Stop Freaking Out Over Google+

The new kid on the social media block, Google+ has been around for a few weeks now.   As is usual for social media sites, people are using it to post and upload creative content like imagery to their accounts to show their friends.  Also, as is usual, this is causing some people to dig into the TOS or “Terms of Service” a little deeper to look for any dark intent behind the provision of the service.  Which is fine – it’s good to be informed and cautious.  However, once you dig deeper and find some legalese, don’t freak out because there are terms like “royalty free license” or “wordwide” in there!  Read the entire TOS statements concerning content thoroughly.

Sports Fans Shoot Behind the Scenes

In yesterday’s post, I teased a bit about some “behind the scenes” shots of my recent “Sports Fans” stock photo session.  Let’s see what I can dig up from my assistant’s shooting… (I’m not watermarking these, so if you steal them, I will hunt you down and make you watch “The Bachelorette”).

Cinco De Mayo!

If you want to hit the pinata, stay away from the Margaritas on Cinco de Mayo …

iStockphoto Featured Image

Every week, on the iStockphoto “Photo” landing page, there is a featured image, as well as a featured artist and a free image.  It’s been quite a while since one of my images was featured in this way, but this morning, one of my IS pals mailed me a “Congrats on the IOTW” (Image of the Week) note.  Which was a surprise to me!  I went to the landing page, and discovered one of my recent “Exam Room” images had been chosen to be showcased this week (4/24/2011).  So, thank you to the iStock inspection team for picking one of my images out of the thousands and thousands submitted each week.  See below for a screenshot of the landing page.

10 Thousand Files Online

Looks like I’ve managed to reach the 10,000 files uploaded milestone over at iStockphoto.com (see image to left).

That’s a mix of mostly photos, a couple of dozen videos, some illustrations, a handful of audio, and even a few Flash files.  Thanks to all the buyers who have licensed my work that have helped me reach this number!

To Paraphrase Edison …

… now I know 61 ways not to get a pink flaming image on iStockphoto.com, which signifies that it has been downloaded over 10,000 times.  The image is titled “Service with a Smile #62″ and is seen below.  Thanks buyers!

Welcome 2011

Happy New Year everyone!

2010 Charity Drive

Last year I ran a holiday charity drive, where, for every download from my iStockphoto portfolio over two weeks, I would put $.10 into a pot to be split between Toys For Tots and Give Kids The World.  Both are childrens’ charities, the former collects and buys gifts for needy children, and the latter brings deserving families with sick children to the Central Florida area.  The buyers who licensed my content last year helped to bring in about $700.  Well, it worked out so well, let’s do it again this year!

I’m going to set it up a little bit differently this year to keep the excitement up.  The period will run from December 6th through the 10th.  That’s 5 full business days, instead of two weeks like last year.  However, the amount put into the pot to be split, per license, will be $.30 to make up for the time difference.  Also, the minimum in the pot will be $750, so even if we don’t get there, I’ll put up that amount.  So, here’s hoping that 2010 goes out with a bang.

By the way, if you’re interested in Give Kids the World and its facilities, you can find some excellent images by a Disney friend of mine on the Orlando-centric AttractionsMagazine website, here:

http://attractionsmagazine.com/blog/2010/11/20/5k-fun-run-offered-a-look-inside-give-kids-the-world-village/

Again, thanks for buying, and I’ll blog on this again next Monday morning.

Ice Cream Results

Two days ago, I announced a small initiative to raise awareness and some cash for the summer fundraising campaign of Give Kids the World.  The campaign is based on a story about a family who enjoys ice cream for breakfast once a year, on the anniversary of their visit, to remember their breakfasts at the Give Kids the World Village outside of Orlando.  You can see my small effort here.

Well, I can’t say I’m thrilled with the ‘phenomenon’ that is social marketing – I had expected word to spread around a bit more, to generate more than 16 clicks for a virtual ice cream cone (which equaled a dollar donated on my part per click).  So, I will top off the 16 ice creams ($16) with an additional $100, for a total of $116 going to the organization.

If you’re coming to the game late, have a real ice cream for breakfast one day, and visit the campaign’s web site here.  Thanks!

Breakfast Tomorrow

Back in December, I did a little charity drive here to benefit two childrens’ organizations: Give Kids the World and Toys for Tots.  My donations to the charities were based on my iStock sales during a certain amount of time.

Well, I’m running a small effort to help again, and this time, it won’t even cost you anything to participate!