Submissions

Please send your images to the following address:

plainpicture GmbH
Creative Team - First Submission
Eimsbütteler Chaussee 23
20259 Hamburg 
Germany

To allow a substantial impression, your first submission should include at least 100 images.
You can find a few technical details in regards to digital and analogue submissions below:

Submission of digital shots on CD/DVD

Please only submit images from digital reflex cameras (no compact cameras). A minimum resolution of 10 Megapixel or higher is required. Your selection ideally should show a range of different subjects and is submitted pre-sorted (e.g. no too close or side shots). For a first image selection images in a Jpeg format in mid res. will be sufficient. Please do not use empty spaces or special characters in the file names. Avoid double image IDs. Please burn images onto the media without subfolders or categories. Don’t use other formats such as PDFs or presentations.

Submission of scanned and analogue shots on CD/DVD

Please only select scans from 35mm and medium format slides, medium format negatives, large format slides or negatives as JPG in mid resolution. Please do not submit scans from 35 mm prints or 35 mm negatives. Please burn images onto the media without subfolders or categories. Don’t use other formats such as PDFs or presentations.

Submission of analogue material

Please only submit framed 35 mm slides, unframed medium slides or negatives. Only send prints of medium formats and medium format contact sheets. No scans from 35 mm prints and 35 mm negatives including 35 mm contact sheets. It is mandatory to include the number of all submitted images and all technical information on an attached delivery note. For analogue submissions please include correct return postage. Submitted CDs and DVDs will be destroyed after editing.

Model Release and Property Release

A written agreement to publication of the according photographs is mandatory for all images containing recognizable people. Publication rights should be granted by the photographed individuals to the photographers with a model release contract. Besides personality rights all property rights must be cleared. This applies to locations in public or public areas like schools, universities, bars, restaurants etc. Also private properties and pets need a property release, the release should be granted by the owner of the according property. Also make sure no trade-marks, logos or labels are visible on the submitted images. Hard copies of all releases are required after contract arrangements and final image selection. Do not submit original documents but recognizable copies, PDFs or scans before.

processing and return packages

After receiving your submission we will approximately need 2-3 weeks to view and edit your artwork. After editing we will notify you and ask you for the according high res files of the selected images. Required standards can be found in the plainpicture submission guidelines, which we will supply. After receiving the signed contract and all image information we will start with processing the imagery (scanning, keywording and website upload). We will return your analogue material to you upon completion. The originals with stay with you. Plainpicture cannot be held responsible for submissions in regards to loss, or damage during storage or return.

Photographer-Contract (image use agreement) If we mutually agree on combining efforts to market your artwork successfully, we will enter an exclusive image-use-agreement with you. This photographer contract covers the use of the according photographic materials. All intellectual property rights remain with the photographer.

Photographer fees

All license fees accumulated with your artwork and according to the contractual share will be rolled out on a quarterly basis after completion of each quarter. You will receive a detailed sales report stating accumulated sales and shares. Feel free to request our photographer guidelines with more details via e-mail.
Contact our creative team via the phone +49 40 80 81 288 20 or creative@plainpicture.com

plainpicture photographer blog

The plainpicture photographers blog provides you with information around all photography related subjects – industry news, exhibition dates, Festivals and competitions. You will also find information in regards to submitting photography, technical tips, “what to shoot lists” as well as information about our marketing activities, publications and press releases.

Frequent questions

1) What is stock photography ?
Opposite assignment photography a stock image is an already existing image, which will be licensed for a particular use. The Copyright remains with the photographer.

2) What does rights managed and royalty free mean ?
All submitted artwork from our photographers is classified rights managed photography and marketed accordingly. Our clients are licensing images according to their needs and a specific use. Rights managed pricing is based on media, print run, image size, placement, territory, language and duration. Royalty free images are licensed according to a requested file size and can be used by the licensee for unlimited use without restrictions in regards to media, image size, placement, duration, language or territory. Pricing for royalty free images is based on requested file sizes.

3) Can I use my own photography for self-promotion?
Yes, you can use your artwork for self-promotion (e.g. your website, exhibition catalogues, art presentations). Feel free to contact us, if you have any questions regarding self-promotional use.

4) How much revenue can I generate ?
As all license fees depend on the specific usage parameters, exact revenues can never be forecast as they vary accordingly to the uses for each quarter. Your generated revenue highly depends on the type of imagery you produce and the number of photographs accepted into the plainpicture collection.

5) How to control what happens to your images ?
All visitors to our site will only have access to low res images with a plainpicture watermark. Clients who register online will be granted access to layout files without watermark after manual validation and release of username and password. All high res downloads are tracked.