Derek Dysart writes software by day, and photographs during all the other times of life -- while changing lightbulbs, growing pumpkins or taking the kids to the school. So it's apropos that a photo of one of his sons ended up making a nice advertising sale on PhotoShelter. You can license more of his work at http://psc.photoshelter.com/user/djdysart

You're a software developer. How did you get interested in photography?
My interest in photography predates my interest in computers. I remember getting my hands on my uncle's Canon AE-1 Program when I was 8 or 9 and wanting to know how to use it. IIRC that camera operates in what is now known as shutter priority, but I wanted to know what all the settings did, so I got a book from the library and learned about exposure, how aperture controls DOF, etc.  I took a photo of my younger brother, which to this day my mom considers one of her favorites.  Soon my uncle wanted it back, and all the family had was a crummy old Kodak Disc camera.

Later, my family bought a Minolta Maxxum, one of the first autofocus cameras. I remember taking a darkroom class and developing my own film, making my own prints, etc.  I have no idea where any of that ended up. I played with the Minolta some after that class, but the cost of film and processing made it tough to really experiment, and there was no way my folks would let me setup a darkroom.  The cost of the camera was a big ticket item for us - what junior high kid has an enlarger?

Still the itch was there.  Fast forward to recent times, I ended up borrowing a co-workers Canon 10D for a trip to Albuquerque for a wedding and the Balloon Fiesta.  After using it, I had it bad.  I took me a bit to scrape enough extra together and I finally sprang for a 20D and have been shooting it since.

My mom will also tell me it's in my genes.  She came from a family of photographers that go way back.  Evidently they did traveling portraits throughout Missouri and Iowa during the late 1800's and early 1900's.  Her uncle was actually what I would guess would be called a "beta tester" for Eastman Kodak back in the late 1930's.  My mom's brother recently had some old family movies transferred to DVD.  There is color motion picture footage from a family trip to Mt Rushmore when it was still under construction in 1938.  Pretty crazy to see.

What sort of camera gear is in the bag?
Right now
* Canon 20D w/Grip (it seen a few miles, but still clickin')
* EF-S 17-85mm f/4-5.6
* EF 50mm f/1.2L
* Canon 580EXII
* Nikon SB-24
* All kinda of Strobist knick-knacks -
 - Poverty Wizards (aka cheapo eBay triggers)
 - Ball bungies
 - Gaffers tape

I know you're a portraitist. When did you start considering stock photography as a way to license your images?
I got into portraits professionally mainly out of so many people asking where we had our kids photos done.  When they found out I shot them, they wanted me to shoot their kids. My wife eventually suggested that maybe I should charge for it. A photography business was born. From the start I knew I didn't want to just make money off of a hobby. From the get-go I wanted to treat it like a business.

I read everything I could on the business side of photography, including John Harrington's great book "Best Business Practices for Photographers" and the blog he writes to go along with it. The first thing I came to the realize was that folks are virtually giving away their work, often not realizing it. Another thing that stuck with me is if you want to get into a certain line of work (say, Editorial) but don't have the assignments, make them up and practice.  So that is sort of where I started heading with my non-portrait work.

Ryan Cardone is a surfer turned photographer who combines his passion with business. A single course on stock photography at the Brooks Institute helped him to consider ways to diversify his revenue stream within the photographic industry. Like many photographers, he sees the world as a series of photographs, and on a vacation with his girlfriend, he created an image that he turned into an $8000 sale on PhotoShelter to a pharmaceutical company (Not to mention that he could write off the trip as a business expense). You can license more of his work at http://psc.photoshelter.com/user/tidalstock.

 
Photo by Ryan Cardone

Ryan and I had some virtual coffee talk while surfing (the web).

Are you a full-time stock photographer?
Yes and no.  I am a full time photographer.  I do commercial, editorial and stock photography.  I own boutique stock photography company called TidalStock.com, which is dedicated to ocean, water, and life stock photography.

How did you get into shooting stock? Are you systematic about content that you shoot to plug hole in your collection, or perceived holes generally?
I graduated from Brooks Institute of Photography; while I was there I took a Stock Photography class taught by Ralph Clevenger (he shot the famous over/under iceberg photo that has sold all over the world).  Since that class I was hooked and that's when I started TidalStock.com.


Photo by Ralph Clevenger

I am pretty systematic about filling holes, I started TidalStock.com because as a surfer I noticed the outdated, "same old" photos that were being licensed. Our hopes were to fill the gaps with new and fresh surf imagery.  So far it has been pretty successful.  On a side note that is why I was so attracted to PhotoShelter.  I think you guys are taking my theory and applying it to all stock photography.  I think it is great.