When I started thinking about stepping serious into stock photography I immediately was confronted with this nasty choice: macro or micro, RF or RM ? And I believe most stock shooters are wrestling with this issue.
Micro vs Macro war
Most macro shooters don’t think much of micro stock and vice versa. Worse these groups are in a heavy debate to prove who is right. The micro believers of course only think of a future in micro stock and most macro shooters think that the micro shooters are spoiling the market by producing low price images. I must say that I am not pro Macro or pro Micro. I try to understand how I can build a business in stock photography and will take each option serious when I think it can serve my goals.
Jonathan Ross lecturing on macro and micro
Happily enough some giants in the industry are willing to share their experience and vision. Jonathan Ross, co-owner of Blend and Cultura, is such a guy. In an interview with John Lund he already shared some wisdom with us. Recently he gave a very fine PACA lecture. Here you can see his presentation. He talks about his business and shows us how he makes money (and experiments) with all business models. And he also shows us what kind of images he produces for RM, RF Macro and RF Micro !!! If you have the time (about an hour) you will have him talking business and showing awesome images. Basically he says that when the comination of target market, production value/cost and shelf-life is right you can make money in each business model. This presentation is very good structured with clear messages…and I would say that the numbers he gives (market development) make you think.
