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Photographers WANTED!
We are currently looking to boost our portfolio of photographers, so if you are interested read on...
Think you have what it takes
Douglass Media is currently looking for Photographers to join our site. If you think your photography is good enough we would like to have you onboard. Our system is a little different to what others may offer. Firstly we are small and prefer to deal with each photographer on an individual basis. Secondly as we are Photographers first, we understand that you probably dont want to close off other or current avenues of promotion that you may have. With this in mind we offer the following:
- 55% commision on all sales. Or in other words, for each sale you get 55% of the sale price - the highest in the industry. It is your work, so you should get the greater cut. We simply manage the back end and promotion.
- Links back to your current site/sites are perfectly fine.
- No penalties for promoting your work elsewhere.
In short we are simply another avenue for you to get your work across. We have no pretensions over the photographer, preferring to work with each on an individual basis.
What is the catch?
None really, starting out as photographers first, we have tried to create a system that benefits everyone.
What will my sales be like?
Sales for an individual are very hard to estimate, on the photographers part it often comes down to not just image quality but how marketable it is, often combined with a bit of luck - as for all sales. Obviously some images can be much more popular than others, in which case with repeat sales thousands of dollars in return is not uncommon. A serious amateur on average probably makes a few hundred dollars a year. In many ways it comes down to how much work the photographer can put into it on their end. Succesful photographers also tend to do a lot of offline self promotion.
For our part, the site attracts over 300,000 unique views per month, we also have numerous industry clients, combined with active promotion both offline and online. We are continually building our offline side of the business also, so there is a lot more than meets the eye! In that sense it is just as much in our interest to sell your images.
When will I be paid and how?
Payments are made every quarter. In most cases we can work with the photographer as to what payment method they prefer.
Can I track my image views?
Each week you will be emailed a report on your image views. We are currently working on an interactive web interface for photographers to monitor their images. This should be online by early January 2010.
What about licensing?
We sell all of our images under a standard Royalty Free contract. If you are considering applying then please familiarise yourself with our standard license before you do anything. Our license can be found here.
Photographers have the choice of allowing us to sell prints or not of their photographs, in many cases our photographers prefer to stick with their own print making solutions, in which case rather than a "buy print" below the image, a link can be placed to the photographers site.
What type of photographs are you looking for?
Our site has traditionally had an emphasis on wildlife and geographic themed images. So we are always on the lookout for spectacular wildlife photographers. We do however have plenty of room to expand into other areas, so are open to most suggestions. The defining criteria being that it must be technically good, aesthetically pleasing and of course your own work. If it is a highly marketable image then that is even better, but the first three criteria are absolute.
If required, as in shots of identifiable people and so on, then each image must be accompanied by a model release.
What formats/resolutions etc. do you accept?
The simplest answer here is the larger the better, with modern cameras this is now not really a problem. We generally accept JPG format, 240ppi as a minimum resolution and size of 1600x1200 pixels at the absolute minimum.
Are my images protected?
Yes we have some of the industries most advanced copy theft protection systems. Although as anyone with any online experience knows, there are no absolutes, we go out of our way to protect intellectual property rights. Becoming familiar with the site is probably the best way to see the lengths we go to in protecting images.
If the worst should happen and your image is found being used in an unauthorised many, we also act to recover damages on your behalf and enforce the photographers rights.
Do I get my own gallery?
No, all Photographers are treated equally with none treated more equally than others. Photographs are all placed into their relevant categories within the site and it is then up to the photograph to stand out on merit. Users can search for Photographers by name which gives a gallery view in any case, and we are currently finalising implementation of a Photographers Bio page, where you will be able to edit your profile and assist with your own self promotion.
Do the Photographs remain my own?
Absolutely. We only help facilitate sales on your part and take a commision from that. The buyer purchases the right "to use the image" but they definitely do not purchase the image as such.
How do I apply?
Simple, if you are still interested, just email us. In most cases photographers already have images online, in which case simply provide a link for us to see some of your work. If you dont have work available to view online, send a few pics of your best work via email attachment. Please note, images we receive in this way will not be kept or used in any way beyond assessing your work. In short they will be deleted, so do not send any of "but it was my only copy".
What if I am not accepted
Unfortunately in the majority of cases we don't accept most photographers. Often this is simply due to poor images, and in some cases images that are difficult to sell. for example selling images of sunsets is about as likely as selling ice to eskimo's or whatever metaphor you choose.
If your work is not accepted we will let you know why and in some cases what can be done to remedy the situation.
And if I am accepted?
Firstly we will get in touch about how to finalise registration, settle payment and so on. During this stage we like to get to know our photographers and build up a working relationship with them. You will be assigned an account manager who will help get everything sorted for you, during this stage we will also need a copy of some sort of approved photo id, so we know exactly who we are dealing with. This is also the time to let us know of any preferences and so on that you may have. In the end we try and work with you, as a partnership.
Once things are under way it is a simple matter of starting to send your photographs, and they will start appearing on the site. Some may be declined, but in each case we work with the photographer to ensure a satisfactory result. In cases where identification is uncertain our team will work on properly identifying the photograph and any other steps that are required. Once you are accepted we will help take care of everything for you.
But what if I change my mind?
No problem. Sometimes circumstances change so we understand that. Simply let your account manager know and your images will be removed from our site and your account closed. Unfortunately in these cases we cannot refund any registration fees, but we will settle unpaid dues asap.
In some cases a photographer may simply wish to have a photograph removed for whatever reason, again this is as simple as contacting your account manager.
Apply Now!
Apply now through the link below, or if you have questions or concerns, feel free to ask us!
Simply email us with a very brief background and a link to where we can see your work, or attach a few photographs.
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