Content generation and the content business?

Dysus · 2005-10-15, 12:24 AM

I'll be straight forward here...I'm a nuwb...

I've been the photography business for years but I've always stuck to the "G" rated side of the business. I've done some initial research and I thinking about venturing into this realm...due mainly to the effect of the industry transistioning to Digital

So here are my questions:

-I understand the Exclusive versus Non-Exclusive....but I'm fuzzy on Leasing or Licensing and how the terms are generally drawn. But most importantly which direction is the most profitable in terms of the "current" business environment.

-Secondly, I know webmasters are always looking for new and unique content...but am I to late...There appears to be a Ton of Content already available.

-Finally....Please don't pull any punches...if I need to have my head examined....let me know!

juggernaut · 2005-10-15, 01:48 AM

I was in the photo biz for 10 years. The one thing that always had me baffled was copyright issues and the internet. How in the world can you really track who has your stuff? I know there's watermarks but still if someone takes it and uses it you are in a pickle, unless that has changed. So as far as your licensing issue goes cant really help.
As for question #2, there is never enough content. Surf some porno, you will see the same faces time and time again. That gets old really fast. Look at Jena Haze, 1 year ago she was a up and comming star, now she is just about used up. If I see another pic of her getting it in the ass I'll puke. So the issue here is fresh faces. If you can get good or average looking girls on a constant basis like 1 per month I think you will be doing ok. Finding the girls willing to do what is considered standard these days is hard. Back when I was doing it, just getting them to open their pussy or use a toy was extreme. Now you have to get them to stick everything but the sink in every hole they have and thats a hard find, unless you are going overseas. Cause what girls over there will take for $ is not what a girl over here will take. Just my simple toughts.

Surfn · 2005-10-15, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dysus

I'll be straight forward here...I'm a nuwb...

I've been the photography business for years but I've always stuck to the "G" rated side of the business. I've done some initial research and I thinking about venturing into this realm...due mainly to the effect of the industry transistioning to Digital

So here are my questions:

-I understand the Exclusive versus Non-Exclusive....but I'm fuzzy on Leasing or Licensing and how the terms are generally drawn. But most importantly which direction is the most profitable in terms of the "current" business environment.

-Secondly, I know webmasters are always looking for new and unique content...but am I to late...There appears to be a Ton of Content already available.

-Finally....Please don't pull any punches...if I need to have my head examined....let me know!

I can think of several niche and micro niche that good content is hard to nearly non-existent to find. And most niche could use a new perspective so yes, there is a need.

There is a ton of crap out there. Most of us are tired (as are our surfers) of seeing some of the East European stuff.

pm me if you would like to know which niche I'm referring to that is in desperate need of content

Dysus · 2005-10-16, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juggernaut

If you can get good or average looking girls on a constant basis like 1 per month I think you will be doing ok. Finding the girls willing to do what is considered standard these days is hard. Back when I was doing it, just getting them to open their pussy or use a toy was extreme. Now you have to get them to stick everything but the sink in every hole they have and thats a hard find, unless you are going overseas. Cause what girls over there will take for $ is not what a girl over here will take. Just my simple toughts.

So, what do you this is a reasonable income level range for 1 per month?

And Just as a WAG... how long does content keep providing residuals until its considered old or outdated?

juggernaut · 2005-10-16, 11:57 PM

I never provided content for the internet. When I was shooting I did 4 shoots for the mags. Barely 18 & Chic. So I can't tell you what type of income you can expect. At that time the mags were paying 1k per set and another 1k for a cover, I don't know if that has changed as its been since 97 the last time I picked up a camera to shoot on a professional level. Back then things were easier, you had a contract, you made dupes of your slides, sent them the originals and they gave you a rough date when they would be using the images. Most of the time you would get the images back about 1 month pryor to the mag hitting the stands. If the mag hit the stands and you did not get your stuff back then there are issues. I had one mag keep my images for over 1 year, they moved and I was never able to get ahold of them again. I did get the images back last month (Ironic about this now) the company moved from NY to Cali and then disappeared up to Washington and for some reason contacted me over the summer that they still had the images and wanted to verify my address to send them back. I'm sure if I wanted to make a stink over it I could, but for me its just not worth the headache anymore. But like I said back then it was different, everything cost more just to produce, even placing stuff on the web a good slide scanner cost upwards of 2k or more. But you knew who you were doing business with and what mags they produced so it was easy to look out for any illegal printing, you also 99% of the time got credit for your work, which was always good for a portfolio. But nowadays nothing is like that with the net and content. I just bought 3 sets today and 1 movie for a total cost of around $120.00. Of course it wont cost the shooter or the company anything to leave the images up and hopfullly the content will be useable for a few years, this way they can keep selling it. The girls are all from EU. When I was shooting you could never get a girl to shoot for under $500. At least not the content that these mags wanted. The point I'm trying to make here is I would never go into the content business now unless I had a rock solid way of protecting my stuff. Which if stolen is a lose of money time and time again. Sorry I could not help more.

