Author Topic: Advice (Read 5238 times)

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **on:** November 21, 2013, 10:04 »

Hi

I have been trying to get 7 of 10 for Shutterstock for a while now. Some of my images have been part of the "This would have been accepted if..." but then when I include them in the next submission suddenly they are rejected. For example, this and others have been rejected for Focus issues. But I don't see any myself. Is there something obvious that I'm missing here?

I've uploaded a scaled down version as well as a full size crop of the dog's face.

Thanks for any advice and critiques

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2013, 10:07 »

That picture is a bit soft over the whole area in the close-up.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2013, 10:11 »

I don't see anything about that image that would make a good stock photo. Overall, the tones and colors are the same across the entire image. We can't really see his eyes. You're shooting from regular person eye level.

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2013, 11:24 »

Thanks Sue. I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "soft" though. Can you elaborate on that?

Thanks Sean. I know what you mean about the colours. And for the level of the shot I was trying to keep the background cleaner. Would I have been better to get a better angle and let the background be more chaotic? It would have introduced more colour and the DOF would have kept it a wash, but it is a busy background.

Is there anything I could do in post to try and bring this one to life? Or is the composition wrong to begin with?

disorderly · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2013, 12:00 »

I'd tell you to reshoot, and to think of a more commercial composition. First, it's a brown dog's head against brown dirt; nothing to draw the eye to the subject or even to separate them visually. Second, you should consider getting down to the dog's level; it's both a more interesting point of view (we're used to seeing pets from above) and one that makes the dog more of an equal to the viewer. Third, open up your aperture and create a contrast between the sharp look of the dog (and make him really, really sharp) and a blurred background. And of course choose your position so the background fits your subject. Lie on your belly or put the camera on a low stand or beanbag so you get just sky or something neutral behind your subject.

Your problems are both technical (sharpness and contrast) and creative. What product could the picture help sell? Could it illustrate an article about dogs or dog training? If a picture doesn't add interest to the customer's creation, why would she buy it?

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2013, 13:19 »

Thanks disorderly. I tend to think of the value of the shots more along the lines of a blogger -- i.e. an image for a story.

I was thinking that this would work well for different lines of dog products, training, etc. I feel it has almost a melancholy feel to it, as if the dog is waiting for someone (which he was in this case -- he always misses my wife when she's out).

I need to start learning more about what commercial value means. I need to start thinking from a more sales point of view.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2013, 13:25 »

you need to check what agencies have also, then you will understand how far this picture is from an ideal dog stock photo

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2013, 14:14 »

Thanks Luis

I have successfully submitted this to BigStock, but I'm learning that there is a big difference between what the different agencies will accept. And it seems BigStock is getting pickier lately too.

I did a search on Shutterstock when submitting to see what keywords I should be adding (I like the helpfulness of that keyword tool 8-) It showed quite a few pictures that I feel aren't any better than mine. But the ones that stood out did have the contrasting backgrounds, different viewpoints and/or more view of the dog's eyes that have been mentioned. Those are the ones I need to aim for!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2013, 14:43 »

Quote from: LoneWolfMuskoka on November 21, 2013, 14:14

Thanks Luis

I have successfully submitted this to BigStock, but I'm learning that there is a big difference between what the different agencies will accept. And it seems BigStock is getting pickier lately too.

I did a search on Shutterstock when submitting to see what keywords I should be adding (I like the helpfulness of that keyword tool 8-) It showed quite a few pictures that I feel aren't any better than mine. But the ones that stood out did have the contrasting backgrounds, different viewpoints and/or more view of the dog's eyes that have been mentioned. Those are the ones I need to aim for!

can you tell us which pictures are worst than yours that were approved? was it approved at BigStock?

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2013, 15:15 »

Hi Luis

I know everything is subjective, and I can't see these photos at full zoom, but here are a few that I feel are not any better than my submission.

http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-94557082/stock-photo-on-frozen-river.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-16 (dog is small relative to the frame)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-140248276/stock-photo-small-dog.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-18 (background is quite busy and distracting)
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-80168479/stock-photo-yellow-labrador-retriever-is-siting-on-the-parquet-floor.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-73 (has the same colour issues as mine with the dog/background)

I know that the last image has the dog looking toward the camera and that is a plus, but there are lots of great shots there that have the dog looking away. For example:
http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-85250476/stock-photo-dog-is-lying-in-park-autumn.html?src=gPP_S4l87NnzL6BVFr-4Zg-1-56
This one has the same feel that I was going for with my photo. Different composition obviously, with the park actually coming into play.

Anyway, I'm new to this and my opinions on what is good/bad is still under development and I may be missing things.

