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To: Photographers

The players at PhotoSourceGROUP are photobuyers and photographers who buy and sell in the editorial field (magazine, newspaper, and book publishers) of stock photography.

You are the merchant. The photobuyer is the customer.

Personnel who work in this field (photo editors, photo researchers, art directors, designers) are restricted to a publishing budget. They are authorized to lease (rent) pictures on a one-time-use basis. The size is usually ¼ page.

As a photographer, you can choose to lease one of your pictures (or a group) at the “premium” level or the “regular” level, just like at the gas pump. You also have a third choice: - to negotiate.

All registered photobuyers at the PhotoSourceGROUP site have declared their budget: premium or regular.

You can make the choice whether you want to lease (rent) your pictures at the Regular platform or the Premium platform. The choice is yours. Like in any selling proposition, if your product is selling well, you raise your fees. Conversely, if they are not selling well, you lower your fees. But remember, most photobuyers are within a strict budget. They don’t have the opportunity, in most cases, to pay beyond their budget for inside editorial use.

What if the photobuyer wants to use your picture for a purpose other than inside editorial use? Examples: Annual report, calendar, puzzle, television. Then the photobuyer is prepared to pay a higher fee for these special uses. Registered photobuyers are prepared to pay the extra fees outlined on the Commercial Use chart. Click here.

One final point. Most editorial buyers expect your images will be between 8MB and 10 MB. However, when they need a larger size, such as for a cover or chapter head, they expect to pay 10% higher for a 28MB file and 20% higher for a 50MB file.

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What makes a marketable photo?

In other words, which photos sell and which don’t?
 From our experience, there are certain indicators that point to “good sellers” and those that won't fare too well.
The first element concerns subject matter and its relation to  “supply and demand”. You might have a wonderful picture of a hot air balloon, but if the photobuyer has 10,000 such pictures to choose from, the law of probability is not on your side. The same goes for a photo of a sea gull, a covered bridge, a fireworks display, or a little child happily eating a birthday cake.  Supply and Demand.
 Next let's consider the technical aspect of your photo. A first place winner in an art photography contest does not automatically qualify as a “good seller”.  For example, that wonderful photo of a child eating a piece of cake, complete with all the joy in the world easy to read in the child’s eyes,  might not be a good seller if the lighting is poor, or there’s camera shake, or the resolution is poor.
 A photo of two workers putting down asphalt on a stretch of road,  with passing busy traffic on a hot summer day might not win a contest, but it might be a seller in a category such as "industry."

The best guide to what type of photo sells is right in front of you on your coffee table in national magazines, photo books, and trade magazines.
Usually you’ll find these elements present in good selling images: 
Illustrative quality.  Images that tell a story, evoke emotion, a mood, and are simple in design (not cluttered and confusing). Very often the photo can lend itself to illustrating a variety of subjects, thus extending its marketable prospects.
People. A vast majority of editorial stock photographs feature people in the photos.  People involved in their everyday life. Aim to use “real people” in your photos, rather than commercial models. Editorial buyers prefer images with regular people in genuine situations.  Reminder: When a photo is used for editorial purposes, a signed release from the people in the picture is usually not required by your photobuyers.
Symbol. Any icon or familiar object utilized somewhere in the photo will help orient the viewer as to what’s going on in the image. It helps to make the viewer a collaborator in the effect of the photo.
The object doesn’t have to be a clear-cut symbol, such as a basketball or a stop sign. It can be more subtle, but the easier and faster the viewer can  recognize it,  the better.    
  

            Consider the logo of successful corporations – they are often simple, and clearly convey a message for the company.

Keywords

            If you are putting your photos on line to market them, keywords have now become important elements in enhancing the marketability of your images.
Photobuyers now use search engines such as Google, Yahoo, MSN and others to help locate the source of photos quickly. You can be the photographer they locate, if you “caption” all of your photos with keywords (keyphrases).
Think about it, how do you look for an item on the Internet? Reverse the process and imagine what keywords and phrases that you think a photobuyer would probably use to tap in to find one of your specific-content photos.  Put these keywords in your photo-description listings, and do the same for all your photos.  Time spent on this is well-spent; include relevant mood and situation descriptors as well as physical content listings.