Dysus · 2005-10-17, 07:50 AM

What you've said makes sense...I've made contact with a couple of Photogs that have done work for PB but...they didn't say anything about doing repeat business. or currently producing adult content these days.

Quote:

Originally Posted by juggernaut

I just bought 3 sets today and 1 movie for a total cost of around $120.00. Of course it wont cost the shooter or the company anything to leave the images up and hopfullly the content will be useable for a few years, this way they can keep selling it.

$120.00....that's not worth my time for the hassle to produce "good" content. When you take into consideration my equipment, on location costs, hair and make up assist, etc.etc. ...unless I could expect to make numerous sales....and from what you're saying that may or may not happen...

Quote:

Originally Posted by juggernaut

When I was shooting you could never get a girl to shoot for under $500. At least not the content that these mags wanted. The point I'm trying to make here is I would never go into the content business now unless I had a rock solid way of protecting my stuff. Which if stolen is a lose of money time and time again. Sorry I could not help more.

You know if I found a model that gave me the warm and fuzzies...her costs are not an issue, just as long as she meets my expectations. But my ROI has to be there.

Do you think it's possible to go strictly exclusive.....to demand a higher price? ...let face it if you have fresh content....and its good...wouldn't that draw more traffic?

I like photography...do you think it would be wise to partner with one or two webmasters?

juggernaut · 2005-10-17, 12:41 PM

Honestly I don't think it's worth it. But I'm prob wrong as there are people doing it and well if it was not, then I could only guess they would not do it. Price is always the issue. For me back then it was even worse. I was not under contract for those mags. I just stepped into a situation where I was offered a sure fire publish if I could find the right model. Which cost me $70 for the news paper ad $300 to the model (she was totally new so cheaper then a pro) Hair and make up was $150.00 for the day (8 hours) and I never had an assistant as I just made sure I was really orginized. Layouts were planed well ahead (poses, clothes, etc) I never shot on location as it could cause a legal problem or a permit issue. I had shot on a beach once and the girl had her top off, a park ranger came over and stopped everything cause no permits were issued. I was handed a $500 fine for public nudity. And that was just for artistic shooting, not for the mags. All that I was able to handle, but back then everything was manual so film was an issue, copies of slides and the development was costly ($10 per role and $7.50 per copy they had to be color matched, which I did myself but with only a 1/2 stop of forgiveness, needing to keep a constant chem temp and weight you had to know what you were doing or multible roles were completly wasted. a simple 1/2 degree temp shift and you are way off the original) not to mention the $11.00 role of film of which I always shot 12 roles. 4 roles per set and I always tried to get 3 sets so I could try and sell them to other mags. It was a tough business and still is today. When I see young kids wanting to shoot for a living I tell them to not waste their time. With the advent of digital they are now competeing with every tom, dick and harry with a $300 point and shoot. Digital did make the film cost go down, but the issue there is still $$$. In shooting you need lenses and well your $300 point and shoot wont cut it. But like I said Im sure it can be done. I just dont think anyone will get rich from it anytime soon, but if done right and you had a good big website who needed content all the time you might make a decent living. But finding them is a whole other story.

2005-10-15, 12:24 AM	#1
Dysus Internet! Is that thing still around? Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 3	Content generation and the content business? I'll be straight forward here...I'm a nuwb... I've been the photography business for years but I've always stuck to the "G" rated side of the business. I've done some initial research and I thinking about venturing into this realm...due mainly to the effect of the industry transistioning to Digital So here are my questions: -I understand the Exclusive versus Non-Exclusive....but I'm fuzzy on Leasing or Licensing and how the terms are generally drawn. But most importantly which direction is the most profitable in terms of the "current" business environment. -Secondly, I know webmasters are always looking for new and unique content...but am I to late...There appears to be a Ton of Content already available. -Finally....Please don't pull any punches...if I need to have my head examined....let me know!

