I suspect a great deal of this blog will already be known to many of you, but for those who are just starting out in photography you may want to know what the best ways to pick up used equipment are. Also, some of this info may be helpful for those who have equipment they no longer use or are upgrading.
For buyers
Buyers have a multitude of places to buy used camera equipment these days. The following are the major options.
Buy it at your local camera store. Most larger camera stores sell used equipment. Typically the inspect it before putting it up for sale and will price it according to its condition. In general most of these stores are honest, though you’ll pay a bit more for the item than you would elsewhere.
KEH.com. This is the most reliable place on the Net to buy used equipment. They have a wide variety of equipment and their prices are fair, though a bit higher than if you purchase the item directly from the seller.
EBay. EBay can be a great source for used equipment, particularly if the item you are purchasing is hard to come by. However, you won’t know the true condition of the item until you receive it, so there is a fair amount of risk involved.
Craigslist. The variety of items is not high, though the more common items (such as newer camera models) are readily available there. Prices are all over the place, but you can usually negotiate. Always have common sense when meeting someone you don’t know. I have never had issues with meeting anyone through Craigslist to sell gear, but if you are a single woman I would meet in a public place.
Groups and clubs. If you are a member of a group or club, this is a great way to buy equipment. Usually these are people you know and trust, and their reputation is on the line when they say the equipment is in good shape.
So what types of microstock pictures sell? In general, people shots often sell the best. Of course, I do not have direct experience here because I do not sell pictures of people. However, if you do want to earn a profit from stock photography people pictures are a great place to start. In particular, shots of people working are often the best selling. Generally if the photograph has a business aspect, it will do better. For instance, put a person in front of a house or in a business suit instead of an ordinary pose. Also, pictures of minorities – especially in a business sense – often sell well.
For those of us who prefer to not take pictures of people, travel shots often do quite well. For me, these are my best sellers. More exotic locations that have not been covered well are the best sellers. Pictures from common locations such as Hawaii and Mexico do not sell as well as Dubai and Jordan. Make sure when taking travel pictures though to get the best lighting possible – generally early in the morning or late in the afternoon.
For those who don’t get out much, isolated shots are also great sellers. You can start out with objects from around your home and go on from there. Many stores sell light boxes that you can use or you can make your own. There are numerous isolation techniques that you can read about on the Internet, but make sure you isolate the subject well or it will be rejected due to poor isolation.
Finally, images with a theme tend to sell quite well. Themes include joy, happiness, hard work, and a multitude of others. Make sure to add any possible themes to your keywords – but don’t get too inventive!
Shots that do not sell
I can vouch from experience that pictures of bugs are poor sellers. I suspect that many animal pictures also sell poorly – or at least my animal pictures do. These are not the type of pictures most graphic artists are looking for. Still, I take these pictures because I enjoy them and if they sell it is a bonus.
If you wonder whether a shot will sell, try entering a few of your expected keywords on one of the microstock sites and see how many results turn up. If there are a large number of competing shots, your image will likely not sell well. Images that should have been rejected, but for some reason passed the reviewer, will also be rejected. Sometimes you can get passed the reviewers – but buyers are always impartial.