Fairly new into Stock photography. I got accepted in Shutterstock and iStock. In last 2 months, I have around 15 downloads but not sure if I'm headed in the right direction. If you could look at my portfolio and provide any feedback:
Hi Rpishere, welcome!
First of all 65 pics over 2 months and 15 downloads is way too soon to judge if you're in the right direction. Need more like 1,000 images.
Anyway, from your sample, I have the following comments:
1. Most of your images lack copy space. One notable exception is "NYC Skyline by Twilight with full moon". I'd suggest you try ensure that all your images have enough "breathing room" like this one.
These lack serious copy space:
- Lombard Street or Crooked Street, San Francisco
- Freedom Tower & Downtown NYC by night
- George Washington Bridge by Twilight
- High Rise Buildings with beautiful tree in middle
2. Next, your composition is poor or awkward at best. Worst of all is that you're chopping off bits of the images (Fixing 1. above would help), such as in:
- Freedom Tower & Downtown NYC by night
- Toronto - Night Shot
- George Washington Bridge by Twilight
- Tropical Palm Trees
- NYC Midtown by Twilight with Empire State Building
- Natural Juice served in Pineapple
- Fresh Bread Basket - French Baguette (also flag lighting)
- Cafe with Outside Seating Area with a Teapot (awkward composition)
Try your best to keep images clean and free from clutter. The worst offender being:
- Natural Juice served in Pineapple
3. These generally look like snapshots which appear to lack commercial value - how popular would be a lamp or some leaves and random plants?
One exception would be some of the long exposures which are slightly better and have slightly more commercial value as well as "Amazing Midtown NYC Skyline by Twilight" which is probably your best image especially if you fix the composition.
4. There's some flat lighting and probably focus issues but I think that's enough critique for now
Good luck
Brasilnut
p.s Istockphoto would have rejected most of the photos only a few years ago, now they seem to accept everything! This industry is going down the drain...