2005-10-15, 01:48 AM	#2
juggernaut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central Jersey! If I was rich and powerful I would dress as my avatar does. Posts: 1,448	I was in the photo biz for 10 years. The one thing that always had me baffled was copyright issues and the internet. How in the world can you really track who has your stuff? I know there's watermarks but still if someone takes it and uses it you are in a pickle, unless that has changed. So as far as your licensing issue goes cant really help. As for question #2, there is never enough content. Surf some porno, you will see the same faces time and time again. That gets old really fast. Look at Jena Haze, 1 year ago she was a up and comming star, now she is just about used up. If I see another pic of her getting it in the ass I'll puke. So the issue here is fresh faces. If you can get good or average looking girls on a constant basis like 1 per month I think you will be doing ok. Finding the girls willing to do what is considered standard these days is hard. Back when I was doing it, just getting them to open their pussy or use a toy was extreme. Now you have to get them to stick everything but the sink in every hole they have and thats a hard find, unless you are going overseas. Cause what girls over there will take for $ is not what a girl over here will take. Just my simple toughts.

2005-10-16, 11:57 PM	#5
juggernaut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central Jersey! If I was rich and powerful I would dress as my avatar does. Posts: 1,448	I never provided content for the internet. When I was shooting I did 4 shoots for the mags. Barely 18 & Chic. So I can't tell you what type of income you can expect. At that time the mags were paying 1k per set and another 1k for a cover, I don't know if that has changed as its been since 97 the last time I picked up a camera to shoot on a professional level. Back then things were easier, you had a contract, you made dupes of your slides, sent them the originals and they gave you a rough date when they would be using the images. Most of the time you would get the images back about 1 month pryor to the mag hitting the stands. If the mag hit the stands and you did not get your stuff back then there are issues. I had one mag keep my images for over 1 year, they moved and I was never able to get ahold of them again. I did get the images back last month (Ironic about this now) the company moved from NY to Cali and then disappeared up to Washington and for some reason contacted me over the summer that they still had the images and wanted to verify my address to send them back. I'm sure if I wanted to make a stink over it I could, but for me its just not worth the headache anymore. But like I said back then it was different, everything cost more just to produce, even placing stuff on the web a good slide scanner cost upwards of 2k or more. But you knew who you were doing business with and what mags they produced so it was easy to look out for any illegal printing, you also 99% of the time got credit for your work, which was always good for a portfolio. But nowadays nothing is like that with the net and content. I just bought 3 sets today and 1 movie for a total cost of around $120.00. Of course it wont cost the shooter or the company anything to leave the images up and hopfullly the content will be useable for a few years, this way they can keep selling it. The girls are all from EU. When I was shooting you could never get a girl to shoot for under $500. At least not the content that these mags wanted. The point I'm trying to make here is I would never go into the content business now unless I had a rock solid way of protecting my stuff. Which if stolen is a lose of money time and time again. Sorry I could not help more.

2005-10-17, 12:41 PM	#7
juggernaut Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Central Jersey! If I was rich and powerful I would dress as my avatar does. Posts: 1,448	Honestly I don't think it's worth it. But I'm prob wrong as there are people doing it and well if it was not, then I could only guess they would not do it. Price is always the issue. For me back then it was even worse. I was not under contract for those mags. I just stepped into a situation where I was offered a sure fire publish if I could find the right model. Which cost me $70 for the news paper ad $300 to the model (she was totally new so cheaper then a pro) Hair and make up was $150.00 for the day (8 hours) and I never had an assistant as I just made sure I was really orginized. Layouts were planed well ahead (poses, clothes, etc) I never shot on location as it could cause a legal problem or a permit issue. I had shot on a beach once and the girl had her top off, a park ranger came over and stopped everything cause no permits were issued. I was handed a $500 fine for public nudity. And that was just for artistic shooting, not for the mags. All that I was able to handle, but back then everything was manual so film was an issue, copies of slides and the development was costly ($10 per role and $7.50 per copy they had to be color matched, which I did myself but with only a 1/2 stop of forgiveness, needing to keep a constant chem temp and weight you had to know what you were doing or multible roles were completly wasted. a simple 1/2 degree temp shift and you are way off the original) not to mention the $11.00 role of film of which I always shot 12 roles. 4 roles per set and I always tried to get 3 sets so I could try and sell them to other mags. It was a tough business and still is today. When I see young kids wanting to shoot for a living I tell them to not waste their time. With the advent of digital they are now competeing with every tom, dick and harry with a $300 point and shoot. Digital did make the film cost go down, but the issue there is still $$$. In shooting you need lenses and well your $300 point and shoot wont cut it. But like I said Im sure it can be done. I just dont think anyone will get rich from it anytime soon, but if done right and you had a good big website who needed content all the time you might make a decent living. But finding them is a whole other story.