Getting Good Guidance

In grandfather's day, before the technical revolution, it was customary to pay attention to the wisdom of "the older voice of experience." Grandfather (and grandmother) passed down the wisdom of the ages. When it comes to ethical and moral thinking, that's pretty much true today, yes. But when it comes to today's business operations, including photo research business operations, such as delivery, temporary storage, research, and development, grandpa is usually clueless.
Too often, I hear a researcher say, "So-and-so, who has been doing photo research 30 years, told me that..."
And too often, so-and-so's advice was not on-target. Why?
Because photo distribution, storage, and the actual production of stock photography has dramatically changed in the last decade. If a veteran researcher is giving you advice, and still depending on a film-based system, you can be sure he or she is advising you from a limited and a biased position. Photo researchers are like most of us, -they don't welcome change.

RAPID CHANGE

With the speed of recent technological advances, most disciplines, not just photography, are also experiencing rapid change-- physicians, mechanics, engineers, the military. Today, to get advice, for example, from a retired physician, soldier, automotive repairman, who has not continued his or her education on an ongoing basis, would not be wise. In photo research, it can even work against your success.
This sounds like an indictment of senior citizens. It's not. It's aimed at cautioning against the myths that some veteran researchers, albeit with good intentions, pass on to those just starting out. My point is to watch out for faulty consulting. What worked in the last two or three decades regards business operations in stock photography research, frequently doesn't work at all today.
One faulty approach I've heard veteran publishing company photo researchers express, is "We have our staff photographer and several freelance photographers we have always depended on. There's no need to outsource to locate images."
Red flags should go up. The Internet can provide many new sources of highly specialized photos. To test this out, go to Google, type in a keyword(s) describing a photo, a space, and then the word, 'photosource'. Very often you'll immediately locate the source of the image. This system saves researchers the cost and administration of having a staff or freelance photographer take the picture on assignment.
Now, to make amends with seasoned photo researchers. Of course there are many veteran professional researchers who have changed with the times, continually update their business practices, and are on top of the technological changes of the last decade. These 'silver-haired foxes' are the ones to listen to. As for the others, well, turn, and don't walk away, run.

Rohn Engh is director of PhotoSource International and publisher of PhotoStockNotes. Pine Lake Farm, 1910 35th Road, Osceola, WI 54020 USA. Telephone: 1 800 624 0266 Fax: 1 715 248 7394. Web site: www.photosource.com/products

 

 



Visit the PhotoSource International homepage! Nearly seventy different sections with all the information you're looking for await you. Click here.

This newsletter isn't free. It's Referware. By receiving this, you agree to help someone each week -- on the Internet on our Kracker Barrel http://www.photosource.com/board , in a forum, with Email, or by sending/forwarding this newsletter to photographer friends. The Internet is a treasurehouse for "Free" information. The more everyone gives, the better off everyone is!

Your Name:
Your Email:
Their Name:
Their Email: ">
">

Evaluate this article

Please take a moment to fill out this form. Your time and feedback are greatly appreciated.

Name:
Email: 

How would you rate this article?
     (Lowest) (Highest)

What stock photography topics are you most interested in reading about?
     

What improvements or changes would you suggest for this article or the PhotoResearcher newsletter?