Photography contests for people under 18?

Are there any photo stock sites that will allow people under the age of 18 to sell stock?

• I was very interested in selling stock but do you really have to wait until you're 18, I'm 15, turning 16 in less than a month and I really need the money to help pay for college if I can't get scholarships, or to help pay for my photography equipment. Their are a lot of sites for amateurs but you have to be 18 on all the ones I've found. I know you can sell them on Deviantart, and places that specialize in selling artwork but I wanted more specifically a photo stock site. Where people look more closely at photography then general artwork. Most may argue "Why don't your parents do it for you?" I find it less independent and far harder to make a name for myself in the photography world if I use my parents names in order to sell my photography. Any aid is much appreciated! Thanks in advance!

• Answer:

  It's rather unfortunate that the law sets a limit on responsibility, especially in your case as it seems that your independence and maturity looms beyond your physical age. I also find it quite admirable that you are setting goals towards your own efforts to finance the future aspirations that you have. Unfortunately, the direction you are taking may not be the one you should consider without further research and a strong portfolio... a very strong one. In spite of your age (and, as I've said, you are limited because of that, not your intelligence), the stock industry is not a profitable venture since the money made is mostly going to be made by them off your work. Most stock agencies keep 60% of the profits because of their 'marketing' of your images and, for the most part, they don't really market at all... they display and are contacted by interested buyers. Something you could do yourself with a higher chance of success and profitability if your images are strong. It was said that these agencies require thousands of submissions and that is true. If you can't support the demands, and don't have the quantity and quality (strong, original images), they won't even consider handling you. My Brother in Law, Michael Hickey has a plethora of strong images http://www.sharedvisions.us and was submitting to a stock agency for awhile. He found that he was making better money on the side with his own marketing than he was with the images that he couldn't sell because the agency had him locked into the contract. He left the agency after the end of contract and is holding his own just as well. You, because of your age again, are under the legal responsibility of your parents unless they emancipate you. Only then can you legally be responsible for your own decisions and actions. Emancipation is not without difficulty... it means you are on your own. My best advice?... involve your parents under your name and consider using a marketing site to promote/sell your images rather than a stock agency. If your images are strong enough, you will be credited for them, not your parents. Another source of income. Purchase 'Photographers Market' for 2009 or wait for 2010's publication. You will more than likely do better going that way (submission of images for consideration to people who are actually looking for specific images and published their needs). Best of luck in your future. .