Tolstoi once said that everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. I try to remind myself this quote daily, especially when confronted with criticism. Everybody wants to go to heaven, no one wants to die.
The most common question received from (new) photographers regards refusals. If you're no longer new and noticed this (forbidden) question on the boards think what support sees on email. Just as the rules apply on the forums, they apply on the blogs too, so I will not discuss here about refusals. When one receives a refusal, he/she might want to really take it as a guidance and try to shoot better their next batch. Don't complain to support, if it got refused it will not sell. Maybe it will do it once, twice, but we want it to sell hundreds of times.
If you're approval ratio is low, let's say under 50%, try the following:
1. Think more about the subject that you will shoot, what makes it special? Don't go out and point the camera to the first thing that you reach. Plan your shooting and maybe travel to the most attractive place in your area.
2. Decided what you intend to shoot? See how other photographers have done it. On Dreamstime, with traditional famous collections or just google it. See the best shots and ask yourself what you will bring new to the buyers? Think well, there are millions of Eiffel tower pictures. If you are taking the same classical shot, let it be perfect as technical, equipment etc. If you don't have that, be original. Print the best examples you found.
3. Try to get the appropriate lens and/or at least the best hour to shoot it. If your camera is a compact one, read more about its specific settings related to the subject that you will shoot. Get back to the manual, browse the forums, ask for other opinions.
4. The shooting day is here: go for the best angle, refer to the prints you got at #2. See what you can bring new. If it's a touristic spot, I hope you are there at dawn, before the crowds show up. Be there before the sun shows up!
Take lots of shots, bracket, change angles... but select only one, the best one. Throw the rest away in a remote folder, then use Photoshop to try to get most of that very picture.
5. Keep the original for backup. Clean out distracting elements using clone. Remove dust, enhance skies, boost levels and saturate color. Be careful on distorted pixels, clean up any noise. Work on separate layers and/or separate channels. It will take way more than the shooting session itself, I know, but you're improving your entire work flow and all your future submissions by doing this.
6. Shrink the image at thumbnail size and think, why would you buy it? Is it really special, something that a designer cannot shoot on his own? If the answer is no, then delete it and start all over. Go back to #1.
If small details are lost and cannot be seen at thumbnail size, remove them. If they are important for the concept, you're on the wrong path. The buyer will see ONLY the thumbnail.
7. If you said yes, take a look once again and see what else can be improved. Put it aside for a couple of hours or a few days. Good photos are like good wine, they should look better after a while. So, check it once again and if it still attracts you, upload it. If it's not don't be afraid to process it once again or to go back to #1.
Leave it in the unfinished area for a few days. Wait until you have more photos listed there...Does it still look better in that crowd? If yes, then you're on the right path. Are you really sure?
Editors review thousands of images per day. They see extremely good images that brings them all together in the office, clapping their hands and nodding heads :) Then they see images that are ...well, not so good. Those are immediately refused.
Many images are average shots. Is your image better than the average? Will you get an WOW from the editor? He/she is your first client. Make him/her say it and you got yourself a stock photograph that sells!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Free Stock Photos
We tried to compile a comprehensive list of sites offering free stock photos. Some of the sites listed offer free stock photos only for personal use while some others allow the use of the images for commercial use as well. Details for each site have been added next to each listing. However, it is advised that you personally check the TOS of each website personally.
Also please keep in mind that even if a photographer has released his images for free, even in the Public Domain but the images contain trademarks or recognizable people these images cannot be used for commercial projects unless the persons in the photographs have signed model releases and you have permission from the trademark holders.
1 Title: Stock Exchange
Description: Stock Exchange is one of the biggest if not the biggest free stock photos archive with over 252 000 free stock images. The license of each image is determined by the creator and therefore it is advised that you check the usage permissions below each image.
2 Title: MorgueFile
Description: MorgueFile is probably the largest free stock photos archive of images that can be used for commercial projects.
