Microstock Photography Forum - General > Photo Critique

Portfolio critique requested, thank you :)

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Uncle Pete:

--- Quote from: ShadySue on January 06, 2019, 11:24 ---
--- Quote from: DallasP on January 05, 2019, 15:04 ---
--- Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 04, 2019, 11:41 --- horizontal images tend to work in many more cases than verticals

--- End quote ---

They also display better on most of the sites.

--- End quote ---
Square tends to display best, but there doesn't seem to be as much demand for square format.
Anyway, you can now take close up, space included, horizontal and vertical of many subjects.

--- End quote ---

But square if done right, with suitable open space, can be either landscape or portrait, let the buyer decide how to crop. Yes I know, some people who want images don't have great imaginations, but some do.

Good thread because most of the answers are covering the usual beginners problems and basics of Microstock.

1) Images should tell a story or have a  purpose to someone else. This isn't "art" in most cases.


--- Quote from: steheap on January 04, 2019, 10:03 ---I think the most important question you should ask yourself is "what is the use case for this image?". Before you press the shutter ask - what story am I trying to tell, and then think about how someone (the buyer) will use this image to tell their own story.

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2) and useful for other composites, uses and COPY SPACE


--- Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on January 04, 2019, 11:41 ---In addition to Steve's suggestions - figuring out what the image would be saying to a designer trying to put something together - think about the space in the image.

For stock, your image is often a part of something in the end, and if your image isn't usable in a design - cropped too tight is the most common problem - it won't be licensed.  ...a little bit of space either side would have made the image suitable for lots more uses.

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3) Good accurate keywords that describe what is prominent in your image, the main subject, the concept and descriptive direction.

4) Think and be ready


--- Quote from: Stefan Dahl on January 04, 2019, 12:12 ---So the good thing is that it looks like you are always carrying a camera! That is a good starting point when the subject you want to sell is like it is in your portfolio.

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5) You did the work, you uploaded, it's accepted: 


--- Quote from: steheap on January 04, 2019, 13:30 ---I never take down any photos - partly because it is work and partly because there is a small chance someone will buy it one day.

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6) My addition and I think most people will agree to some extent:

Try to find useful images that are different or subjects that aren't over produced, in some cases, local that can't be done by anyone else, except a local. If you shoot what sells best, and all your competition does the same, those will not make you money or sell best. It's better to have something useful, that's not always or universally needed, but when it is, you get a download. Find subjects that aren't well covered.

7) Learn to edit for stock, it's not the same as wall art or accurate photography documentation. Bright colors, good contrast, photos that stand out above others for being attractive and eye grabbing.


--- Quote from: Ukko on January 21, 2019, 10:10 ---All your images looked like to me as they are straight from the camera with no post processing or image adjustment. I think you need to improve your editing skills more. I mean, they are not bad but they could be much, much better.

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Don't expect that there's easy money, how many times has that been said, even when it was much easier. Uploading #### images, doesn't mean anything. It's not numbers, it is what are the images. Walking around and shooting snapshots, common subjects, over photographed concepts and subjects with no message, will just be a waste of time and effort.

I think everyone here started out making shots and finding out what was more commercially viable. Then we learn to edit better, and make something we can enjoy. If you shoot what you like, and do a better job than most others, doing the same, you will find success, and have more enjoyment from doing that. If you are only in this for the money, you will most likely be disappointed. Loads of work, long hours, no promise of residual or long time earnings from your products. The micropayments are smaller every year, while the competition grows larger every month.

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