Call us on 0845 6 431 531 (UK)

Home
About
Galleries
Magazine
Blog
Distributors
Careers
Links
Shopping Cart (0)
Currency £ GBP
- $ USD
- ¥ YEN
- € EUR
- £ GBP
- $ AUS
Sign in

Keywords

[RF] Bargain

[RF] Value

[RF] Superior

[RR] Discerning

	[RF] Bargain	[RF] Value	[RF] Superior	[RR] Discerning
USD	$0.50-10	$15-90	$19-655	$135+
GBP	£1-20	£8-45	£19-475	£115+
EUR	€1-15	€10-65	€19-565	€110+

FAQs

Fire away

You can call us any time if there’s something you want to ask, but before you do, see if the answer to your question is here.

Image Searching

What is a moodboard?: A moodboard is our term for a lightbox, moodboards can be shared with your clients, colleagues, etc. by sending a link or by creating a contact sheet (pdf) both of which can be emailed. Once you have logged into the site a drop down of you existing moodboards will appear in the tool bar.
What is Predictive Search?: This feature allows you to view keyword searches which partially match to the characters you have typed into the search bar. You can select the term you wish to add to your search using either the mouse or the keyboard.
Can I save my search?: If you click on the Save Search link on the search results page, your search will be added to your bookmarks or favourites so you can return to them at a later time if you need to.
What license categories are available?: There are three main categories, commercial, editorial and In-house. Within each category there are specific usage packs.
Do you offer a free image search?: Can't find what you're looking for or simply not got the time to search? Just contact us with your search request and we will send you a selection of relevant images for free. Fill in the free research request form here or contact us on 0845 6 431 531 or +44207469 9990 (outside the UK).

Moodboard

How do I create a moodboard?: Your moodboard is created by simply dragging an image into the moodboard at the bottom of the screen. Your moodboard name will automatically default to "My First moodboard" (or "My New moodboard" if you create a new one). You can rename and add a description to your moodboard in here by clicking "edit". To remove an image from your moodboard all you need to do is click on the circle at the top of the image.
How do I add to my moodboard?: There are a few ways you can add images to the moodboard. The easiest way is to just drag an image into the moodboard from a search results page or the image detail page. You can even check all the images on your search results and add them to your moodboard.
How do I open my moodboard?: Using your moodboard is easy. You can click to add an image to your moodboard or just drag it in. As soon as you drag an image to your moodboard it will pop open but will only remain open by clicking "show". Once open you can either "hide" your moodboard or "Maximise" it to see the full view. You can create a new moodboard, edit your existing moodboards or remove a moodboard within here. You can also re-order your images within the moodboard by just dragging them around.
How do I use my moodboard?: There are a number of functions within the moodboard you can use. You can download a zip with comp images from your moodboard to view a larger version, so you can try before you buy! You can also download a pdf contact sheet to allow you to make notes on each image within the moodboard, you can then use to forward to a colleague or client to confirm the images they want to use. The moodboard will also play through a slideshow of all of the images if required.
How do I purchase from my moodboard?: Easy. Just click the "add to cart" link under the image or you can add your entire moodboard to the cart then you just need to go to your basket to purchase.
How do I save my moodboard?: All users can create a moodboard(s) on the site however you must create an account to save your moodboard(s) before you end your session. Once you have an account your moodboards will be saved if you are signed in and you can create as many moodboards as you like. Click here to create an account.

Purchasing

What is moodboard?: moodboard is a unique website that has been created with both photographers and designers in mind. It is unique because it gives you as buyers and photographers the ability to purchase or sell images at a range of prices to suit your needs. moodboard is the brainchild of Mike Watson, creator of award winning Royalty Free Agency Digital Vision, sold in 2005 to Getty Images for $165 million.
How does the site work for buyers?: moodboard.com gives end users the unique opportunity to buy content from any of our three royalty free and one rights ready stock photography collections, We are unique because we offer images at five different price points from moodboard unlimited - Pay What You Want, moodboard micro with images starting at $1, moodboard premium the very best in royalty free photography and moodboard+ our top of the range rights ready collection.
I can’t download the image I have purchased. What shall I do?: You should be able to search, purchase and download all of our images online 24/7. Just follow the instructions at Purchase and Download. Or you can simply call us on 0845 6 431 531 or +44207469 9990 (outside the UK) or email us at customerfirst@moodboard.com and we will provide you with an alternative way of receiving your image.
What is the EULA?: EULA is the End User License Agreement. In order to purchase an image from the site you must agree to the terms of this agreement before you can download. You can download a copy of the EULA here.