Technical Q & A for PhotoSourceGROUP

Scanned Images
For 35mm film, use a film scanner with a resolution of at least 2880 dpi. There are many good scanners on the market but we recommend you use one that features ICE or similar dust/scratch removal feature. Generally scans are more prone to show dust and scratches than digital captures. Make sure that you check your scanned images at 100% and remove dust spots, scratches, hairs and other other imperfections. Images that are not cleaned will not be accepted.
Some publishers request that the photographer leave certain imperfections for them (the publisher) to play with. Would this be mentioned here?

Digital Capture Images

Camera: The minimum requirements are that the camera you use is of DSLR type and have a minimum of a 6 Megapixel sensor. Some examples of cameras that are acceptable are Canon 10D, Canon 20D, Canon 300D, Canon 5D, Canon 1Ds Mark I and II, Canon 1D Mark II, Nikon D50, Nikon D70, Nikon D100, Nikon D200, Nikon D2X, Fuji S2 and S3.
Point and shoot style cameras are not acceptable no matter the number of megapixels. The reason for this is that the sensors in p&s style cameras are so small that the megapixel-count becomes irrelevant for most professional applications.
Camera settings: Shoot using RAW, NEF or equivalent.

CAUTION: It is not ideal if you set your camera to capture JPEGs. The camera will typically apply sharpening and other settings to the images. For most publishers, this is not ideal.

Color Space
High resolution images that are uploaded to your PhotoSourceGROUP store should be saved in Adobe RGB.

File Format
High resolution images that are uploaded to your PhotoSourceGROUP store must be saved as 8-bit JPEG on quality setting 11 or 12 in Photoshop, at highest available quality setting if you use a different image editing software. We recommend that you save your digital originals as tiffs, psd or another lossless format to preserve your files.

File Sizes
High resolution files must be a minimum of 8 inches by 11 inches at 300 dpi.

Watermarks
High resolution files must be uploaded with no watermarks. The software can be set to automatically add watermarks to thumbnails.

Sharpening and Other Digitally Applied Filters
Please do not apply any sharpening to the high resolution files you upload. Doing so will disqualify them and the files will be removed. Sharpening is best applied at the final usage size, which is why we leave this to the photobuyers.

Keywording
High resolution files must be keyworded in order for them to be searchable. You can keyword in pretty much any application you want to, but we recommend Photoshop, Breezebrowser or Capture One.
Download a PDF that explains the differences between keywords and captions here. [make the word here into link to PDF]

Captions
Captions typically include: Who, what, why, where, and when. A good, informative caption can mean the difference between sales and no sales for your images. Download a PDF that explains the differences between keywords and captions here. [make the word here into link to PDF]

Q & A

Q: What is wrong with my applying sharpening to my own images before I submit them?
A: Sharpening is best done at the final usage size. Sharpening is also to some extent a matter of taste. Leaving sharpening up to the client is an industry standard.

Q: I have a slow Internet connection, are there other ways than FTP that I can use to submit images to PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: Yes, you can submit high-resolution files on CD or DVD. There is a small administrative fee for uploading images into your account from CD or DVD. Mail your submission to:
Attn: New PSGroup Images
Reed Photo
888 Federal Blvd.
Denver, CO 80204

Q: What is the best way to clean dust spots, scratches and other minor imperfections from images?
A: In Photoshop, use the cloning tool to clone out minor imperfections. Be careful not to replace those imperfections with obvious cloning marks or trails. See the Photoshop manual  for more information or consult books such as “Adobe Photoshop Classroom in a Book” or any of Scott Kelby’s books on how to use Photoshop. If you are using different image editing software please refer to the software’s manual.

Q: Why can't I submit my images as tiffs or psd files?
A: Our system is set up to scale uploaded high resolution JPEGs to several different sizes for various needs. Working only with JPEGs assures a smooth and fast workflow for both contributors and buyers.

Q: For an individual image, once that image has been sold, why can't I change it from Royalty Free to Rights Managed or the reverse?
A: Once an image has been sold as Royalty Free you are not able to offer the image with any exclusivity because with the RF licensing model there is no way for you to determine how the RF image has been used or will be used in the future.

Q: What cameras/lenses/etc do you recommend that I use?
A:  See “Digital Capture Images” above.  Although PhotosourceGROUP cannot offer specific brand advice on this matter, our answer would be,  “Any camera that you feel comfortable with, as long as it is up to the technical specifications mentioned above in “Digital Capture Images”.

