529: Caro Telfer – How to generate an income with stock photography

PhotoBizX The Ultimate Wedding and Portrait Photography Business Podcast

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Caro Telfer of www.carotelfer.com catalysed last week's interview with Claire Bonnor of Aus Stock Photo – the Australian-based stock library.

Caro sent me a message about supplying stock photography to the library and said…

I’m not quite making a living out of it, but it has given me a new option and changed how I work.

So far, I have about 5,000 images on the Austockphoto website.

Until last year (which was a disaster health-wise for me), I had been adding on average, 1,000 new photos each year.

Last year, my gross sales came to just under $20K. Considering that I hoped to cover my weekly coffee spend when I first signed up, it exceeded my expectations!

Following the super informative interview with Claire, I was keen to learn more about shooting for a stock library, from a working photographer's perspective. I'm rapt to say I have Caro agreed to record this interview and share how she's generating an income with stock photography.

Here's some more of what we covered in the interview:

• How to survive as a photographer living in remote areas
• Caro's introduction to stock photography
• Caro's thought process when shooting stock photography for the library
• Why does Caro prefer to stock photos than shoot for clients
• The advantage of sending stock photos exclusively to one stock library
• Sharing the latest shoot, Caro did for Autostock
• How model call shoots work when photographing for stock libraries
• How model release forms work when photographing public workers
• How to submit model release forms to libraries
• Who keeps the copy of model release forms
• Average number of photos taken during stock photo shoots
• Caro's culling process
• How to rename stock photos and what metadata tags to include
• How to ensure buyers select Caro's stock photos
• Which stock photos sell
• Why do people agree to get their photos taken and uploaded to stock libraries
• Dealing with knockbacks from people when asking permission to take stock photos
• Fee for model calls
• How Caro finds models for her stock photo shoots
• How to approach would-be models and ask for approval to do stock photo sessions
• Acceptable age for kids in AU to sign model release forms for themselves
• Do's and dont's when shooting stock photography
• Using a reverse image search to know how your stock photos were used
• How to organize stock photos in libraries
• Income expectations when growing your stock library collection
• Why stock photos with people are more saleable
• Why Caro doesn't like taking photos of beautiful flowers or sunsets for her stock library
• How to distinguish between a spectacular photo and an authentic photo
• What is microstock

What’s on Offer for Premium Members

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I'm finding that rather than having to shoot to your client specs and get the work to them on time, for me, it's feeling a lot better coming up with the ideas and shooting to what I'm wanting, which I know the library also wants. – Caro Telfer

You'll also receive access to the members-only Secret Facebook Group, where you can connect with other Premium Members and interview guests to help, support and motivate you to take ideas you hear in each episode and put them into action. The group also has FB live video tutorials, role-play, and special live interviews. You will not find more friendly, motivated, caring and sharing photographers online.

Seriously, that's not all.

In addition to everything above, you'll get access and instructions on forming or joining a MasterMind Group with other premium members. These groups are super motivating, make you accountable and build friendships with other pro photographers with similar motives to you – to build a more successful photography business.

What is your big takeaway?

Following this interview, I’d love to know if you're taking anything from what Caro shared. Is there something you heard that excited or motivated you to the point where you thought, yeah, I'm going to do that! If so, leave your thoughts in the comments below; let me know your takeaways and what you plan to implement in your business due to what you heard in today's episode.

If you're going to shoot for stock, design it for stock photography rather than thinking oh, I've done this shoot and I can use those photos for stock. – Caro Telfer

If you have any questions I missed, a specific question you’d like to ask Caro or if you want to say thanks for coming on the show, feel free to add them in the comments area below.

iTunes Reviews and Shout-outs

I check for any new iTunes or Google reviews each week, and it's always a buzz to receive these… for several reasons.

Firstly, it's confirmation that I'm on the right track with the interviews and that they are helping you improve your photography business. That's awesome!

Secondly, iTunes and Google are the biggest search engines for podcasts, and your reviews and ratings help other photographers find PhotoBizX. More listeners mean more interviews and, ultimately, a better show.

I try to take photos of people being normal people no matter what their background. – Caro Telfer

If you have left a review in the past, thank you! If you haven't and you'd like to, head to https://photobizx.com/itunes or https://photobizx.com/google, and you can leave some honest feedback and a rating which will help both me and the show, and I'll be sure to thank you on the show and add a link to your website or blog if you let me know the URL of your website and your name.

Alternatively, if you've left a review for PhotoBizX and are looking for more backlinks to help your SEO, leave a review for the new Photography Xperiment Podcast. Email me your keywords or phrases and where you'd like me to link them.

Another great way to get a backlink to your site is to send a video testimonial. It doesn't need to be fancy, and your phone will be perfect. Click record and tell me how PhotoBizX has impacted you and your photography business.​

Great to meet you Darko!

Last week, Linda and I were lucky to meet with Croatian-based travelling portrait photographer and PBX Member, Darko Mares.

Not only did Darko take time out of his day to show us around the beautiful Croatian town of Varaždin, but he also shared details on the food and drinks we had to sample while in Croatia, including my new all-time favourite summer alcoholic drink — gemišt — a mixture of white wine and sparkling mineral water. Perfect for the 30+ degree days we've been experiencing here.

In addition to the travel suggestions, we talked about business and some of Daarko's money-saving alternatives to popular apps like Zoom, Calendly, Acuity and Dropbox.

Here's what he's using instead:

• Google Appointment Scheduling (Calendly/Acuity alternative) – https://workspace.google.com/resources/appointment-scheduling/
• Google Meet (Zoom alternative) – https://workspace.google.com/products/meet/
• Google Workspace pricing – https://workspace.google.com/products/meet/Google Meet is even for free users for up to 100 participants and max 60 minutes free (in the smallest plan for 6 USD, the time limit is 24 hours).
• Google Appointment Scheduling is available only from the Business Standard plan (12 USD) and up.

It's worth looking into a Google business plan by following the links above.

Thanks again to Darko for his hospitality and detailed suggestions on what to do and see while here. Thank you, my friend.

Links to people, places and things mentioned in this episode:

Caro Telfer Website

Caro Telfer on Facebook

Caro Telfer on Instagram

Caro Telfer on Austockphoto

Caro Telfer on LinkedIn

Austockphoto Website

PBX528 Episode: Claire Bonnor – How to supply stock photography to a photo stock library for income

Thank you!

Thanks again for listening, and thanks to Caro for sharing her thoughts, ideas, tactics, and processes for generating an income with stock photography and making it a viable money-making opportunity.

If you're going straight for stock photography, make sure your photo is spectacular in some way, like, the light is extraordinary or the people are extraordinary or it's a photo that you can't just whip your phone out and take. – Caro Telfer

That’s it for me this week; I hope everything is going well for you in life and business!

Thanks, and speak soon
Andrew

The post 529: Caro Telfer – How to generate an income with stock photography appeared first on Photography Business Xposed - Photography Podcast - how to build and market your portrait and wedding photography business.