3 Title: StockVault
Description: An archive of almost 5000 free stock photos that are available for personal use (No commercial use is allowed)
4. Title: Piotrix
Description: A gallery of about 2000 free images available for personal use. Most images are 2MP in size. Larger sizes are available after registration.
5. Title: FreeRangeStock
Description: A collection of about 2000 free stock photos with a minimum resolution of 3MP. Requires registration (free) but the images can be used for commercial projects.
6. Title: ImageAfter
Description: Large well categorized collection of photos available for both free and commercial use.
7. Title: OpenPhoto
Description: Almost 3500 free images are available at OpenPhoto. There isn't a universal license so it is reccomended to check the license of each image individually.
8. Title: BigFoto
Description: Collection of free photos categorized by location and theme. The photos can be used for personal projects freely and for commercial projects with proper attribution.
9. Title: Pixel Perfect Digital
Description: Online archive of more than 4000 free images available for personal and commercial use.
10. Title: FreeFoto
Description: A really large collection of almost 100 000 free stock photos for personal use.
11. Title: FreeImages.co.uk
Description: Offers about 2500 free stock photos that can be used for both personal and commercial projects. Attribution is required.
12. Title: Free Photo Station
Description: Categorized collection of free stock photos. There is no mention on the site if the photos can be used commercially.
13. Title: FreePixels
Description: Archive of about 2000 photos and raster illustrations that can be freely used for personal or commercial projects
14. Title: FreePhotosBank
Description: Collection of free photos that can be used for personal and commercial projects
15. Title: DesignPacks
Description: Archive of mostly textures photos, free for bot personal and commercial use
16. Title: Cromavista
Description: Photos by Ricardo MartÃn Herrero that can be used without limitations (Spanish Site)
17. Title: BurninWell.org
Description: Offers more than 2000 public domain photos
18. Title: GeekPhilosopher
Description: A library of free stock photos created by the owners of the site as well as public domain photos collected from the web
19. Title: Cepolina
Description: Offers more than 3500 free images for download.
20. Title: TextureKing
Description: Archive of free textures that can be used for any purpose (reselling is prohibited)
21. Title: PDPhoto
Description: Provides about 2000 public domain photos for download. From the site: "Unless something is clearly marked as being copyrighted, you can assume it is free to use."
22. Title: Flickr Creative Commons
Description: Literally millions of pictures license under different Creative Commons licenses
23. Title: GIMP Savvy
Description: A collection of almost 27000 public domain images collected from sources like the NASA and NOA
24. Title: Free Photographs Network
Description: Provides free photos for Non-Commercial use
25. Title: FreePhotos.com
Description: Offers close to 1500 free stock photos with no usage restrictions
26. Title: Aarin Free Photo
Description: Offers more than 950 images for personal and commercial use
27. Title: FreeStockPhotos.com
Description: Provides free photos for personal and commercial projects. However, some restrictions apply (listed on the front page)
28. Title: FreeImages.com
Description: Site owned by JupiterImages, provides about 2300 free images. It is advisable to read the terms before using the images
29. Title: Barry's Free Photos
Description: Another site owned by JupiterImages that provides free stock photos. Terms
30. Title: Pyed.net
Description: Small collection of free photos for personal use (requires attribution)
31. Title: Pictures from Old Books
Description: A collection of more than 1300 pictures scanned from old books. Most of them are in the Public Domain
32. Title: USDA Image Gallery
Description: More than 2000 free photos
33. Title: FreeDigitalPhotos.net
Description: Offers almost 3000 free photos for personal and commercial use. Terms
34. Title: FreeMediaGOO
Description: Offers free photos that can be used for commercial and non commercial projects
35. Title: AmazingTextures
Description: Offers free textures for personal use
36. Title: Photocase
Description: Online communitty that offers free photos for personal and commercial use. Terms
37. Title: Woophy
Description: Interesting website that categorizes photos by location. Low resolution photos are free for personal use
38. Title: ImageBase
Description: From the site "What does Free To Use Actually means? It means you can use the images for whatever you want, personal, commercial of non-profit use for free. You cannot copyright the images nor can you resell them unaltered. Any others questions?"
