Ever since I joined the MS industry I have ever pondered what makes a good MS photo, after all #'s of photos don't make you money, good photos make you money, what the clients want.  What do the clients want?, there are so many thoughts about it, about what the customer base is and what they are seeking, all the sites tell you to go look at the big sellers, but that just tells you what others have done, if anything it saps creativity more than fostering it.  What are the vast majority of the clients looking for?

It finally occurred to me.  Maybe I'm way off (I'd love to hear the thoughts of those more experienced than me), but it is a theme that seems to run through my bestsellers and those on the sites.  Clip Art.  They are looking for good, high resolution, photographic, clip art.   Something just as accessible as a thumb as a large high res, something that is immediately understandable from the initial peek.  Clip art does not crop out lesser elements for a cool composition.  Whether a frame to frame shot or an isolation, all seem to be nothing more than a simple bit of clip art.  Sure they are infinitely more complex because of the medium and the possibilities with it, but when approached as a piece of art would be approached the same theme tends to emerge, on a basic level they are a piece of clip art.  Some have a story or a theme or a concept, but it is always very recognizable and understandable.  They are easy pics, just as clip art is.

With this in mind, marketable subject determination and how to frame and present that subject for the clients becomes much easier when you view your work not as an artistic masterpiece, but as a piece of clip art for a designer to put to use.

Thoughts anyone?  Have I possibly stumbled upon the frame of mind to have to be successful in the industry, instead of stumbling in the dark, throwing poop at the wall and seeing what sticks, which in many ways is how it feels at times.

I waited a little bit until I was real confident that I had 10 that could pass any inspection, and got in on the first try at SS (7 of 10).  Is that unprecedented these days?

I got in at IS a few days ago on the 2nd try, 1 of 3 approved the first time, redid 1 and submitted a different one (only a few hours after the denial) and was approved in about 3 hours, I thought there was a waiting period?    Though I have had no files actually approved yet for sale, still waiting on the checkers.

I wish StockXpert would have given me something more than a "we aren't interested in the kind of work you do", they didn't say if any of the files were any good, or reference the files at all (I completely forgot which ones I submitted unfortunately, so I can only submit new photos taken after my last try the next time, oh well).

My question:  How long does it typically take for things to show up in your SS gallery, mine is still empty, aside from the 3 on the latest approved bar on the side, I have no way of knowing which 7 of the 10 actually were approved.  I am away from my email (always on pop3 client at home, the webmail version of my account stays empty because of it), they probably sent me a message, I am assuming?.