If you’re a professional image producer looking for assignments, and you live or would like to work in remote parts of the world,
the new World Assignment Web site may be for you.
Currently there are more than 1,500 photographers
represented on this site and 2,000 portfolios. Once accepted a photographer can
submit multiple portfolios focused on various aspects of the photographer’s
business – advertising and editorial for example. Each portfolio can include up
to 33 still images and 4 videos and be modified as often as the photographer
likes.
Buyers can go to the site and search for photographers
living or operating in a certain location and with expertise in a certain
aspect of photography. For example the customer might need a female to
photograph children in India in a documentary style for a non-profit
organization. This photographer may also need to demonstrate the ability to
produce video as well as stills. The customer can sort using all these
parameters. Or the customer might need someone living in Iowa (to minimize
transportation costs) for an advertising shoot. Ideally, this photographer
would also have experience shooting equipment and be thoroughly familiar with
the agriculture business.
Buyers have the option to sort by type of work, language,
nationality, country, gender and technical information. It is possible to sort
for all types of photography including news, sports, fashion, portrait,
paparazzi, food, advertising, corporate, documentary, etc. Once the customer
has found a potential candidate they can quickly view the photographer’s portfolios
and background information on the site. Then they can make direct contact with the
photographer of their choice to make arrangements for the shoot and negotiate
the deal.
Among the 23 U.S. agencies using WorldAssignment to
highlight their photographers are: Picturegroup, Zuma Press, Europa Newswire,
Glasshouse Images, Illustration Works, Alaska Stock Images, Queerstock,
Photosource Hawaii and Aurora Photos. Of the 1,500 photographers currently
represented on the site, 221 are based in the U.S., and 98 of those are
represented by agencies.
Among the new clients are: National
Geographic Society, Time Inc., JWT, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Conceptual,
DLKW Lowe, Europa Newswire, The Scott and Miller
Group, The Marketing Store WorldWide and John
Wiley and Sons.
World Assignment does not charge royalties or commissions to
either party. The service is entirely subscription based. Photographers pay a
fee of $225 annually per portfolio, agencies are charged $225 per month for an
unlimited quantity of photographers and portfolios and customers are charged
$225 per year for unlimited access to the site. However, all those who sign up
before December 31, 2010 – photographers, agents or buyers – receive FREE
access for one year from their registration date.
World Assignment reviews the work of every contributor, ensuring
a certain level of quality. Take a look at these portfolios for examples: