Want Getty Acceptance: Upload To Flickr

Posted on 7/18/2008 by Jim Pickerell | Printable Version | Comments (0)

Getty photographers may want to start uploading images to Flickr rather than submitting them to Getty.

If Getty assigns a significant portion of its existing editing staff to concentrate on searching Flickr for images with that "different look," the odds of getting an image accepted may be better by having it available inn Flickr rather than in the Getty queue. This will be particularly true once Flickr sets up a system allowing photographers to indicate that they would like to have their images considered by Getty.

Getty's editors are likely to find that when they select low res and often watermarked images from Flickr, it may be difficult to eventually get a larger image file that meets Getty standards. Assuming Getty editors have quotas of accepted images, they may discover its best to first look at images from hi-res photographers to back up what is on Flickr.

The editors will certainly discover that the process of getting new photographers, who have never worked with Getty, to sign contracts, send in acceptable high-res files and model releases will be time-consuming compared to dealing with Getty's existing contract photographers.
Those who have been submitting to Photographer's Choice may also find this strategy attractive. If Getty happens to find an image it wants on Flickr, the photographer will save the $50 upload fee.

On the other hand, Getty will probably plug this loophole by establishing a rule that anyone who already has a contract with Getty is not allowed to have an image accepted from the Flickr collection. They aren't going to want to give up those $50 fees.

Finally, if images are rejected by Getty, Flickr may still be a good place to park them. There is a chance such images will get a second look by a different editor and may get chosen. Worst case, one of the many customers already searching Flickr may find a usable image and contact you directly to negotiate usage rights.

Getty may pull a few images it defines as "best" off Flickr, but that won't stop those customers who are already using Flickr from continuing to go there. They know Flickr has a much larger selection of images than Getty, and they will also believe they have a better chance of getting a good price by negotiating directly with the photographer rather than Getty.




Copyright © 2008 Jim Pickerell. The above article may not be copied, reproduced, excerpted or distributed in any manner without written permission from the author. All requests should be submitted to Selling Stock at 10319 Westlake Drive, Suite 162, Bethesda, MD 20817, phone 301-461-7627, e-mail: wvz@fpcubgbf.pbz

Jim Pickerell is founder of www.selling-stock.com, an online newsletter that publishes daily. He is also available for personal telephone consultations on pricing and other matters related to stock photography. He occasionally acts as an expert witness on matters related to stock photography. For his current curriculum vitae go to: http://www.jimpickerell.com/Curriculum-Vitae.aspx.  

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