@SteveHeap]

Brett Hondow thanks!

[@kevinjack5184]

Wow, glad I found this. I just got a Gh5 and am a total beginner in my future work

[@SteveHeap]

Kevin Jack Birchfield thanks! If you are just starting, you ought to take a look at my book as well. Steve

[@kevinjack5184]

@@SteveHeap I will for sure. Is Kindle the only format?

[@SteveHeap]

PDF from my website as well

[@charlescarabott7692]

I just sold my first stock photo. I only have a Fuji AV200 but got some photos approvd. Hopefully I buy a more advanced second hand camera soon

[@nofeartv7269]

Nice (comment from India)

[@Matt-ei1yh]

Steve, thanks for the great video and insight. I wanted to ask for Stock video, you said you are doing 4K but I wanted to know how many frames per second fps to you shoot at? What do people want?

[@SteveHeap]

I normally do it at 25 (or is it 24) frames per second. That seems to meet most needs and is a bit smaller in file size. It is supposed to look a bit more cinematic. Not sure there is a commonly agreed answer to your question.

[@Johnnycbtx]

Steve, thanks for all the great info you provided in this video. What length of time do you normally submit for your 4K footage? Have you submitted any time lapse?I have thought of doing this also but I am a whole lot better at Lightroom than video editing.

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks Johnny! My 4K footage is generally between 12 and 30 seconds depending on the subject. I don't think buyers want much more than that. I do have some timelapses that sell occasionally, but it hasn't been a great subject for me. And yes, video editing and creation is a new skill! I find it harder that Lightroom and Photoshop!

[@radekmakarov]

Thank you so much for sharing Steve. Can I have question, do you use some program to upload the images on all sites at once, or do you upload them on each stock site separetly ?

[@SteveHeap]

I use Stock Submitter. I've written about it here: backyardsilver.com/microstock-plus-easier-uploading/

[@marlontrottmann5026]

Hello Mister Heap, Thank you so much for sharing such a complete explanation about the stock photography! I’ve started last year with it and I still love to learn more so that I can improve week by week by learning all the tips and tricks 👍 I’ll have a look to you ebook! Greetings from Switzerland

[@SteveHeap]

Thanks Marlon - this does seem to be well liked! I ought to do some more videos I guess!

[@marlontrottmann5026]

I think it would be very helpful to have some more advice from someone with such a big experience on stock.... yes please 😃

[@dannyjernigan7166]

Thank you for this how about books you have produced

[@steelcityopera1272]

I'm not sure I understand the comment, Danny? I have written one book about stock photography

[@lonniepaulson7031]

How do you find who used the photos? You showed published ads and how the photos were used on other websites. How can you find where your work is published?

[@SteveHeap]

Lonnie Paulson I do a google image search and can find the location of my images that way. I only do it occasionally.

[@dalecalaway6432]

Hey Steve, I purchased the eBook bundle on your website via PayPal, and need to reach out to reset the download link. Do you have an email or another way to contact in regards to redownloading my purchase as the link has essentially expired. Thank you!

[@SteveHeap]

Hi Dale - there is a contact page on BackyardSilver.com. And there is an email on the About page - I didn't want to include it here and get more spam...

[@prs26]

Old People .... not yet wise... still chasing money

[@R.G.LovesBooks]

I follow his blog, he’s not chasing money, he’s making money. He reports his earnings every month and is making a very nice income from it. Old or young, who doesn’t want more money.