Q: What are some basic reasons PhotoSourceGROUP will reject submitted images?
A: Images are rejected for one or more of the following reasons:
- Image(s) had dust, scratches etc. visible.
- File is of poor quality. Make sure you save your high resolution files as JPEG using quality setting 11 or 12 in Photoshop or highest available quality setting if    you use a different image editing software other than Photoshop.
- Image(s) have wrong colorspace. Save all images using Adobe RGB colorspace.
- Image(s) had obvious cloning marks or similar imperfections.
- Image(s) had “sharpening” applied.
- Content of  Image(s) were objectionable
- Image(s) File size was too small.
- Special technical problems with the image(s).

Q: Why do my images have to be Adobe RGB rather than sRGB? I’ve read that sRGB is better for displaying images on-line.
A:  Adobe RGB is the industry norm and what the buyers expect. When our PhotoSourceGROUP software scales images for thumbnails, those thumbnails are automatically saved as sRGB while your high resolution files [the file that gets sent to a buyer] remain in Adobe RGB. If you send high resolution files as sRGB they will be rejected.

Q: What is sRGB?
A: sRGB is a narrow color space suited well for displaying on a computer monitor, but suited poorly for anything else.

Q: Since the word, “file”, can mean many things, when you refer to “file” size are you always referring to “picture” size?
A: No. File size means physical size, in MBs, of the file. Picture size is the size, in inches relative to the dpi setting of the digital picture. For instance, files from a dSlR that are uploaded to psGROUP must be a minimum of 8 inches by 6 inches at 300dpi. This doesn't mean that a file of 11 MBs is necessarily enough, nor that it would be too small. It gets technical, but the size in inches at a specific dpi (in our case 300 dpi) is the easiest way to understand the concept.

Q: What does “file type” mean?
A:  File type means the format you save the file as. Common formats for digital images are tiff, jpeg, and psd. Digital images for psGROUP can only be jpegs and the jpegs should be saved at the highest quality setting your editing software allows.

Q: What is your definition of a high resolution (hi-res) digital image?
A: The image needs to be a minimum of 8 inches by 11 inches at 300 dpi with no interpolation. File size will vary with file type.

Q: Why can’t I use a “prosumer” digital camera if it has more than 6 Megapixels?
A: It all has to do with sensor size. The sensor on a typical 8 Megapixel prosumer digital camera is a so-called 2/3” sensor. This translates into roughly 8.8 millimeter by 6.6 millimeter, or roughly 0.34 inches by 0.26 inches. As comparison, the sensor in a typical 6.3 Megapixel DSLR is 22.7 millimeters by 15 millimeters, or 0.9 inches by 0.6 inches. In surface area the difference becomes even more obvious. The small sensor in a prosumer camera has a surface area of 0.088 square inches. The sensor in a typical DSLR has a surface area of 0.54 square inches. [ a comparison of the ol’ Minox camera would work well here.]

Q: What software do you recommend for image editing?
A: Photoshop CS2. Here’s why. This is the software most buyers/printers will use and when you edit your images. Using the same software you can be certain your images will be compatible with your client.

Q: Why does it matter if there is dust on the image? Can't the photobuyer just delete it in Photoshop?
A: It matters for the same reason you wouldn't want to buy a new car with scratches in the finish. Could you fix it by sanding and repainting? Sure, but why should you have to? Photobuyers expect professional quality files when they download high resolution files and outfits not prociding professional quality files would soon find themselves selling a lot less.

Q: What is the best/most efficient way to clean dust etc from my digital files?
A: I recommend using Photoshop since it is the best editing software on the market. Regardless of which software you use though, open your image and bring it up to 100% size on your monitor. Then start at the upper right corner and move across the image to the left. Once you arrive at the left side of the image, click down a few inches and move across the image the other way, to the right. Do this and clean up dust and other problems using the cloning stamp. For more detailed information, check out the books we recommend on Photoshop in the product recommendation section.

Q: I use a dSLR, surely there isn't any dust specks I should have to worry about since I' mnot scanning anything that has exposed to dust or dirt?
A: All dSLRs are prone to getting dust and dirt on the glass that rotects the sensor. It is quite easy to identify and clean. To see if you have dust on your sensor, remove the lens and take a photograph of a uniformly white or light colored wall, sky or similar at f22 or smaller. Now load the photo in your computer and bring it up to 100%. If you see any dark specks chances are pretty good that you have dirt/dust that might need to be cleaned off. Refer to your manual to clean your camera's sensor. Personally I prefer and warly recommend the SensorBruch out out by www.visibledust.com This is by far the best way I have found to clean the sensors on my cameras.

