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Author Topic: Any suggestions to improve?  (Read 6283 times)

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« on: September 02, 2013, 12:22 »
0
I'm a (busy) student and hobbyist photographer. It has been exactly a year since I have joined with SS. I have sold bit more than 2000 copies during that time. In last three months, my SS income are $89.95, $127.83, and $171.41. My goal is to bring my SS income up to $400/month. However, I'm even not halfway through. I'm not interested in submitting to more agencies as I don't have much free time (probably I should try Symbiostock). And I'm not into model photography as well. I really appreciate if you could have a look at my port and highlight my week points and strengths. I welcome all your suggestions which will help me to reach my goal quickly. Thanks in advance.


Ron

« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2013, 12:24 »
0
Link?

« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2013, 12:29 »
0
Link?

Cannot you see the SS icon below?
« Last Edit: September 02, 2013, 12:35 by e X p o s e »

« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2013, 12:56 »
+1
My advise with shutterstock would be:
Dont ever upload a picture that is not better than the last upload.

tab62

« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2013, 13:41 »
0
You're top heavy in your portfolio- branch out more. Food, objects (not flags), and more people (body parts). Don't put all your eggs in just one basket...

Ron

« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2013, 13:47 »
+1
The flags dont look right, the flag is superimposed on a crinkle pattern, but it doesnt look right as the coat of arms and the lines are not following the crinkles properly.

Also, you have some really good shots mixed with not so good shots. Boring skies, cluttered backgrounds, and your HDR processing can do with some improvements. Its too heavy on the HDR making the landscapes look a bit over processed.

And I think some images can use a bit more POP which is easy to achieve in post processing.

Agree with Tom, diversity rules.

« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2013, 16:20 »
0
The flags are great. I notice that many of them are on the first 2 pages with sort by popular. Only one year on ss and the last 3 months earnings are "$89.95, $127.83, and $171.41". Seems like you're figuring things out nicely on your own.  :D

Ron

« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2013, 16:28 »
-2
The flags are great. I notice that many of them are on the first 2 pages with sort by popular. Only one year on ss and the last 3 months earnings are "$89.95, $127.83, and $171.41". Seems like you're figuring things out nicely on your own.  :D
I have to disagree here, I can compare his portfolio with mine. Same period, same kind of images and same port size and I make double his monthly earnings. The flags look nice, but something doesnt seem right to me.

ETA: 5 down votes, but the OP agrees with me :) you might want to stick some down votes on his comment agreeing with me as well then. lol
« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 05:05 by Ron »

« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2013, 16:31 »
0
The flags are great. I notice that many of them are on the first 2 pages with sort by popular. Only one year on ss and the last 3 months earnings are "$89.95, $127.83, and $171.41". Seems like you're figuring things out nicely on your own.  :D
I have to disagree here, I can compare his portfolio with mine. Same period, same kind of images and same port size and I make double his monthly earnings. The flags look nice, but something doesnt seem right to me.

face flag - 8,872 results
flag - 411,373 results

« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2013, 16:32 »
0
Yep, the textures don't follow the fabric well enough.

« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2013, 17:34 »
0
The flags are great. I notice that many of them are on the first 2 pages with sort by popular. Only one year on ss and the last 3 months earnings are "$89.95, $127.83, and $171.41". Seems like you're figuring things out nicely on your own.  :D
I have to disagree here, I can compare his portfolio with mine. Same period, same kind of images and same port size and I make double his monthly earnings. The flags look nice, but something doesnt seem right to me.

Everyone isn't a superstar like you, Ron

Yep, the textures don't follow the fabric well enough.

Very true.  Is it really a problem though if buyers don't notice / don't care?

Ron

« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2013, 18:07 »
+1
The flags are great. I notice that many of them are on the first 2 pages with sort by popular. Only one year on ss and the last 3 months earnings are "$89.95, $127.83, and $171.41". Seems like you're figuring things out nicely on your own.  :D
I have to disagree here, I can compare his portfolio with mine. Same period, same kind of images and same port size and I make double his monthly earnings. The flags look nice, but something doesnt seem right to me.

Everyone isn't a superstar like you, Ron

Yep, the textures don't follow the fabric well enough.

Very true.  Is it really a problem though if buyers don't notice / don't care?
I dont think or said that Heywoody, I consider my portfolio to be very average and nothing special. Thats why I said that. I am not having a go at the OP, he is here to ask if he can improve, I am just giving mu opinion based on my earnings. I think he should earn more with a comparable portfolio.

And what if buyers DO notice the issue with the flags? I see it, Sean sees it, you see it, dont you think designers/buyers see it?

« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2013, 19:37 »
0
You're top heavy in your portfolio- branch out more. Food, objects (not flags), and more people (body parts). Don't put all your eggs in just one basket...

Thanks for your suggestions.

« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2013, 19:49 »
+1
I have to agree with Ron and Sean, the textures don't follow the fabric well enough. Even Shutterstock got tired with my flags lately, and rejected all my submissions. So, I'm not submitting them anymore. Now, SS hardly accepts any flags even with better quality. I think they have more than enough flags now.

Even though those flags are in first two pages of my profile, those are not selling well enough. I think just because of the keywords (e.g. flag), they have that popularity. Some of the images in my top 20 are sold for less than 5 times.

