Author Topic: Honest Portfolio Critique Please (Read 11077 times)

lyudmil · « **on:** January 23, 2022, 01:14 »

Hi everyone, I am new here, and I am a amateur photographer. While ago I started submitting to several agencies, (Shutterstock, Adobe stock, iStock, 500px, Alamy and other) with some success. I was hoping for some of you more seasoned photographers would take a look at my portfolio and just give a general look to give me some tips on what I can do to improve my portfolio quality/exposure. Where do I need improvement? Is it my photo skills? The variety of shots I take? My keywording?

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil [nonactive]

newbielink:https://www.shutterstock.com/g/make+my+day?rid=3843452&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ctrbreferral-link [nonactive]

Thanks
Lyudmil

Just_to_inform_people2 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 24, 2022, 15:42 »

Hi lyudmill.
Nobody seems to react so I'll give you some of my thoughts. Remember, you asked for criticism and it's my personal view and it doesn't mean everybody will have the same opinion about it.

All were taken from your Adobe account.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/collections/YTRVbFzOdCjA9k1w48JRZaVLngA6gkFD?asset_id=334190635
The picture is nice but the part that is not focussed does catch the eye immediately and makes up a big portion of the frame. Use stacked photo's or compose differently that the part that is not focussed will attract less.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=473031054
Again, nice setting. But the sky is washed out completely. The point to the photo is the mist on the water and the dark trees behind them. I would have composed it in a way the sky was not visible. Also there is movement on the water (the rings) that distract your eyes from the intention of the photo. Clear them in post processing or wait for the water to be calm.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=473031170
The top of the trees are cut off (also on the bottom). Compose a bit better larger that you have the tops visible and still some room around them.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=473031025
Your foreground is to much present but not interesting. If you would have moved to the left and just capture the rock, water and trees, it would have been much better.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=391738063
If you see something like this. Go out of the appartment and take the shot behind the lightpoles. Now they are distracting.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=346390293
Remove physically the two items that are in your shot and that ruin your composition. Or remove them in post.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=346464292
Leave more space to the left. Your subject is almost out of the picture.

https://stock.adobe.com/es/collections/dc599M15m0GgMYVbtIWM0E5HNrFeJMjC?asset_id=399941606
The photo lacks contrast. Food should pop out and be colourful. The photo is a bit flat and seems to be overlit.

And then generally speaking, pay attention to light. Best time is during sunset/sunrise. I know it's not always possible but your photo's (especially landscape photo's) will improve by a factor thousand. Pay attention to breathing space and make sure your composition is balanced.

Good luck and I'm sure you will improve and hopefully get better sales.

ps: If you are interested in landscape photography I learned a lot of these two guys (and there are many more):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfhW84xfA6gEc4hDK90rR1Q (serious in-depth and sometimes funny)
https://www.youtube.com/user/fototripper (funny but very instructive)

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #2 on:** January 24, 2022, 19:13 »

In addition to the good points above, I'd offer a couple of very general comments, both related to thinking about the buyer of your images.

The big one is keywords. I think both Shutterstock and Adobe Stock are showing me your actual keywords (but it's possible they're suggesting topics, in which case ignore my comments!!). Be specific about places and details of your image, but do not put multiple locations, multiple seasons, all possible food ingredients for all meals. This type of keyword stuffing means the images will show up in searches where they're not relevant - it won't help your sales and may even hurt them as they get passed over a lot.

Some of your images are rather dull and flat and others have super-saturated colors (not in a good way). Buyers need to be able to use your images in designs & on web sites and most won't want to spend ages processing the images they license - especially if there are many other images of that subject to choose from. Try to get the look of your images more ready-to-use, if that makes sense. Here is an example of an image that is very flat and a second that is over-saturated, which might help explain my point a bit:

https://stock.adobe.com/images/beautiful-wooden-balcony-of-old-house-in-the-woods/341663571
https://stock.adobe.com/images/fresh-coconut-cocktail-on-the-table-holiday-mood-costa-rica/334190965

And you'll need to grow your portfolio a lot to see consistent sales. Try to find scenes or places you have access to - or some hobby or other interest of yours - that perhaps isn't already covered to death in the (very large) existing agency collections.

Good luck!

lyudmil · « **Reply #3 on:** January 24, 2022, 23:35 »

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 24, 2022, 19:13

In addition to the good points above, I'd offer a couple of very general comments, both related to thinking about the buyer of your images.

The big one is keywords. I think both Shutterstock and Adobe Stock are showing me your actual keywords (but it's possible they're suggesting topics, in which case ignore my comments!!). Be specific about places and details of your image, but do not put multiple locations, multiple seasons, all possible food ingredients for all meals. This type of keyword stuffing means the images will show up in searches where they're not relevant - it won't help your sales and may even hurt them as they get passed over a lot.

Some of your images are rather dull and flat and others have super-saturated colors (not in a good way). Buyers need to be able to use your images in designs & on web sites and most won't want to spend ages processing the images they license - especially if there are many other images of that subject to choose from. Try to get the look of your images more ready-to-use, if that makes sense. Here is an example of an image that is very flat and a second that is over-saturated, which might help explain my point a bit:

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/images/beautiful-wooden-balcony-of-old-house-in-the-woods/341663571 [nonactive]
newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/images/fresh-coconut-cocktail-on-the-table-holiday-mood-costa-rica/334190965 [nonactive]

And you'll need to grow your portfolio a lot to see consistent sales. Try to find scenes or places you have access to - or some hobby or other interest of yours - that perhaps isn't already covered to death in the (very large) existing agency collections.

Good luck!

Quote from: SVH on January 24, 2022, 15:42

Hi lyudmill.
Nobody seems to react so I'll give you some of my thoughts. Remember, you asked for criticism and it's my personal view and it doesn't mean everybody will have the same opinion about it.