I can't really speak to sharpness since I can't see these at 100%. I suppose that if I could it might give me an idea of what I am missing with mine. I know that the first 3 times I tried using this image as part of the 10 for SS it was marked as one that would have been accepted if I had 7. Then all of a sudden it's got focus issues. That's the part that confuses me the most.

Here is the link to this image at BigStock: http://www.bigstockphoto.com/image-45758176/stock-photo-waiting-for-the-master There have been no downloads and I have no clue how to get stats with BigStock.

I really appreciate you taking the time to give me valuable feedback! Thanks!

luissantos84 · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2013, 15:40 »

all other examples you showed here are "better executed" comparing to yours sorry to tell, you seem to be missing that your picture is foggy, was there fog or just too much light coming to the sensor? have you cleaned the lens on the glass? temperature difference can do this as well

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2013, 16:11 »

I guess I am missing that it's foggy. I used an aperture of f/5.6 to get the background blurry. That might have been too shallow a DOF so some of the dog is blurry as well.

ShadySue · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2013, 16:45 »

To see what buyers prefer, search Dog on Dreamstime sorted by Best Selling, or on iStock or Shutterstock sorted by Popular.

Spray and Pray · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2013, 16:58 »

F/5.6 is fine. I might be off on my thoughts but don't become emotionally attached to your photos- you have to let rejects go without looking at other artist work and thinking my mine is better! I went through this as well especially when sending in images of my family- of course my family is the best how dare they reject them!

Here is some concepts that might had more commercial value to your dog- a human hand petting the dog, news paper or bone in dog's mouth, snarling or barking. The human hand on the dog shows love, caring and family member, the newspaper or bone shows playfulness and uses for the dog, the snarling or barking shows security or protection from the dog.

Good Luck...

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:06 »

^^ Great advice on emotional attachment. It is difficult to detach yourself from subjects you particularly love and look at them objectively. Then you get upset at rejections and bewildered at lack of sales.

Spray and Pray · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:13 »

Hi Shadysue- Yeah, at least you only get a rejection or no sales on the microstock sites but on a point site (ie Photosig) you can get some very hurtful negative comments which I did get on my family shots! Some were fighting words if you get my drift...

ShadySue · « **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:15 »

^^ Yuck. Don't know about that site and will now avoid it!

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #17 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:16 »

Thanks Spray and Pray and ShadySue. I know about the emotional attachment and I'm not really concerned that the photo is rejected that much. I understand it is part of the process for learning, and part of the way microstock works.

I have a lot to learn technically. I've learned a lot from this conversation about the composition and why an agency might not feel this image is commercially viable. It is just that sometimes the rejection doesn't make sense since the reviewers are pretty busy and don't have time to say "You did this particular thing wrong right there in the photo." Here I can get that.

Looking at the photos in a search at one of the agencies is helpful, but I still need to learn what it is that makes them stand out compared to mine. Not being able to view them at 100% makes it hard to compare on the technical points, like focus, sharpness, etc.

loop · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:21 »

The dog with the foggy background express what you tried to express. Yours, no at all. There's not any history in your shot, it's just a dog's headshot.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:32 »

+25 contrast

ShadySue · « **Reply #20 on:** November 21, 2013, 17:55 »

I'll see your contrast: 25 and raise you Clarity: 100

Still, the hair between the nose and the front of the eyes is too soft, probably.

(But I agree with those who say shoot other shots)

luissantos84 · « **Reply #21 on:** November 21, 2013, 18:05 »

I guess it would be approved if there was a nice background and of course much more eye(s)

LoneWolfMuskoka · « **Reply #22 on:** November 22, 2013, 11:13 »

I see how the contrast makes a significant difference Luis. But the background is still pretty blah. I suppose if he had dark fur that would make it work better, or if the background was pavement, grass or something of another colour.

Thanks to everyone for all the tips! It is really helpful to have mentors who can freely give such great feedback and advice.

mbjayasekara · « **Reply #23 on:** January 06, 2014, 04:20 »

Great advice!

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Author Topic: Advice (Read 5238 times)

LoneWolfMuskoka

ShadySue

Sean Locke Photography

LoneWolfMuskoka

disorderly

LoneWolfMuskoka

luissantos84

LoneWolfMuskoka

luissantos84

LoneWolfMuskoka

luissantos84

LoneWolfMuskoka

ShadySue

Spray and Pray

ShadySue

Spray and Pray

ShadySue

LoneWolfMuskoka

loop

luissantos84

ShadySue

luissantos84

LoneWolfMuskoka

mbjayasekara

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