|
MicrostockGroup Sponsors
This section allows you to view all posts made by this member. Note that you can only see posts made in areas you currently have access to.
Topics - Brasilnut
79
« on: February 28, 2018, 09:58 »
Hey all, I published a short article on my experience of using different Pseudos in Alamy with the aim of improving SE image rankings. Summary: Alamy offers every contributor the opportunity to effectively create different sub-accounts in the form of pseudonyms. One theory is that by using different pseudos, you may ultimately improve your own image search engine rankings. Anybody have much experience with this method? Any other tips to improve CTRs? https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2018/02/27/adopting-alamy-pseudos-to-improve-keyword-rankings/Looking forward to a positive discussion. Alex
80
« on: February 05, 2018, 11:39 »
http://mintimages.com/About: Mint Images is dedicated to creating the world's finest commercial imagery that relates to our environment, sustainability and issues of health and well-being. Our images are produced by world-class, award winning photographers who are the best at what they do. We are committed to the notion that powerful images connecting us to our evolving planet are capable of changing the world for the better.
81
« on: January 24, 2018, 11:45 »
I'm really struggling keywording some tropical plants. Anybody have a good resource reference?
Such as the following two, anybody have a clue it's name + scientific?
Found them in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Thanks
Brasilnut
82
« on: November 10, 2017, 17:58 »
Tom (Old Sheriff) has asked me to start this thread. He's currently taking a break from this forum but I trust he'll be back soon as most us miss him lol
These are his top tips:
1. Never be emotionally attached to an image
2. Learn what the buyers want
3. Being willing to change your style
4. Work long hours
5. Expect few sales
6. Dont spend too much time on MSG or other forums
7. Never stop learning how to better process images/videos
8. Dont let others determine your fate
9. Find a mentor
10. Buy a Microstock book and read it from front to back cover
11. Study the most popular images
12. Take your time correctly labeling and keywording images
13. Never fight rejections
14. Laugh a lot
15. Drink good beer or wine while processing images
16. Listen to good music while processing
17. Take days off- spending with family or friends
18. Dont quit your day time job
19. Dont try to analyze this business
20. Learn how to correctly compose an image
21. Learn lighting inside and out
22. Watch free on-line videos on Processing, lighting
23. Ask for opinions help
24. Stay professional
25. Never get cocky
26. Try new things- get out of your comfort zone
27. Set one day each week for pure production
28. Know all your International and National holidays
29. Submit three months prior to each special season
30. Get at least 7 hours sleep each night
31. Take your time when processing images. Quality must be very high.
---------------------
32. Never listen to Michelle
83
« on: October 06, 2017, 06:07 »
I've been thinking about this for a few days.
Would it be possible to encourage clients to use up all their allowance per day/month to help contributors out? From what I've been reading and speaking to some buyers, most don't even use up all their allowance and this hurts us.
I know that SS would never encourage this as they would lose money on this, but any form of campaign contributors can do to persuade buyers?
It's only a few quarters but does add up...any thoughts?
84
« on: September 25, 2017, 16:44 »
From Gettyimages / iStockphoto: Effective October 1, 2017 a new French law obliges clients who use commercial images in France to disclose whether the body shape of a model has been retouched to make them look thinner or larger.
As a result, also effective October 1st, we have amended our Creative Stills Submission Requirements to require that you do not submit to us any creative content depicting models whose body shapes have been retouched to make them look thinner or larger.
Please note that other changes made to models like a change of hair color, nose shape, retouching of skin or blemishes, etc., are outside the scope of this new law, and are therefore still acceptable.
Effective 1st October 2017, any content submitted where this type of retouching has been carried out will be a breach of our Submission Requirements and your Agreement with us.
Nanny state strikes again! 
85
« on: September 18, 2017, 14:28 »
86
« on: September 17, 2017, 04:48 »
What do you predict is going to be the order one year from now. I'll start:
Top Tier
AdobeStock
Shutterstock
Pond5
Alamy
Mid Tier
iStock
EyeEm or Stockimo (at least one of the cell phone sites)
123RF
Dreamstime
Then the rest.
87
« on: September 07, 2017, 12:30 »
88
« on: August 13, 2017, 11:29 »
Anybody close to the action and capturing some editorials?
89
« on: July 29, 2017, 15:00 »
To lighten the mood in this forum (i'm also having a bad month), let's start a game and pick the favourite pic of the person above and tell us why. Who wants to start?
90
« on: July 28, 2017, 11:12 »
I'm making a huge effort to turn almost 3000 images from poor discoverability to good without spamming. Not easy. Anybody else had more success after doing so? I'm using the following keywording tool which seems excellent: https://www.keyword.io/tool/stock-photo-research
91
« on: July 05, 2017, 06:19 »
Hey all, Do you also get a feeling of excitement in anticipation of seeing your "single & other" download in your earnings summary tab. Usually it's only a few nickels above a standard sub but I'm always hoping it's a $80+ download...it feels kinda like playing a scratch card lottery 
93
« on: June 22, 2017, 02:31 »
Hey fellow photography / footage microstock grinders, I'm a photographer but trying out some footage for the first time. I live close to a major airport and was there last night trying out. The light was a bit flat but just getting a feel for it, will go back there today as it seems to have cleared up. Would you mind taking a look at some the footage and getting me your brutally honest feedback? https://www.shutterstock.com/video/gallery/1595060?language=enWas shot at 24 fps at f8, iso 800 and about 1/200 secs. I also tried to do a timelapse - 3 mins into 20 seconds but was rejected for "Resolution / Aspect -- Clip is a non-standard resolution or is pillarboxed, letterboxed or matted." Still trying to figure out how to fix it. Thanks Alex
94
« on: June 04, 2017, 12:13 »
Hey all, As some of you may already be aware, since November last year, I've been painstakingly drafting a comprehensive guide to Microstock. It's taken a hell of a lot of work and I've settled on close to a whopping 200 pages, with just as many example images, to reflect the complexity of the business. Here's the table of contents: Chapter 1 Microstock Photography 101
Chapter 2 - What's in my Camera Bag?
