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Author Topic: What studio shots sell the best?  (Read 6495 times)

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« on: September 01, 2009, 16:26 »
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Hey guys,

So I just made my first at-home studio setup w/basic lighting for taking pics of small to medium (between 4 inches and 3 feet) sized isolated subjects.  I've got a black backdrop and a white backdrop, but not really that much of an idea as to what direction to head in here.

Since the only reason I built the lighting setup was to produce stock photos...what are some of the most desired subjects designers are looking for?  Like, I know there are lists of what to upload on most microstock website's FAQ sections, but I was more hoping for some fellow photographer suggestions, based on what sells well for you.

Thanks in advance for any tips you've got!

Danny


« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2009, 18:17 »
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please dont take this the wrong way, but you are asking your competition to tell you what is their most valuable products so you can go out and directly copy them...

I have book where I jot dot ideas, drop clippings of stuff in it, well over 100 pages of ideas, some good, some not. most I will never get to. I also have a folder of images that I have saved that have inspired me / interested me / thought is a good idea / saved so that I can relook at techniques etc. 3-4000 images in it. (not directed at you) but I have so many ideas, more than I can possibly ever get to, when I see a thread like this I wonder how people can be stuck for ideas.

« Reply #2 on: September 01, 2009, 18:34 »
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^^^ That's a really good answer Phil. Well said indeed.

Basically, if you have no ideas or vision of your own, you are probably unlikely to be successful in stock (unless you get a 'job' as Yuri's assistant anyway!).

« Reply #3 on: September 01, 2009, 18:47 »
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Both excellent and honest replies.

lisafx

« Reply #4 on: September 01, 2009, 20:56 »
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Yeah, great observations above.  Phil's idea about keeping a notebook and jotting down ideas is a good one.  I do the same thing. 

And trust me, I won't be sharing those ideas.  I plan to shoot them myself!  :)

« Reply #5 on: September 01, 2009, 21:19 »
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Gulp!  Didn't mean to start making enemies with my first post...

I totally see where you guys are coming from, and I appreciate the suggestion about the notebook keeping.  I've got some good ideas currently, and I guess the best way to see if they'll work is to actually see if they work. ;D  Off to take me some pictures!


PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #6 on: September 01, 2009, 21:25 »
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Wow, things have changed around here. Some openly shared while others didn't. Looks like all torches and pitchforks these days. What happened to all of the share-the-love people?

« Reply #7 on: September 01, 2009, 21:33 »
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Yes, we were generally honest and supportive without giving away the farm :) .  And it was done without the sugary prose and hugs and it still worked.

« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2009, 00:17 »
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Let me try to answer your question in a different way, and that's to explain why I really can't answer it.  First, if I knew in advance which isolated subjects would sell well, I'd shoot lots of them and stop wasting my time on stuff that won't sell.  You might think that looking at top sellers at the various sites would give me a clue, but you'd be wrong (or at least partially wrong), because it's as much the execution of the shot as the subject that makes it sell.  If I discover that fruit salad shots sell, can I create one that's better (whatever that might be) than what's already out there?  If I can, will it get noticed among all those other fruit salad shots?

Besides (what is this, point three?), you stand a better chance of being noticed with pictures that aren't already available in large quantities.  Find a hole and fill it.  Which goes back to point one: if I knew which holes to fill, I'd be busy filling them.  Instead I keep coming up with different ideas, shoot them, submit them and see if anybody bites.  Sometimes they do, but mostly they don't.  Good thing I'm patient.  And imaginative.  And patient. 

« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2009, 03:25 »
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I think the most common and cheap objects isolated on white are done to death. You can photograph the most beautiful and perfect apple on white, with the finest colors and light. Still you will have to compete with 3,000 images of isolated apples. So I don't do the "cheap common objects on white" anymore.

I have some isolated objects that do well, but I'm not going to tell what they are. But I can tell you what I shoot:

* "Niche" objects, Objects that doesn't yet exist on microstock sites (or there are only a few images). I exploit every "rare" place I get access to shoot stuff. Some of my friends have unusual workplaces and hobbies so I borrow their stuff. The most rare stuff I sell RM.

* Conceptual / symbolic stuff

* Still lifes

* "Unique" objects: For example vintage objects, old (public domain) artwork, hand made stuff.

* Objects that are hard to photograph and require lot of work if done properly. For example HUGE objects that are photographed on white background (not just cut out in photoshop). This also include different special effects, things hanged with wire (later photoshopped) and such. To get started in this category just think "what would be difficult to shoot on white", and then shoot it.

I also do like Phil. I collect ideas, I write and draw them on paper. I also have a folder with saved images I like for some reason. I'm not immoral enought to copy the images directly, instead I develop the ideas and combine them to come up with new stuff.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2009, 03:32 by Perry »

« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2009, 06:02 »
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You'll see I'm a newbie. Before I decided RF was an opportunity I spent hours trawling the microstock sites - and one of the first things you notice is all the isolated/white background stuff. My reaction was "oooh I could do that." Then you start to realise how many times it's been done in a gazillion different ways. Apples,phones,pencils even hula dancers.

So, whilst I haven't written studio objects off (I also have a notebook full of thumbnail sketches), I have decided to build my stock from the outside world. It's worked for me in RM and fine art (to a small degree - but steadily improving) and it seems to work very well in Micro if you get it right.

I suppose my message is not to get hooked on one thing this late in the game. A lot of it has been sewn up this past seven years and for me versatility and originality is the way to break through.

Brainstorm ideas until you have to go and lie down to recover.

Good luck.


