Author Topic: Do images of people sell more? (Read 9554 times)

crashoran · « **on:** July 14, 2010, 01:49 »

Do you think an image of a person or group of people is more likely to sell (over it's lifetime) than a still life image?

traveler1116 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 14, 2010, 01:53 »

A woman in a bikini will probably sell a lot more than an apple, but who knows?

gostwyck · « **Reply #2 on:** July 14, 2010, 03:06 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on July 14, 2010, 01:53

A woman in a bikini will probably sell a lot more than an apple, but who knows?

Not necessarily. I have images of both a woman in a bikini and an apple and the apple sells much better!

Seriously I must be the only photographer who hired a model for a half-day beach/fitness shoot and it turned out that the images I took of the location, when scouting it the day before, actually outsold the images taken with the model. Nothing wrong with the model or the images it's just that they simply weren't unique enough to stand out (amongst the millions of girl-in-bikini-on-beach shots) unlike the location shot which, if I say so myself, was pretty good!

vonkara · « **Reply #3 on:** July 14, 2010, 03:45 »

I think personally there is so much people pictures, that the dilution effect make it harder by now. I would say, a girl with headset will be sold a little less than a girl climbing a cliff maybe, in 2010. Still I don't sell people, it's just an opinion.

RT · « **Reply #4 on:** July 14, 2010, 04:18 »

Quote from: traveler1116 on July 14, 2010, 01:53

A woman in a bikini will probably sell a lot more than an apple, but who knows?

What about a woman in a bikini eating an apple

Magnum · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2010, 04:31 »

Or a woman with water melons?

michealo · « **Reply #6 on:** July 14, 2010, 07:41 »

Quote from: crashoran on July 14, 2010, 01:49

Do you think an image of a person or group of people is more likely to sell (over it's lifetime) than a still life image?

One of the first conclusions I came to after testing Lookstat was that my people shots were a waste of time ..

lisafx · « **Reply #7 on:** July 14, 2010, 08:00 »

Quote from: Vonkara on July 14, 2010, 03:45

I think personally there is so much people pictures, that the dilution effect make it harder by now. I would say, a girl with headset will be sold a little less than a girl climbing a cliff maybe, in 2010. Still I don't sell people, it's just an opinion.

I do shoot people and I totally agree with you Vonkara. The people market is oversaturated.

And Gostwyck, don't feel alone. The few pictures I have of young "hot" models are my poorest sellers. Maybe its that the pretty girl "niche" is the most oversaturated people category of all, or maybe its because guys want to oogle pretty girls, but don't necessarily need to buy the pics. I bet the views on your bikini girl are high - just not the sales

cdwheatley · « **Reply #8 on:** July 14, 2010, 08:56 »

Quote from: gostwyck on July 14, 2010, 03:06

Quote from: traveler1116 on July 14, 2010, 01:53
A woman in a bikini will probably sell a lot more than an apple, but who knows?

Not necessarily. I have images of both a woman in a bikini and an apple and the apple sells much better!

Seriously I must be the only photographer who hired a model for a half-day beach/fitness shoot and it turned out that the images I took of the location, when scouting it the day before, actually outsold the images taken with the model. Nothing wrong with the model or the images it's just that they simply weren't unique enough to stand out (amongst the millions of girl-in-bikini-on-beach shots) unlike the location shot which, if I say so myself, was pretty good!

Agree, unless the "woman on the beach shot" is very unique it's not going to sell very well. With over 250,000 beach images it's pretty tough to stand out. Finding good unique ideas that haven't been done to death is the challenge.

Graffoto · « **Reply #9 on:** July 14, 2010, 08:57 »

My fifth best seller is a bikini girl on the beach.
@Lisa, yes it has over 2600 views.
Interestingly, a different shot of the same session has well over 7000 views and does not sell nearly as well.

Pictures of business people sell. Medical people sell. Both areas are over-saturated in images.
Sexy girls, don't sell that well but they certainly get the image views!

Randy McKown · « **Reply #10 on:** July 15, 2010, 22:06 »

Quote from: gostwyck on July 14, 2010, 03:06

(amongst the millions of girl-in-bikini-on-beach shots)

yeah whatever next thing you're going to tell me is that there's too many woman wearing headsets isolated on white ... oh wait LOL

cardmaverick · « **Reply #11 on:** July 15, 2010, 23:22 »

I would say, as a general rule of thumb, "people pictures" sell the best, but there are always exceptions.

pancaketom · « **Reply #12 on:** July 17, 2010, 14:12 »

I think people pics can to get overdone because with a model people tend to get large series - different poses and expressions. Then the sales are spread out over all of them. How many expressions can you get with that apple? Also if you are going for the beautiful people sorts of shots, then they really do need to be beautiful people, and if you are going for everyday people shots, then they need to be doing something useful or in an interesting location. I think the tightening down on model releases will decrease submission of the amateur's friends and family sorts of pics over time.

An outstanding people pic can do quite well but I am always amazed at how many people's best sellers are some sort of completely everyday background or object though.

lisafx · « **Reply #13 on:** July 17, 2010, 14:34 »

Quote from: pancaketom on July 17, 2010, 14:12

I think the tightening down on model releases will decrease submission of the amateur's friends and family sorts of pics over time.

Could you elaborate? What sort of "tightening" do you mean? Are there more new release rules coming?

90% of my portfolio is friends and family (whether paid or not) and I have never had trouble getting a model release signed...

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #14 on:** July 17, 2010, 15:20 »

Quote from: pancaketom on July 17, 2010, 14:12

I think the tightening down on model releases will decrease submission of the amateur's friends and family sorts of pics over time.

Yeah, what "tightening" do you envision? It's legally watertight. Either people sign it or don't.

lefty · « **Reply #15 on:** July 17, 2010, 18:59 »

Quote from: sjlocke on July 17, 2010, 15:20

Quote from: pancaketom on July 17, 2010, 14:12
I think the tightening down on model releases will decrease submission of the amateur's friends and family sorts of pics over time.

Yeah, what "tightening" do you envision? It's legally watertight. Either people sign it or don't.

I am asking too. Do you mean to say you Model Release family members less properly than strangers?
There is no difference , you do the same for everyone, so why is there going to be tightening?

sharpshot · « **Reply #16 on:** July 18, 2010, 02:46 »

Isn't it easy to work out what sells best? Just go and look at all the best selling portfolios. Lots of them specialize in people but there are some that don't have any. My conclusion is that what you photograph doesn't matter much, its the concept and how it can be used by designers that matters.

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Author Topic: Do images of people sell more? (Read 9554 times)

crashoran

traveler1116

gostwyck

vonkara

RT

Magnum

michealo

lisafx

cdwheatley

Graffoto

Randy McKown

cardmaverick

pancaketom

lisafx

Sean Locke Photography

lefty

sharpshot

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