The real opportunity in media creation (photo, video, illustration, etc) is diversification. If you balance multiple income sources from your content, you have a very good chance of making a good living ie. stock and contracts work well together.

A gimbal is very useful for specific types of shots. It will not replace concept, light, talent, and all the other elements that make good video. I would look at your current kit and evaluate how well you are covered in fundamentals (camera, glass, lighting, etc.) and if you are solid, a gimbal would be a good next step *for solo shooter*.

If you are working with others, let them pay for that expense and training and you pay them for what you need.

The hot setup right now is the DJI MATRICE 600 coupled with a Red Raven. Lovely combo that flies like a Phantom using an upgraded version of the Lightbridge tech.

-gl

I would love to hear some ideas on submission workflows when you submit to multiple sites. It is a pain to go through the manual submission processes and copy the keywording, etc.

Any tips to share? Favorite apps?

-gl

Thank you for the feedback. I will revisit the post work and resubmit. Nuthin's gonna get me down!

-gl

Quote from: Jo Ann Snover on November 13, 2015, 21:06
The CA on the rock edges just shouldn't be there - Lightroom will automatically take care of that for you. I'm guessing that's not why they rejected it.

Did they reject it for lighting? SS doesn't like prominent shadows and although the light is soft, there is a large area of dark rock in the foreground that they may have taken exception to, especially because there's a light area right next to it.The white T shirt's a little gray.

On the other hand, if they rejected it for focus there's nothing to say. Their automated pre-screening software tags masses of stuff as out of focus and if you get a reviewer who just follows the software's lead, perfectly good images get rejected.

Here's what I would have done in post - very quick and dirty but just to give you an idea

Lighting and focus was mentioned on almost all of the photos. I just wanted to get a check from experience contributors as to whether these are redeemable.

No logo on the shoes.

Thanks.

You bring up good points and I'll have to think about that. However, I was more hoping for technical feedback. Does it look soft? Lighting problems?

-gl

Could I get some feedback on a shot that came from a series I recently shot? I ask because they were rejected from SS and wanted to get some other opinions on where it needs to improve.

So, is this a trick? Don't submit on weekends? Are "Focus, lighting and WB" are standard responses?

I would say you may need to do less with each animation. What you have is very treated and has specific color pallets. Perhaps try putting up some animated elements with less effects/layers and see how they do?

-gl

There is actually a discussion forum on 500px now devoted to prime and some have posted examples or their sold images. That may help.

-gl

For around $2000, you could just squeeze in the Second Shooter 3 axis system from Kessler with a Pocket Dolly 2.0. That would give you a a really nice, portable setup.

-gl

The rails on the Stage one never quite matched up for me so, the movement was never smooth. The DP support believe I had a bad batch of rails. I also hated the interface of the motion box it came with – it felt like 1970s tech. I just can't recommend the platform. There are so many options now that it just doesn't make sense. Do you have a budget in mind?

FWIW I first purchased the Stage One setup from DP and while they were very good to work with, the product felt cheap. With my 5D and a 70-200 (heavy lens, yes) it would bow in the middle. This was two sections connected for a total of 4 feet. This combined with a couple of other glitches and I returned the system and bought a Kessler setup. So much happier.

-gl

I am seeing a lot of negative feelings/predictions/expectations for the future of iStock and this is from people that seem to have notable income from from them. My question is, what is 'Plan B' for you? Selling on your own? Run to other microstock providers? Give up?

-gl

Do you do anything to promote your portfolio on Shutterstock?

-gl

Which book are you referring to? Thanks for sharing.

Is this just another nail in the coffin for content producers?

-gl

In other words, planning to capture stock imagery while on a vacation or attending an event for example? I just wonder if there are many who deliberately setup a shoot for the sole purpose of creating stock images?

-gl

I am just curious on how much of producer's portfolios are planned/produced and how much are just afterthought captures? I am just starting to build a portfolio and I am looking at making deliberate efforts on it.

-gl