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
house refresh service Morton Grove ..You will need an underwater camera housing to keep your... Read More
The Vacation Season is fast approaching and naturally you will... Read More
Why is a 3 megapixel camera better than a 1... Read More
So you have rushed out into the malls in a... Read More
Strike one! Strike two! Strike three!Baseball! America's Pastime, and a... Read More
There is a wide world of photography. It touches each... Read More
Everyone has a digital camera today and we all take... Read More
One of the biggest debates in the photography world is... Read More
Photography is a vast world. There are many different types... Read More
A digital camera accessory you should purchase is a spare... Read More
Photography comes from the Greek words meaning "light writing" and... Read More
Looking at the digital camera, a person can visualize it... Read More
It was widely reported in the press (15 September 1997)... Read More
When should you use hyperfocal focusing? Well, sometimes when shooting... Read More
George Eastman, founder of Kodak is world renowned today. Digital... Read More
Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference... Read More
Imagine taking your new digital camera on a vacation and... Read More
Love is in the air at the Venice Rookery. The... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
Photography is a diversified field of creating a spectral variety... Read More
Children are naturally photogenic. Ive worked in studios and children... Read More
There are two types of underwater camera systems: an ""amphibious""... Read More
Photos are a great way to share your travel experiences... Read More
There are also some excellent online courses available and some... Read More
Night photos can take on a somewhat magical quality you... Read More
cleaning service near Mundelein ..The business of stock photography has drastically changed over the... Read More
So you have this great digital camera and you've taken... Read More
There are two sources for obtaining the moulding for making... Read More
STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Making your own digital photo... Read More
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
Night photos can take on a somewhat magical quality you... Read More
Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all... Read More
So you have this great new camera. Now you're standing... Read More
Most serious photographers and all professionals use a Single Lens... Read More
Quite often I will have clients bring in old photographs... Read More
A digital SLR camera or a single lens reflex (SLR)... Read More
Looking at the most intricate details of the digital camera... Read More
PrefaceIn order to understand color management, it is important to... Read More
Choosing the right digital camera for general use can be... Read More
As you might imagine the paradigm shift from traditional film-based... Read More
We all want to make the most of our wedding... Read More
We all love our animals. They do such funny, adorable,... Read More
So you have bought a camcorder and have shot some... Read More
Elephants in the Sky[1980s, Lee Evens in Mali, Timbuktu/Africa]Advance: Lee... Read More
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
Early cameras of the 16th and 17th century were able... Read More
For years I wondered how big the bucks were that... Read More
Several years ago, I met a fellow photographer - albeit,... Read More
So, you want to become a digital artist but paying... Read More
Purchasing a digital camera is a wise decision, particularly if... Read More
Photography |