My Account

Do I need to set up an account?: If you want to buy and sell images on moodboard.com you will need to register which in turn will set you up with an account. By doing this you will also be able to create and share moodboards, download large comping images and upload images for review by our Editors.
How do I set up an account?: Go to the homepage and click on register and fill in the form provided. Once you have registered, you will receive an email containing a link that once you click on it will activate your account.
Do I need separate accounts for buying and selling content?: No you only need one account for buying and/or selling content
What if I forget my password?: Click on the link here and we will send it to you by email.
What if I want to change any of my contact details?: Simply log on to the site and go to My Account and you will be able to edit any of your details.
How can I protect the privacy of my personal user details?: We don't sell, share or divulge any of your personal information, including your email address, with other companies. To read our privacy policy, click here.

Image licensing and copyright control

What licenses do we offer?: We offer both royalty free and rights ready content.
What is royalty free?: Our moodboard unlimited, moodboard micro and moodboard premium collections are all royalty free. They may be used by you multiple times for multiple projects without incurring additional fees. Royalty free pricing is based solely on the file size of the product you need and the number of people entitled to use it (maximum 10), not the specific use. You don`t have to pay any additional royalties on a use-by-use basis. The rights granted are non-transferable and are personal to you. This means that if you license an royalty free product to be used in a piece of work for your client or any other person, they may not use the licensed product separately from the work you have supplied. Royalty-free licences are always non-exclusive.
What is rights ready?: Our moodboard+ is a rights ready collection, it may be used for the particular use and the project and end client specified at the time of licensing. When you order a rights ready product, you will be asked to submit the name of the end client for whom it will be used. Pricing of rights ready products is based solely on the use of the product that you select. You don`t have to pay any additional royalties if you reuse rights ready products for the same use for the same project and end client specified at the time of licensing.
How do I buy my images?: Firstly you need to create an account by registering on the site. Once you have found what you want to buy you will need to go through the purchase path. You will then be given four options of how you want to pay for your purchases the traditional credit card payment, through your Paypal account or if you like moodboard.com and use it on a regular basis we can set you up with a 30 day credit account, click here to download the credit application form. The final option is pre-paid credits bundles. Once your purchase is complete you can download both the images and the invoice from the My Account page.
Can I download my purchase immediately?: Yes you can download immediately either from the basket page or from the My Account page.
How can I use the image?: Please check our EULA (End User License Agreement) for how you can and cannot use the image. You must agree to this before you purchase the image.
What is moodboard+?: moodboard+ is a collection of images that can be licensed using a variation of flexible packages. When you order a moodboard+ image you must specify who the end user is. This means that even if you are buying an image on behalf of a customer you must name that customer. You must also specify what license package you require.
How does moodboard+ differ from rights managed?: There is a specific price point for a category of usage but with unlimited quantities and territories.
How does moodboard+ differ from royalty-free?: There is only one file size and the license is assigned to the end user.
Is there a rate for editorial use?: Yes, there is! If you want to use any of our images for non-commercial purposes, just give us a call on 0845 6 431 531 or +44 207469 9990 (outside the UK) to talk to one of our editorial specialists.
What is a model release?: A model release is a release signed by the person(s) shown in an image. In the release the person depicted in the image gives consent for his or her likeness to be used for commercial purposes - including advertising, publishing, promotion. We never, never, never sell an image without a model release.
What is a property release?: A property release is a release signed by the owner(s) of the property shown in an image. In the release, the owner gives consent for the image depicting his or her property to be used for commercial purposes - including advertising, publishing, promotion. We never, never, never sell an image with out a property release either!

