I think (and this is just my gut reaction) it's that the site looks a bit like an agency, but it's just the work of one artist. It doesn't look like the artist portfolio sites (of which there are many) - not visually lush. I think people feel safe when they are dealing with the familiar or have the reassurance of something like the buyer feedback for amazon.com's small business sellers (e-bay has the same thing).

Whether buyers are worried about model releases, paying money to an unknown entity, possibility of images not being legit or some combination is hard for me to say, but I wonder if you had either some way for buyers to leave feedback or a section with testimonials from buyers, would that help.

I recently went to amazon.com to buy something (not a high price item) and it was only small sellers who had the item I wanted. I was leery of going ahead but looked at the buyer feedback and there were lots (12K+ and almost all was positive). Reassured, I placed my order (and everything was fine). I then went and left feedback for the seller.

Buyers were nervous about microstock at first, but have by and large come to terms with it being an OK way to buy (in spite of Getty sales reps trying to discourage them in the past). It may be that until enough artist sites are out there or there's some "seal of approval" that reassures buyers you're on the level, you'll get this sort of question.

Elena, the only little thing that I can see is that you accept Paypal and nothing else.  I know it's very expensive to get a merchant credit card account - but maybe buyers see this as a little "unprofessional".  I don't know - the site is definitely looks "Professional" though.

Click_click's advice is good too.

Interesting topic. I haven't had any complaints about ownership, but that doesn't mean that some people aren't thinking it. I like the testimonials idea. I may have to work on that.

You do have a lot of info pointing to your actual identity, so it is hard to say what people's issues are. Maybe, a more personalized bio in your about section (less third person). You could feature process things or shoots from your blog on the home page or maybe in your bio. Maybe, a link to what's happening now in Elena's world on the about page.

As far as design, I'm not crazy about the blue gradients. I think the design could breathe more too, but I'm picky and opinionated.

I agree with Jsnover that it has an 'agency' feel.   I think, if I were a buyer, I'd get a more personal feel if I saw a photograph of you on the 'About Us' page, and the front page actually.   But also, when I click on the categories, it would feel more like an individual's work if there were some personal statement at the top of each section.

e.g. 'My people shots encompass...'
       'My food shots are styled in-house and aim to....'

etc.  

Some sort of watermark - even a small and unobtrusive one - also helps to consolidate that sense of personal ownership, I think.  (ETA - I see now there is a watermark, but it's so unobtrusive it took a while to notice it was there).

On the 'About Us' page you use the words 'We' and not 'I', as well as 'we present' and 'her' which makes you sound more like an agency 'repping' a photographer, than the individual herself.

Just my tuppence.

LOL. I completely understand. It's hard to resist a design tweak here and a design tweak there. Then the next thing you know, it's a month later. 

Site looks great to me.  

I think your customers' questions are more representative of general concern about the abundance of pirated images on the web (Heroturko, etc.), rather than a specific criticism of your site.  

IMHO it's a good thing that customers are asking these questions and going out of their way to buy legal images.  

Could be the reason Cory isn't getting the same questions is because he is strictly vectors, and it is easy to spot his particular style in his drawings.  Whereas with a large photographic portfolio it might be harder to tell they are all done by the same person.

What's funny is that, as a buyer, I trust sites like this more that general agency sites.

Hi Elena,

Here is what our company Webmaster feels why you are ask these questions from the buyers-

"I think it's a great site. A lot of work went into this one. I think, from my perspective, the reason she gets asked that a lot is that she has 11,000-plus images. That's a lot of images from one photographer on a new site, so that's probably the only reason why."

Hi Elena,
Your site is absolutely fabulous.  The only thing that struck me as a sign of a potentially fraudulent operation has already been said by other posters.  It is the confusing use of "we" and the third person on the About Us page.  I'm sure it would be easy to readjust the text.   You can keep using "we" throughout the site if you set aside an area where you have a statement from yourself using the "I" which you sign with your name - - and maybe also introduce who "we" or who the team is. Saying how many years you have concentrated full time on meeting the needs of the stock photography market might also put to rest the concerns of people who think you have too many photos.  Clicking around I finally did find your profile page which does have a reassuring personal story and the obligatory photo.  I can't see how anyone who got that far they would still think there was anything fraudulent but it is possible they are put off before getting there.  Making it easy for people to contact you with questions is reassuring.  Being based in Toronto also sounds reassuring!  Do you think anyone might think your Russian name is a sign of something fishy?  I would hate to think you are being discriminated against.  

Elena;

I agree with the others, great site but I would change "we" to "I"; you may indeed have staff than helps  you with day to day operations but you are the guts of the operation and I feel you need to be the highlight.

Elena; I see no need to change your name; it is not that difficult nor does it sound all that Russian; then again I am biased toward Russians