Q: Why should I shoot in RAW? Wouldn’t it be faster to shoot in JPEG at the highest quality setting since I’ll be submitting JPEGs to psGROUP?
A: When you shoot in JPEG – regardless of the quality setting – your camera will apply “filters” such as sharpening, enhanced saturation etc. While this is perfectly O.K. if your ultimate destination for an image is to print it out yourself, for professional publishers etc., these elements are best adjusted at the final usage size and format.

Q: I want to scan my slides and submit those images. Which scanner do you recommend?
A: A dedicated film scanner with more than 2,800 dpi. Current models are The Konica-Minolta Dimage Elite II 5400 with 5400 dpi; Konica-Minolta Scan Dual IV with 3200 dpi; Microtech Models ArtixScan 120tf (4000 dpi); 4000t and 400 tf (both 4000 dpi); Nikon Coolscan V ED (4000 dpi); Nikon Super Coolscan 5000 ED (4000 dpi); Nikon Super Coolscan 9000 ED (4000 dpi). These scanners are of good professional quality.

Q: Do you offer scanning services?
A: Yes, we have a service where we will scan your 35mm slides. Contact Mike Karlsson by e-mail at mike@photosource.com for more details.

Q & A:

Glossary

Q: What is the PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: It is an electronic repository of stock photo images on the PhotoSourceInternational website, displayed by member photographers, who make these photos available to photo-buying professionals as licensed images, and to the general public as high-quality prints. PhotoSourceGROUP is the image arm of the text-based PhotoSourceBANK.

Q: What is the PhotoSourceBANK?
A: It is a database of more than 2 million words describing specific photos in the stock files of PhotoSourceBANK photographers. Photo researchers are able to tap into this database, on the PhotoSourceInternational website, to find the source of needed photos quickly and easily. PhotoSourceBANK is the text-based partner to the image-based PhotoSourceGROUP.

Q: What is the PhotoSourceBOOK?
A: It is a handy reference print photographer directory (407 pages) published annually by PhotoSourceInternational for photobuyers. It contains source details of specific-content photos, and links to the PhotoSourceBANK. It advertises the stock photography of subscribers who are in the PhotoSourceBANK, the PhotoSourceFOLIO, and the PhotoSourceGROUP. PhotoSourceBOOK is updated annually and sent free of charge to 3,000 active photobuyers.

Q: What is PhotoSourceFOLIO?
A: It is the exhibit area of the PhotoSourceInternational website where subscribers display six of their exhibit-quality photos for potential customers to view, on the subscribers' own web pages on the PhotoSourceInternational website.
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How PhotoSourceGROUP Works

Q: What is the cost?
A: The cost is $4.95 per month. If you are an active member of the above BANK, BOOK, or FOLIO, or subscribe to the marketletters PhotoDaily or PhotoLetter, there is no charge to post your images and text (2,500 images with up to 50 caption keywords or phrases for each photo) in PhotoSourceGROUP.

Q: Am I able to purchase more space for my images?
A: Yes. You receive 5 gig (free) to start with. When you choose to expand your disk space, additional blocks of 5 gigs are available at $25 per year. Or, you may purchase one additional gig for $5 per year.

Q: What percentage do I receive from sales?
A: 75%; or if you choose to sign up for Plan 2 ($5 per month) you receive 80% of sales.

Q: How do I qualify to be included in the PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: As long as your images are of good technical quality, you can be included. Credits and copyrights remain at all times with the photographer. (PhotoSourceGROUP reserves the right to exclude photos it considers inappropriate for the standards of PhotoSourceGROUP, such as pornographic or illegal photos, photos in poor taste, etc.) You will be asked to submit an initial 15 photos to our Quality Control section for review. There is a one-time charge of $9.50 for this review, payable only after you are accepted for membership. After this initial review, there is no charge to post your images. Periodic reviews of your images are made from time to time.

Q: How many images can I submit?
A: There is no limit. You are allowed 5 gig at no charge. If you wish to employ more storage space, the cost is $5.00 per year for 1 gig, or 50 cents per month) ($25 per year for 5 gigs, or $5 per month.)

Q: When I submit my photos, do I put them in any order or categories?
A: Yes. You can make up any category grouping system you choose, based on your collection of photos. (See the DEMO). The category system can be helpful for photobuyers who want to look at specific subject areas.
Photobuyers who arrive at your site via the PhotoSourceBANK – will land on the photo(s) that matches their keyword search.