Again I have to agree with Ron, given my port size, I too believe that I don't have enough sales. That's why I'm asking for your suggestions.  :)

« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2013, 19:51 »
0
The flags are great. I notice that many of them are on the first 2 pages with sort by popular. Only one year on ss and the last 3 months earnings are "$89.95, $127.83, and $171.41". Seems like you're figuring things out nicely on your own.  :D

I think I just had a peak because of some unusual SODs...

« Reply #15 on: September 02, 2013, 19:54 »
0
The flags dont look right, the flag is superimposed on a crinkle pattern, but it doesnt look right as the coat of arms and the lines are not following the crinkles properly.

Also, you have some really good shots mixed with not so good shots. Boring skies, cluttered backgrounds, and your HDR processing can do with some improvements. Its too heavy on the HDR making the landscapes look a bit over processed.

And I think some images can use a bit more POP which is easy to achieve in post processing.

Agree with Tom, diversity rules.

Thanks for your comments Ron. BTW, what is POP?

Beppe Grillo

« Reply #16 on: September 03, 2013, 05:00 »
0
Yep, the textures don't follow the fabric well enough.

All the interest of these images is here ::)


Ron

« Reply #17 on: September 03, 2013, 05:07 »
+1
I have to agree with Ron and Sean, the textures don't follow the fabric well enough. Even Shutterstock got tired with my flags lately, and rejected all my submissions. So, I'm not submitting them anymore. Now, SS hardly accepts any flags even with better quality. I think they have more than enough flags now.

Even though those flags are in first two pages of my profile, those are not selling well enough. I think just because of the keywords (e.g. flag), they have that popularity. Some of the images in my top 20 are sold for less than 5 times.

Again I have to agree with Ron, given my port size, I too believe that I don't have enough sales. That's why I'm asking for your suggestions.  :)
I got 5 down votes for saying that, so apparently the community thinks I have it wrong.  ;)

Pop means more saturation in the colors, or more contrast. Shutterstock likes deep saturated colors.


Beppe Grillo

« Reply #18 on: September 03, 2013, 05:15 »
0
I got 5 down votes for saying that, so apparently the community thinks I have it wrong.  ;)

I don't agree with you but I did not put you a vote down.
Don't agree not means you are right or wrong, don't agree means that we have different points of view.
Personally I find these images interesting because they break rules and give a more graphic aspect to the images.

Ron

« Reply #19 on: September 03, 2013, 05:38 »
+4
I am constantly receiving down votes for what I am saying, to a point I no longer enjoy this forum. I am being accused of posting comments just to argue with people. I dont, period. I dont want to argue, its draining me. So I am going to take a break from the MSG forum. I am here to offer help and to give my point of view. But my words are often twisted and I end up defending myself over nothing. I cant deal with it. I dont lace my comments with smileys, I am just posting my comments. I am Dutch, we are quite direct in what we say, but that doesnt mean we want to argue. I am not a troll either, I am not even anonymous, trolls dont pay for images to test someones checkout on their own site. Trolls dont spent their time helping people.  This thread is the straw, the OP agrees with me, yet, I get 5 down votes. there are some trolls here that dont even get as much down votes. And when I am called a troll, the comment gets up votes. Its fine, I just need to take a break from here.

Beppe Grillo

« Reply #20 on: September 03, 2013, 05:48 »
+1
Don't worry, take it easy
Those that systematically put vote down have an obvious problem, at first with themselves
They feel so much superior to others, but they are just pedantic and arrogant people and they should try to get down from their pedestal
Sad for them really.
« Last Edit: September 03, 2013, 06:09 by Beppe Grillo »

Ron

« Reply #21 on: September 03, 2013, 06:05 »
0
Its not about being worried, its just frustrating. I dont know who does it. I just dont get it and its no fun. Thanks anyways, still I am going to take a break. Maybe I only need to post happy dandy comments and agree with everybody. Maybe that helps.

« Reply #22 on: September 03, 2013, 12:48 »
-1
Personally, don't get this minus voting at all - I do the odd plus but have never done a minus and have received most on threads where there has been fairly evenly balanced argument and would guess the responsible folks are pretty black & white in their outlook.

« Reply #23 on: September 04, 2013, 14:09 »
+6
I am constantly receiving down votes for what I am saying, to a point I no longer enjoy this forum. I am being accused of posting comments just to argue with people. I dont, period. I dont want to argue, its draining me. So I am going to take a break from the MSG forum. I am here to offer help and to give my point of view. But my words are often twisted and I end up defending myself over nothing. I cant deal with it. I dont lace my comments with smileys, I am just posting my comments. I am Dutch, we are quite direct in what we say, but that doesnt mean we want to argue. I am not a troll either, I am not even anonymous, trolls dont pay for images to test someones checkout on their own site. Trolls dont spent their time helping people.  This thread is the straw, the OP agrees with me, yet, I get 5 down votes. there are some trolls here that dont even get as much down votes. And when I am called a troll, the comment gets up votes. Its fine, I just need to take a break from here.

Seriously, who gives a crap about pluses or minuses? They mean nothing, stop making such a fuss about it.



 

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