I submitted 6 photos to AdobeStock and 4 got approved and are for sale on their site. None have sold yet.
The ones that didn't get approved were fine compositions but failed because they weren't technically perfect -- wildlife has a habit of moving faster than the shutter speed (the slightest motion blur can cause a rejection).
I've got thousands of photographs, it's a hobby. I'll add more. If I sell enough, I'll be considered a pro and be able to clam a tax deduction on my gear If not I'll just be happy to make enough to buy some coffee.
Really great photos. I also use to do a lot of photography and have thousands of digital photos and also film negatives and slides. I've recently looked into buying a negative scanner to digitize some negatives and slides.
I'm pretty sure that's not an eagle. <grin> Nice Osprey shot Notes, where was it? I've only seen them in MI and Minnesota. The others are nice too. FWIW we use Adobe Stock daily in our web development division, so we love it when new stuff gets added.
bummer story that ages me: I took a Minolta on a survival trip, got some great shots. Came home and asked the wife to take the film to the shop to develop .. forgot I had never showed her how to make sure the film was rewound. I still have the memories of eagles and ospreys hunting the lakes/rivers we traveled, as well as moose, mink and wolves on the other side of the river, but sure would have been nice to have the pictures.
A couple years later I took that camera on a smaller weekend excursion and we flipped the canoe. Trust me, a running river is hard on a camera and lenses. I figured after those two fiascos I'm better off keeping any cameras on terra firma.
signed Bird snob
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome Make your sound your own!
The first picture is a sunset in Key West, Florida.
The second is a road somewhere in the Outback of Australia (we roamed about a lot not knowing exactly where we were). Mrs. Notes and I did 5 weeks in a camper van all over the eastern half of the continent.
The third is a spiral staircase in a church in Kutna Hora, Czech Republic
The last is an Osprey on the nest in the Everglades National Park in Florida
I, too, have thousands of slides. I just bought a scanner, though I haven't tried it yet. It's a PlusTek Optic Film 8100. I don't know if the resolution will be good enough. Time will tell.
Notes
Last edited by Notes Norton; 04/16/2112:49 PM. Reason: speling misteak
Great outcome. I imagine this is very competitive.
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Nice work Stephen. I'm extremely impressed! I like the subject, the composition of the shots, the lighting, and clarity. Notes
Thanks Notes! By the way, I noticed you said you might earn the price of a coffee from your images when then sell. While this can be true, with some images (and depending on the agency) it's also possible to make a lot more money. My Alamy images (I license maybe 3 or a 4 a week) often fetch upwards of €50. The one below was licensed last week for $425. Several pots of Skinny latte Mocha!
For Bob in this case, but in general, my browser blocks the link because it checks for HTTPS secure sites (the 'S' at the end). On my own website, I went through and updated all the internal links, then got a Comodo/Sectigo certificate from DreamHost who is hosting the site. Something to consider.
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If I sell enough, I'll be considered a pro and be able to clam a tax deduction on my gear laugh If not I'll just be happy to make enough to buy some coffee. …
How much is enough? Is it a percentage or dollar amount? I’m not asking for actual figures—those are nobody’s business but yours.
When I realized that I was making part of my living making music over iOS, my iPhone became entirely deductible, not just the percentage of use for my business.
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How much is enough? Is it a percentage or dollar amount?
In the UK and Ireland there are 2 criteria that I go by:
1) Accreditation by the National Union of Journalists as a photographer requires that you earn at least 50% of your total income from photography. I've been a member since 1981.
2) Again in the UK and Ireland, the term 'professional' legally applies to anyone who earns any amount of income from their work and declares it for tax purposes. In this case, the term 'part-time' can apply if the income is split with other work. When that happens, the tax relief (on workspace, equipment etc) may be proportional, in relation to the income earned and the time spent at the specific work.
Mike, if I sell one photo for $0.25 I'll consider myself a pro, and ask my accountant if I can start legally deducting expenses while I build my catalog.
StephenP, another nice shot. I'm glad you can make money at this, I hope some day to be able to join you at that.
I've got thousands of photographs from the places I've traveled, unfortunately many of them are on slides or were shot in the early days of digital photography when the resolution isn't near what it is today.
The slides were shot with an EOS film. I may try scanning them.
I'm using a Panasonic Lumix now, but it looks like I'll have to upgrade if I want to sell all that I submit. I've had about 25% rejected for technical problems, mostly extremely fine points of focus. For wildlife, which has a habit of moving, I use the auto-focus and auto exposure mode which doesn't give me as much control over the shot.
But I'll upload a few per week after I edit them to make them look a little better.
It's more of a hobby than a profession, but if I can make a few bucks at it, I'll be happy.
StephenP, another nice shot. I'm glad you can make money at this, I hope some day to be able to join you at that. I've got thousands of photographs from the places I've traveled, unfortunately many of them are on slides or were shot in the early days of digital photography when the resolution isn't near what it is today. The slides were shot with an EOS film. I may try scanning them.
Thanks for the kind words, Notes. A decent flatbed scanner for film will set you back at least $800. Don't bother with anything cheaper, because the quality will not be up to stock image use.
I digitize my black and white negs as seen in this video . This method may also work for color slides.
I've got about 60 more tutorial videos on my YouTube channel, you may find some of them useful.
"I'm using a Panasonic Lumix now, but it looks like I'll have to upgrade if I want to sell all that I submit. I've had about 25% rejected for technical problems, mostly extremely fine points of focus. For wildlife, which has a habit of moving, I use the auto-focus and auto exposure mode which doesn't give me as much control over the shot."
Set your aperture according to the available light, and focus manually. You may take more out-of-focus shots, but the ones you manually focus will be sharp.
I've had about 25% rejected for technical problems, mostly extremely fine points of focus. For wildlife, which has a habit of moving, I use the auto-focus and auto exposure mode which doesn't give me as much control over the shot.
I've been teaching photography for over 20 years, including 5 years, full-time, with the world's biggest online professional photography course. I constantly recommend students to use Aperture Priority (A or Av, depending on the camera) and Auto-focus - most of the time.
There are specific reasons why Manual exposure and manual focus are better choices, but for now don't worry about them.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac - Special Offers End at 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th, 2026!
Order before 11:59pm PDT on Friday, May 15th and SAVE up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® version 2026 for Mac Upgrade packages... and that's not all! With your version 2026 for Mac purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons FREE! Upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks... that's 222 NEW RealTracks available with version Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
Playable RealTracks Set 5
RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
With the release of Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac, we’re rolling out a collection of brand-new videos on our YouTube channel. We’ll keep this forum post updated so you can easily find all the latest videos in one convenient spot.
Whether you're exploring new features, checking out the latest RealTracks or Style PAKs, this is your go-to guide for Band-in-a-Box® 2026.
Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac is here and it is packed with major new features! There’s a new modern look, a GUI redesign to all areas of the program including toolbars, windows, workflow and more. There’s a Multi-view layout for organizing multiple windows. A standout addition is the powerful AI-Notes feature, which uses AI neural-net technology to transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI—entire mixes or individual instruments—making it easy to study, view, and play parts from any song. And that’s just the beginning—there are over 100 new features in this exciting release.
Along with version 2026, we've released an incredible lineup of new content! There's 202 new RealTracks, brand-new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two new RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!
Special Offers
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2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK Add-ons
Our Free Bonus PAK and 49-PAK are loaded with amazing add-ons! The Free Bonus PAK is included with most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac packages, but you can unlock even more—including 20 unreleased RealTracks—by upgrading to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49.
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