| As most photographers know by now, selling their | | | | this, and have moved on from these common topics |
| work has never been easier with the multitude of | | | | long ago. You should too. |
| online microstock agencies out there who are eager to | | | | 4). Concepts sell. Think of phrases and metaphors in |
| represent their images. Things were very easy and | | | | your everyday life and create images based around |
| sales were plentiful for any contributor during the early | | | | that. There is still a huge void of these types of images |
| years (2002-2007) as the market was still in its infancy | | | | in most microstock agencies, compared to the plethora |
| and agencies were in a rush to fill their archives. | | | | of standard object images already online. A creative |
| Unfortunately, things have changed, and it's not as | | | | concept image will always outsell a standard picture of |
| easy as uploading random snapshots from your | | | | a flower or plate of food. The best part: concepts can |
| hard-drive anymore - the competition amongst | | | | be based on current events, so there is always a |
| contributors getting fierce. There are some incredibly | | | | need for fresh images in this category. |
| talented photographers and artists all vying for the | | | | 5). People images are always popular. Face it...people |
| same pool of buyers, and anyone who has any hope | | | | images have always been the most popular, and they |
| of success uploading to the major microstock | | | | always will be. The interesting thing about images with |
| agencies nowadays needs to have an edge - | | | | people in them is that there is (and always will be) a |
| something that makes their work stand out from the | | | | need for fresh images - clothing and hair styles change |
| tens of millions of other images that are already online. | | | | frequently, and photos from just a few years ago are |
| There are some very important things to keep in mind | | | | already becoming out of fashion. This is the one theme |
| as you develop your royalty-free portfolio. Here are a | | | | that will be strong for years to come. |
| few of them: | | | | 6). Bright colors will make your images stand out in a |
| 1). Be unique. Create a style or persona that will make | | | | crowd. Not that it is appropriate for every type of |
| people remember you and your portfolio. | | | | photo or illustration, but one thing you can do to boost |
| 2). Quality over quantity. It used to be that the | | | | your traffic is to create images with vivid colors and a |
| contributor who had the most images at each agency | | | | lot of contrast. This helps your images to stand out |
| sold the most - it was a numbers game. Quality didn't | | | | from the rest when a buyer is looking at a page of |
| matter when the microstock business was in its | | | | 80+ images of one particular subject. |
| infancy, as there were very few images to choose | | | | 7). Leave room for typography. Chances are, the |
| from and buyers were happy to get what they could. | | | | buyers of your images will be modifying them |
| Now that the business has matured and the large | | | | extensively and adding text and titles over top of them |
| agencies have collections pushing into the tens of | | | | to complete their design. Leaving plenty of open space |
| millions, flooding your portfolio with large amounts of | | | | to the right or left side of your main subject will be |
| mediocre images doesn't work any more. There are a | | | | very attractive to buyers who need to add more |
| lot of really good images online, and mediocre images | | | | elements to the image, as you have already done |
| (no matter how many) just don't get the attention they | | | | much of the work for them. Make sure the open |
| used to anymore. Your sales will be better by | | | | space you leave is very simple and clean, as it is |
| uploading limited amounts of your best work - | | | | usually more difficult to add typography over top of |
| guaranteed. | | | | complex (busy) backgrounds. |
| 3). Forget about common themes - they don't sell | | | | In summary, don't be stubborn - the types of images |
| anymore. Cats, dogs, sunsets, isolated objects...they've | | | | that sell today may fall out of demand tomorrow, and |
| all been beaten to death. Search any major | | | | just because you had success in the past doesn't |
| microstock agency for any of these themes, and you | | | | automatically guarantee future success. The online |
| will be flooded by page after page after page of | | | | microstock business is a living, organic thing. And just |
| images that all look the same. Does anyone really think | | | | like any living thing does, it matures and evolves over |
| that their image of an isolated tomato is going to stand | | | | time. Staying ahead of (or at least in line with) this |
| out from the other 10,000 isolated tomatoes that are | | | | evolution will ensure that you can continue to profit |
| already online? The veteran contributors have realized | | | | from this business for many years to come. |