39. Title: YotoPhoto
Description: A really nice site that doesn't offer free photos but is a free photos search engine.
40. Title: Studio25.ro
Description: Offers over 2500 free high quality stock images. TOS
41. Title: Digital Library System
Description: Provides access to quite a few image libraries that contain public domain photos such as the Alaska Image Library, Pacific Image Gallery and much more
42. Title: Images of American Political History
Description: A collection of over 500 public domain images of American Political History.
43. Title: US Geological Survey Photographic Library
Description: More than 400,000 photographs taken during geologic studies, all are in the Public Domain
44. Title: ImageBlowout
Description: Offers a small collection of uncategorized free stock phos
45. Title: FontPlay Free Photos
Description: A gallery of over 8000 free stock photos that can be used for bot personal and commercial projects. Updated regularly
46 . Title: Public Domain Stock Photos
Description: Categoized gallery of photos released in the Public Domain
47 . Title: Demmy.nl
Description: Small colletion of free stock photos
48 . Title: ImageTemple
Description: Gallery of free photos for personal and commercial projects.
49 . Title: Pixalia
Description: Site is in Spanish and requires registration (free) to access the free stock photos. Really nicely done site
50 . Title: Graphics Arena
Description: Small gallery of free wallpapers and stock photos. Doesn't clearly state the Terms of Use
51 . Title: One Odd Dude
Description: Collection of free stock photos and backgrounds for personal only use
52 . Title: Truly Free Stock
Description: Categorized collection of truly free stock photos
53 . Title: T8 Software Free Stock Photos
Description: Small collection of free stock photos. Requires attribution.
54 . Title: LightMatter
Description: Stock photo gallery that provides images licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
55 . Title: Insecta
Description: Gallery of insects images licenced under a CC Licence
56 . Title: Diwiesign
Description: Offers free stock photos for non commercial use
57 . Title: DNS Fotografia Digital
Description: Brazilian website offering free stock photos. I am not sure about the exact license since auto translators don't work that great.
58 . Title: Photoshocked
Description: Stock photo gallery that provides images licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.
59 . Title: AboutPixel.de
Description: Large German site offering almost 40000 photos contributed by users. Requires Registration
60 . Title: BajStock
Description: Offers almost 650 free stock photos
61 . Title: Insect Images
Description: Offers insect images for personal and educational use. Requires attribution
62 . Title: Yellowstone Digital Slide File
Description: Offers almost 13000 pictures in the public domain from Yellowstone
63 . Title: Star 29
Description: Offers about 120 free stock photos
64 . Title: NASA Images
Description: Most pictures are in the Public Domain, however attribution is required
65 . Title: FWS Pictures and Graphics
Description: Attribution for the use of images is required
66 . Title: Public Health Images Library
Description:Library of images related to health and science from the Center of Diseace Control. Most of them are in the public domain
67. Title:NYPL Digital Gallery
Description: "NYPL Digital Gallery provides access to over 480,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs, illustrated books, printed ephemera, and more." Images are free for for personal and educational purposes only.
68. Title: Graphic Maps
Description: Collection of map and flags clipart that can be used for free
69. Title: Great Images in NASA
Description: Collection of historical images from NASA. Some of them are copyright free.
70. Title: NASA Images
Description: Provides links to all NASA websites offering images for download.
71. Title: NWYH Stock Library
Description:Provides a small collection of free (humorous) business stock photos.
72. Title: National Park Service Digital Images Index
Description: From the site: "provides links to public domain digital images of many of those sites, including national parks, monuments, historic sites and related areas."
73. Title: DeviantArtDescription: Stock photos at DeviantArt. You need to check usage permission for each image individually
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Sell Photographs Online & Marketing Photographs
Selling your photographs is no different from selling anything else... it takes time and a lot of work. If you expect to become rich by selling your photographs, don't leave your first job just yet! Like any other type of selling, you are selling yourself as well as selling your photographs. And with the Internet, the selling of yourself becomes a little more difficult as you are not face to face with a potential buyer of your photographs. So, what do you do to level the playing field using the Internet?
