Last year, as the advertising business began to slow a bit for Los Angeles-based lifestyle, fashion and kids photographer ZeeWendell, she started to get a lot of calls for her images to be used for stock. People seemed to like and want the more "conceptual" bent that Wendell is known for in her work. She sold a few images to a few people but still had a tough time. She began to ask herself...."how can I continue to shoot and make money in this tough environment when production budgets have come to a screeching halt." One night she met with her childhood friend, Tara D'Ambrosia, an award-winning art director for such clients as Target, Neiman Marcus and Victoria's Secret, and they discussed the state of assignment and stock photography and especially their frustration with the quality of stock images in the children's category. As seasoned professionals, working on big-budget advertising, catalog and fashion shoots, they both knew what clients needed, and both knew the process of building a brand, launching a brand and then selling a brand. With all of this in mind and their 30 years of combined experience, Wendell and D'Ambrosia created weestock, a new kind of conceptual kids' stock imagery -"Not Your Typical Kids."

Specializing in a real and authentic style, weestock images tell a story or potentially form a brand. There is nothing staid or stiff - images with solid ideas behind them. The site is tight, easy to use and very selective. Wendell and D'Ambrosia also believe in the personal touch, so clients always have someone to speak with to discuss their needs for a particular project. If a client can't find the right image, then one of the www.Weestock photographers will shoot the idea for them.

Although weestock just launched in December 2009, they already have 500 select images and add new work on a weekly basis. Their roster of talent does not shoot stock for a living, but rather they photograph children for clients and also happen to have their own stock libraries promoted on the site. They are always adding new photos and photographers and are in the process of building a photographer base that now includes Lee Clower (New York) and Sandy Heit (Los Angeles) and Tara Sgroi (New York). Wendell and D'Ambrosia anticipate the arrival of more photographers to weestock, as they offer a great compensation package, a formidable marketing plan and a group that offers great creative collaboration and, of course, very good company.