Technical

What are Cookies?: A cookie is a very small file that the web server stores in a file on your computer. This method is used to track visitors to a website so you don't have to enter the same information every time you go to a new page or revisit a site. The www.moodboard.com website requires a browser that is enabled to accept cookies. Please ensure this is enabled to be able to make use of all the online features at www.moodboard.com.
Browser compatibility: Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 6 and above, Mozilla and Safari browsers should be compatible with the site. If you encounter problems accessing certain areas of the site, simply contact our technical support staff on Tel: 0845 6 431 531 or +44207 469 6990 (outside the UK) or email technical@moodboard.com

Contributing To Moodboard

How does the site work for photographers?

moodboard.com offers photographers the unique opportunity of selling their images across any of our two royalty free, moodboard micro and moodboard premium, and our rights ready, moodboard+, collection, thus giving you higher earnings potential which leads to a more rewarding royalty model. Click here to find out more.

Can anyone become a contributing photographer to moodboard?

Yes. Anyone can contribute images to moodboard whether a professional photographer or hobbyist.

Is moodboard a microstock company?

moodboard is a macrostock agency (traditional picture agency) with a microstock offering to new and existing microstock photographers.

I am a professional photographer can I have my work represented through moodboard?

Yes. Your work may be represented through our premium and plus brands, royalty free and rights ready respectively. For further details or to talk to someone in our creative team please email creative@moodboard.com

What are your image specifications for your microstock offering?

Please read our Tutorial (http://www.moodboard.com/_client/file/moodboard_tutorial.pdf) to find out more about our technical, commercial and creative and legal requirements. In brief: The larger the file size and quality of camera/sensor and lenses used the greater the opportunity for sales across collection file sizes.

We accept files which are at least 3mp (1000 x 1000) in dimension and a maximum compressed file size of 15Mb. We do accept files that have been up-sampled / rezzed up/ interpolated, (increasing the size / dpi to a size that is larger than the original file size)
RGB, Jpeg format only. Preferably raw files, retouched and processed as tifs and jpeg compressed to level 10
Ideally at 300 dpi, for print resolution, we also accept 72 dpi or above
You must be the copyright holder of the images..ie: you took the photograph/ or created the illustration. Artists who upload photography/artwork that doesn’t belong to them will have their membership revoked. In certain instances there may be legal ramifications.
All trademarks / logos must be removed. Avoid trademarked/copyrighted toy characters, architecture, product design.
Model releases and property releases: Images with clearly identifiable people require a model release. Anyone under the age of 18 in your images would require a release to be signed by a parent or guardian. Any private dwelling represented in your images must be accompanied by a property release. To find out more (Link to model and property releases).
Releases must be witnessed by someone other than yourself.

What tips do you give for keywording?

Be intuitive, succinct and above all relevant in your keywording and captioning. What words best describe the image and what are the conceptual drivers? Use them! Be precise. Imagine you are a buyer searching for the image what words would you use first? What is the image about? It is these you need to capture. Would you be surprised to find this image under any of the keywords you have included? If so, ditch them. Aim to keep keywords to a maximum of 20. Adding a lot of keywords won’t benefit sales or buyer searches. If you are submitting images which already have embedded keywords then prioritise them in order of importance. Prioritise the keywords by drag and dropping them into order of importance in the keyword tool in ‘My Collection”. If you wish to delete any keywords then simply click on X on the box itself. If you have added irrelevant or simply too many keywords we may return those images to you to redo!

What is your specification for professional photographers?

Minimum of 12.1mp camera preferably leading brands Canon,Nikon. Ideal mp range from 15.1 – 40mp +. Medium format cameras such as Hassleblad with phase one backs will be more appropriate for some subjects. Our creative team will discuss with you in detail the requirements for submission to Premium ranges. Contact us creative@moodboard.com for premium range queries.

How do I become a contributing photographer/illustrator to moodboard micro?

