Tips for Taking Highly Demanded Stock Portraits and Ensuring That Your Stock Gets Used

With the growing number of websites revolving around sharing art and photography, more people are beginning utilize these sites to show off their creative sides. Sites like deviantART, shutterstock, iStock and dozens of others are wonderful for getting your name out there, but many people get discouraged after the first month or so with very few hits, comments or downloads of their work. You link your pages everywhere, send them to everyone that you know: Why isn't anyone using your work?

The problem may not be that you haven't circulated your work enough; it may be with the quality of the stock photos that you are presenting. While it is very common for beginners in the stock-world to make a few mistakes, the following tips could cut out a lot of hardship, beating oneself up, or even giving up after the first few tries.

If the portrait is of yourself, experiment with your camera's self-timer.

Many people become confused when it comes to self-timing on digital cameras. However, if your camera came with a manual, information as to how to set its self-timer will be included within it. Most point-and-shoot cameras tend to have 2 second, 4 second, or 10 second self-timers. Some higher-end DSLR (digital single-lens reflex) cameras may be equipped with longer timers to set up more complex shots, but remember that every camera is different. However, if you find that your camera does not have a self-timer or the self-timer is unusable, have a trusted friend or family member take the picture for you - or take pictures of them (make sure you've got their permission to post them, though)!

One word of advice: When taking a self-portrait, if you absolutely must hold the camera yourself (for lack of self-timer, or a broken self-timer, etc) do not hold the camera above you, angled downward. The resulting photo will have the "myspace angles" effect, and the truth is that this is not what artists are looking for. If you are taking a picture of your face, make the camera level with your face. Artists and companies will not be looking for a wide shot of your forehead and eyes, and very little of the rest of your face! Save these pictures for IDs and personal albums to share with friends, or just for fun to let potential buyers and users see your style on a more personal level.

Dark, heavy gothic clothing and makeup, and GRAVEYARDS are a big no-no.

Having been an involved member of deviantART for the past 4 years, I have seen a lot of amateur stock photographers make this mistake. Though I am not a stock-photographer, I am a traditional artist and always use stock photos as references, and do take portrait photos. Here is the problem with these "dark" elements: While trying to bring drama and emotion to a "photoshoot," some photographers think that by putting on black lipstick, a heavy black gown with a cape, and white face makeup to make themselves look paler will help them along. But these outfits and themes are incredibly non-versatile and cannot be used in a wide variety of artworks so remember to try and "sell what's generic." Sometimes the simpler that something appears, the more there is that can be done with it!

Unfortunately, more often than not, photo-manipulators will be looking for a minimal amount of makeup so that they may photoshop makeup onto the subject to match the style of the artwork they are creating - not trying to photoshop the makeup OFF.

As for the graveyards, these are a little more complicated than just the "goth" theme, and this is where I need to be just a little bit blunt: If you are in a graveyard taking pictures simply of the graves, this is fine. If you are in a graveyard, taking pictures of a person in his or her regular day-clothes at the grave of a loved one is fine - as long as you have his or her permission. If you are in a graveyard taking pictures of your friends Greg and Stephanie both dressed in dark, velvet, gothic attire with makeup designed to make them look deceased, laying upon grave stones, THIS is flat out weird. Not only will you and your two comrades look incredibly frightening and potentially be asked to leave, but unless the picture is incredibly artistic, there is little that a picture like this can be used for.

Just bear in mind that sometimes drama and emotion can be drawn from the simplest details in a photo, such as a facial expression - don't overdo it with costumes and makeup!

Avoid using the flash whenever possible!

Of course, you'll need it if you're in a dark room and simply taking a neck-up portrait to be used as a reference for a vector/drawing. But, whenever possible, use natural lighting. Even if it is a dull and gloomy day outside, never fear! As long as it's daytime, there is usually always some light. Here's a tip - if you're taking a portrait photograph and find that it is dark in whatever room you're in, and the weather is too nasty to go outdoors, stand or place your model next to a window - either with their face towards it or perpendicular to the glass. Standing with their back to the window just wouldn't make much sense, now would it?

It may sound like a very silly and simple trick, but it makes all the difference and natural lighting is much more softening and flattering than the harsh light of a camera flash. Now, when you take these kinds of photos in order to ensure the best possible shot, use a LOW aperture setting (these are the "f" numbers you'll usually see in your camera's manual mode) and a shutter speed of 1/60, or 1/80 maximum. This will help keep the photo from being blurry - which is something people will often use the flash to help eliminate, but with these suggestions you may not need to use it!

Variety is key!

Remember, the more varied your photographs are, the more often other artists may be able to use you as a resource. Try not to have too many pictures of a model in the same pose; 2-3 are plenty, and it helps if the expression on the model's face is different - especially if it is a full body portrait.

Props are useful when adding variety. A prop can be as simple as a couch or an umbrella, or as complex as a statue or a jungle-gym. Really explore as much of the space available to you as possible, and use the props! Photographs of models posed around inanimate objects are incredibly useful, because it brings an interactive-ness to the picture that can be drawn from, added to or eliminated, depending on the needs of the artist. But remember - it is better to have these kinds of shots that can be edited, than to not have them at all.

Again, don't worry too much about varying things like makeup and costumes. I say, the simpler the better. When photo-manipulators, advertisers and traditional artists use your photo either in whole or as a reference, it is best to give them as blank of a canvas as possible. You express your creativity through the body language and emotion of a photograph, and your fellow artists will express theirs by creating freely around you. It might seem like you're presenting a "boring" photograph, but this makes it all the more fascinating to see what others will do with it!

Try, try, and try again.

Cliché? Absolutely. The truth? ABSOLUTELY. I've seen far too many photography lovers with a lot of potential give up within a week due to no, few, or negative feedback upon their stock. But it takes a little time, and a LOT of experimenting. Some people have gotten famous in the online art-world who started off taking stock shots for fun and messing around with a point-and-shoot, one of the more notable of which could be Lara Jade - if you look at her website, I'm sure at least one of her photos will be recognizable to you. Let Lara, and others like her be your inspiration.

It may take a few tries, but here's a tip: browse through the stock photography of other people and let some of their shoots inspire you. You may do your own spin on their shoot, or even recreate some of their photographs with your own unique touch. It isn't copying, and it helps star the flow of new ideas, and may even help you discover shooting in a way that you love, that you would never have thought of on your own!

Hopefully these tips will give some discouraged photographers a little direction. Good luck, and bear in mind, as with anything it takes a little time, and some genuine effort to get yourself noticed. So, grab your camera and let the experimenting begin!