You know when you read articles online, and they have lovely pretty photos that go with the wonderfully creative writing?

Well do you ever wonder what happens to these pictures afterwards? Or where they even got the pictures in the first place?

The publishing world isn’t necessarily what you may always think. You may or may not have heard of Stock Photo Collections.

Stock Photo Collections, such as Alamy, are useful online databases full of different pictures uploaded by various different individuals, including students! Not every published photo you see has been commissioned by a photographer directly, as this can often become expensive, especially in austere times.

Using websites like Alamy: editorial, advertising and design companies, bloggers, book publishers and marketing departments can find images for their products.

So, Alamy! Have I mentioned that yet? Alamy is one of the most established and most diverse Stock Photo Collections around.

This is how they describe themselves:

 

‘Launched in 1999, Alamy revolutionised stock photography by creating the world’s first open, unedited collection of images. Our pictures come from anyone who wants to sell – a diverse mix of professional photographers, enthusiastic amateurs, stock agencies, news archives, museums and national collections.

We’ve become the largest and most comprehensive online photo resource, offering unrivalled choice to picture buyers around the world.’

 

Are you a student photographer? Well Alamy are offering 100% royalties for two years to every student who participates in their scheme.

This is a great opportunity for you to earn while you learn what to expect from a career in photography. Most photographers, whatever their specialism, earn money from their individual library of pictures. Some photographers can earn significant amounts! So it is definitely something you should get involved with if you can.

Leeds Met students on the BSc Photographic Journalism course have been introduced to this scheme by their tutors. They have been shown the ropes and are now negotiating the technical challenges of contributing to Alamy, by submitting their pictures to Quality Control. Quality Control being a team of technicians who check that the photographs are of a professional standard.

The students are going to spend their summer break starting their own picture collection. So if you want to join them or want to know more, then check out the website. Or do a nice little Google search in to Stock photo Collections.

For more info on how the student deal works CLICK HERE

Sources: Honey Salvadori, Alamy.com, Google