buying images for webdesign

do you use microstock sites?

[perrush]

Hi All,

I'm an amateur photographer who contribute at various microstock sites. Recently I wrote a 28-page article about those microstock sites orientated towards the photographers contributing. (article can be seen here: <snip>)

Now I want to look into the other side... namely the buyers of those (our) images, and write an article about it. But I'm not a designer or marketeer, so I really don't know a lot about the people buying the images.

Therefore I want to open a discussion here. You could give me any feedback you like, I'll look into everyone of them.

Questions that cross my mind are :

- Do you use images from microstock sites?
- if not, why not
- if not, do you plan to use them in the future
- if yes, are you content with the quality
- How often do you use them?
- Which site do you like the most and why?
- ...

I think you'll get the point. So just fire ...

No URI's please, see TOS [webmasterworld.com]

[edited by: limbo at 3:17 pm (utc) on Feb. 21, 2007]

[limbo]

Hi Perrush Welcome to WebmasterWorld :)

A great topic.

Do you use images from microstock sites?

Yes. for the most part micro stock works a treat without the need to commission photographers.

if yes, are you content with the quality

This is dependant on the type of work - generally, if I'm patient, I can find images of excellent quality, with a very adaptable resolution.

How often do you use them?

If not daily certainly weekly - a godsend.

Which site do you like the most and why?

Please Can we keep this a generalised thread without mentioning the specifics. Thanks.

This thread might also be of use: [webmasterworld.com...]

[perrush]

Hi Limbo, tnx for the feedback.

I read the other thread but I found it's more related towards the photographers then to the buyers. (although I found an interesting remark from one of them regarding leaving enough space around your subject)

But like I said, I would like to hear what designers find important in such a site (not really what they find important in a photo)

From that other thread I substracted two ideas :

1) The importance / trouble to find that one particular photo (aka the seach function).
2) The fear of not having a legal model release.

But I'm open to everthing else. What do you designers search in a particular site? Why do you use the one you're using and not an other competitor? ect ... ...

[rocknbil]

For the most part, I shoot for myself, but there are times when it's just not practical. I live in the country, for example, and may need tall buildings. :-)

This is a perfect example, it's not easy to suggest the image types in demand, or why one image is better than another for a specific application.

I use one of those sites for two specific reasons: usually I can find a quality image out of the several hundred thousand there at the resolution I need for the project (not always web.) The price for the download is extremely reasonable and is not bound by a complex usage policy requiring a lawyer to decrypt. The "big boys" can keep their carefully guarded images.

I have settled on this one site after working with several simply because it's the path of least resistance: easiest to locate the appropriate image, purchase, and get the job done, today. Recently, however, they've taken to some pretty heavy Javascript work creating pop-ups of enlargements when you mouse-over. This may be impressive to some but is mostly annoying, causing unexpected hiccups and delays when you accidentally mouseover.

[Turbulence]

Interesting thread, perrush,

- Do you use images from microstock sites?

Yes, I use them quite often (let's say - probably in each one of two completed projects of mine;
To add - I've been professionally working in the field for more than a year now. Have worked on more than 70 projects.)

- If yes, are you content with the quality

So far, I've been more than content with the quality of the images I paid for.

- How often do you use them?

Already answered.

- Which site do you like the most and why?

I'll restrain from being specific here.

Hope my answers were of help!:)

[perrush]

well tnx for the input guys, but this is going to slow. I'll need to do it another way.

I think I'll put up a webpage(s) were I compare the different sites from a buyers view. And hope I'll get some response through that page.

One thing I remind from this thread is that the search function of such a site is very important.

Other things I will compare :

- price across the different sizes
- number of images

anything else you think of?