The first thing you must do is to be able to create a Internet page including a photograph of yourself along with some text so the visitor can a least have some kind of knowledge who you are when email might be communicated back and forth. Your text should give a little background about yourself, who you are, how you think, what type of photography that you do and any other information that will help you become established in the mind of the visitor. The more a person knows about you, the better chance you will have to sell your photographs. A potential buyer has to establish a relationship with a photographer and if a buyer doesn't know what the photographer looks like or what really motivates the photographer, something is lost. The photographer is selling himself/herself as well as the photograph.
Always look good and be professional in the design of Your Gallery and the types of photographs that you are offering. Always think quality over quantity.
Try to include as much information as possible describing your photographs. Google and other search engines use the description to index your photographs even further in the searches. If a person searches for a specific photograph, yours might appear in the search.
What is your market? Who do you want to sell to? Are people living in the USA interested in photographs of the UK? If a visitor has not visited the UK, yet (and if many of your photographs are photographs of specific areas in the UK), the visitor might not be interested in purchasing any of your photographs. A visitor might purchase photographs from other photographers if they have been to a specific place or the photograph reminds them of a specific place. In other words, if the photograph is of a forest or a beach, it might look like a place a visitor has visited. If you are trying to sell to a broad market, you have to think about what the other market wants. If you only want to specialize in the UK, concentrate on just UK photographs. Then promote yourself within that market.
If you are talented, write some articles to promote your photography. If you are from the UK, write a few articles about photographing in the UK, hiking in the UK, what to see in the UK, tips about the UK. If a person is interested in reading about the UK, they certainly would be interested in seeing photography from the UK. And when they visit the UK, they might be interested in purchasing one of your photographs. Your article will be searched by the search engines and read by thousands of people.
The first thing you must do is to be able to create a Internet page including a photograph of yourself along with some text so the visitor can a least have some kind of knowledge who you are when email might be communicated back and forth. Your text should give a little background about yourself, who you are, how you think, what type of photography that you do and any other information that will help you become established in the mind of the visitor. The more a person knows about you, the better chance you will have to sell your photographs. A potential buyer has to establish a relationship with a photographer and if a buyer doesn't know what the photographer looks like or what really motivates the photographer, something is lost. The photographer is selling himself/herself as well as the photograph.Always look good and be professional in the design of Your Gallery and the types of photographs that you are offering. Always think quality over quantity.
Try to include as much information as possible describing your photographs. Google and other search engines use the description to index your photographs even further in the searches. If a person searches for a specific photograph, yours might appear in the search.
What is your market? Who do you want to sell to? Are people living in the USA interested in photographs of the UK? If a visitor has not visited the UK, yet (and if many of your photographs are photographs of specific areas in the UK), the visitor might not be interested in purchasing any of your photographs. A visitor might purchase photographs from other photographers if they have been to a specific place or the photograph reminds them of a specific place. In other words, if the photograph is of a forest or a beach, it might look like a place a visitor has visited. If you are trying to sell to a broad market, you have to think about what the other market wants. If you only want to specialize in the UK, concentrate on just UK photographs. Then promote yourself within that market.
If you are talented, write some articles to promote your photography. If you are from the UK, write a few articles about photographing in the UK, hiking in the UK, what to see in the UK, tips about the UK. If a person is interested in reading about the UK, they certainly would be interested in seeing photography from the UK. And when they visit the UK, they might be interested in purchasing one of your photographs. Your article will be searched by the search engines and read by thousands of people. Sell Your Photographs - Think Out Of The Box
Your town library is a good place to start showing your photographs. The library will give you great exposure, does not take a percentage of any of the photographs sold, is a non pressure environment and a good starting point for you.
