Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

hhltdave5 · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 6:56 am

Otello here is what you need to get a good start on this.

First know what a good stock shot is. A good stock shot is one that will help sell or promote a product, concept or idea. You have a concept with the hearts and blanket shot but most of the other shots are just pictures you took from things you have seen while walking around.

Next learn about lighting. Light is the most important thing when it comes to photography because without light there is no photography. You need to know how to use the light, know where the light needs to be when taking a shot as well as how intense or hard it is. If you do not understand light then what happens is that you will get over exposed or under exposed shots.

Learn composition. If you look at most of your shots you place the object of the shot (such as a bird) in the center of the frame. You also make the bird very small in the frame. Google Rule of Thirds and learn to fill more of the frame with the object of the shot.

Photography is much more than just taking pictures. In this case you are trying to create an image that someone will buy and to do that it must be done technically very well.

Keep reading the forums and you may also want to take a class on photography. There are many ways to learn about this and in the end they will help you out greatly.

evetodew · Joined: 24 Feb 2012 Posts: 142 Location: Sweden

Even may small pocket camera makes better photos. What camera do you use? It looks like they are made with a cell phone. Sorry. I don't want to be mean, but I myself that am not good at shooting yet, have never managed to make such photos, but only with cell phone camera.

mattgibson · Joined: 11 Nov 2009 Posts: 601 Location: London

Oh my God! Are you serious? This MUST be a wind up!

This must be one of the worst set of pictures I have seen posted - makes the duck thread images worthy of being best sellers!

I mean seriously, you ask people for comments and critique but don't listen to what is said. Read the comments and then look at the portfolio of the people giving you critique - these people are not amatuers, they are serious photographers and if not professional then very good photographers anyway (in the main) and earning some well earned income from stock.

They take this craft seriously and the comments offered are garnered from years of experience and knowledge. When people choose to ignore this advice and just continue posting the same poor standard of images then you start getting responses like this!!!

If you are serious then LISTEN !!! Learn from the comments and post images which show improvements and demonstrate that you are listening and that you have the dedication and desire to do this.

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:20 am

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:22 am

evaners · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:27 am

Is it April 1? It has to be April 1 doesn't it?

Seriously.

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

Please remember people here can be harsh but they are trying to help. I think sometimes they intentionally push you with harsh comments just to see how you take them. Will this photographer try to improve or will he just give up like so many others do? If you have the stuff to make it this site you will take what they have to say, make improvements and post some new photos that at least look like you have tried to implement what they have told you.

The photos you have posted look like you just went outside and shot whatever was in front of your eyes and gave no thought to lighting and composition. There is only one in the whole bunch that looks like you gave more than a few seconds of thought too. Yesterday I set up and took 4 photos. I had been thinking of the idea for a couple weeks now, it took me about and hour to set up the shot and another hour to edit the photos. For just 4 photos!!! I know that seems like a waste of time to some people but I really want to have high quality photos in my portfolio.

Your next set of photos, even if you don't get the lighting and technical qualities down, should at least look like you gave some thought to subject and composition. It seems harsh so sorry but if you want to get anywhere we have to see that you are improving and taking at least part of our suggestions to heart.

So take some time think of a couple good ideas and do your very best to photograph those ideas to the best of your ability then come back and we can give you a real critique.

semmickphoto · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:29 am

kellyplz · Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2012 9:19 pm

rinder99 · Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2012 8:14 pm

WOW!!!!!!! Thats not a good wow.

mauijon · Joined: 02 Mar 2005 Posts: 4284 Location: Maui, Hawaii

Your birds are too SMALL.

I have drawn on 3 bird shots to show how large the birds should be in the images, below. Get closer or use a telephoto lens with tripod.

But they still have other major problems--Read the comments by others before reshooting!

markrhiggins · Joined: 28 Jan 2008 Posts: 2006 Location: Australia

"the photo with the towels and the hearts is a good concept. Work on that one, perfect it. search for other photos like that and make yours as good or better. "
the towel and soap is a blurry mess with blown highlights and distracting background color. If you are serious about this do some work. Learn , (take classes and read),research ,set up and make a shot. These are snaps and no where near what they should be. They are at the point some of us thought it was a practical joke.??? Really read what has been said. Without doing that you are wasting your time. Go and shoot more but it might be good if you did that as part of photography classes. It will fast track your progress. These are critques, not classes.