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Agency Based Discussion => Crestock.com => Topic started by: News Feed on October 01, 2008, 08:30

Title: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: News Feed on October 01, 2008, 08:30
Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!

Join the world's best selling stock photographer, Yuri Arcurs, on a photo shoot - learn about work flow, preparations, styling and much more!

http://www.crestock.com/blog/photography/stock-photography-with-yuri-arcurs--on-the-photo-shoot-136.aspx
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: leaf on October 01, 2008, 08:46
interesting to get a little glimpse into how Yuri works.  I am looking forward to future videos.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: josh_crestock on October 01, 2008, 09:50
Cool, the video quality on the first 2 episodes is not top-notch, but we're paying to have all future episodes shot in HD with a lot of regular, tutorial-style episodes coming out over the next few weeks. Keep watching!
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: j2k on October 01, 2008, 10:33
Very cool video!  3000 RAWs from one photo shoot? Ouch. Especially RAWs at those resolutions. It'd take me a year to go through that on my current machine :)
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: leaf on October 01, 2008, 11:16
well a 6 hour photoshoot is quite a while so it is not SO surprising with 3000 shots, especially with 2 cameras

yeah, i was surprised with the low quality on some of the filming ... and bad lighting :) 
looking forward to more though.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: Peter on October 01, 2008, 12:00
that woman is taking some of the pictures, and Yuri sells them under its own name, that is braking the rules of game.  hhhh :D
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: Pixart on October 01, 2008, 12:13
I am so fascinated with the difference in Yuri's business model to most of the rest of us (hehe, other than the small fact that I am no more than a serious hobbyist at this and he is a dedicated pro ;).)

3000 raw files = 50-100 shots.
1 day prep
8 hours shooting, styling, travel
4 models
Yuri plus 2+ crew, stylist
purchased wardrobe and props

Add the hours (days) in post production and, wow, that's an expensive shoot to most of us.  Even though his work is exceptional, his break even point must be way down the line, especially if he only averages 10 shots per hour.  I'm not downplaying Yuri's success in any way, but everyone thinks Yuri had another 100,000 downloads today... , salaries and expenses must chew quite a bit of that away.  If he is not working in a profit pool arrangement , his most successful years are ahead once his most recent shoots are 100% profit. 

Lessons learned: 
Takes money to make money? 
Takes careful planning and long days.
If everyone in Denmark is this beautiful, location is definitely an advantage.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on October 01, 2008, 13:00
Even though his work is exceptional, his break even point must be way down the line, especially if he only averages 10 shots per hour.  I'm not downplaying Yuri's success in any way, but everyone thinks Yuri had another 100,000 downloads today... , salaries and expenses must chew quite a bit of that away.  If he is not working in a profit pool arrangement , his most successful years are ahead once his most recent shoots are 100% profit. 

Except that by the time they pay off, hairstyles and clothing are out of style.  I don't think it's a very smart methodology, but maybe I weigh profits over downloads too much.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: josh_crestock on October 01, 2008, 13:36

3000 raw files = 50-100 shots.


I understand Yuri has a conversion rate of around 10%, so 3000 RAW files should give about 300 select images ready for distribution. For shooting stock on this scale, it is paramount to eliminate limiting factors that cause you to lose files, for instance, focus or exposure issues. To compete, even as a hobbyist or part-time stock photographer, its so important to streamline both what you're producing and how long it is taking you to produce it. If there was one thing that anybody could take away from this brief intro to Yuri's shoot, perhaps it could be the attention to focus required and the impact it can have on your overall production levels. Its not difficult and takes only a certain amount of dedication to learn, and before long could triple the amount of images you're putting out (or at least having approved).
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: yingyang0 on October 01, 2008, 13:38
I want to see if they'll show his editing work because I'm curious how he takes photos from that shoot where they used none of the standard lighting gear (not even reflectors) and were able to make them high stock quality in post-production.

If anyone has a link to a video on how to do that I'd be interested.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: CofkoCof on October 01, 2008, 13:50
Even though his work is exceptional, his break even point must be way down the line, especially if he only averages 10 shots per hour.  I'm not downplaying Yuri's success in any way, but everyone thinks Yuri had another 100,000 downloads today... , salaries and expenses must chew quite a bit of that away.  If he is not working in a profit pool arrangement , his most successful years are ahead once his most recent shoots are 100% profit. 