The library will also promote the exhibit in the newspaper. I also approached our town nature center. They mailed an announcement of the exhibition to all their members. In return, I donated 25% of the sales of the photographs to the nature center. This gave potential buyers another reason to purchase a photograph. The nature center also promoted the exhibit on our local public TV.
Everyone at times, (including myself) has excuses why not to try different ideas and the underlying theme is usually failure. Once you decide that "Failure is not an option" and any failure that comes along is one step closer to success, you are on your way. If you are happy with photography as a hobby, then keep it that way... enjoy it for what it is and don't try to sell your photographs. No one needs any additional pressure on something that you enjoy. But there is one feeling that you will never experience and that is "Knowing that someone bought one of your photographs, took the time to frame it and hung it on their wall." And somewhere out there your photographs are being seen each day.
"If you don't try, you will never know... and when you do know, you will understand that feeling." You can't sit back and expect to be known without being creative and getting the word out about yourself.
After I had the photographs framed (cost about $220.00 including photographs and hangers), the investment was made. Any benefit that could be achieved after the investment was spent was a bonus and at the same time created a cost/benefit advantage over time.
Here is a plan for you:
1. Drive by the libraries and outdoor retail stores in your area to see if there is an area in the library/store that could display an exhibition of yours. Even if the place has never done something like this, they will appreciate a suggestion from you. My second exhibition was fortunately being displayed in the optics department in a outdoor retail store.
2. Frame your photographs with the same gallery frames. Do not mix frames. My photographs are 8"x10" and the frames are 16"x20".
3. Create a title for your exhibit (seen in the center of the photograph) along a bio with pricing. If you can, laminate the title and bio. The bio also includes the Outdoor Eyes website URL. I also created a little pocket made from cellophane that I placed my business cards in.
4. If you have other photographs to offer, create a little book of other photographs that customers can look through to purchase. I have a binder machine that creates a book, but you can go to Staples, Office Depot or any print shop and they will create a book for you with your pages for about $2.00. I printed all my additional photographs available on photo paper with 9 photos on a single page.
5. Do not sell the framed photographs off the wall. These are only to take orders from. The retailer will process the orders and also take a negotiated percentage of the sale. Usually the exhibit will run for a month. A library will only display your photographs. They will not sell your photographs.
6. If the retailer sells your photographs, then you can talk to the retailer about an additional length of time for your photographs to be displayed.
7. Search the Internet for all the newspapers and magazines in your area. Go to the calendar section and send a press release to the magazines and newspapers. This must be done at least 2-3 weeks prior to your exhibition.
8. Once you have one month booked for your exhibition, then you should look for your next month's exhibition.
9. The framed photographs are already paid for, so your out-of-pocket expense in only your time spent and a little gasoline. My last exhibition took a total of 2 hours to hang and drive to. You can continuously use the same photography book and the same framed photographs over and over again.
10. Take photographs of the exhibition so that you can show potential places what your exhibition will look like.
Good luck with your exhibitions.
The library will also promote the exhibit in the newspaper. I also approached our town nature center. They mailed an announcement of the exhibition to all their members. In return, I donated 25% of the sales of the photographs to the nature center. This gave potential buyers another reason to purchase a photograph. The nature center also promoted the exhibit on our local public TV.
Everyone at times, (including myself) has excuses why not to try different ideas and the underlying theme is usually failure. Once you decide that "Failure is not an option" and any failure that comes along is one step closer to success, you are on your way. If you are happy with photography as a hobby, then keep it that way... enjoy it for what it is and don't try to sell your photographs. No one needs any additional pressure on something that you enjoy. But there is one feeling that you will never experience and that is "Knowing that someone bought one of your photographs, took the time to frame it and hung it on their wall." And somewhere out there your photographs are being seen each day.
"If you don't try, you will never know... and when you do know, you will understand that feeling." You can't sit back and expect to be known without being creative and getting the word out about yourself.
After I had the photographs framed (cost about $220.00 including photographs and hangers), the investment was made. Any benefit that could be achieved after the investment was spent was a bonus and at the same time created a cost/benefit advantage over time.