All were taken from your Adobe account.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/collections/YTRVbFzOdCjA9k1w48JRZaVLngA6gkFD?asset_id=334190635 [nonactive]
The picture is nice but the part that is not focussed does catch the eye immediately and makes up a big portion of the frame. Use stacked photo's or compose differently that the part that is not focussed will attract less.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=473031054 [nonactive]
Again, nice setting. But the sky is washed out completely. The point to the photo is the mist on the water and the dark trees behind them. I would have composed it in a way the sky was not visible. Also there is movement on the water (the rings) that distract your eyes from the intention of the photo. Clear them in post processing or wait for the water to be calm.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=473031170 [nonactive]
The top of the trees are cut off (also on the bottom). Compose a bit better larger that you have the tops visible and still some room around them.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=473031025 [nonactive]
Your foreground is to much present but not interesting. If you would have moved to the left and just capture the rock, water and trees, it would have been much better.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=391738063 [nonactive]
If you see something like this. Go out of the appartment and take the shot behind the lightpoles. Now they are distracting.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=346390293 [nonactive]
Remove physically the two items that are in your shot and that ruin your composition. Or remove them in post.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/contributor/209444418/Lyudmil?asset_id=346464292 [nonactive]
Leave more space to the left. Your subject is almost out of the picture.

newbielink:https://stock.adobe.com/es/collections/dc599M15m0GgMYVbtIWM0E5HNrFeJMjC?asset_id=399941606 [nonactive]
The photo lacks contrast. Food should pop out and be colourful. The photo is a bit flat and seems to be overlit.

And then generally speaking, pay attention to light. Best time is during sunset/sunrise. I know it's not always possible but your photo's (especially landscape photo's) will improve by a factor thousand. Pay attention to breathing space and make sure your composition is balanced.

Good luck and I'm sure you will improve and hopefully get better sales.

ps: If you are interested in landscape photography I learned a lot of these two guys (and there are many more):
newbielink:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfhW84xfA6gEc4hDK90rR1Q [nonactive] (serious in-depth and sometimes funny)
newbielink:https://www.youtube.com/user/fototripper [nonactive] (funny but very instructive)

Thank you very much

I appreciate your opinion and will learn from it

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #4 on:** January 25, 2022, 12:40 »

Quote from: lyudmil on January 24, 2022, 23:35

Thank you very much I appreciate your opinion and will learn from it

Just a note. I don't do critiques, and I was going to PM you, but until you have enough posts and activity, I can't.

Jo Ann and SVH have some good starting advice about actual image impressions.

Mine would be generic. Pay attention to making good keywords and descriptions, which can help you be seen. Photos aren't discovered by view in a search, as much as they were in the past. Clear, concise and accurate keywords. In another way of saying that, all the words that directly apply to what's actually in the image, not spammed up 49 words, because you can.

When a buyer comes to look, do your images show what you have in the titles and descriptions? That's a positive.

lyudmil · « **Reply #5 on:** January 27, 2022, 04:25 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on January 25, 2022, 12:40

Quote from: lyudmil on January 24, 2022, 23:35

Thank you very much I appreciate your opinion and will learn from it

Just a note. I don't do critiques, and I was going to PM you, but until you have enough posts and activity, I can't.

Jo Ann and SVH have some good staring advice about actual image impressions.

Mine would be generic. Pay attention to making good keywords and descriptions, which can help you be seen. Photos aren't discovered by view in a search, as much as they were in the past. Clear, concise and accurate keywords. In another way of saying that, all the words that directly apply to what's actually in the image, not spammed up 49 words, because you can.

When a buyer comes to look, do your images show what you have in the titles and descriptions? That's a positive.

I know that I have a lot of things to learn about photography and stock selling. Thank you, that you have time to look at my portfolio and give me your opinion and advice, they are very helpful for me

Just_to_inform_people2 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 27, 2022, 11:44 »

Quote from: lyudmil on January 27, 2022, 04:25

Quote from: Uncle Pete on January 25, 2022, 12:40
Quote from: lyudmil on January 24, 2022, 23:35

Thank you very much I appreciate your opinion and will learn from it

Just a note. I don't do critiques, and I was going to PM you, but until you have enough posts and activity, I can't.

Jo Ann and SVH have some good staring advice about actual image impressions.

Mine would be generic. Pay attention to making good keywords and descriptions, which can help you be seen. Photos aren't discovered by view in a search, as much as they were in the past. Clear, concise and accurate keywords. In another way of saying that, all the words that directly apply to what's actually in the image, not spammed up 49 words, because you can.

When a buyer comes to look, do your images show what you have in the titles and descriptions? That's a positive.

I know that I have a lot of things to learn about photography and stock selling. Thank you, that you have time to look at my portfolio and give me your opinion and advice, they are very helpful for me

Hi lyudmil,
just one remark still. You have a good eye for what to photograph, and that is the most important ingredient, so it's just some techniques and you will be more then good. I shoudl have mentioned that in my first reply. And then also what others say about keywords and stuff. But do it, first of all, to become a better photographer because microstock itself is more about luck of placement then your quality as a photographer.

KimC · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2022, 02:45 »

Always consider: Who would want to use this or that photo for what. You have quie some similar images: Usually Adobe is fast on the similar content-trigger, but you should chose the best of these, and leave the others alone.

You have very general keywords. The same keywords apply to a zillion other images on Adobe, and as your preferred topics are well-present on the agencies, and the demand not ovewhelming, you need to be better then the best. Do your research on whatever you photograph and find the names or relavant terms for the image. Your research will each you what is important about this or that topic, then return to the subject and make sure that the important tithings are clerly visible. It is a lot of work, but if you want to get anywhere on an agency like Adobe, that is the price it takes.