A photo buyer calls for a picture of pigs. It could be about anything. A hundred responses go online and one lucky so-and-so gets the sale. That's 99 pictures deemed to be second, and that's no good in any race.
So, what is it about that winning picture that produced a sale? It may good lighting, it may be striking content... but hey, all the pictures submitted were about the same topic, so eliminate that one. Let's face it, there could be a million reasons for the selection of that winner, but there isn't!!
The winning shot is unusual. It's different from the rest. It's got something the others just don't have. It's got oomph. It's got pizzazz. Call it what you will' it's got that winning streak that just knocks spots of the competition. It has? Well what the heck is it? Tell me, and we'll bottle it.
It might be stunning exposure. Well it might. That certainly helps. In fact, exposure IS a factor, it must be spot on. However, that's not the killer factor. Picture researchers, editors and publishers don't set out to look for stunning exposures. No. That's not it. There is something else, an elusive factor that underpins every sellable photo. It's not something you can find by playing blind man's bluff either. If you want to sell photos You have to recognize it, pursue it, capture it, master it and make it work for you.
It there for all to see in practically every photo that sells and yet most people and even many photographers just don't see it. How can something so obvious be invisible to a creative eye? It's a mystery. I don't understand it. When I look at the range of submissions for any photo request, my heart sinks. Most photos betray a complete absence of this elusive essential quality. They are duff!
Shots taken so far away from the subject that life-size objects are mere pimples. Boring views that have 5% coverage of the intended and desired theme. Constant repetition of the same unimaginative angle. Yes, you've guessed it. I'm talking about composition.
If you want to sell photos, for pity's sake THINK about what you shoot. The first angle of view MAY be the best one, but I doubt it. The old gunfighter adage ..no matter how fast your are...seems to apply to photography also.
Stalk around your intended subject, look at it from all angles, make mental photos before committing one to film or digital memory, as the case may be. Don't TAKE pictures MAKE them. Fill the screen with powerful compelling artwork. Look for interesting shapes, textures, colours in the most fascinating combination possible, given the lighting conditions and your time constraints.
How you compose your photo says everything about you, so train your eye and mind to maximise your artistic ability. When you shoot in pursuit of beauty, you fulfil yourself. When called upon to make pictures of mundane everyday scenes, you will bring a eagle eye to scour the most pleasing elements of vision and combine them in a most powerful way. You will always be an unpredictable photographer who can capture unusual shots.
Shed the snakeskin of normality and kick out the usual suspects in favour of the racy, the dangerous, the exciting and discover how to enjoy your using your camera, finding the unusual angles and great whacking compositions that draw photo-buyers to you like flies to a honey pot.
You just can't achieve that by shooting the same stuff as the average Joe. Be a special Joe! Be successful and you'll sell your photos with ease.
About The Author
One of a series of articles by Robert Hartness, successful freelance and author of an hot-linked, flip-over, e-book, published on the web in October 2004. It offers a step-by-step guide to those on the threshold of freelance photography and is illustrated with 40+ published photographs. Acclaimed as a great reference source for serious freelancers. More information and order link - http://www.cashfromyourcamera.com
Culver prom limo ..There are really great advantages in digital photography:You can shoot... Read More
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
It's hard to find sometimes but it's making a resurgence,... Read More
When my old Olympus digital camera got broke while caving... Read More
Like most folks you have probably have organized and sorted... Read More
Portrait is defined as, "A likeness of a person, especially... Read More
Imagine taking your new digital camera on a vacation and... Read More
Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take... Read More
Disposable digital and film cameras (also called single-use cameras) provide... Read More
ContentEven if you feel that you already know what kind... Read More
The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will... Read More
What Is... Exposure BracketingExposure bracketing is a simple technique professional... Read More
The digital camera is a wonderful device that allows a... Read More
These parameters are discussed at 2 levels: -Based on... Read More
There are many kinds of disposable cameras. All disposable cameras... Read More
Strike one! Strike two! Strike three!Baseball! America's Pastime, and a... Read More
If you are in the market to purchase a digital... Read More
For years I wondered how big the bucks were that... Read More
So you recently bought a digital camera or perhaps your... Read More
As a professional wedding photographer I get this question asked... Read More
You arrive at your photo shoot excited about the images... Read More
A photo buyer calls for a picture of pigs. It... Read More
By now I'm sure you've used Either a digital or... Read More
Are you having megapixel envy each time you walk by... Read More
I once heard a lady say to a photographer that... Read More
Wood Dale limo ..Why Pinhole Photography?It's fun. It's creative. It's educative about the... Read More
There are a few very important tasks associated with using... Read More
The photos you took of the party are really great... Read More
You may have already started to make money from your... Read More
So you are a small business person or web designer... Read More
Taking pictures of your new baby is a great way... Read More
Photography is a vast world. There are many different types... Read More
Understanding light is one of the very basic principles of... Read More
Choosing a digital camera can be a daunting task with... Read More
Before you are able to take the kind of photos... Read More
Photography is a diversified field of creating a spectral variety... Read More
HP has started making digital cameras only recently. However, the... Read More
At a Photo Club meeting I attended recently, the President... Read More
Disposable cameras are cheap and easy to use. If you... Read More
Having an efficient work flow is essential for photographers. In... Read More
If you think that digital cameras are for snapshots only,... Read More
I love panoramas. There's something very appealing about their shape.... Read More
Started in a single-room by three Japanese men in the... Read More
Sometimes, usual photographs look so common and boring. Converting your... Read More
If you're like me, you have hundreds of photographs sitting... Read More
The digital camera is in reality a great possession with... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
PrefaceIn order to understand color management, it is important to... Read More
What have you done with the photos you've taken with... Read More
As it is a fact that digital cameras are comprised... Read More
Photography |