Author Topic: Signs of when you have been in Microstock Too Long! (Read 2584 times)

tab62 · « **on:** February 11, 2013, 10:19 »

Now when I walk around I look at things and say to myself, "What is the Commercial Value of that Object" The other day my wife told me there is a beautiful sunset and that I should take a photo of it. I told her no due to it being LCV (Low Commmercial Vaule). She looked at me very strange and walked away...

Tom

sharpshot · « **Reply #1 on:** February 11, 2013, 10:26 »

Sunsets can sell well. Even if its not good for microstock, there's always Zazzle, FAA, Red Bubble etc. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that it doesn't really matter what you photograph, buyers will be interested if you do it right. And it might be better to avoid some of the subjects that the sites say are popular with buyers because so many people will be doing them.

dbvirago · « **Reply #2 on:** February 11, 2013, 10:40 »

I know what you mean. For many years, I rarely took a shot unless I thought it would sell as stock. Missed many great photo ops. For the past year, I have been making an effort to see and take images of things that I like while at the same time taking shots to feed the beast.

cthoman · « **Reply #3 on:** February 11, 2013, 10:41 »

Quote from: sharpshot on February 11, 2013, 10:26

Sunsets can sell well. Even if its not good for microstock, there's always Zazzle, FAA, Red Bubble etc. I came to the conclusion a long time ago that it doesn't really matter what you photograph, buyers will be interested if you do it right. And it might be better to avoid some of the subjects that the sites say are popular with buyers because so many people will be doing them.

Or you could just enjoy the beautiful sunset and take a picture of it to remember it.

ArenaCreative · « **Reply #4 on:** February 11, 2013, 10:44 »

Very true... it's tough sometimes to separate yourself and your eyeballs from your "stock photo money goggles". I struggle with this myself. Felt that way, blogged about it, slowly starting to get a little better with it, only 8 years later.

tab62 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 11, 2013, 11:00 »

I am so glad that I am not the only one! I enjoy coin collecting those sh0ot them when I get new one! Sure, they don't sell very well but fun for me to shoot them.

RacePhoto · « **Reply #6 on:** February 11, 2013, 12:28 »

Quote from: ArenaCreative on February 11, 2013, 10:44

Very true... it's tough sometimes to separate yourself and your eyeballs from your "stock photo money goggles". I struggle with this myself. Felt that way, blogged about it, slowly starting to get a little better with it, only 8 years later.

Wow the troglodyte crawls out of the cave to make a post here?

How's everything going Pickle Boy?

I'd agree all around. I was driving on a country road and kept saying, can I shoot that, will that be anything I can use for Micro. How's the lighting for that side. Maybe I should make a note and come back when the Sun is right. Then I said to myself, what the heck am I doing? I'm not enjoying this ride I'm not seeing what's out there. (and maybe I'm watching the side of the road too much and not paying attention like I should?)

Something similar happened at the races. I was worried so much about shots that I didn't see the racing. I finally had to force myself to take a break during the day and enjoy a little, then go back to working. It makes it much more enjoyable.

Now I shoot what I like again, and have fun and that's why I started in photography in the first place. For the love of seeing and saving and maybe sharing something with a photo. Sometimes I shoot completely stupid stuff, just to do it.

The word perspective isn't just about depth and angles, it's also about living life.

Folks we have a national star here, he's been on Letterman and a billboard too...

Todd as Pickle Boy