my stock photos C&C

redtippmann · Jun 10, 2009

Hi, today I worked on some photos for a stock photo site called shutterstock. I have to upload 10 photos and have them evaluate them, so here are the ones for today. Any other ideas for subjects would also be appreciated!

1

2 (yea i have to work on the bottom of them)

3

4 i took all the symbols off so would that be ok?

and then 5

bigtwinky · Jun 10, 2009

1, 2 and 5 seem to have dirty backgrounds...things that need to be cleaned up

3 has a greyish background, kinda grainy. The back of the liquid is somethat blurry too

2 like you said, needs some work on the post processing

Not sure how stock worthy these are, specially on Shutterstock. Search for Apple and see the top results and compare to your #5 and decide if its worthy.
They are good pictures, but I know Shutterstock is really picky about stuff. The pictures are very ordinary, nothing really sets them apart from the rest.
I searched apple and got 53760 hits

I guess it will depend on the reviewer who looks at your submission.

Are these for your 10 initial ones for entry or do you already have an account? If you have an account, clean up the backgrounds, fix up the photoshop and submit.

Sherman Banks · Jun 10, 2009

Have another look at your editing, you still have areas you missed when cloning out the background. And some of your edges don't look so hot (notably the bananas). I hate to say it but these still need a lot of work before they're gonna accept them. The bar is pretty high when it comes to stock photography (at least for most stock photography sites).

redtippmann · Jun 10, 2009

OK thanks! I used a white brush on the background for them so don't know how they can be dirty. But it might be that im using copy paper and 2 lava lamp lights(they get HOT)

Sherman Banks · Jun 10, 2009

redtippmann said:
OK thanks! I used a white brush on the background for them so don't know how they can be dirty. But it might be that im using copy paper and 2 lava lamp lights(they get HOT)

What program are you editing these with? And lava lamps??? The ones with the colored stuff that floats around in them from the 60's and 70's?

redtippmann · Jun 10, 2009

im using gimp because i cant afford any thing (not old enough to work) and yea i took the glass off the lava lamps and aimed them at the subject. Their fairly bright but can get some dark areas.

Sherman Banks · Jun 10, 2009

Here is a good tool to do some product photography. I've made one and you can check through my flickr stream to see some of the shots I've done with it. It's far better than trying to clone all of the crap out of the background.

And there isn't anything wrong with using Gimp, but you're photos have to be somewhat good before you edit. Even Photoshop has it's limits in making in-camera errors go away.

redtippmann · Jun 10, 2009

thanks I've always been meaning to make one of these but never got around to it. Ill start now!

Josh66 · Jun 10, 2009

redtippmann said:
Any other ideas for subjects would also be appreciated!

Do a few searches on their website to get an idea what they're looking for and what sells well.

As mentioned, background needs more work - they would probably get declined if you submitted them as is. (With the exception of #4 - that one looks clean. ...But, I see a few spots on the phone that should get cloned out.)

RE: taking the symbols off.

Yes, you have to do that. They will decline it if you don't. Just make sure your cloning is invisible.

Clean the item before you photograph it. That will save you time in PP.

KmH · Jun 10, 2009

Actually, the good stocks sites will reject anything with much post processing beyond a little sharpening.

Cloning and a brushed background....................

Josh66 · Jun 10, 2009

You don't think he should clone out the spots (whatever that is) in the background?

(Obviously, it would have been better if they weren't there in the first place - but they are.)

Sherman Banks · Jun 10, 2009

KmH said:
Actually, the good stocks sites will reject anything with much post processing beyond a little sharpening.

Cloning and a brushed background....................

Well even if a site accepts them, it doesn't mean anyone will purchase them. Especially with subject matter that there are over 50k other options. No offense to the OP, but the stock photography game is not easy to get into. You have seasoned vets you're up against so you're shots have to be top notch.

redtippmann · Jun 10, 2009

thanks no offense taken. but really i just wanted some C&C on these photos not weather there stock material, so thats my fault.

Anubis · Jun 11, 2009

Lots of good info here School Of Stock | PhotoShelter Redtippmann. I got shots like that accepted on a few stock sites after editing out the dust and other blemishes.

Try uploading to 123rf.com, istockphoto.com and fotolia.com as well, the more sites your stuff is on the more people will see and possibly buy it.

Shutterstock has some rule about the US tax office taking 30% of your earnings if you don't supply the proper tax info up front, so make sure you read all the terms and conditions.

Good luck!