To sell images through moodboard you simply register on the site and follow the 4 steps through creating an artist profile. To prepare for this have ready 3 sample images of 2mb to upload and photo id (passport, driver’s licence, or other government issued photo id, for us to verify your identity and age).

Step 1: Download and read our tutuorial and artist contract thoroughly. Absorb the tutorial, the test in step 3 is based on it! If you agree to the terms of the contract tick the box indicated. You will not be able to progress your profile application without ticking to agree terms of the contract.
Step 2: Supply us with the information asked for in ‘About me’
Step 3: Take our artist test
Step 4: Upload 3 sample images for review and your photo id.

Our edit team will come back to you as soon as possible (usually 2 to 3 days, this can at times take longer) with approval status. Once approved you are able to upload! Please don’t email us while awaiting approval status. We will inform you via ‘My Dashboard’ once the edit team has reviewed your samples.

What size do the 3 review images need to be?

A maximum size of 2mb.

If my 3 review images are approved by your editors do I need to upload them again if I intend to have the represented by you?

Yes you do. Some artists may submit files intended for representation others may submit sample files as examples of what they can achieve

What is your micro illustration spec?

It is the same as our photographer spec. You will need to submit flattened files RGB, ideally 300 dpi, jpeg compressed tifs at level 10.

What is a model and property release? Why and when do I need one?

Model and property releases are legal documents signed by a person in an image or property owner which allows the right of sale and reproduction of that image. Model and property releases may also be required for illustrative/collage styles of work where the artist has rendered a person or property from their own photographic image. Many buyers, particularly ad agencies, will not purchase images which are not released. Images without releases seriously restrict the potential for purchase. All images featuring identifiable people require a model release. Even if a person’s face is not shown ie. rearview it is likely that person could recognise themselves in an image and therefore would require a release. Please see the legal section in our tutorial (http://www.moodboard.com/_client/file/moodboard_tutorial.pdf) for further information.

I have a really strong non-model released image with an identifiable person in it, can I upload it?

No, sorry we won’t accept it. This is regardless of where the photograph is taken or the unlikelyhood of the person seeing the image.

Where are your model and property release forms?

You can download these from the Resource Centre (http://www.moodboard.com/photographers/resource-centre.htm).

Are my images reviewed before they go live on your site?

All images submitted are reviewed by our edit team prior to going live on the site. They will feedback progress to you via ‘My Dashboard’

How long does the microstock image review process take?

All images are reviewed by our edit team to make sure they meet our technical, commercial and creative requirements. (http://www.moodboard.com/_client/file/moodboard_tutorial.pdf) Every effort is made to do this as swiftly as possible and feedback to you usually within 2-7 days. However depending on the workflow at any one time the process may take longer 14 days +. You will be notified by our edit team on ‘My Dashboard’ of likely review date. From time to time you will be informed on ‘My Dashboard’ regarding general content workflow and review timings. Please be patient.

Once my images are approved for quality microstock how long does it take for them to appear on your site?

From approval your images will take approximately 24 hours to appear on our site, providing the editor has not requested any additional information.

If my images are strong enough for your premium brands do they need to reach a given sales volume before they can be represented in them?

No they don’t; moodboard is unique in this respect. But you do need to agree to exclusivity on images which move to Premium collections. If your images are of the correct technical quality and felt to be commercially and creatively strong enough (http://www.moodboard.com/_client/file/moodboard_tutorial.pdf) by our edit team they may put them straight in to our Premium Royalty Free or moodboard + (rights ready) where the end prices commanded are higher than our microstock range.

What is Premium RF what is moodboard+ ?

These collections are underlined by the highest production values, creative, commercial and technical skill. Other distinguishing features of premium RF is that the images command higher prices than Quality Microstock. Prices in premium start at $19.00 for the smallest file size to $655 for the largest file. moodboard + is a packaged rights licensing model which commands the highest prices in our macrostock ranges. Images represented here sell from $135 for the in-house package to $2125 for the commercial pack. Both licensing models give you potential for a higher royalty return.

What is Quality Microstock?