Here is a plan for you:
1. Drive by the libraries and outdoor retail stores in your area to see if there is an area in the library/store that could display an exhibition of yours. Even if the place has never done something like this, they will appreciate a suggestion from you. My second exhibition was fortunately being displayed in the optics department in a outdoor retail store.
2. Frame your photographs with the same gallery frames. Do not mix frames. My photographs are 8"x10" and the frames are 16"x20".
3. Create a title for your exhibit (seen in the center of the photograph) along a bio with pricing. If you can, laminate the title and bio. The bio also includes the Outdoor Eyes website URL. I also created a little pocket made from cellophane that I placed my business cards in.
4. If you have other photographs to offer, create a little book of other photographs that customers can look through to purchase. I have a binder machine that creates a book, but you can go to Staples, Office Depot or any print shop and they will create a book for you with your pages for about $2.00. I printed all my additional photographs available on photo paper with 9 photos on a single page.
5. Do not sell the framed photographs off the wall. These are only to take orders from. The retailer will process the orders and also take a negotiated percentage of the sale. Usually the exhibit will run for a month. A library will only display your photographs. They will not sell your photographs.
6. If the retailer sells your photographs, then you can talk to the retailer about an additional length of time for your photographs to be displayed.
7. Search the Internet for all the newspapers and magazines in your area. Go to the calendar section and send a press release to the magazines and newspapers. This must be done at least 2-3 weeks prior to your exhibition.
8. Once you have one month booked for your exhibition, then you should look for your next month's exhibition.
9. The framed photographs are already paid for, so your out-of-pocket expense in only your time spent and a little gasoline. My last exhibition took a total of 2 hours to hang and drive to. You can continuously use the same photography book and the same framed photographs over and over again.
10. Take photographs of the exhibition so that you can show potential places what your exhibition will look like.
Good luck with your exhibitions.
Selling and Promoting your photographs
Do I sell photos? Yes I do... and I am always thinking of ways to promote myself and my photography.
1. Develop a target market and focus on who and what you want to sell. That's your first objective.
2. Give your customers a DVD with all of their photographs so they can easily order their photographs. The DVD should start with your business logo and then display their photographs in a slide show. It is a very easy procedure for your customer to order photographs. All they have to do is write down the number on the photograph as it appears on the screen and give you a call. When they have a DVD, you never know when they might want to order some more photographs at a later time (even when they already have ordered some photographs).
3. Create a portfolio DVD for potential clients. It is very easy for them to view your portfolio on their DVD players at work or at home.
4. DVD How To: A multi-card reader allows you to create a DVD on a CD. There is software available to select the photographs and the music that you want to play along with each photograph. Each photograph should contain a file number, a copyright notice and your name.
5. Consider building a small office in your home. I go to a customer's home, to their business or a customer comes to my office. I built an office/lab where customers can discuss jobs. It's small (9'x11'), comfortable and includes a wet and digital lab. The office has definitely helped me develop business.
6. Always take photographs of any public event such as: grand openings, dog shows, sporting events, graduations, church events and public concerts. There might be an opportunity later when someone needs photographs of that event. At the same time, you will be seen photographing the event and people might come up to you with a possible job opportunity.
7. Always carry a binder with some of your work in it in case you have to opportunity to discuss some potential jobs.
8. Constantly try to get your name out there and everywhere. People will start to contact you because they heard of you. Word of mouth is a great form of publicity for you.
9. Take as many photographs as possible. Remember, any photograph can be sold the week it is taken or or a year later. You never know what photograph will sell or when a photograph will sell. If you have a large inventory, the better off you will be. There might be instances when a newspaper needs a photograph of someone who you've photographed recently.
10. Take many candid photographs around town... all I can say is take photographs and more photographs. If you have a digital, it costs almost nothing to store it on a CD. One day, that photograph is going to be wanted by someone. Guaranteed.
11. Look for photography opportunities and create your own. Don't just wait around hoping that some opportunity will just appear.
