istockphoto

[rtphokie]

There is a website where you can upload your photos and sell them for use as stock photography. Those of us "non-average" tourists who take photos of sidewalks, trashcans and lampposts will feel right at home.

Anything with people visible will require signed model releases (I keep one handy with my son's information since he's the subject of most of my photos). Also no visible corporate symbols or anything identifying. For example, I had to remove the number off the side of an antique locomotive before they would accept it.

Once it's up there you earn a 20% of the fees iStockPhoto collects, once you've had 500 downloads, you are eligible to mark any of the photos as exclusive to iStockPhoto.com and the fee goes up to 40%. You've got to submit some sample photos before you can upload anything for sale.

I've uploaded some shots I took on an aquarium visit, some early morning empty beach shots (those have been the most popular), a shot from a zoo trip, a couple of shots of fruits and vegitables, and 1 Disney Cruise shot of 2 lone beach chairs on an empty beach. Nearly all of what I've submitted so far was shot with my point and shoot Canon G3.

It wont supliment your income much but I've learned a lot from the comments the reviewers have left on photos that weren't acccepted.

My contributions so far:
http://www.istockphoto.com/file_sea...m_cs_s=xxx&form_cs_se=xxx&form_cs_tolerance=1

My most popular:

My latest submission:

 

[Furgus]

I just finished my first round application. I got a photo turned down, but the coments they made we great, and they told me to try again. Great website, and you have some great shots.

 

[Virgo10]

Thanks for the link. I'm going to give it a try in the morning.

ETA: Do you need a release for people who couldn't possibly be identified? Like the 2 in your photo of the beach. I mean, that could be anyone if you know what I mean. Just curious.
Thanks

 

[Furgus]

As long as the faces are not recognizable, I think it is ok. They have a long list of things they want to see. I mean you have to take a test, just to submit photos for them to look at, and then they might not take them

 

[rtphokie]

As long as the faces are not recognizable, I think it is ok.

That's correct. I usually just crop out the faces. Get a model release if you have a question. I keep a couple in my camera bag.

They have a long list of things they want to see. I mean you have to take a test, just to submit photos for them to look at, and then they might not take them

I didn't get accepted the first time. The comments they gave were lengthy and I learned alot from them. I went back and reshot some of them and sent some different ones in and got in the second time.

I still only get about 25% of what I submit accepted.

 

[Virgo10]

Holy cow! I just spent the last 2 hours applying to that site. I passed the test but I don't think I got all the questions correct.

I sent in 3 photos and it will be interesting to see what they've got to say. Many of my favorites didn't do well being enlarged to 1600x1200.

How long do you have to wait for a response? Even though they say they don't want certain stuff (like sunsets) I took a shot and sent one in anyway. I'm hoping it was unusual enough to be accepted.

Anyway, an fascinating way to spend part of my morning.