Photos That Sell

Photos That Sell
Subjects To Shoot,
Things To Look Out For
& Traps To Avoid At All Costs!

Tips For Shooting Photos That Sell

Think beyond just capturing your subject

Whether it's a model or an object or a
place, try to create an image that
says something about the subject


People photos that sell are going to
convey an emotion, or a concept
or a lifestyle situation.

Don't try to do everything in one photo.

Focus on one theme at a time
and make sure you get it!


Images need a sense of purpose.

The viewer should never be left
wondering why you took the photo?


A lot of photo buyers these days
are non- professionals.

Buying images isn't necessarily
their main responsibility.

These new buyers are usually going to
choose the bright, vibrant images,
with strong simple compositions.


Execution is everything …

Focus Exposure Composition

Master the rules before
you try breaking them


When photographing people,
always ask for a release first.

Take the time explain what you're
trying to capture before you start.

People respond better when they
know what you're trying to do.


If a photograph needs a
caption to explain it ...
it's not a stock image

… and it's probably not
much of a photo either!


Take a Client Centric approach when
you're keywording your images

Decide who your target buyers might
be and why they need the image …

Use that insight to work out what words
they're going to use in their search


The best selling photographs
of famous landmarks
are usually taken by
local photographers!


Food should be eaten
Drinks should be drunk

Still-life food & beverage shots
do sell but competition is steep

Capture them in a lifestyle context
and step out from the crowd!


Always Get Model Releases
even for unidentifiable body parts

Many buyers will err on the side of
caution, especially if they're buying
images for their own Clients

Don't try to tell them they're wrong
Just give them what they want!


No free advertising!

Compose out brands, logos and branding,
or remove them in Photoshop.

No one pays for photos of their own
Logos any more, and no one has EVER
paid for photos of someone else's brand


If a face is visible the eyes
will be the focal point

If two or more faces are visible
there will be a connection
between the them


Set up for tabletop photography
and start a list of subjects

Then use downtime – or lousy
weather – to add valuable new
material to your catalog


When shooting objects make sure the
context totally works... or totally misses!

Reality sells & abstracts sell...

Vague settings somewhere in between
won't feel right and won't sell.


Food photos sell but they
MUST look appetizing

Lighting is paramount

And most of the time the
food will be inedible!


Always carry Model & Property
Releases in your kit.

Offer to send a digital copy by email
... in return for a signature.

Released images will sell more
often for much better prices.


Computers and technology shots can
sell extremely well but competition
is extremely high.

Look to capture concepts and stories
rather than more of the still-life shots
that every one else shoots.


Cut-outs can sell, but competition is
high and demand has peaked

So look for other ways to get in close
and create something unique


Landscape images for stock often
need people to add scale & meaning

Buyers demand it, but many of the
landscape-purists won't do it

There's a real opportunity when you
create a scene that your viewer
would like to be part of!


Sunrise and sunset skies
make boring images
The magic is in the light and
the way it plays on objects
Capture that and you'll be
making photos that can sell

If you're a sunrise addict, look to add
interesting, easily-identified silhouettes
to the foreground for visual interest.

Scout locations with lots of distinctive
& interesting shapes

Plan ahead and walk away from your early
morning sessions with dozens of commercial
shots instead of a few nice-nothing skies!


Lighting. Lighting. Lighting.
Consider supplementing the lighting
of every subject you shoot!

Any time of day or night, ask yourself
Can the lighting can be improved?


Backs of people can sell

… IF there's something going on

but backs of heads rarely move


Landscape Images of one specific
vegetation type often sell better than
big vistas with a bit of everything...

Get in closer and capture
something specific


Clichés sell!
Competition can be steep
but the demand is strong for
fresh approaches to old ideas


Simple shots of iconic landmark
subjects sell well despite the odds.

Some have been photographed millions
of times, but demand is strong for
fresh new images shot well
under perfect conditions


Include contemporary people
in your iconic landmark shots
… it will put a shelf-life on the images,
but during their marketable lifespan
they'll face much less competition


Boring landscapes never sell. Landscapes
need a strong point of interest to sell.

It doesn't always have to be a
feature of the scene though.

Strong natural lines can work,
as can strong blocks of color

Always look for something to hold the eye!

Flowers still sell but competition
is high so everything needs
to be perfect

Composition. Lighting. Execution.

Perfect. Perfect. Perfect!


Shooting flowers, think 131
.
One bloom, three blooms
or one mass of blooms
You'll rarely sell anything in between!


Keep It Simple!

Photo-buyers NEVER bother with
images they have to decipher


There's always good interest in
common subjects captured
in a unique style

Especially true with technology,
business and finance themes


Pick your cultivated flowers
before you shoot them
Compositions, lighting & backgrounds
all need to be more perfect than
Nature usually provides!

(But don't pick wildflowers … natural works there!)


Keep it Safe & Inoffensive

If you shoot confronting images
look for another outlet

They won't sell as stock!


