Author Topic: please give some advice for a chinese photographer (Read 5591 times)

chloehall · « **on:** September 05, 2018, 22:43 »

hi,everyone,
I'm a chinese part time photographer.I've contribute for alamy since 2012.I've around 1000 pics in alamy,but only 19 sales.Would u please give me some advice?
thank you very much!
chloe

dpimborough · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2018, 00:50 »

Hi Juan

Firstly you have too many similar images or repeats I would get different angles as a lot of the images just seem the same or that you just moved the camera slightly when you took the next shot.

Your keywords could do with some work, too many odd phrases repeating the same words over and again e.g. Tiananmen Gate, Tiananmen Square, just the word Tiananmen once then add in extra words like square and gate as spearate keywords.

Also don't forget Alamy requires plurals unlike some agencies like Shutterstock

For example cat, cats, dog, dogs, child,children

So you need to allow for that.

Don't forget to put in the location in your keywords too

Otherwise your images seem well done and nicely exposed

JoeClemson · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2018, 01:55 »

Because of the number of similar images in your portfolio, your actual portfolio is in effect only a few hundred unique images. In this context 19 sales is not bad going at Alamy. However, you would benefit from removing similar images and just retaining two or three at the most, the best of each subject.

Your keywording needs tightening up. I disagree with the previous post, in that having keyword phrases use as "Tiananmen Square" can help your to appear in only those searches where your images is relevant. In this example it would help to reduce the number of times your image appeared in a search for just for 'square'. Reducing false positives in the Alamy search is a good move as, in the long term, it improves your search ranking.

Having lots of keywords with only a passing relationship with the subject can also reduce your ranking. In your images of tulips keywords such as dew, leaf, concept, gardening, petal, water are not really appropriate as a buyer using those keywords is unlikely to be looking for the image you are presenting to them.

My advice would be to join the Alamy forum and read the extensive advice available there. Tighten up on what you submit and how you keyword it. Then create a new pseudonym on your account and put your new uploads in there - that pseudonym will start with a mid ranking and give your new images the best chance of success.

dpimborough · « **Reply #3 on:** September 06, 2018, 03:22 »

Quote from: JoeClemson on September 06, 2018, 01:55

Because of the number of similar images in your portfolio, your actual portfolio is in effect only a few hundred unique images. In this context 19 sales is not bad going at Alamy. However, you would benefit from removing similar images and just retaining two or three at the most, the best of each subject.

Your keywording needs tightening up. I disagree with the previous post, in that having keyword phrases use as "Tiananmen Square" can help your to appear in only those searches where your images is relevant. In this example it would help to reduce the number of times your image appeared in a search for just for 'square'. Reducing false positives in the Alamy search is a good move as, in the long term, it improves your search ranking.

Having lots of keywords with only a passing relationship with the subject can also reduce your ranking. In your images of tulips keywords such as dew, leaf, concept, gardening, petal, water are not really appropriate as a buyer using those keywords is unlikely to be looking for the image you are presenting to them.

My advice would be to join the Alamy forum and read the extensive advice available there. Tighten up on what you submit and how you keyword it. Then create a new pseudonym on your account and put your new uploads in there - that pseudonym will start with a mid ranking and give your new images the best chance of success.

https://www.alamy.com/blog/tagging-images-on-alamy

Also the subjects like "Tiananmen Square" have over 11,212 images to compete with. So it's better to go find other subjects

chloehall · « **Reply #4 on:** September 06, 2018, 20:13 »

thank you all very much!

SuperPhoto · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2018, 22:30 »

I'm impresed. I have 0 sales @ alamy.

19 is good.

Pablito · « **Reply #6 on:** September 08, 2018, 06:07 »

Hey Chloe, not bad effort for starters - and you've got sales, so you know things can be achieved. You can take a sharp, well exposed picture.
Tighten up on your compositions as some of the images don't look thought-through.

So now you can move to the next stage.

Do you want to photograph what you want to photograph and be an amateur who enjoys him/herself wandering round with a camera recording things at whim?
Do you want to be a photographer who takes images which sell? (i.e. the market wants)

If the former; then you're doing fine.

If you want the sales - then do the research. Check out the women's magazines. The pictures there are either commissioned or bought from agencies supplying our images. Use your imagination to see which category they fall into. Now concentrate on the bought-in images. What do they tell you? Mostly look at the subjects. You'll soon see the difference between the subjects that are wanted by buyers and the general haphazard shots taken by people who are simply enjoying taking pictures.

If you want a little short-cut......China is a place for all kinds of FOOD. Get food shots, food stalls, food courts, fast food, people eating food, cooking food, buying food......any food.......

Oh, another subject - not sure if I've mentioned it.....food?

Good luck.

ShadySue · « **Reply #7 on:** September 08, 2018, 19:08 »

You could check out this specifically Alamy blog post:
https://www.alamy.com/blog/top-contributor-jamie-marshall

Other than that, take note of what's been said above. You have too many similar images, which can only hinder your ranking on search pages. Do keep phrases in your keywords though. If you don't have phrases, your file won't show up to any customers who have worked out that the best way to work round the bizarre way Alamy combines any keyword with any other keyword or word in the caption is to put their phrase, e.g. Tianamen Square in quotes, "Tianamen Square".

You'll also do better if you research your subject, so that as well as putting e.g. 'red tulip' you can name the species and cultivar, in English and Latin. But be careful to do this accurately, don't guess.

chloehall · « **Reply #8 on:** September 09, 2018, 20:26 »

Pablito,Shadysue,Thank you for your enthusiastic answer!

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Author Topic: please give some advice for a chinese photographer (Read 5591 times)

chloehall

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JoeClemson

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chloehall

SuperPhoto

Pablito

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chloehall

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