MicrostockGroup

I'm new to microstock, and I'm looking to take it seriously this year. 

I've had a few images in at Fotolia for a couple of years, but they declined about 15 images in a row last month so I'm really questioning if what I'm shooting makes any sense.

I was recently accepted by iStock, but haven't submitted anything yet.

On to the critique.  I shot this the other day - is this a viable microstock image?



Thanks in advance for the help.

No it isn't. The composition is strange, and one important part (hand with the pen) is cropped. I'm not sure where the focus is. Eyes looking down look a bit like they could be closed, with the hand/pen visible it wouldn't bother, now we can't see where she is looking at. The right hand looks like it's detached from the body, and the left hand has an awkward position.

The colors and tonality are quite nice. The other half of the face is too dark for my taste.

If that's the entire image, that isn't something that someone would probably buy, with better choices out there.

Where is the hand???

Good tips here about cropping, focus, background, etc.

But the best possible advice a newcomer can hear is this:  research what subjects are already being oversaturated by pros who have been doing this for many years.  The odds are stacked so high against you that you should not bother attacking those topics... and business people in generic poses fall squarely into that category.

The best plan in this business is the best plan for any business: find a need that isn't being met and fill it.  Find a niche that is underserved and approach it differently than anyone else.  Create your own style that is difficult to imitate. 

Microstock has become swamped with photographers who think that since other photographers have had luck shooting certain topics, they can as well.  The pool is too full for "me-too" microstockers.  You'll immediately drown unless you're unique and savvy to the needs of the market.

Make these your words to live by and you'll do well.  Best of luck!