Q: If a photobuyer selects an image of mine and would like direct download, do you have a facility for speeding up the delivery time?
A: Yes, you can FTP your hi-res image using our upload device. We then forward the selected image to the registered buyer, once their credit card transaction has been approved.

Q: Do I also include keywords with each image I submit?
A: Yes- you will be allowed up to 50 caption keywords for each submitted image. Since our system is text-centric, we encourage you to take advantage of this generous allowance, since "hits" to your page by search engines such as Google are based on the keywords you supply with your pictures. The more specific your phrases and words, the more chance you have of getting inquiries and sales. For a detailed primer on how to choose keywords for your pictures:
www.PhotoSourceBOOK.com/instructions/hints.php

Q: Are the keywords to my pictures on PhotoSourceGROUP also included in the PhotoSourceBANK?
A: Yes

Prints:

Q: Can I also sell prints through PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: Yes. We charge you a specific fee and you decide what to charge your customer. Our printing services are handled by REED Photo-Imaging, of Denver, Colorado who has provided the highest level of quality photo lab services to an international market for more than 25 years. < www.reedphoto.com>

Q: How do customers purchase prints of my images through the PhotoSourceGROUP site?
A: Private or commercial customers can view your images on your PhotoSourceGROUP web page section, and purchase individual prints ranging from 5x7 to 16x20.

Q: How are prints priced?
A: Using the PhotoSourceGROUP calculator (you set the fee), the customer selects the size of the print they want, and any other considerations such as frame, etc. and submits a credit card number to PhotoSourceGROUP. Orders are usually filled within ten days.

On-Line Purchasing:

Q: How do stock photobuyers license my work?
A: Stock photobuyers find your contact details either through the PhotoSourceBANK search method, or through a search engine such as Google. They land at your PhotoSourceGROUP page site. From this point, they can request to see an actual picture you have listed through the PhotoSourceBANK. If your image is not already on your PhotoSourceGROUP page, you’ll automatically be requested to post it, in hi-res. Using the PhotoSourceGROUP calculator, utilizing base fees decided by you, photobuyers will determine the one-time rights for use of your image. PhotoSourceGROUP bills the photobuyer’s charge card or corporate account.

Q: What is the PhotoSourceGROUP calculator?
A: It is a transparent chart that tabulates the license fee of a photo based on such elements as the picture’s use (editorial or commercial), picture size (¼ page, half-page, cover, etc.), print run, one-time use, Royalty Free or Rights Managed, multiple uses, electronic use. The photobuyer is able to determine his/her costs and submits a charge card to PhotoSourceGROUP for payment. As soon as the payment is approved, the photobuyer can download the image.

Sales:

Q: How often can I expect payment for sales made on PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: Once a month if sales exceed $250; otherwise, whenever sales reach $250.

Q: Is “live reporting” of my sales available?
A: Yes. And at any time, you can check into your account to track your sales records.

Support:

Q: Is someone available to answer support questions, especially technical uploading questions or sales numbers?
A: Yes, support is available for both marketing and technical support. For support: support@photosource.com;

Q: Is training available for on-line beginners?
A: Yes, one hour of training can be purchased for $99.

Taxes:

Q: How are local and state taxes handled through the sales and licensing of my images?
A: All appropriate sales and other taxes are included in the financial transactions between PhotoSourceGROUP, the customer, and the photographer.

Defaults:

Q: If I have a dispute with a photobuyer ("no pay," "slow pay") can PhotoSourceGROUP help me?
A: Yes, in such cases we go to bat for you. We have a special process we put into place to contact the photobuyer, and several follow-up techniques. If none of these work, we instruct you on Small Claims Court proceedings and "how to do it."

Q: What if I make a sale of one of my photos that is on the PhotoSourceGROUP site, but the buyer, after viewing the picture on the site, came directly to me to make the purchase rather than going through the PhotoSourceGROUP charge card system?
A: We, of course, expect to be compensated in our efforts to market your images. Photographers will be expected to submit 20% of that sale back to PhotoSourceGROUP.

Q: Do I have the option to sell to certain places in the world but not to others?
A: Yes. For example, if you direct us not to sell to business entities in Australia, or South America, etc., we can honor that. Or you may wish not to sell to certain companies that promote cigarette, alcohol, etc.

