Author Topic: Please criticize my portofolio! (Read 7968 times)

murakami · « **on:** March 10, 2017, 06:14 »

Hi all!

I love this forum and used it a lot already for my illustration work.

I recently started shooting videos and uploading 50 of them on SS and Adobe Stock:

https://stock.adobe.com/fr/contributor/206686643/guilhem [nofollow]

I'd be really pleased if you can give me your feedback : negative and positive.

Thanks a lot!

thepokergod · « **Reply #1 on:** March 10, 2017, 07:31 »

Nice, well composed shots but there are probably many thousands of similar type clips out there which means sales will be few and far between, especially with only 50. You'll need many thousands of this type of clip to make some decent sales.

Kokkoros · « **Reply #2 on:** March 10, 2017, 09:28 »

I agree with the previous comment.

I suggest the following:

- Take advantage of local elements like cityscapes, significant natural features like vacation hubs (beaches, mountains, etc) that are local to you at optimal times of the day (timelapse, gentle pan, etc) submit your best;

- Shoot to address the needs of specific industries;

- Remember, this is a "best clips take all" business, so research the work of top contributors and set your standards accordingly high;

- Shoot with specific keywords in mind (5-7 max);

- Learn to direct actors by gradually easing them into your concepts;

- Have fun!

Break a leg,

Mark

Chichikov · « **Reply #3 on:** March 10, 2017, 09:38 »

Image spam…

Noedelhap · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2017, 13:33 »

I can't really comment on the videos, but the vectors look pretty basic and repetitive. Do you actually sell a lot of those?

dpimborough · « **Reply #5 on:** March 11, 2017, 02:57 »

I just wasted thirty seconds of my life I'll never get back

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #6 on:** March 11, 2017, 03:42 »

I'm no photographer and I don't do that much videography, but here's my opinions anyway...

Don't shoot handheld unless you're doing some kind of GoPro style action shot, or you're moving and have a very good stabilizer/gimbal. If you're attempting to keep the camera still then you should be using a tripod.

If you do use a tripod, turn off image stabilization.

Make sure your horizons are level.

Saturation seems a bit strong on some shots.

Framing isn't very good on some shots. Try and make sure there's movement within your shots or within your camera. Try and frame your shots with something in the foreground to add a bit of interest. Your skyline with the seagulls is probably the worst for framing and angle. Take this shot which looks like it's a shot of pretty much exactly the same, but at a different angle...

https://stock.adobe.com/uk/stock-photo/fisherman-boats-in-a-coastal-town-morocco/117163900

The grading is far too intense, the vignette doesn't really serve any purpose, and it's not exactly an award-winning shot, but the framing is so much better. More content, stuff in the foreground, a lot more going on etc.

And overall, try to keep in mind the commercial value of your shots. Think about what people will search for and what they'll use your work for.

thepokergod · « **Reply #7 on:** March 11, 2017, 07:48 »

Space - just had a quick browse through your clips, awesome work - some great stuff in there! Sorry off topic!

angelawaye · « **Reply #8 on:** March 11, 2017, 10:08 »

WOW that is a lot of paperclips ...

SpaceStockFootage · « **Reply #9 on:** March 11, 2017, 10:17 »

Quote from: thepokergod on March 11, 2017, 07:48

Space - just had a quick browse through your clips, awesome work - some great stuff in there! Sorry off topic!

Cheers! Love me a bit of the old space stuff!

Dio · « **Reply #10 on:** March 11, 2017, 15:18 »

Hi there, I actually like your grading on some shots, but you're committing the exact same mistake many make when transitioning to footage from something else -- people tend to forget that video is all about motion. I hovered over your thumbnails and can't tell the difference between a still and what's purportedly a motion item.

There's a taste for everything, of course, and you might end up selling some of those clips, but the only thing I can tell you is that, after 1.5 years doing stock footage, none of my bestsellers are 'static' shots.

Take care,

Filipe

increasingdifficulty · « **Reply #11 on:** March 12, 2017, 07:04 »

Quote from: Filipe Samora on March 11, 2017, 15:18

Hi there, I actually like your grading on some shots, but you're committing the exact same mistake many make when transitioning to footage from something else -- people tend to forget that video is all about motion. I hovered over your thumbnails and can't tell the difference between a still and what's purportedly a motion item.

There's a taste for everything, of course, and you might end up selling some of those clips, but the only thing I can tell you is that, after 1.5 years doing stock footage, none of my bestsellers are 'static' shots.

Take care,

Filipe

A lot of truth in that (although my personal bestsellers are static lockdown shots with lots of movement IN THEM). A stabilizer/steadicam/slider is incredibly useful and lets you take static subjects without movement and give them life. Buyers like that.

murakami · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2017, 16:40 »

Hi All,

I cannot not thank you enough for taking time to take a look to my portfolio.

Especially @Kokkoros @SpaceStockFootage and @Filipe!

As a newbie on this forum, I am really pleased to have these much answers and will definitely use your advice to improve!

I am sorry for my late reply to all these posts (I thought that I would get a mail notification when I would receive an answer, but I guess it is not the case ;-))

@Noedelhap , about the vectors, they are indeed pretty basic, and sometimes sell, but I really don't make a living out of it.

You'll see me around again, thanks!

murakami · « **Reply #13 on:** March 21, 2017, 18:45 »

Hi all,

Would you recommend deleting the content that is of average quality / that doesn't sell or keeping it in place because we never know?

Thanks

Maxim8609 · « **Reply #14 on:** May 21, 2017, 09:57 »

Hello everyone. Please criticise my portfolio:
https://www.shutterstock.com/video/gallery/4496281?contributor=mzabarovsky&page=1&perpage=100&sort=newest&translation_method=service&use_local_boost=0&language=en&lang=en [nofollow]

In general I take aerial views and time lapses. Travel mostly. I'm uploading in prores codec to SS, fotolia, pond5 and videoblocks. Just one clip has been sold, in 4k quality though.
I know there are some rubbish clips I've taken just to "get and upload something" in ragged day (especially in winter).

What do you think about aspect ratio? In my clips it is 1.8963:1 mostly (Actually it corresponds to 4096 X 2160 sizes). Are there any disadvantages in comparison with 16:9?

How do you change preview picture guys (thumbnail)? Set poster frame in Adobe Premiere Pro does not work always. I mean it's not "captured" by all stock agencies.

Thank you.

leaf · « **Reply #15 on:** May 22, 2017, 00:10 »

Quote from: Maxim8609 on May 21, 2017, 09:57

Hello everyone. Please criticise my portfolio:
---
In general I take aerial views and time lapses. Travel mostly. I'm uploading in prores codec to SS, fotolia, pond5 and videoblocks. Just one clip has been sold, in 4k quality though.
I know there are some rubbish clips I've taken just to "get and upload something" in ragged day (especially in winter).

What do you think about aspect ratio? In my clips it is 1.8963:1 mostly (Actually it corresponds to 4096 X 2160 sizes). Are there any disadvantages in comparison with 16:9?

How do you change preview picture guys (thumbnail)? Set poster frame in Adobe Premiere Pro does not work always. I mean it's not "captured" by all stock agencies.

Thank you.

Please start a separate thread if you want a critique of your own work. Don't hijack murakami's thread.

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Author Topic: Please criticize my portofolio! (Read 7968 times)

murakami

thepokergod

Kokkoros

Chichikov

Noedelhap

dpimborough

SpaceStockFootage

thepokergod

angelawaye

SpaceStockFootage

Dio

increasingdifficulty

murakami

murakami

Maxim8609

leaf

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