This is our budget priced collection which still enables opportunity for good earnings with a 2 tier price range with the tier 1 pric at $1-$20 and the second at $15-$90.

If my images are represented by Quality Microstock how do you decide which price tier they will be represented by?

The price point chosen to represent your images will be the strongest to exploit their commercial potential. Their commercial potential is based on a mix of considerations including:

Their potential for sales in the current market
Subject matter
The aesthetic interpretation and treatment of that subject

In short, we will sell it at the price point which we believe will command the most revenue.

What if the sizes of my images aren’t large enough to fulfill all the file sizes you offer?

Then they will be sold by the file sizes they are able to fulfil under whichever collection they may be represented by.

If I opt for exclusivity does it mean all my images are exclusive with moodboard?

No it doesn’t. Opting for exclusivity means you are interested in having us represent the images you indicate on the upload area exclusively. You can have some images represented exclusively and others non-exclusively. The exclusivity is on the images only and not on you as a supplier of images. If the editor agrees to representing this image or series of images exclusively then you cannot place them with other libraries. But any non-exclusive content can be placed elsewhere too.

How long do I have to withdraw moodboard ‘approved exclusive’ content from my other libraries?

30 days from posting our exclusivity approval on your “My Collection’.

Is there anything else I need to do regarding withdrawal of exclusively approved images from my other libraries?

Yes. After 30 days you need to confirm to us that your images have been removed from your other sites by emailing us at creative_legal@moodboard.com Confirming the images names/numbers and date/s they were removed from your other sites.

Do I have to wait 30 days for my images to appear exclusively on your site?

You won’t have to wait. If your images are being represented by our Quality Microstock collection. We would still like confirmation of withdrawal however as noted above. If your images are intended for representation by our Premium ranges then we would require confirmation to creative_legal@moodboard.com prior to putting them on site. This is not likely to interrupt the timing to the website since these images will be handled by a separate workflow. If we have reason to believe that moodboard exclusive images are being sold by other image providers we have the option to remove those images from sale.

What are the advantages of being image exclusive with moodboard?

Worldwide distribution potential
You receive an extra 5% royalty if you are represented by our Quality Microstock collection
You have the potential for those images to move up to our Premium ranges which command higher prices.
The exclusivity is on the images only (and you choose which one’s those are) and not on you as a contributor, so you are free to contribute to other stock libraries

See http://www.moodboard.com/artists for further details.

Do the volume linked royalty increases in quality microstsock stay the same if my exclusive images are selected for your premium collections?

If your images are selected for our Premium collections then your royalty will move onto our macrostock model at a straight 20%. It is a pre-requisite of the Premium collections that the images are exclusive to us.

Do I need to sign a new contract if my images are selected for the Premium ranges?

Yes. One of our editors will send this to you.

How will I know if my images are going to be moved to a Premium collection?

One of our edit team will contact you directly.

How will moving to the Premium collections affect the timing of my images to your website?

Workflow for the Premium ranges can take longer than microstock. We would require you to send us a raw file for our Q&A team to check (if this is not available we would want to see an uncompressed tif file). If required images are then retouched inhouse and keyworded by us. Other metadata which is required by our distribution network is then added to the images. Our edit team will let you know about timing to site when they contact you.

If some of my images are earmarked to move into a Premium collection will you need to see the raw file?

Yes we will. If you don’t have a raw file and only have an uncompressed tif then we will ask to see that. If the image/s does not meet our quality level then we will not be able to represent it.

Would I need to retouch the image/s if they were intended for the Premium collections?

Images for the Premium collections will be retouched inhouse. We may make a charge for this. You will be informed of any changes to this on ‘My Dashboard’. If you are able to retouch the images yourself to the level we require then then this would be possible too. Final sign off on these would be given to our inhouse team.

Will my images be available for sale through your distribution network?

Exclusively represented images in quality microstock and our Premium brands may benefit from increased representation through our distribution network.

Will representation by your distribution network affect the timing of my royalty payments?

