Author Topic: I would appreciate a honest portfolio critique. Thanks in advance. (Read 7926 times)

cicerocastro · « **on:** December 08, 2017, 22:09 »

Hi there,
I have around 500 images from January of 2017 and just to speak with numbers i`ve made about 100 sales so far.

Do you think that my images don`t have editorial value or they are not well executed? Or just maybe the editorial stock is very saturated and I should start doing commercial photos?

link of my portfolio: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/cicerocastro

Thanks in advance!

Brasilnut · « **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2017, 04:41 »

Hi,

I recall a similar critique a few months back! - http://www.microstockgroup.com/photo-critique/shutterstock-portfolio-critique-needed-thanks-in-advance/msg493213/#msg493213

Since then you've made good use of your wide angle lens. Your brexit stuff has high editorial value and looks well-executed.

Also nice carnival pics. You did well to get clean shots from the road instead of the usual from the railing.

Do both commercial and editorial. I would suggest uploading editorials to Alamy, including their Live News Feed.

You're doing well - keep going!

Brightontl · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2017, 05:51 »

Quote from: cicerocastro on December 08, 2017, 22:09

Hi there,
I have around 500 images from January of 2017 and just to speak with numbers i`ve made about 100 sales so far.

Do you think that my images don`t have editorial value or they are not well executed? Or just maybe the editorial stock is very saturated and I should start doing commercial photos?

link of my portfolio: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/cicerocastro

Thanks in advance!

You have some good photo.
Especially the Brexit ones are interesting.
Having said that, I do avoid editorials: they never get a huge amount of sales and this is what you want in this game: some image that with a bit of luck climb fast in the most popular and then keep selling hundreds and hundreds of times.
IME it never happens with editorial. Also, half of my agencies do not accept editorial.
Many will disagree, I know.
I also second the fact that Alamy is a good place for editorial, especially if shot in the UK

JuliaDacy · « **Reply #3 on:** December 15, 2017, 09:04 »

I like your photos. Especially, because you have different themes: people, nature, buildings, sailings, emotions. But, maybe. if you see that these themes aren't sold well, you should try to change direction

cicerocastro · « **Reply #4 on:** December 23, 2017, 07:42 »

Quote from: JuliaDacy on December 15, 2017, 09:04

I like your photos. Especially, because you have different themes: people, nature, buildings, sailings, emotions. But, maybe. if you see that these themes aren't sold well, you should try to change direction

Which direction you advice me?

qunamax · « **Reply #5 on:** December 24, 2017, 06:11 »

To my eye they are a bit sterile, they are well executed, everything by the book, but by today's trends they need to be more bold, color graded, more PP, more weird angles, more negative space etc in order to stand out and cause a wow effect.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #6 on:** December 24, 2017, 06:31 »

You're licensing this as editorial but keep in mind that this type of shot most likely can and should be licensed as commercial.

Mantis · « **Reply #7 on:** December 24, 2017, 10:23 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on December 24, 2017, 06:31

You're licensing this as editorial but keep in mind that this type of shot most likely can and should be licensed as commercial.

Doubtful. Building design is often protected. There are two uniquely shaped structures in this shot. I think he did the right thing. He could submit it as commercial, see if it gets accepted then worry about it being deleted later for copyright violations.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #8 on:** December 24, 2017, 12:01 »

Quote

Doubtful. Building design is often protected. There are two uniquely shaped structures in this shot. I think he did the right thing. He could submit it as commercial, see if it gets accepted then worry about it being deleted later for copyright violations.

Should be OK as long as it's not a close up of one of the buildings, the Gherkin for example. Here's mine I submitted last month and has been accepted as commercial. It will depend on the reviewer's discretion though.