Myerson Photo Blog

One of the best ways to market your stock photography on iStock is to provide buyers with links to similar images. Many iStockers group together similar images; those using the same models, those taken at one iStock event, those that fall within a certain theme (like “My Coffee Images”, “My Business Images”, “My Colonoscopy Images”, etc.). Lacking any hard data (or even soft data) to support this claim, I’ll go ahead and pretend that setting up links to similar images has accounted for 32.8% of all my sales. Why not?

A lot of iStockers – especially those new to the game – have trouble with the code and setup required to do something like this. Fear not, amigos, I’m here to help. In general, I’d say there are three methods available to the iStockphoto contributor for this kind of job. These are the one-off, the private lightbox, and the search.Before we dive into these, though, lets take a minute to discuss code. Since each of the methods discussed here involves providing a link, we’d better learn how to do that. iStock uses a method called UBB to allow contributors to write code. UBB code uses tags in [square brackets] to indicate that the browser should display something special, like links. The way to tell UBB to generate a link is with the [URL] code. In its general form it looks like this:
[url=http://www.something_or_other.com/directory/page].

It has a matching end tag that looks like this: [/url]. Between those two tags, you put the text that you want to become linkified. So, if you write code like this:
[url=http://www.myersonphoto.com]Myerson Photo[/url]

You’d wind up with this:
Myerson Photo

Simple, no? Images work in a similar way. You have an open tag and a close tag: [img] and [/img]. Between those, you’d place the url of your image. The fun comes when you create an [img] inside the open and close tags of an [url]. So let’s get started:

The One-Off
The one-off is nothing more than a link to one specific picture in your description. This would be useful if you have two variants of an image; a black and white version and a full-color one, for instance. Or a horizontal crop vs. a vertical one. For each image, you’d provide a link to the other. The link in this case would go directly to the image detail page for the other image. That would look like this:
[url=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=1788872] My Other Cool Image [/url]
Alternatively, you can use an image in place of the “My Other Cool Image” text, using the [img]...[/img] code, above. The image you use can be anything. You may use an image in your own web hosting space, in some free image hosting place, or on iStockphoto itself. If I were linking directly to image #1788872, as above, I’d probably use that image itself:
[url=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_closeup.php?id=1788872] [img]http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1788872/2/istockphoto_1788872_book_afire.jpg[/img] [/url].

What the h*ck?! Where did that nonsense inside the [img] tags come from? Pretty easy. I just right clicked on the iStock thumbnail for the image, and selected “Copy Image Location” (I’m using FireFox. If this were IE, I’d right-click and select “Properties”. The URL of the image would show up in that window).

The Private Lightbox
Lets say you want to link not to one other image, but to a whole lightbox of images. This would be useful to showcase all of your images that feature the same model. The crux of what you do – URL tags surrounding an image or some text – is the same. The devil, as they say, is in the details. This time, you’ll use a different URL inside the URL tags.

Firstly create your lightbox. Throw any and all of your pertinent images in there. I’m going to take this opportunity to get up on my lightbox soapbox for a minute. The collection of images that you put into this lightbox represent a perfect opportunity to use a PRIVATE LIGHTBOX. Private lightboxes are just like public lightboxes. The only real distinction is that they won’t be found in a lightbox search. This is a good thing. Your collection of your images should not be searchable. Never fear; It’s still viewable by the public. All you have to do is tell people how to get to it, which is precisely what we’re doing here.

That said, create your private lightbox and view it. See all those swell images in there? Nice work. Go to the address bar of your browser and copy the location. Paste that into your [url=] tag, and you’ve linked to the lightbox. Nice work. An example of that would look like this:
[url=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=569463] All Pictures of Jamie [/url].

Alternatively (as you well know by now) I could use an image instead of text:
[url=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=569463] [img]http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1277389/1/istockphoto_1277389_businesswoman.jpg
[/img][/url].

That second example ends up looking like this:

The Search
The final methodology for grouping and linking images is my favorite. The search is cool because it automatically updates itself anytime you upload a new image that belongs in it. You don't even have to maintain a lightbox. It's what I use to group and link my business pics, my coffee pics, my book pics, my school supplies pics, you name it. Because it's based on iStock's keywords and search capabilities, it is self maintaining. If I upload a new school supplies image tomorrow, it'll be found by my school supplies link as soon as it's approved and active. It takes a little more knowledge than the other methodologies, but nothing we can't handle.

The first step here is to view your own portfolio. While you've got all your images returned, do a "search within" to return just the images you'll want linked in this method. You might have to do a Boolean search to get just what you want ("books not library", for instance, or "books and prayer"). Once you've got the search, and it returns the right images from your portfolio, copy the URL from the browser's address bar. You'll see a lot of stuff in that address, including a couple of key elements: "userID=xxx", "within=1", and the search terms you used. You may see a lot of weird characters as well - percent signs, plus signs, and numbers. These are just the HTML URL way of displaying parentheses, dashes and other such characters that have a way of confusing browsers. Don't sweat it. You should be able to copy the address wholesale and copy it into the [url] tags as above. By now you should be an expert.

I hope these little management tips have been helpful. Happy iStocking!

This week, we turn the “6 Questions” spotlight out West to Utah. AJ Rich (RichVintage) is a photographer with a knack for capturing slices of American life. His images are always iconic, and infused with a real sense of emotion and nostalgia. Rich was born and raised in the desert and red rocks of Utah. A mission to Denmark instilled a love of all things Danish. He has a graphic design degree from Brigham Young University and has been an award-winning designer and art-director for more than 7 years. He loves collecting vintage wood type along with electronic type.