12. Get invited to private events because people will hope that you'll bring your camera along... which you will do!
13. There is an excellent book on how to make a profit with photography. The book is "Photography-Focus on profit" by Tom Zimberoff. Mr. Zimberoff will guide you on how to make a PROFIT, not just make money... and there is a real difference.
14. Always think of new and creative ways to promote yourself each and every day. And always carry your camera with you. You'll never know what opportunity may come along. My camera is constantly glued to my face at all times.
Good luck!
1. Develop a target market and focus on who and what you want to sell. That's your first objective.
2. Give your customers a DVD with all of their photographs so they can easily order their photographs. The DVD should start with your business logo and then display their photographs in a slide show. It is a very easy procedure for your customer to order photographs. All they have to do is write down the number on the photograph as it appears on the screen and give you a call. When they have a DVD, you never know when they might want to order some more photographs at a later time (even when they already have ordered some photographs).
3. Create a portfolio DVD for potential clients. It is very easy for them to view your portfolio on their DVD players at work or at home.
4. DVD How To: A multi-card reader allows you to create a DVD on a CD. There is software available to select the photographs and the music that you want to play along with each photograph. Each photograph should contain a file number, a copyright notice and your name.
5. Consider building a small office in your home. I go to a customer's home, to their business or a customer comes to my office. I built an office/lab where customers can discuss jobs. It's small (9'x11'), comfortable and includes a wet and digital lab. The office has definitely helped me develop business.
6. Always take photographs of any public event such as: grand openings, dog shows, sporting events, graduations, church events and public concerts. There might be an opportunity later when someone needs photographs of that event. At the same time, you will be seen photographing the event and people might come up to you with a possible job opportunity.
7. Always carry a binder with some of your work in it in case you have to opportunity to discuss some potential jobs.
8. Constantly try to get your name out there and everywhere. People will start to contact you because they heard of you. Word of mouth is a great form of publicity for you.
9. Take as many photographs as possible. Remember, any photograph can be sold the week it is taken or or a year later. You never know what photograph will sell or when a photograph will sell. If you have a large inventory, the better off you will be. There might be instances when a newspaper needs a photograph of someone who you've photographed recently.
10. Take many candid photographs around town... all I can say is take photographs and more photographs. If you have a digital, it costs almost nothing to store it on a CD. One day, that photograph is going to be wanted by someone. Guaranteed.
11. Look for photography opportunities and create your own. Don't just wait around hoping that some opportunity will just appear.
12. Get invited to private events because people will hope that you'll bring your camera along... which you will do!
13. There is an excellent book on how to make a profit with photography. The book is "Photography-Focus on profit" by Tom Zimberoff. Mr. Zimberoff will guide you on how to make a PROFIT, not just make money... and there is a real difference.
14. Always think of new and creative ways to promote yourself each and every day. And always carry your camera with you. You'll never know what opportunity may come along. My camera is constantly glued to my face at all times.
Good luck!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
How To Get Stock-Quality Shots
If you look at the sort of shots that get printed in travel magazines and expensive coffee-table books, they tend to share similar attributes. Look for pictures that you admire and try to analyze why you like them. These are some of the features I like:
Include People
Magazines in particular always like people in the shot. It gives the viewer a human connection, a sense of being there, and a sense of scale. Photographs evoke emotion and empathy comes with someone's face. Avoid crowds and simplify the shot down to one person. The young and old are preferred subjects, with their innocent expressions and weather-worn faces respectively. People make your shots warm, friendly, and personable. Just like you are.
Simple, Clear Layout
A good shot focuses your attention on the subject by using a sparse background and a simple but interesting composition. Always remove clutter for the picture - this is a real skill. Like a musician, it's always difficult to make things look easy. Zoom in, get close, get to eye level, find a simple backdrop, look for balance.
