Ian McKenzie

• Free photography sessions for individuals, couples, groups.
• Hundreds of photography books available for instant download on your computer or other device. Or paperback versions of these can be purchased for a fraction of the price you would pay in retail shops.
• Quality stock photographs for your web sites, magazines, brochures or any other publication also available by instant download.
• Photographic prints on quality paper or fine art canvas.
• Hundreds of other photographic products from mouse mats to T-shirts all available with your favourite photos.

These services and products are all available from this web site, or links on it. The first point that I have made above is elaborated upon further down towards the bottom of this page.

If you read my brief biographical details on some of the library sites linked to this one, you will probably read that Photography is not my job..., it’s my passion. My primary vocation is in the area of Adult Education. However, now I am in semiretirement and I have more available time to pursue photography. It will never become “work” however, because if it did I would not enjoy it as much.

Click on my photo in the top left hand corner of any page in this site to join in the site’s discussion forum. You are welcome to instigate a discussion on any subject associated with the content on this site.

The only shooting I do is with my cameras. But the subjects of my shots are varied, anything from pets to people, from macro shots of flowers to jumping crocodiles.

My first photography web site was Exemplar Photography. I have not taken a look at that site for quite some time, so there is a reasonable chance that parts will be out of date. I do plan on taking a look and upgrading that site when I finish this one.

A Christmas present to myself this last Christmas was a new Nikon D7000 camera with a designated Nikon Speed-light, Nikon lenses and some other associated photographic equipment such as light tents, new backdrops etc.

Photography has always been a passion of mine, but this year I chose to work fewer hours each week so that I had more time for myself and my passions such as photography. Another first for me this year is that I have subscribed to several photo library sites as a contributor. The better known of these sites have very high quality standards for the photographs that they accept. Hopefully that quality control will encourage me onto a continuous improvement cycle with regards to my photography.

Free photography sessions for individuals, couples, groups.

This is the first dot point which I listed at the top of this page. Does it sound too good to be true?

Well, it is true, but I do have some conditions attached. Let my try and explain the situation to you.

You may have also read at the top of this page that Photography is not my job, and I don’t want it to be. I don’t want to have the responsibility of shooting weddings or commercial photography. The pressures and stresses associated marketing, invoicing and tight time commitments are not for me. As I mentioned, I am in semiretirement, I want to enjoy myself. Part of that enjoyment for me is pursuing my interests, my passions, but at my own pace.

About half way through last year (2011), I started submitting some of my photographs to microstock photo library sites. Many of my initial photos were rejected, but some were accepted. As the year has progressed, I have developed a better understanding of the types of photos these sites require and the quality that they expect. This has resulted in my percentage of accepted photos gradually increasing. The challenge involved in this I have enjoyed and it has made me constantly look at the work I am producing and consider if and how I can do it better. I have been involved in discussion forums and read on web sites that even the best known photographers submitting to these sites on occasions get rejections.

Graphic Artists are one of the main groups of people accessing files from photo library sites. Any magazine that you look through, many flyers, brochures and even published books are likely to have a fair percentage of “royalty free” photos which have been purchased from photo libraries.

There are currently tens of millions of photos online available from these photo libraries. There are around thirty libraries that are currently in the market place, and of these about six are quite large some boasting that they have in excess of ten million photos on file.

Obviously it is a very competitive market place. Even though there is very little money involved, I do feel more than a bit chuffed when I see that I have made a sale or sales.

The main subject that is in demand by these libraries is people. Ordinary everyday people as well as extraordinary people. People involved in various life-style events, working, playing, cooking, eating ..., or whatever.

To provide material for these sites I need models. The models don’t have to be beautiful eighteen year olds..., though I can use them too. They can be people of either gender and of any age. Generally it would help if they were doing something, involved in some sort of activity, and not just posing. Couples and groups of people are fine..., probably even better than individuals. There is no reason also why “Fido” the pet dog, or “Tweetie” the pet budgie can’t be involved also.

There is no set formula, almost anything is possible. Settings can be indoor, outdoor or both. Family shots with individual members involved in their various interests would be great.

I am interested in photographing people of both genders and all ages for submission to photo library sites. The subject matter can be almost anything, but adults in business situations is of particular interest. Also adults involved in almost any occupation. Children at parties, playing or doing almost anything that children do is also of interest. If you live in or near Brisbane, Queensland, Australia and you are interested in “getting shot”, then please contact me. I have my contact information listed below.

Here is the deal. If we agree to mutually satisfactory subject(s), time and place, I shall take a series of high quality photographs. There will be no charge for this, and the “models” (or parents of the models) will receive file copies of all photographs for their own use. In exchange for this I expect to receive signed model and/or property releases in order for me to publish the photos on stock library sites provided they are of suitable quality and appropriate.

I have listed plenty of links to shots that I have taken for you to browse.

Consider what the normal cost would be for a family photo shoot, or a couple or individual shoot. This is a WIN/WIN situation for both you and for me.

I am a great believer in the power of synergy. That is, one plus one, plus one, can equal far more than three. People combining their thoughts and energies can come up with something really great.

I live south of Brisbane, but I am willing to travel some distance for a shoot. If you are reading what I have written here, have a think about it. Discuss it with your partner/friends/family/work colleagues or whoever.

This is a web site on the World Wide Web. So people reading this could be located anywhere. Obviously, for this project I am targeting people who live geographically close to me i.e. somewhere in south east Queensland. So, if you are in California, or the UK, thanks for reading but at this stage we will not be able to work together. If you are in the “targeted” group and you are interested, feel free to give me a call if you would like to discuss any options.

My home number is 07 5546 9938 and my mobile is 0403 543 827. If I am not at home when you call, leave me a short message on my mobile and I shall get back to you.

 Alternatively, if you wish you can send me an e-mail. I must warn you though that e-mails sent to me are likely to get lost. I get so much spam that I tend to browse through my e-mails quickly and often delete those in which I don’t recognise the sender. My e-mail address is in the very first message in the new Guest Book which I included on this site on the 29 December, 2011.

A safer alternative indeed, would be to leave a short message for me in the Guest Book. All visitors to this site are invited to use it, and every message left, I will of course read.

During December 2011 and January 2012 I established my own Photo Gallery on this site. At the time of writing this update, Monday 30 January, 2012, I have just done a quick count and there is already over one hundred pages in this gallery. It will continue to grow.

Links to photo galleries I have on various other sites are placed throughout this web site.

Another major addition over the last two weeks of January, 2012 has been links to well over two hundred books on all aspects of Photography. Just about every relevant topic you could think of is listed there.

I don’t know where you live, but the prices are way below the retail prices where I live. As an example, I purchased a book called “Lighting Photo Workshop” from a large retail photographic supplier in Brisbane late last year and paid $49.00 for the publication. The same edition of the same book is listed on this site US$19.39. That is way below half price.

Just about all of the books listed are available as hard copies which will be sent out to you or they can be downloaded instantly onto your PC, notebook, ipad or other device for an even lower cost. I have already downloaded several, and plan on obtaining several more all to read on my new Kindle DX tablet.

In addition to the Guest Book and the Testimonials pages which I have added to this site, I have also included as from Saturday, 4 February a Forum page. Feel free to register and join in the discussions.

The link below is to a new and affordable microstock photo library site. It was born and opened to both contributors and buyers on Monday, 6 February, 2012.