New concepts and themes
are emerging every year

Look for new technologies, new
products, new words, new ideas

Be the first to create the images
that illustrate their essence


Corporate shots have a
fashion-shelf-life

So buyers always need
original images with
current clothing and
modern hair styles


Look for all aspects of modern business
… not just the meetings and handshakes

The way business happens is constantly
changing, so this is a huge market
… if you can capture those changes


People Interacting With People

Enough said ...


Average looking people usually need to
have a reason for being in an image
… not just posing for the camera

Give them a prop, dress them up, put them
in a location … do whatever it takes to
get them involved in the situation


Science and Technology

The market is flooded with dated still-life
shots of yesterday's technology.
Those images never sell.
Look for the very latest technology and
capture it impacting on people's lives.
That's what sells!


When you look at a business operation,
ask yourself – or your Client – what's
changed most in the way they do
business in the last two years.

Capture that!


Diversity Sells!
In any group situation, the more ethnic
diversity you can display the better.

This is one area where the obviously
contrived images just keep on selling


Buyers always need high quality new
images of concepts & metaphors.

Tell the age-old stories in a new way
and you'll find serious demand
with a lot less competition


Teamwork!

Take it out of the business context
and look for other groups to
convey the message.

Think Workers. Think Sports
Think Kids. Think Animals

This is a timeless theme!


Holidays & Celebrations always
sell from 2-3 months out

Don't just focus on the obvious
Religious Occasions though

Look for Local Events and Festivals
Document the traditions & customs

Capture the experience!


Strong social themes will always sell,
again and again and again ...

… but don't be too abstract or busy.

The theme needs to be convey instantly,
then the story gradually revealed
as the viewer studies the image


Good sports images can be used in many
different fields, if you shoot for Stock Clients

Leave the reportage to sports photographers

Instead capture the countless themes and
concepts that sport encapsulates

That's where the stock dollars are!


People at work are always in
demand, and not just the suits

Trades people, hospitality workers,
medical workers are especially hot!


Health Care is major social
issue and a growth industry
This makes it a common theme for
both editorial & advertising buyers

Demand for strong, believable images of
doctors, nurses, patients, hospitals &
medicines is only going to get stronger!


Reality is the new catch-phrase to marketable
people photography. Real life shots of real
people in natural situations.

But Reality doesn't mean Snapshots!

Perfect execution, perfect lighting, perfect
composition, visible faces, clear emotion,
and a believable connection between
your models and the situation


If you like to capture dramatic skies,
Photoshop them into other images
with less impressive skies.

They won't sell on their own!


People on simple backgrounds

Use background colour and texture
to add meaning without distracting.

White backgrounds can and do sell,
if there are other elements that
add meaning the image


Three-quarter views of happy, attractive
people are always in demand, since they
can be used for so many purposes

They do have a shelf-life though, so when
you find a model who sells, keep shooting
with current hairstyles and fashions
in many different locations


Travel Concepts can sell well IF you
Convey a situation that the viewer wants
desperately to experience for themselves

… Leisure, luxury, adventure, culture,
excitement, wonder, relaxation ...

It all works if you sell the experience!


Religion and Spirituality
Convey the rich tapestry of the
world's beliefs with images of
people living that belief

Tough to capture but worth the effort!


Concept images are timeless so take
your time to set up fantastic shots
with a strong creative twist

Love, hate, fear, greed, health, success,
pride, addiction, desire, anger, speed ...

Make yourself a list, study it regularly
and look for opportunities to capture one
or two of these in your other shoots.


Couples Of All Ages
… As long as there's a believable
emotional connection

Make it real and it will sell


Christmas, Halloween, Hanukkah,
Thanksgiving and Valentines Day all
enjoy annual bursts of sales

If you like to work this field, also consider
images of birthdays, weddings and other
celebrations that occur all year round!


Luxury is a concept that sells,
usually at a very high price!

So look for original ways
to convey that theme in a
variety of generic settings

They Will Sell!


Food needs to be styled and lit
just as carefully as models

Do it right or don't bother!


Wellness, Beauty and Spa images
are being used more and more to
sell everything from property to
clothes to food products.

Anything related to well-being and
personal-care can sell well

Attractive faces and bodies being
treated with all kinds of natural
remedies are often big sellers.

Travel images sell, holiday snaps don't

Travel images need to sell the viewer
on the experience of the destination,

So they need to show people enjoying
the experience of the destination.


Watch out for the latest
fitness fads and diets

Create & publish images that
illustrate those themes...

Before they start talking
about it on Oprah!

We have an aging population so images
of older adults and senior citizens
are used to sell stuff everywhere.

Images need to make the older viewers
feel good about who they are and
where they're at.


To Sum It All Up …
Photos of ANYTHING Can Sell
If They're Shot Right
What means is: Unique & Original Images
with Perfect Execution and Client-Centric
Composition are always in demand.


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Thanks For Your Help!


Photos That Sell
This was a presentation by GlobalEye
Images, the Co-operative Stock Library

Photographers working together to
reduce costs, increase exposure
and sell more images.

www.GlobalEyeImages.com


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