| Funny Animal Pictures | | | | The stripping out of hair and fur necessary for |
| | | | | compositing my anthropomorphic offerings sure |
| More than once I have been introduced as the | | | | isn't easy. Perhaps hardest of all is attracting |
| “the guy who creates the cute, funny animal | | | | traffic to my site in sufficient quantities to actually |
| pictures”. I have to admit, it is with mixed | | | | provide a significant amount of revenue. But then, |
| emotions that I hear that. As a photographer my | | | | if it were easy, everyone would be doing it. |
| ego can't help but want to be known for | | | | |
| “serious” work. However, I really don't do | | | | Diversification and Different Revenue Sources |
| much “serious” work. | | | | |
| | | | | For us photographers, stock or assignment, now |
| After a career of some thirty years as a | | | | is an important time to diversify. By having this |
| professional photographer, I have never received | | | | “funny animal” sub-specialty I am tapping |
| as much genuine thanks for creating images as I | | | | into a much different revenue source than the |
| do for the funny human-like animal pictures. A | | | | standard stock photo licensees. |
| week after 9/11 a United Flight Attendant sent | | | | |
| me an e-mail telling me that one of my humorous | | | | By selling photos as products, i.e. coffee mugs, |
| cat pics brought the first smile to her face in a | | | | T-shirts, tote bags, mouse pads and more |
| week. | | | | through CafePress, I am reaching a different |
| | | | | clientele. Photographic prints represent yet another |
| A week doesn't go by without my getting at | | | | diverse source of income that ought to be |
| least one random phone call or e-mail from | | | | accessible to any photographer. Just like in the |
| someone who is thanking me for creating those | | | | investment world, diversification provides an |
| photos and bringing a smile to their face. | | | | increase in security, and who knows, you just |
| | | | | might end up liking the “plan B” more than |
| Millions of Pet Owners and Photo Creations | | | | your “day gig”! |
| | | | | |
| Now, with the stock photo business going | | | | Plan “B” and Creating Effective Stock |
| through such transitional pains, I have a renewed | | | | Photos |
| appreciation for those anthropomorphic photo | | | | |
| creations. I can't help but believe that the market | | | | Having a “plan B” helps me relax a bit and |
| for products with photos imprinted on them, now | | | | I think actually makes me better at my primary |
| made accessible by the Internet, represents a | | | | task of creating effective stock photos. I try and |
| truly enormous opportunity. There are over 37 | | | | work on each aspect of my business each day, |
| million cat owners in the U.S., and over 43 million | | | | and changing tasks, such as taking a break from |
| dog owners. All I want is about ten cents apiece! | | | | compositing to work on key wording, or switching |
| | | | | from uploading images online to writing a blog |
| Funny Animal Pictures and Anthropomorphic | | | | entry or article, helps keep me invigorated and |
| Offerings | | | | enthusiastic. |
| | | | | |
| According to Wordtracker there were over 23 | | | | For example, the first thing I did this morning was |
| million searches for “funny animal | | | | create a composite stock photo for Blend, |
| pictures”. Hey, if one percent of them bought | | | | followed by working on SEO strategy, then |
| an animal print from me, and I made a mere | | | | entering sales reports into my database, and |
| $5.00 per print, lets see…I would make (my | | | | finally, working on a stock photo for Getty. Now I |
| math is always suspect here) oh, about | | | | am at home writing this blog on my laptop, and in |
| $1,150,000.00. If it were only so easy! But there | | | | just a few minutes it will be time to veg for a bit |
| isn't anything easy about it. Shooting animals is | | | | and watch the Olympics. Actually, that is going to |
| certainly challenging. | | | | happen right now…later! |
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