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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Photo Critique => Topic started by: helissag on September 01, 2017, 05:43

Title: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: helissag on September 01, 2017, 05:43
Hey guys,

I've bee following the discussions on this forum for a few months but only now I registered.
So, I would love to read your critiques of my portfolio:

https://www.shutterstock.com/g/helissag (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/helissag)

I've been submitting images regularly since March, and I'm currently making around 15-20 dollars per month (just on the last 3 months, that is).
I don't have a really professional camera (yet) and I've just started this year to really get into the whole microstock thing. I don't expect to get rich from it, if I could get around 100-200 dollars per month I'd be super happy already.

I also sell on other websites, but the sales are almost null, I'm currently trying to delete my account on them because it's been only a waste of time for me. I plan to stay only with Shutterstock and AdobeStock, which are the only 2 I actually sell something on.

Looking forward to your critiques and advices, and thanks in advance! :D
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: Bad Company on September 01, 2017, 07:48
I can see you making $100 to $200 without too much difficulty thus just keep shooting away  8)
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: steheap on September 01, 2017, 08:44
I agree - look also for opportunities to put yourself in the shots in ways other than a seated back view. A bit more action would help in some cases.

Steve
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: helissag on September 02, 2017, 04:57
Thanks guys, that's nice to hear (read)! I'll be going to Thailand soon, and I'm very curious to see how the Thai pics will sell :)
And thanks for the suggestion steheap, I'll do that. Need to go into the whole model release thing, which I was avoiding, but doesn't seem too complicated though.

Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: Brasilnut on September 02, 2017, 06:55
Ola Helissa, bem-vinda,

I really like the angles you're taking. It appears that you're not shy to get up close to different situations, which is great!

My advise would be to also upload your editorials to Alamy (RF) as some of these images would do really well on there with UK clients, especially as there's a strong link with the British expats living in Portugal.

I also think that some of your post-processing could improve for you to get more sales. Generally, the most successful stock images are: Bright, contrasty, vibrant and have plenty of copy space.

Boa sorte e boa viagem a Tailandia

Alex
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: HappyBunny on September 02, 2017, 07:25
I have made the opposite experience. My unedited images sell better where I have not increased saturation. DT once wrote to me and told me not to edit them so that the buyer can edit the images to their liking. I think you're doing very well.
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: solucionfotografica on September 02, 2017, 08:21
Hola Helissa, está bien tu colección, es bueno tener imágenes diferentes y no poner fotos muy similares. Veo que estás enfocada a imágenes editoriales de viaje, es bueno tener un estilo y desarrollarlo al máximo. Un consejo... Trabaja mas los cielos dándoles mas color, carácter, eso lo puedes hacer fácilmente en LR con un filtro graduado. (ejemplo fotos de Roma)
Saludos. Marcelo

Mi colección en SS     https://www.shutterstock.com/g/marcelodlt (https://www.shutterstock.com/g/marcelodlt)
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: helissag on September 02, 2017, 09:24
Thanks for all the advice guys!

Brasilnut, tu é brasileiro mesmo ou só alguém fanático pelo Brasil? hehe de qualquer forma, obrigada pelas boas vindas :)

Oh and about Alamy, I thought it would be a good idea for me also since I like taking Editorial photos, but I failed the QC because my digital camera "is not suitable for Alamy". Once I can afford a better one, I'll surely try again.

And yeah I've read that pictures with a lot of contrast and colors sell more, but I've also read that more natural pics are better, as HappyBunny said, so that the buyer can edit them as they wish. So, I guess I'll try to offer the buyers both, some pics I'll do more contrasty and saturated and others more natural. Hard to know what the buyers want in this business sometimes... so many different people with different needs, I guess the key is really to try to diversify.

And thanks for the tip about using the "filtro graduado", solucionfotografica! I use LR, but I'm not really an expert on it and there are still some features I don't know how to use (or for what). Now I just saw some tutorials about the graduaded filter and I can see how that will help me a lot.

Cheers,
Helissa
Title: Re: Critique and advice on my Shutterstock portfolio
Post by: Brasilnut on September 02, 2017, 10:19
Quote
My unedited images sell better where I have not increased saturation.

Vibrance not saturation! :D Or better yet, choose which colours to enhance (my favourite being red).

Quote
Brasilnut, tu é brasileiro mesmo ou só alguém fanático pelo Brasil? hehe de qualquer forma, obrigada pelas boas vindas :)

Ola, sou brasileiro mas estou muito tempo fora do brasil. Atualmente, vivo na Italia mas quem sabe no futuro!