Released on = December 27, 2006, 9:46 pm

Press Release Author = FeaturePics.com

Industry = Internet & Online

Press Release Summary = 150,000 images - maybe that is not a huge amount of images...
But when you are talking about 1000 new friends - it is quite a lot!
This year was a start. A lot of mistakes, attempts to fix them (Thank God, our
Contributors helped us a lot) and we slowly, but surely, are entering into this
complicated world of stock photography.

Press Release Body = We started this business because of Photography. The word
\"stock\" had been added just because it is the correct term for the availability of
the internet to provide a means for others to buy image licenses.

Stock photography. Is that a bad word?
We have been online for one year, and we have heard a lot of very interesting
opinions. In summarizing them, we would like to highlight some misunderstood
concepts.


- Stock photo is a 20 cent photo

Big and successful micro payment Mega-distributors payouts may be not so much per
download, but they can provide a reasonable income because they sell a lot. Why not?
We (at FeaturePics.com) are offering a different model. Photographers are setting
their own prices and getting generous returns (70%). We are not a micro payment
site, and if your images are competitive, better, unique - feel free to set a price
that is not even close to 20 cents.


- Stock photos are \"Handshake of Synergy\" /\"Business woman on the phone\" type of photos

This is wrong. Stock photography consists of existing photographs - no less, no
more. The beauty of stock photography is that a photograph can be used and reused
multiple times. This photograph can be about family, business, agriculture, nature,
traveling, you name it.


- Stock photography is killing professional photography

Wait a minute. Professional photographers have the powerful benefits of 24/7
e-commerce capability. The point being is to find a good match with an agency or
agencies. Some of our FeaturePics.com Authors prefer to set a higher price for their
professional images, and distribute the images less frequently. For the higher price
they believe that it is worth their time and expense for equipment, models, studios,
etc, and therefore a better product.


- The Photographer is losing the image control

There is always a chance... A client may use an image after the license has expired,
beyond the license parameters, or an image can be transferred to someone else who
has no right at all to use the image. The reality is, that our buyers ask several
times in what way they can use an image. Why? Because they are usually extremely
careful and do not want to be sued.

A few times we faced situations when \"Authors\" uploaded photographs that did not
belong to them. The stock photography world is very big, but it is a \"small world\"
from the inside. FeaturePics.com has the privilege (due to not being oversized) to
know the majority of our Authors by communicating with them through electronic
means, phone, and sometimes meeting them personally.

A quick reminder to our Authors - please include a copyright notice in your image.
You make a client sleep better and protect your image in a better way.


- Stock photography is just for the money

We have a lot of examples of when Authors were very happy to see their free images
(with credits) published in articles, or on big sites. Recognition is very
important. A possibility to discuss photography subjects with other Photographers is
very important. We believe it is \"A Basic Need\" to present your point of view and
your artistry through photography.


- If you license your images through agencies - there is no need to do something by
yourself.

I would disagree. First of all it is fun to create your own site, to show your
images the way you want, to write articles, and run discussion groups. The second -
it helps a lot to promote your own images. When you see 1,000,000 photos, 1,500,000
photos in stock - it is easy to be lost in this world.


- I just take a picture. People will find it because it is good..

Just type \"stock photos\" on Google. What do you see? 71,100,000 results. I think
\"image description\" should be a subject for our next talk.

Yes, we were talking about technologies that can \"recognizes and describes images in
words\"
It will take a little time to build a real technology that can describe your image
correctly. In the mean- time we take very seriously, this job on ourselves.

No, it is not the end of our observations. We are learning and analyzing working in
this wonderful world of stock photography.

The only thing we can tell for sure - thanks to stock photography and internet
distribution - everybody has a chance to express himself/herself by taking pictures
(photographers) and by putting these images into work (designers).


Web Site = http://www.featurepics.com

Contact Details = General and Business Inqueries
34249 Fremont Blvd #212
Fremont, CA 94555