I’ve had the pleasure of shooting with AJ throughout the southwest (well, in Utah and Texas, anyway… we’ll get him to Arizona someday).

Myerson Photo: So many of your best images have a real vintage flair. Without giving away any trade secrets, what can you tell us about your workflow that leads to this nostalgic appeal?

A.J.: Well, I enjoy taking portraits of any nature as they tell many stories. I grew up in a smaller town and have lived around rural areas and this culture is one aspect of America that is slowly dying out. I have kind of taken it upon myself to make each portrait as timeless as possible and try to capture this culture. I am not a cowboy (far from it, I have only been on a horse once) but it is a fantastic subject matter. I also lived in Texas for a while, and the people are so nice, I just fell in love with the culture. And yes, I have even thought about buying a Stetson.

I do add some of my own style to the photography after I take it, but the vintage/nostalgic effects are mostly accomplished with different lenses, lighting, and wardrobe. Lighting is the main key.

MP: I’ve noticed a lot of images of children in your portfolio. Working with children is notoriously… challenging. Do you have any tips for working with the younger set?

AJ: Yes, take some anxiety pills before the shoot. Well, if you don’t have any, try to clear your mind and plan beforehand. Some children will do well over and over for you, while others take lots of patience. My best advice would be to plan on not going according to plan. Just be spontaneous. The younger the children, the more spontaneity needed. Bring treats and fun props. Most of the time, just let them act.

MP: The people in your portfolio all show the trifecta of commercial portraiture: attractive, natural, and displaying genuine emotion. What are your secrets to finding, selecting, and directing models to get this awesome combination?

AJ: Thanks, I try my best. I have an education in graphic design/art direction to fall back on and this helps to get things right with my photography. I am always thinking, writing down ideas, looking of what has been done. My mind never stops (refer back to the anxiety medication). By the time I get to the actual taking of the photo, I have put all that thought into the photo. If it doesn’t look right, I know it right off. I am extremely picky, and only the best make it through the cut. Sometimes the emotion is happenstance, but this thinking and planning will translate into art direction—and that is where the magic happens. And sometimes you are just plain lucky. But you have to be in the right spot at the right time, and only preparation can get you there.

MP: Before you ever became an award-winning photographer, you were an award-winning graphic designer. Were there any lessons or experiences from graphic design that inform your photography?

AJ: I have been a designer for a while, and the thing I have learned is to never hold anything back. I just finished a book cover project for a first-time client, and I went a whole new direction from what they have done in the past. I was a little nervous to show the concept to them, but they loved it. It may just be one of my best pieces design-wise. First in my design career, I may have been a little timid to try something like this and I would have played it safe, and not grown, not challenged myself. The client may not like all my ideas, but they will know I am going to try that electric fence. Design has taught me to never hold anything back and that translates into my photography.

MP: How’s the graphic design going? Are you shooting full time, or do you still spend time with design?

AJ: Design is great. I work full-time mostly doing editorial design. I will never give up design at this point because I love it so much. I only spend about 15 hours a week on photography, but it is an essential outlet for me. I am in my office chair 40+ hours a week, and I need to get out and photograph! I just have that drive to take pictures. I may try to publish some of my own photography with my own design one of these days. (Come on Social Security).

MP: You’re handed a check for $100,000 and told to create your dream image set up. Spend it on models, equipment, locations, whatever. How do you spend the dough?

Oooh. Good question. I would build a time machine to travel back to the time of the French master Cartier-Bresson. I would beg him, plead—to travel with him and be his comrade in his world photographing journeys. He was a master of capturing portraits and emotion and I would love to have the opportunity to see what he saw through that viewfinder. With my extra change, I would then buy a viewcamera, and an airplane.

I had the privilege last night of judging a photo competition for the Vistoso Photo Club in Oro Valley.

The Vistoso Photo Club is a group of photography hobbyists and enthusiasts from the Sun City /Rancho Vistoso area of Oro Valley. There were perhaps 25-30 members of the club in last night’s meeting, and it was a great pleasure to meet them. Their monthly meetings involve a juried show of works. The artists divide themselves into three experience levels: Intermediate, Advanced, and Masters, and the work is divided into two groups: Assignment (those pieces that were shot specifically for the monthly topic) and Open (those that were not). In all, there were over 90 pieces in those 6 categories.

Overall, I was greatly impressed with the talent and aesthetics on display last night. There were some images that simply blew me away in terms of composition, impact, and technical prowess. As the images moved by, I gave each a score on a 10-point scale (ranging from 6 to 15)  and gave some (hopefully useful) critiquing feedback. At the end of each group, competition coordinator Pat Mulligan announced which images received 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and honorable mention honors, based on the scoring. More than once I found myself in the unenviable position of breaking a tie that I’d created by scoring multiple images the same.

I enjoyed my time with the Vistoso Photo Club last night, and I do hope to be able to judge another of their upcoming competitions. Until that happens, however, there will be another opportunity to see the work of these fine artists: they have a public art hanging taking place in the month of December. The installation begins December 1, and will be on display until the 29th in the Sun City Social Hall (the building near the clock tower). The show will be open to the public every day from 7 AM until late evening (it opens a little later – 9 AM – on Sundays). With two pieces from every contributor, there should be a wide variety of beautiful pieces on display.