FAQs : blacksockstock

Well, before I saw all the great stock accounts on DA, I didn't even know what stock was!  But then I saw all these great stock photos by amazing stock artists here and the cool photomanipulations, and I thought I'd like to start one for fun too.  I had these leftover ballet costumes from fourth grade, so I modified them (aka. cut them, haha!) and took pictures in them.  The first stock photos I ever took were actually pretty terrible, rather grainy and unfortunately saved too small because I didn't know a bigger resolution would be best -__-;  Most are in scraps but some people still like using a few.  
I thought it was really cool, all of the awesome manips people were making with my photos, so it became a sorta hobby to get into outfits and poses and take pics!  I guess that's pretty much how it all started.  I don't really know how this for-fun account grew so much, I never really intended it.  Basically, I just posted up pics I thought might be useful to someone out there in DA-land and I guess things just went from there

Unrestricted stock means the stock image can be freely used for personal and commercial projects, but it cannot be sold or redistributed as-is. You are not required to obtain permission prior to using this stock off-site, in DA prints, or other profitable endeavors.  
Sometimes unrestricted stock providers require notification and proper attribution.  For me, though it is not required, I ask that you please credit and notify me, if and when possible.

And yes, I do have unrestricted stock in my gallery, and it can be found here blacksockstock.deviantart.com/…   

Please note: the rest of my stock gallery is NOT necessarily unrestricted too.   So please be courteous and read/respect the rules if there are any listed in the Artist's Comment box below each stock image.  And even though this stock is unrestricted, please respect my request to not include my photos in pornographic projects or other pieces involving hate, racial or gender discrimination, etc.

Yes, I do have exclusive stock in my gallery too, and it can be found here blacksockstock.deviantart.com/…
Also, if you're holding a contest here on DA and would like my exclusive stock to be part of your prizes, just let me know.  I say yes 99.999% of the time

Most of them aren't (in my opinion), you just have to click the "Download" button to get the full size.  I made the "full view" a smaller dimension so that it's easier to look through my photos and you don't have to wait for everything to load.

Not anymore, sorry!  I used to, but first it was the chaos of college and now I'm tasting the real world...    This entails finding myself short on time and costume resources; it's quite unfortunate.
However, you can give me a brief on your idea --at the very least, I can consider it. I'm just asking you keep in mind I can't guarentee I can make your request, and it's not likely I'll be able to.  Also, even if I am able, it'll be somewhere waaayyyy down the future road (Example: I'm sure someone's off-handed request for me to make funny faces was made at Point A of last year...and I got to it at Point B of the following year .__.; )

The good news is there are many wonderful stock artists in the DA world-- you can always ask another!

One set, the old set that only had three basic rules, wasn't working out for me because people were taking advantage of loopholes (just because something isn't mentioned doesn't mean you don't have to ask or be considerate!) and being disrespectful/discourteous in general.  So I had to make a second, new set of rules.  I haven't gotten around to editing all my stock images yet (because there are so many, I probably won't be able to) so some are still displaying the old set of rules.  DON'T FOLLOW THOSE,

FOLLOW THE NEW RULES that you can find here blacksockstock.deviantart.com/…  
I'm sorry for the confusion...

Guess!  Haha, I'm curious what these estimates will be; and take note that all my stock was/is made within legal parameters, and that I've been legal for a while now so we've no qualms about that

I considered this at a few instances, but no, the most I'll ever do is a bare back (without the ass).  The Internet is too vast and wild a place.

Mostly yes; I'm the model and the photographer for most of my stock, but I do ask my friends and family to help me out sometimes to photograph.  My most notable assistant is Samantha, who actually has a DA account at crimsonsam, and sometimes my other friend, Xun, helps too.  Both have folders in my stock gallery.

He turned into an asshole and we're not friends/don't speak to each other anymore.  It's very unfortunate and (was) pretty upsetting, but life happens and people change.  But for the sakes of the artists on deviantArt, I didn't delete the "couples stock" we made: they're in some obscure section of my gallery, probably in Scraps.

I used to be open to discussion as long as people asked me first, but many people just didn't even bother to ask my permission at all.  I find that very rude so now my initial exclamation is "No Prints.  Period."  
However, I understand not everyone is like that and exceptions can always be made.  So, if you're serious about this, just please ask me BEFORE you do it and you should get permission.  Honestly, I don't understand why people don't get that respect and courtesy are incredible virtues that can work wonders in life. 
(I have made some Exclusive Stock that can be used in any printing art endeavors.)

  Note: Please see the the list of permissions I've granted.  If you recognize my stock being used in ways I've not permitted, I would greatly appreciate your notifying me.

Truthfully, I prefer you not post any artwork with my stock outside of deviantArt because then ignorant people get the impression that they can use my stock outside of deviantArt (which they CANNOT and I don't give permission for), and also for personal security reasons because I don't want to suddenly be browsing the Internet and find myself/face floating around nor my friends' either.  Seeing as I'm developing a professional career now, I don't want possible employers to associate me with something I don't actually condone.  
However, if you really, really, REALLY want to, then just send me a note and we'll talk about it; I don't bite   
(...well no, I do, but they're all love bites jk jk...mostly)
For instance, most cases are for personal blogs, Facebook accounts, personal online portfolios, or even physical galleries, and so long as these are just for sharing/displaying purposes, I allow permission for these 99.999% of the time --just be respectful and ASK FIRST!

  Note: Please see the the list of permissions I've granted.  If you recognize my stock being used in ways I've not permitted, I would greatly appreciate your notifying me.

I tend to be more lenient with my terms when it comes to art work made via traditional methods, simply because I know it's not a simple act of tracing, as can sometimes be the case in some digital "drawings", or copy/pasting onto a premade background, as can also sometimes happen with "photomanipulations".  

At this point, so long as you draw/paint the piece with traditional media, you may display it at any of your virtual/physical personal webpages and galleries.  You may also sell any personal prints of it and can also use it in commercial art projects.   I reserve the right to have your piece removed from any display source if it offends me; however, you shouldn't have anything to worry about so long as you are a courteous and respectful artist.  

Ahahh, well that's a neurotic tendency of mine: I used to not be able to check DA as often, or even at all, so I'd get these long backlogs of comments notifying me of stock use. And, being the (overly) organized person I am, in order to "check off" the links I'd visited and remind myself I finally was able to check that comment, I would hide it after seeing the piece.  Now I have more time to keep better track, but as I'm also a somewhat neurotic person, and since this is what I've been doing for years and on all my deviations, I keep hiding the comments I've checked because the only alternative to satisfy my neuroticism would be to unhide EVERYTHING...and I don't have THAT much time (or patience).   ....haha? ...

Yes, I do dabble in a variety of art besides stock-making, pretty much anything that interests me or I just feel like experimenting in at the time; this can range from traditional drawings to photomanipulations to paintings to beyond!  Over the years, I've found that art is really a wonderful creative outlet for me, and even a great way for me to meditate and wind down from a hectic day.  For the most part, I have tendencies toward digital photography and drawing with traditional mediums.  If you're interested in checking out my artwork, you may find me at:

sophiaazhou.com : my personal website portfolio; there are many galleries
sophiaazhou.deviantArt : my art account here on dA; mostly digital work
sophiaazhou.Tumblr :  mostly my sketch/work.in.progress blog
sophiaazhou.RedBubble : I sell a few shirts featuring my art, just for kicks

I would be honored if you took the time to do so.

If you're awesome (which I'll bet you are!) and supply stock, then of course!  Stock sisters, stock siblings stock affiliates, stock "insert whatever"-- add me to your journal and tell me so I can add you to mine
These are my stock lovelies: