If you’re a freelance photographer, or you work in a photo library and are looking to expand your stock photography portfolio, then you might want to consider using Alamy as one of your primary photo licensing sites.
Here’s why and how… It is not only the largest but also probably the most user-friendly picture agency for photographers. It is also one of the few agencies that offer an exclusive deal to its contributors. Let’s take a look at why you should use Alamy and how to make the most of it…
What is Alamy?
Alamy is one of the leading stock photo agencies for freelance photographers. They are used by a wide range of media companies and organizations, including newspapers and magazines, book publishers, websites, advertising agencies, businesses, and educational institutions. Alamy has 160 employees in its London office and over 35,000 contributors worldwide. There are three main reasons why you should consider uploading your photos to Alamy.
Firstly, the photo licensing rates are, in general, much better than those offered by other large agencies, like Shutterstock or Getty Images, who take a much larger cut when selling your images. Secondly, Alamy is a truly global agency, so your images will be available for sale in over 70 different countries. And last but not least, you can choose your payment terms. You can opt to be paid every month or every quarter, and you can also choose to be paid 50% upfront and 50% on receipt of payment.
Why you should use Alamy?
Why should you use Alamy as one of your primary stock photo sites? Well, apart from the fact that it is one of the world’s leading stock photo agencies and it’s used by a wide range of customers, including some of the biggest brands in the world, Alamy is also very user-friendly. Alamy offers contributors great rates, a large and diverse customer base, and excellent support.
This is particularly true for new contributors who are offered an exclusive deal for their first six months. There are no upfront costs as you can use any camera and any computer. On top of all that, Alamy is completely transparent. They list their payment terms and rate tables on their website and are very open to discussing any issues you might have.
How to make the most of Alamy?
As mentioned earlier, Alamy offers a special introductory rate to new contributors. While the exact rates and payment terms vary from contributor to contributor, they are generally better than what is on offer after the introductory period. This is why you should use the introductory period to upload as many images as you can. After the introductory period, there are several things you could do to make the most of Alamy: –
- Take your time to understand exactly what kind of images sells best through stock photo sites. It’s not just about taking any shot you can; there is a method to the madness. It’s not just about taking any shot you can; there is a method to the madness.
- Read the submission guidelines. They are very thorough and will help you avoid making basic mistakes that can cost you time and money in the long run.
- Stay on top of your submissions. It’s easy to forget about those images you uploaded months ago and then suddenly you find yourself with a growing number of images that are overdue for re-approval.
- Stay on top of your payments. They may have an excellent payment record, but you don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you don’t get paid for months without knowing where you stand.
Should you join Alamy?
As with any stock photo agency, there is no single answer to this question. While it’s true that Alamy offers great rates for both photographers and customers, it’s not the only stock photo agency that does so. If you look closely, some agencies offer better rates than Alamy.
However, they also have a much smaller customer base. If you can make a name for yourself on a smaller size and then somehow manage to land a contract with Alamy, you’ll be making a very smart move. Still, as with any other agency, you need to be very careful when you sign up with them.
Make sure you understand their payment terms, how they are evaluated and approved, and how much you’ll earn per image. You should also find out what kind of images they are looking for and how to best submit them. You can find all that information on their website.
3 Tips for using Alamy correctly
- Read the submission guidelines. They are very thorough and will help you avoid making basic mistakes that can cost you time and money in the long run.
- Stay on top of your submissions. It’s easy to forget about those images you uploaded months ago and then suddenly you find yourself with a growing number of images that are overdue for re-approval.
- Stay on top of your payments. They may have an excellent payment record, but you don’t want to be stuck in a situation where you don’t get paid for months without knowing where you stand. Remember, Alamy is a business, just like any other business. They want to make as much money as they can while spending as little as possible. You have to show them that you are worth their while. And the only way to do that is by following the guidelines and best practices.