Any royalty payments due from sales via our distribution network will be sent in statement form to you monthly. These won’t be posted on your ‘My Dashboard’. Sales made by moodboard.com can be viewed in real time on ‘My Dashboard’ and following payment requests by you, be made to your payment provider in a two day maximum timescale.

What happens if I wish to withdraw my images from moodboard?

We require 90 days notice of image withdrawal. Withdrawal requests are made via “My collection’. We can continue to sell your images non-exclusively for a further 12 months following expiry.

Do you have a maximum daily/weekly/monthly upload quota?

We do not have a maximum upload quota at present. However you may at any time receive a notice via ‘My Dashboard’ detailing upload quota’s for that period in time.

How much do I have to earn before I can request payment?

You need to have a minimum of $30 in your account to request payment.

Where on the website can I opt for payment method?

Each time you make a payment request from ‘My Dashboard’ you can opt for the payment method which suits you best, providing you supply us with correct payment details.

How does moodboard make royalty payments to artists?

moodboard pays royalties via paypal, moneybookers. or cheque.

If I am a pro-shooter with images in your Premium brands how do I get paid royalties?

You will be paid by paypal, moneybookers or cheque too. The edit team will ask for your payment details.

Is VAT added to UK payments?

Yes provided you are VAT registered and have provided us with your VAT number, asked for on the registration page of the website, or supplied one of the creative team with details when asked for payment details.

As a pro-shooter do I have to register online and create an artist profile to access ‘My Dashboard’ to see sales made from your direct site?

One of our team will set you up on line so you are able to view ‘My Dashboard’ and see direct sales in real time.

Can I be paid in my own currency?

You can be paid by cheque in sterling, US dollars or euro only. When you register on the site the country you indicate on your address will automatically connect to either US dollars, sterling or Euro. If you live in a country that doesn’t support these currencies then it will default to US dollars. If you wish to change this to sterling or euro then please contact us at the mail below. If you opt for cheque payment it will take longer to receive your royalties. From the time request is made processing and mailing can take 30+ days. Moodboard is not responsible for postal delays and or loss in the post. If your cheque is lost you will need to contact us at royalties@moodboard.com

Can I change the method of payment from one provider to another on each request?

Yes you can. Each time you request payment you can opt for the method of payment and providing you supply us with all details asked for, payment will be made via that provider.

If I request payment and don’t receive it how do I contact you?

Please contact us at royalties@moodboard.com

Can I set the prices for my images?

moodboard sets the pricing and decides on the collection which will represent your images.

Can I put the images you represent on my own website portfolio?

Yes you can. If the images are non-exclusive you can represent them yourself or elsewhere. If they are exclusive you can show them in your own online portfolio for marketing purposes but they can only be sold through moodboard.

Why do I have to upload photo ID?

We require photo ID to check who you are and your age.

Are personal details held securely?

Protection of personal details is of the utmost importance to moodboard We are committed to protecting your privacy and disclosure of any personal details. Photo IDs are encrypted and securely stored.

How will my images be used?

Our buyers come from all walks of life and can have a multitude of uses for images. Images are used on websites, in editorial, design projects, advertising and marketing above and below the line. From time to time you may see your images or someone elses from moodboard’s being used. Please hang on to the sample and we will let you know where to send it when we start displaying usage on the site.

I am a vegetarian and wouldn’t want a meat manufacturer buying one of my images…how do I stop this?

Sorry you can’t. As long as buyers are not contravening our terms and conditions of use (Please review our End User License Agreement : http://www.moodboard.com/_Handlers/GetCurrentEULA.ashx) then they are in their rights to use the images for their desired end project. Our terms and conditions of use include prohibiting the use of any material which could be construed as pornographic or libellous.

What type of images are you looking for?

We look at images from every subject area. Broadly people, lifestyle, corporate/ business, sports, travel, wildlife/scenics, food and illustration. Bear in mind it is more often than not the treatment of the subject that can make a fairly average subject shine. A fairly run of the mill subject seen/treated in an interesting fashion can be compelling while a fascinating subject badly recorded can leave us cold. That said we are unlikely to warm to the following images: your shadow or someone elses, pets, wings of the plane you are on taking you somewhere exotic, cloudscapes, graffiti and brick walls (see our wants list on photographer home page)

What are the key factors to earning good royalties?