Chapter 3 Achieving Technical Excellence
Chapter 4 - The Legal Side of Stock Photography
Chapter 5 - Licensing Editorial & Commercial Images
Chapter 6 - Overview on Agencies to License Images
Chapter 7 - How Much Can You Expect to Earn (The Extra Mile Isnt Crowded)?
Chapter 8 - Creating Interesting Images
Chapter 9 - Finding your Niche
Chapter 10 - Keywording
Chapter 11 Workflow Optimisation
Chapter 12 - Getting the H*ll Out of Microstock!
Interview with Joas Souza, London-based Architectural photographer But it's not about quantity, it's about quality. I'm really sticking my neck out on this one and telling it how it is (the good, the bad and the ugly). To get this ball going, once published soon, I'm going to GIVING AWAY THE GUIDE to 5 people. All you have to do is go to my word press blog (link is at my signature) and underneath its latest post (with the same title), put down your email address. Thereafter, all I ASK is that you give me your brutally honest opinion of the book, either here or on the blog! I won't feel offended if you hate it (which you won't). Not to worry if you're too late, once published, it will be for sale for $5.00 for a limited time only, thereafter $10.00. Happy shooting! Alex https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.wordpress.com/2017/06/04/new-guide-for-beginners-brutally-honest-guide-to-microstock-photography/
95
« on: April 27, 2017, 15:58 »
I had an interesting occurrence recently. I found one of my pics on the Guardian newspaper, which is a major publication in the UK. It's always nice to see but the joy washed over quickly when I saw that I wasn't paid for it. Naturally, I got in contact with Alamy and soon after received this response:
"Thanks for sending this over, we have looked and do have a relevant download for this usage. Some of our editorial customers report usages to us over a period of time. If you dont see the sale appear in your account within 3 months of the usage date (by 24/07/2017) then please let us know so we can chase this up for you."
Has this happened to anybody else and in the end did you get paid or will I need to keep chasing? I'm starting to google reverse image many of my RM to see where they've been licensed and how both out of curiosity and to get paid but it's really time consuming.
96
« on: April 03, 2017, 05:53 »
Hey hardworking photographers!
I've compiled a list of 33 Microstock agencies and some useful information on each that I hope you'll find informative (see attachment).
Good luck!
Brasilnut
97
« on: March 22, 2017, 08:58 »
Hey all,
These were taken with 100% natural light, at a cafe.
Critique would be appreciated, including post.
Thanks
Brasilnut
98
« on: February 20, 2017, 04:01 »
Hey all, I'm trying out FAA for the first time with the free 25 max uploads, then probably upgrade to the premium version which seems like good value. But, before I do that I have a question about licensing. I license some images exclusively to some agencies. Would these have any conflict with putting them up on FAA? Suppose a buyer wants to license one of my pics and put it into a greeting card to sell commercially or are FAA licenses restricted to non-commercial uses. Thanks in advance. Brasilnut www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com
99
« on: January 06, 2017, 08:48 »
Hey all - happy new year! So, I've decided to streamline my uploading strategy in a more intelligent manner. Basically, I'm just a bit fed up to be undervaluing myself and not happy with premium pics being licensed as RF for pennies - i'm sure many share the same frustration. I would appreciate your comments on its feasibility and whether there are any gaps in my logic. A little background: 2450 images on SS 1300 images on Alamy 880 images Istock - I've stopped uploading to them altogether. 380 images Arcangel 110 images DT - I've stopped uploading to them altogether. 12 images Robert Harding - Signed up recently ---------------------------------------------------------------- Here's my logic to maximise sales: 1. Robert Harding to get my premium commercial travel stuff + model released (RM exclusively) 2. Arcangel to get my premium artsy book cover stuff + model released (RM exclusively) 3. Alamy to get my editorial news stuff (RM only, even if they are coming out with RF editorial shortly)* 4. SS to get the leftovers which would be non-premium generic travel & bland stock stuff (RF) *One assumption: - Should Alamy new content not sell for 6 months, to convert to RF editorial and also upload on SS. -------------------------------------------------------------- Anybody have any thoughts on focusing on Robert Harding? They seem like a good outfit but to be honest I'm not thrilled about 30% commission on exclusive content, it should be more like 50%. I'm trying to apply with other midstock boutique but not getting accepted. Same with boutique editorial. Thanks in advance for any feedback. Alex www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com
100
« on: September 26, 2016, 17:07 »
Dear All, I have just put together this short guide on the top 5 reasons for rejection and how to fix them using Lightroom. I'm working on a more comprehensive guide and if you are interested please PM me and once complete I'll email it to you. Hope you find the guide useful and good luck with your submissions. Best regards, Brasilnut www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com
|
Sponsors
Microstock Poll Results
Sponsors
|
Show Posts
