Luminous Landscape Forum
Equipment & Techniques => Pro Business Discussion => Topic started by: Michael Orton on September 03, 2011, 03:30:25 pm
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I have read a lot of posts about "How can I make some money" (aka a living) at photography and do what I want to do ( usually landscape) at the same time ? I have a number of friends who have done this and some who still are . One common theme , they/we all did it following a different path , with various backgrounds and influences. And that is a good thing. I had no monetary goal at all for the first few years. Just my camera , some slide film , and curiosity. A few small sales (calendars) led to a small regional book (Once Upon an Island) (took 5 publisher submissions) . This little book was discovered by the owner of Allstock ( Art Wolfe's first agency) and the journey began . Stone bought Allstock then Getty bought Stone . ( and they continued buying !!!) So I had some amazing years with stock selling basically landscapes. It took me a year or two to get the "concept " idea my head , then it was a nice ride. So despite what is going on now , I am grateful for those years. In a way this "change" may be the best thing that has happened to me for some time. If it was status quo I would still be making submissions and signing cheques. (Which wasnt a problem!) I had to dig back into my " bag of ideas" where all this came from in the first place. Voila plan B , or is it C! Sometimes it doesnt hurt to ask yourself , " Why am I doing this? What do I need to do next for me ? In my case it is back to some "play", comming full circle , back to the beginning. The moral , stay on the path , your path, enjoy the trip! Michael
www.michaelortonphotography.com
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reported as spam. Getty must be getting pretty desperate.
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I am frustrated and disapointed in the state of the stock industry ,and have no affiliation with Getty other that my contract. Like countless other shooters ( couldnt even guess at the number) I have experienced a rapid decline in income. So , I have a choice. I can blame the agency ( which I helped build the last 15 years) , blame the proliferation of microstock, and give up in frustration , or look back, say thank you , and goodbye, and move ahead. I chose the later. I have a hugh amount of respect for anyone making a living with photography regardless of their workplace. May good fortune reward your efforts. Michael
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Happy to see you've got a new website up and running, Michael. Good luck with the next stage of the journey!