Bold, Solid Colors
'Stock-quality' images make great use of color. Look for solid primary colors: bright 'sports-car' red, emerald green, lightning yellow, and ocean blue. Use a polarizer to bring out the colors. Avoid patterns - keep it simple. Bright afternoon sunlight will add warmth. Alternatively, look for 'color harmony' - scenes restricted to similar tones and colors, or even a single color. This presents a calm, restful image where the eye plays with the differing shades and intensities. Look for pastels, cream, or delicate shades.
Depth
Always include some pointer about depth. A photograph is two-dimensional but we want it to appear three-dimensional. If you're shooting a background (mountains) include a strong foreground (people). If you're shooting people (foreground), add an out-of-focus blur behind them (by using a wide aperture - small f-number).
Use a wide-angle lens for exaggerated depth. With a 20mm to 28mm lens, get just a few feet from your subject and, with a small aperture (large f-number), include an in-focus deep background too. This exaggerated hyperfocal perspective is used in a lot of magazine shots. What impact!
Alternatively you can remove all depth by using a long, telephoto lens. This compresses or compacts the image, making your 3-D subject appear flat.
Dramatic Lighting
Photographs that win competitions are often ones that make interesting use of light. Look out for beams of light shining through clouds, trees or windows, long shadows, and the effect of side- and backlighting. Shoot in the warm golden "magic hours" of early morning and late afternoon.
Preparation
"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur.
A great shot takes time. Scout out the area, make mental notes of important features, unusual and interesting angles, and changing crowd levels. Take time to prepare the shot. Get there before the best time of day, clean your lenses, set up a tripod or mini-tripod, add a cable release, try out different filters, wait for a good foreground, and talk with people who may be in the shot so that they're comfortable and will pose well.
Include People
Magazines in particular always like people in the shot. It gives the viewer a human connection, a sense of being there, and a sense of scale. Photographs evoke emotion and empathy comes with someone's face. Avoid crowds and simplify the shot down to one person. The young and old are preferred subjects, with their innocent expressions and weather-worn faces respectively. People make your shots warm, friendly, and personable. Just like you are.
Simple, Clear Layout
A good shot focuses your attention on the subject by using a sparse background and a simple but interesting composition. Always remove clutter for the picture - this is a real skill. Like a musician, it's always difficult to make things look easy. Zoom in, get close, get to eye level, find a simple backdrop, look for balance.
Bold, Solid Colors
'Stock-quality' images make great use of color. Look for solid primary colors: bright 'sports-car' red, emerald green, lightning yellow, and ocean blue. Use a polarizer to bring out the colors. Avoid patterns - keep it simple. Bright afternoon sunlight will add warmth. Alternatively, look for 'color harmony' - scenes restricted to similar tones and colors, or even a single color. This presents a calm, restful image where the eye plays with the differing shades and intensities. Look for pastels, cream, or delicate shades.
Depth
Always include some pointer about depth. A photograph is two-dimensional but we want it to appear three-dimensional. If you're shooting a background (mountains) include a strong foreground (people). If you're shooting people (foreground), add an out-of-focus blur behind them (by using a wide aperture - small f-number).
Use a wide-angle lens for exaggerated depth. With a 20mm to 28mm lens, get just a few feet from your subject and, with a small aperture (large f-number), include an in-focus deep background too. This exaggerated hyperfocal perspective is used in a lot of magazine shots. What impact!
Alternatively you can remove all depth by using a long, telephoto lens. This compresses or compacts the image, making your 3-D subject appear flat.
Dramatic Lighting
Photographs that win competitions are often ones that make interesting use of light. Look out for beams of light shining through clouds, trees or windows, long shadows, and the effect of side- and backlighting. Shoot in the warm golden "magic hours" of early morning and late afternoon.
Preparation
"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Louis Pasteur.
A great shot takes time. Scout out the area, make mental notes of important features, unusual and interesting angles, and changing crowd levels. Take time to prepare the shot. Get there before the best time of day, clean your lenses, set up a tripod or mini-tripod, add a cable release, try out different filters, wait for a good foreground, and talk with people who may be in the shot so that they're comfortable and will pose well.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
