Photo Websites--Are you for or against them?

i agree the pay is too low.
some of the art on demand sites are like this too.
you only get 10%.
one i'm on,for a shirt,i get like 2 dollars,while they make 20.it's disgusting.even 30/70 would be fairer.i know there's overhead,but come on.

i started dividing things into special work/works for public,with a link back to my real site,so they can get one of the other works,and i get full $ if they buy it.kind of a sampler,of sorts.

As a non-photographer, I can appreciate the effect these sites have had on professionals, but I also see a parallel--writing. Actually, there are many parallels because changing technologies, including the internet, have made it possible for more and more people to do things and make money in areas that were once the exclusive realm of professionals.

I see that as mainly good, though it makes it much more difficult for anyone to stand out from the crowd. Professional have to work harder to distinguish themselves from the crowd, but amateurs also have a chance to improve their skills and talents and become professionals. It's good to have a range of skills and a range of payment levels, with the chance for everyone to do better. At least most professionals aren't like buggy whip makers, who simply disappeared when automobiles came along.

I agree with you. How could a professional photographer really make anything on a site like those.
I have signed up for one but they didn't need my pics 'cause they're too common. I gave up on them. I figure I'll get my pictures out there or I won't. But that's most likely not going to be the way I do it.

i am not a professional photographer nor someone who can capture good things on cam but i myself don't want any of my pics to be shared by anyone in the net because if my pics are one of a kind and i will only get pennies for that then i would not bother to share it.i would rather use my photos to promote my site and my expertise, if i am a good photographer.i am tempted to join several sites but i just decided not to for that reason. i find it unfair.

I never tried those sites plus I'm not a photographer either. But for sure I can tell difference between a pro and amateur works because I took basic course on photography a while back although I didn't finish it. But those who just love pictures they would be attracted to the deals since they don't know better. If you are already a photographer, why not go a step above, becoming photojournalist? Someone told me this profession is still highly in demand. I wish you good luck!

i think that anything in creation is unique. Whether it is a person, an object, a place, a situation, or just a moment in time. Therefore it deserves to be preserved. Sorry if people want to claim these things for themselves, but there is more to art than money.

I'm not involved in them too much, I just use royalty free photos for my writing. I do know a few people that are trying to make a few extra dollars off of them and the thing is, that's all that really can be made for them and in all honesty, I really do think the pay is too low. I think people that upload their photography are fooled into thinking that making money with their photographs is extremely easy.

However, making money online, as we all know, isn't easy and it's not a get rich quick scheme. In fact, even if you do photography outside of the internet, you're not going to get great pay unless you a world renouned photographer. People have to start somewhere.