Except that by the time they pay off, hairstyles and clothing are out of style.  I don't think it's a very smart methodology, but maybe I weigh profits over downloads too much.
You two must be close friends since you worry about him so much. But I suppose you are right, we should all worry about him cos when I read your words I'm starting to think he isn't making any money. He'll probably have to get some loans to keep him shooting :D

On topic: Great to see how he works. If he doesn't need those 90% of the shots, could I get them? Would probably get rich with only those :D
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: Pixart on October 01, 2008, 14:09
I understand Yuri has a conversion rate of around 10%, so 3000 RAW files should give about 300 select images ready for distribution.

10% seems more realistic.  He did say 50-100 though on this video though.

Yes, wouldn't it be career killing to take 3000 RAW shots that all have exposure problems?  And you are right, the "streamlining" of stock, but mainly my regular job is something that I struggle with on a daily basis.  Things today change so frequently, it seems as soon as I've mastered some learning curve there will be something new to learn, or some sript that needs to be written before I can take the next step...

CofkoCof,  I don't doubt Arcurs has a car at least as nice as his Hassy. 

P.S. you can be my friend too :)
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: nativelight on October 01, 2008, 15:55
  And you are right, the "streamlining" of stock, but mainly my regular job is something that I struggle with on a daily basis.  Things today change so frequently, it seems as soon as I've mastered some learning curve there will be something new to learn, or some sript that needs to be written before I can take the next step...

How true!!  I watched the video for CS4 and it just depressed me.  It was so over my head.  I feel like I'm falling further and further behind in both my photography and my real job (computer programming).
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: nativelight on October 01, 2008, 16:23
I want to see if they'll show his editing work because I'm curious how he takes photos from that shoot where they used none of the standard lighting gear (not even reflectors) and were able to make them high stock quality in post-production.

If anyone has a link to a video on how to do that I'd be interested.

I just watched the video and I also found it curious that he didn't have any kind of artificial lighting.  The finished images sure looked a lot brighter than the video.  Many times he was shooting in the shade and then the finished images look nice and bright.  Did he just not show the lighting or is there some special post-processing technique?
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: sharpshot on October 01, 2008, 16:32
.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: crazychristina on October 01, 2008, 16:52
Shooting in the shade or overcast conditions - who needs lights and fill? Perfect for people shots.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: nativelight on October 01, 2008, 17:29
Shooting in the shade or overcast conditions - who needs lights and fill? Perfect for people shots.

I guess you don't necessarily need either.  I think you probably need one or the other (at least a reflector) to get nice catchlights in the eyes.  I went back to the video to see if I could detect any catchlights and I could not.  So maybe he didn't use any artificial lighting or even reflectors after all.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: crazychristina on October 01, 2008, 17:36
About working in a team - a team can generate a lot of creativity if it works well, probably more than an individual working with a single model or two can. Yuri has said elsewhere that he often plays games with his team to get the happy, relaxed interactions that are pretty evident in his photos. Many istock members say how great the lyses are. Perhaps yuri generates his own lypse environment, and it shows in his work.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: Pheby on October 02, 2008, 15:45
Well, I can't say that I liked the video much. I learned more about what he does and how he does it by reading interviews with him and by looking around on his homepage. Much more informative, I must say. But I'm still looking forward to the next episodes.


Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: erwinova on October 03, 2008, 05:31
Hope yuri don't show his workflow very detail, I don't know what happen if many people copying yury workflow, difference style of editing and shoting make stockphoto industry more interesting.
Title: Re: News - Stock Photography With Yuri Arcurs - On the Photo Shoot!
Post by: Secretariat on October 03, 2008, 07:20
Hope yuri don't show his workflow very detail, I don't know what happen if many people copying yury workflow, difference style of editing and shoting make stockphoto industry more interesting.

My money is on him not showing it in too much detail....but he does have to address all the questions about how he brings about the end result in his coming videos.