Quickly expand your stock portfolio
7
That random internet search became a turning point; it directed me to microstocks, and Dreamstime was the first stock agency I registered with and sold an image.
At the very beginning, I was uploading only mountain landscapes. That was what I loved; it was why I bought my Olympus DSLR. Looking back, I realize I should have expanded and diversified my portfolio on the stock site from the start.
The last time I used that camera was in January 2009, and I registered on Dreamstime on October 10. In December 2010, I realized I needed to relearn how to properly use the camera and shoot.
But what should I shoot? I needed to do some research on Dreamstime’s database before diving in. December is a traditional holiday season, so it opens up many areas for exploration. In the process of studying the database, I learned a lot.
What exactly did I learn? Here’s what:
Studying the stock photo database
Explore it, and you will see what stockers are uploading to stock sites and what is selling. This knowledge is unlikely to tell you exactly what to do but will at least give you new ideas for work.
Experiments with colors
I love blue, but of course, it doesn’t look very appealing if all my portfolio consists of one shade. Using different colors will give your portfolio variety and a certain uniqueness.
Hobbies and favorite pastimes
I have many other hobbies, such as making jewelry, going to the movies, or shopping. So these activities and places can provide a great opportunity to diversify your portfolio.
Explore your strengths and weaknesses
The most important thing I learned about myself was realizing that studio photography isn’t for me. Many signs pointed to this before I really thought about it. I love being outdoors and hiking.
From now on, I can focus on what I know well while gradually learning new and interesting things.
Always take your camera with you
I got a lens and a camera small enough to fit in my handbag. It’s a 12-megapixel camera, and it came in handy when I unexpectedly stumbled upon the Thaipusam procession, even though I didn’t even know it was celebrated that day.
Look around you
Check newspapers to find out about events happening in the world; it’s a great way to plan upcoming shoots. Perhaps there’s a grand opening of something somewhere. That’s a good reason to go there with your camera. You never know who you might run into.
Every camera has its pros and cons
In bright sunlight, all my cameras work perfectly. But in poor lighting or at night, I realize my DSLR performs best. So the next time I plan something, I’ll bring my camera for the expected event and for spontaneous shots.
Practice, practice, practice
Now I photograph almost daily, but not all photos end up here in my portfolio on the stock site. Some photos I use in my travel blog. With regular practice, I believe anyone can discover their style and improve their shooting technique.
But the most important thing in this process is the enjoyment. I love being a photographer, and money is secondary. Capturing the right moment in a photo is such a pleasure.
So enjoy capturing your next masterpiece!
Link to the original source:
Author: Haslinda
Link: blog.dreamstime.com/2011/02/02/expanding-portfolio-learning-along-the-way_art34399
Hello, I have a question: I uploaded my drawn illustrations to Fotolia, and one of them was rejected due to “lack of a model release.” The illustration depicts a church building rather schematically outside of a recognizable landscape. Also, the church is basically just a silhouette with minimal detailing. There are no people in the drawing. What could be the problem?
Good day!
Sometimes this happens. Photo banks (not only Fotolia) take precautions and check authors. If you drew from a photo, then the photo bank may require a property release; if it concerns a church, you can indicate that the object is public domain (unless it is a private church). If you drew from your sketches, you can upload their photo as a release and state that you are the author of the sketches. But in most cases, this is a mere formality, and you can re-upload the image with minimal changes (increase/decrease by a pixel).
Are photos with text accepted on stock sites? For example, a picture with some abstract text on it. Theoretically, why not? Maybe someone needs exactly that for personal use.
Photos with text are not accepted by all stock sites. You also need to consider that fonts have their own creators and rules for usage. Therefore, before submitting a piece with text to a stock, make sure that the font author has allowed its use for commercial purposes, and that the stock accepts works containing text.
Thank you very much for the wonderful article. It’s very encouraging.
Absolutely 🙂