Everyone’s take on ‘good’ will differ but for the record we define it broadly here as enough to ease those weekly shopping bills to helping to meet your increased mortgage payments but unless you are truly committed probably not enough to give up the day job. Key factors:

commerciality of the images (strong concepts innovatively and accessibly presented). Consider what the image will be used for.
volume of images on line
ability to increase volume
length of time on line

Will you accept analogue film?

Only if it’s been scanned to a high standard and can be uploaded as a digital file.

Do you accept black and white photography?

Very occasionally we do but colour sells better. Bear in mind buyers can create the greyscale’s if they wish. If you only have the image you love in black and white and you feel it adds an obvious mood enhancing dimension to the image then, we will of course, review it.

Do you have an accepted camera list?

We don’t have a definitive list for our microstock collection. Camera sensor and lens technology is improving all the time. Ideally we would recommend any camera from Canon or Nikon with a 10mp sensor for microstock. However all make of point and shoot and even camera phone files will be assessed providing they fulfill our technical criteria and minimum file size. (creative requirements. (Please review the Digital Spec section in the tutorial. http://www.moodboard.com/_client/file/moodboard_tutorial.pdf) It may be that these images can only be sold in the smaller file sizes. For images to move into all file sizes in the Premium collections investment in camera equipment and lenses may need to be made. 50mb files is the accepted norm in macrostock. At a glance: pro and semi pro recommended camera models:

Canon:

1DS Mk111 - 21.1mp
1DS Mk11 - 16.7mp
1DMk111 - 10.1mp
5D - 12.7mp
5DMk11 - 21mp
50D - 15.1mp

Nikon:

D90 - 12.3mp
D700 - 12.1mp
D3 - 12.1mp
D2X/D2Xs – 12.2mp

(to date as of October 2008) Image quality comes from the right combination of sensor and lens, its not just megapixels that matter. For instance the image quality of a 10mp compact camera will fall well short of an image produced on an quality 8mp dSLR camera like the Canon 1d MkII with its superior sensor and better lenses. The top tier cameras such as the 39mp Hasselblad H2D-39 and the range of Phase One backs are very expensive and slow to use but are capable of superb quality. Some professional photographers can afford to buy cameras like these. Most stock photography today however is produced on Canon or Nikon dSLR cameras as these provide the best price / performance ratio as well as being fast to use.

I cannot afford the expensive lenses – what can I do?

Lenses with the poorest performance tend to be either “kit lenses” sold with the 4th tier cameras or lenses with a particularly large focal range. Performance tends to be worse when the lens is used at a wide aperture or at the wider end of the zoom range, bear this in mind when using it. Often overlooked are the fixed focal length lenses such as the 50mm standard or 100mm macro lenses supplied by Nikon and Canon. The sub £90 50mm f1.8 Canon lens for instance on a 400d has an effective focal length of 80mm and can act as a great portrait or studio lens with superb detail and sharpness.

I can make big sharp prints from my 6 megapixel camera – why do I need a minimum of 10 megapixels for A3 repro?

It is indeed possible to make huge prints from tiny files. The most successful images to do this with are close ups of natural objects like flowers or portraits. Shoot a detailed landscape or cityscape on a 6mp camera however and it soon becomes clear in A3 repro that the detail expected has not been met. What makes this problem worse is the lower contrast and saturation in CMYK repro compared to the bright range of colour and contrast achieved with inkjet printers. It would be wonderful if 6/ 8 mp could consistently fill A3 repro at 300dpi and look good –but they can’t. A4 is the limit here.

I love using filtering effects in post production and often use on lens filters to make my images more original and appealing do you accept images like this?

We are not fond of filtering effects they look dated and ought to be used sparingly. Please refer to the tutorial (http://www.moodboard.com/_client/file/moodboard_tutorial.pdf) for further information on this.