Link?

My advise with shutterstock would be:
Dont ever upload a picture that is not better than the last upload.

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.

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. 

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

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

Quote from: Ron on September 02, 2013, 16:28

Quote from: Microstock Posts on September 02, 2013, 16:20

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. 

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

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on September 02, 2013, 16:32

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?

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. 

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.