« Last Edit: September 02, 2009, 06:03 by Red Dove »

« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2009, 06:07 »
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I collect images in a folder too, and I find it interesting how, whenever I try something out that I've seen somewhere, something completly different comes out of it, pictures that have nothing to do with "the original". I suppose there's the difference between copying and and what they call inspiration.

I sometimes shoot easy-to-do isolated objects, depending on what I find in the agencies already. For example, I recently found that fotolia doesn't have much isolated butternut squashes, so I shot one, because I was shooting pumpkin soup anyway and put it there exclusive. Online for two hours, two sales already. But I only do isolated objects if something falls into my hands and I think that I can make a better image than there are already - which isn't too often. I don't think I'll ever feel like shooting an apple over white!


« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2009, 06:23 »
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If you have any antiques or uncommon objects, I'd start with that. Good luck.

« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2009, 06:24 »
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Forgot to mention: It's always a good idea to read newspapers and watch the news to get some ideas. There are always some new things and trends that need to be illustrated. And it wouldn't hurt to be the first to have the images for sale.

« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2009, 08:09 »
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Wow, things have changed around here. Some openly shared while others didn't. Looks like all torches and pitchforks these days. What happened to all of the share-the-love people?

I didnt mean it that way, but if I'm someone who says gee a pic of my left sells well because it has had 2 sales doesnt really help the op, or if I say in this forum yep my left foot sells 5 times a day then within a few weeks there will a few hundred isolated left feet  ;D (I imagine the reviewers reaction) and then noone is making any money on images of their left foot, I havent really done the op or anyone else any favours, only cut my own sales.

Unfortunately the market isnt that big and has become very competitive with 6-80000+ images a week hitting some sites. I'll help in some ways (ie the notebook idea) but directly saying hey just go copy mine (or someone elses portfolio) isnt helping anyone and is just "cutting my own throat" :) 

lisafx

« Reply #15 on: September 02, 2009, 12:39 »
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Wow, things have changed around here. Some openly shared while others didn't. Looks like all torches and pitchforks these days. What happened to all of the share-the-love people?

Sorry, but how does commenting on how other people comment help the OP? 

Why not answer his questions and share some ideas yourself?  :)

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #16 on: September 02, 2009, 17:02 »
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Wow, things have changed around here. Some openly shared while others didn't. Looks like all torches and pitchforks these days. What happened to all of the share-the-love people?

Sorry, but how does commenting on how other people comment help the OP? 

Why not answer his questions and share some ideas yourself?  :)

Uh, and so how does your commenting on my commenting help the OP?

Actually your response brings up a great concept for the OP to shoot - a pot calling a kettle black.  ;)



PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #17 on: September 02, 2009, 17:06 »
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Wow, things have changed around here. Some openly shared while others didn't. Looks like all torches and pitchforks these days. What happened to all of the share-the-love people?

I didnt mean it that way, but if I'm someone who says gee a pic of my left sells well because it has had 2 sales doesnt really help the op, or if I say in this forum yep my left foot sells 5 times a day then within a few weeks there will a few hundred isolated left feet  ;D (I imagine the reviewers reaction) and then noone is making any money on images of their left foot, I havent really done the op or anyone else any favours, only cut my own sales.

Unfortunately the market isnt that big and has become very competitive with 6-80000+ images a week hitting some sites. I'll help in some ways (ie the notebook idea) but directly saying hey just go copy mine (or someone elses portfolio) isnt helping anyone and is just "cutting my own throat" :) 

Wasn't targeting you. Just a general observation. This place seems like it used to be a majority of people who were the "open sharing" type. That seems to have swung to the "not helping the competitors" type.


« Reply #18 on: September 02, 2009, 17:10 »
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Wasn't targeting you. Just a general observation. This place seems like it used to be a majority of people who were the "open sharing" type. That seems to have swung to the "not helping the competitors" type.



Or maybe this particular question struck a nerve.  It was neither the general request for guidance nor the more specific "here's what happened; what am I doing wrong?"  More of a "tell me exactly what to do so I can be successful without going to too much unnecessary effort."  That might get a few people's backs up.  Purely unintentionally on the part of the original poster, of course.

RacePhoto

« Reply #19 on: September 02, 2009, 18:43 »
0
Hey guys,

So I just made my first at-home studio setup w/basic lighting for taking pics of small to medium (between 4 inches and 3 feet) sized isolated subjects.  I've got a black backdrop and a white backdrop, but not really that much of an idea as to what direction to head in here.

Since the only reason I built the lighting setup was to produce stock photos...what are some of the most desired subjects designers are looking for?  Like, I know there are lists of what to upload on most microstock website's FAQ sections, but I was more hoping for some fellow photographer suggestions, based on what sells well for you.

Thanks in advance for any tips you've got!

Danny

I suggest sliced fruit and vegetables. A series of 50 sliced tomato shots on a cutting board would be perfect. Oh wait that was 2006.  ;)

I realize that isolated objects on white is kind of lacking creativity already, but what you do with those subjects can be interesting. Foods: Mist them, if they are succulents. Freeze them so they have frost if they are cold (and shoot fast!), oil them if they are supposed to be shiny. You get the idea.

While sometimes depth of field is artistic and can add to a shot, there's nothing wrong with sharp from front to back. Bright colors, sharp images, attractive lighting.

I don't know what you want to shoot, but the idea is the treatment you give the subjects, possibly combinations and angles. That's what you want to think about for making sales. Before you shoot, instead of copying what sells, (more like what used to sell and what is going to be ranked at the top of the searches ahead of yours) learn from it and make photos that aren't already on the sites, or make better versions where you see the material is weak, or there may be a need for shots of something conceptually different than what's available.
« Last Edit: September 02, 2009, 18:53 by RacePhoto »


 

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