Have you ever wondered where you can get high quality photography for your Church? Ever struggled in searching for good images, and all you come across is that cliché photography?
I know I have. However, that search is now over. I discovered a site called PhotoMission after ChurchMag held a photography contest, and I uploaded an entry that ended up being selected as the winner. Afterwards, the president of PhotoMission (who saw it) sent me a message about wanting to feature my photography on a site I was about to discover has real potential for the cause of Christ.
So I did some research on PhotoMission and its president, Connie Wragge. I then registered on the site to sell my images and became so involved in what I was reading that I wanted to learn more about it. I contacted Connie for an interview, and this was my first question:
How did PhotoMission get started?
PhotoMission began while I was in worship in 2001. Through a series of events in my life and a biblical message based on Christ’s return to earth I left that service with an understanding that fell outside the scope of just having an idea. It was clear to me that God was about to stretch my faith like He never had before. I was headed to do some photography in the San Juan Islands in Washington a few days later. When I left, I took a laptop with me and during that time I drafted a document containing the key points of something that didn’t even have a name.
The site that came together stayed true to the key points of that Sunday morning vision. Basically I understood that God was looking at me to lead an organization that would provide excellent imagery to the Church and at the same time help Christian photographers by enabling them to receive monetary compensation for their talent.
In October 2002 the first site for PhotoMission launched, but it was incomplete mostly due to my lack of faith to trust God completely. While the site hosted great photography, it was not readily accessible to the Church. Every high-res image had to be first uploaded to an FTP site by the photographer and then…later…it could be downloaded for use. There was no lightbox functionality as there is now, nor was there any way for a purchase to be instantly completed (as there is now). I say the site was incomplete because these shortcomings were my doing, not those of the development team who built it. They built the site the way I requested. I just wasn’t quite willing to believe that God was in PhotoMission all the way, and He expected me to be too.
Over the next few years I digressed and led three mission teams abroad. While these teams were great, I think that in hindsight I was purposely looking to be distracted from overseeing PhotoMission’s core reason for existence and in doing so, the site continued to tread water until 2009.
How can users find images on the site?
- Leave the search box blank on the homepage to view all images.
- Enter a keyword in the search box on the homepage.
- Search by category and refine by keyword(s) once inside the gallery.
How is PhotoMission different from other stock photography agencies?
PhotoMission offers it users photography that is Christ-centered and which is accepted for sale from Christian photographers. It is further accepted based on it having been taken and edited by photographers with professional skills and its comfortable fit into one of five categories found on the site:
- Bible and Scripture
- Creation
- Global Missions
- Social Issues
- Symbols of Christianity.
These categories make it possible for PhotoMission to offer many images that are one-of-a-kind and that are not easily found elsewhere.
Future of PhotoMission
As we talked about the future of PhotoMission, I asked Connie how I could be praying for her as I continue to upload my photography to this amazing site. She replied,
Pray I will continue to always look to God to lead me.
I thought that was a great answer, I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Now, let’s take a look at the website.
Website Overview
When you visit PhotoMission.com, the homepage looks like this:
If you want to register on the site, first check out the FAQ.
Then go to the Photographer’s sign-up page.
It’s FREE to register, and you can earn money every time your photography sells. If you want to see that happen often, you should keep uploading new images on a regular basis.
If you want to find out more about PhotoMission, visit them online. If you have a question that you don’t find the answer to, use the Contact Us page.
Conclusion
I’m sure you’ll find as I have that PhotoMission is the Christian stock photo agency of the 21st Century.
No more clichés.
[Image Via: Tom Newby Photography]
Many thanks to Brian Alexander and to ChurchMag for your post today on PhotoMission. May God use it for His purposes.
Thanks for allowing me to do this interview. It was fun!
You are very welcome, Connie. Brain’s awesome, isn’t he!?!
Im not sure who brain is, but BRIAN is pretty awesome!
This is a great write up. Thanks Brian and thank you Connie for providing such an amazing service!
All praise goes to Connie. I can’t take any credit for the site. Just shared it with this wonderful community.
Whoa! Sending this wonderful info to our church administrator now! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing it with your church admin. Keep sharing!
After a brief look around, I agree: this is a great resource. I’m not sure that I would be able to afford the pricing, however. I feel like the bigger stock photo services have much better pricing. Would be interested to know the reason for the high prices.
Not only are the photo’s of a very great quality (I believe every photo goes through a rigorous quality assurance process ) but the proceeds are going to support the photographers in their missions all around the globe. It’s a really cool concept imo.
The prices are gauged to benefit the photographer, and as Matt said to come alongside photographers who serve as missionaries and pastors – or photographers who are trying to earn a living here in the States and abroad. With global economies being what they are and contributing to the loss of financial support being given to missions, I’m working to keep Christians (and the Christian witness) in place. Each time you buy an image from PhotoMission 50% of the sales price goes to the photographer. The balance is used to maintain the site which is soon going to require additional storage.
This is an incredible concept and the photography is way above the trending stock photo bar! I certainly encourage my clients to look here first. God bless you in your vision and this ministry!