Strengthening Your Stock Photography Business Through Strategic Alliances

"Strategic alliances are becoming increasinglythree other photographers, pooling expenses,
important." Can't remember where I saw thatcasting, location scouting and ideas. We have done
quote, but it struck at the time, several yearsgang shoots in Mexico, Argentina, Burma, Thailand,
ago, as being an important one. With everyIndia and here in the U.S. I haven't had a bad
passing month it seems to me the truth in thoseexperience yet!
words increases. One way in which I am findingI have found that the gang shoots are more fun
that quote to be prophetic is in my collaborationtoo. It can get pretty crazy and does have its
with other photographers.challenges. For a shoot in Buenos Aires four of us
I have been shooting professionally for over 30rented a nightclub. We had the blaring music,
years. The vast majority of that time it seemedsmoke and light machines, and over thirty models.
as if photographers had an uneasy truce withIt wasn't just a stock shoot, it was a party too!
each other. It seemed that we all viewed eachDifficulties that we had to overcome included
other as competition, not to be trusted onfinding an equitable way for each of us to get a
interacted with, except at the occasional ASMP orchance in the best spots, avoiding having other
APA meeting. For me, that has all changed.photographers and photo equipment in our shots,
Shooting stock videoproviding equal access to the best models and so
As I write this I am coming off of a week offorth. To make these kind of stock shoots work
shooting with one of my peers, David Fischer.we need to submit the images to the same
Mostly we were shooting stock video. It waseditor of a given agency to avoid any possible
very much a collaborative process. I provided the"similar" problems.
video camera (a Panasonic HVX200 and an FS100We planned ahead to make sure we weren't
drive to record to) and the contract with Getty.planning any overt overlapping and checked in
David provided his experience as a commercialwith each other during the shoots. By staying
director. A friend of his provided us with the freeflexible and open to what was happening, and
use of a gyroscope to act as a steadicam for mycommunicating effectively, we made it all work
camera. In return I provided the gyro owner withand we all agreed it was one of the most fun
information that will help him improve the gyroshoots each of us has had.
mounts for cameras. We have, in effect, formedShooting motion and stills together
a strategic alliance that makes us all stronger andI also participated in a stock production, again in
more efficient.Buenos Aires, in which two of us shot stills while a
Gang shoots with other stock photographersthird focused on footage. In that case we rented
In the last four years I have done many groupan awesome Penthouse on the 43rd floor of the
shoots. The largest of these "gang shoots" wassecond tallest building in the city. Again we had a
organized by photographer Jack Hollingsworth, ingreat time, saved time and money by working
Austin, Texas, for a group of Blend Imagestogether, and came away with great shots. In the
owners and contributors. I can't rememberfuture I plan to do many more of these shoots
exactly how many of us there were...somethingthat combine one person shooting motion and the
over a dozen...all of us sharing locations andother taking still pictures.
models.There are plenty of other ways to form strategic
It was great fun, very reasonable in cost (Ialliances that are mutually rewarding and can
believe it was about $1,500.00 each for a wholemake shooting stock more rewarding in a number
day of shooting) and has paid for itself manyof ways.
times over. I have routinely shot with two or