What do photographers want from a stock photo agency?

Euh.. Income? ;-)

Someone actively marketing my images to the right people, and vitally, closing sales.
Someone I can trust to manage my images, protect my copyright and send cheques.
Someone who will supply me with crucial information to develop future photo sales.
Someone with a GSOH and can cook.

The best things in life are free
But you can keep ‘em for the birds and bees
Now give me money (that’s what I want)
That’s what I want (that’s what I want)
(The Beatles)

(if you drive a car, car;) – I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) – I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) – I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) – I’ll tax your feet.
Now my advice for those who die, (taxman)
Declare the pennies on your eyes. (taxman)
‘Cause I’m the taxman,
Yeah, I’m the taxman.

(The Beatles) The Lord giveth, and then the taxman taketh away :-(

1. huge client base covering all international markets
2. state-of-the-art website with v.sophisticated search engine
3. editors with IQ of at least 85 who know the difference between a decent photograph and a toad … or,
4. self-editing with some built-in device for curbing excessive uploading of utter dross (by others, of course!); for example, maximum yearly upload limit, performance ranking, auto-delete pics if unsold in x years etc.
5. reasonable royalty payments, say 70% to the photog
6. ability to command respectable fees that are at least remotely commensurate with production costs
7. detailed feedback regarding market activity, image performance, picture requirements etc
8. non-punitive accounting system with regular payments
9. reliable copyright protection
10. the overall sense that they are on the side of photographers and photography in general and not some slimeball in a suit who could just as well be selling widgets or used cars…

(the above are NOT in any order)

I imagine that no. 1 is very important. Not all the stock photo sites even allow languages other than English. Corbis and Getty Images can be searched in multiple languages including non-Europrean languages. DRR and PS are limited to English only.

I think David is pretty much on the spot with his list. I would add the ability to give assignments if customers are wanting a photo of a specific item or an event. This could be a value-added service to the customer, driving business to them while increasing work to photogs.

It’s amazing how many of David’s points are lacking from major agencies. The real question is why are they lacking?