Q: What if I choose to terminate my contract with PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: Either you or PhotoSourceGROUP are able to terminate the contract. The length of time to process termination: 45 days.

Q: In case of power failure or other disruption of service, does PhotoSourceGROUP protect its subscribers with a backup system?
A: Yes, we have a backup system running at all times.

Q: In case of a hardware failure at my own site and I lose my images, am I able to retrieve the images that I have stored with PhotoSourceGROUP?
A: Yes, we serve as an insurance backup for your images. They all can be retrieved. The fee ranges from $50 to $150 depending on the amount of images to be retrieved.

General:

Q: What advantage do I have in signing up with PhotoSourceGROUP, over other similar sites on the Web?
A: PhotoSourceGROUP is a site that locates specific-content photos for the buying public, private parties, commercial entities, and photobuyers at magazine and book publishers. There are no other “similar” sites on the web, which employ the kind of specific words and phrases that PhotoSourceGROUP offers.
We own a unique text-finding system that saves the buyer time in their search to find the “just right” image. By using our PhotoSourceBANK (where you list up to 3,000 words describing photos in your stock files), photobuyers find the SOURCE of the picture (you) that they need.
Stage two, the photobuyer lands on the PhotoSourceGROUP site where they can see the actual picture. If the picture is not immediately available through your posted pictures (you can post anywhere from 25 to 2,500), the buyer will request to see a LightBOX version of the picture. At that time you will also FTP to us, a high-res sample of the picture to be included on your PhotoSourceGROUP web page.
In addition to informing photobuyers about the benefits of using the PhotoSourceBANK/PhotoSourceGROUP search system, our promotional materials encourage photobuyers to use a search engine such as Google. In the search bar, the photobuyer is instructed to type in a word or phrase describing their picture need, a space, and then the word photosource. This will re-direct the buyer to PhotoSourceGROUP.
Another benefit you have with PhotoSourceGROUP is name recognition. Our business, PhotoSourceInternational, has been dealing with photobuyers at magazine and book publishers since 1976, and has been one step ahead of the digital revolution ever since. Our PhotoSourceGROUP is an example of this. Photobuyers prefer to spend their valuable time with a business that has a proven track record, and where they are confident they’ll get results.
Since the PhotoSourceGROUP site is an extension of our long-standing PhotoSourceBOOK and other services on our website, PhotoSourceGROUP members will benefit from the high traffic our site enjoys: average 45,000 hits daily; 4,000 to 5,000 daily unique visitors.

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How to Price your Photos

The players at PhotoSourceGROUP are photobuyers and photographers who buy and sell in the editorial area of stock photography (magazine, newspaper, and book publishers).

You, the photographer, are the merchant. The photobuyer is the customer.

Personnel who work in this field (photo editors, photo researchers, art directors, designers) are restricted to a publishing budget. They are authorized to lease (rent) pictures on a one-time-use basis. In some cases a photobuyer will want to purchase a Royalty-Free image, in which case, if you have placed photos in your Royalty-Free section, the client is able to purchase the right to use your photo for multiple purposes, but not the right to own the copyright of the photo. Copyright remains with you, unless you and the buyer make a written agreement that transfers copyright to the client. The size of use is usually ¼ page.

As a photographer, you can choose to lease one of your pictures (or a group of images) on a "Rights-Managed" basis or a "Royalty-Free" basis, just like at the gas pump.
All registered photobuyers at the PhotoSourceGROUP site have declared their budget: premium or regular.

Again, you can choose whether you want to lease (rent) your pictures as Rights-Managed or Royalty-Free. The choice is yours. Like in any selling proposition, if your product is selling well, you raise your fees. Conversely, if your photos are not selling well, you lower your fees. (To learn how to raise or lower your fees, click here.) Most photobuyers operate within a strict budget. They don’t have the opportunity, in most cases, to pay beyond their budget range for inside editorial or cover use.

What if the photobuyer wants to use your picture for a purpose other than inside editorial use? Examples: advertisement, annual report, calendar, puzzle, television. Then the photobuyer is prepared to pay a higher fee for these special uses. Registered photobuyers are prepared to pay the extra fees outlined on the Commercial Use chart. Click here.

One final point. Most editorial buyers expect your images will be between 8MB and 10 MB. However, when they need a larger size, such as for a cover or chapter head, they expect to pay 10% higher for a 28MB file and 20% higher for a 1.5MB file.

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