Author Topic: Newbie question (Read 3270 times)

HappyBunny · « **on:** April 04, 2016, 10:28 »

I am new to microstock and I have a question. I have taken a photo in a public park a few days ago with a beautiful flower bed and pavilion. There are everywhere rather big dry leaves on the grass in front of the pavilion. Do I need to clone them all away or would that ruin the quality of the image? Shall I leave it natural as it is. If I would sell it as a print on canvas I would have to remove the leaves. I don't know about microstock. Thank you for all your answers in advance.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #1 on:** April 04, 2016, 10:40 »

There are literally billions of images of flowers in parks available for a few cents on sites. It is unlikely that yours would ever sell (sorry). You could look at it as Photoshop practice if you like. In reality, you'd probably not ever make back the time you spent on it.

HappyBunny · « **Reply #2 on:** April 04, 2016, 10:45 »

Thank you. Good to know. But what if I do want to upload it? Would I have to clone the leaves away? I started doing it but when I zoomed in I didn't like how the grass looked. Mind you, I didn't clone, I used the blemish removal tool. I just want to know in general if the leaves would have to go. Brilliant. What to shoot then? They are thousands of food photos on the websites as well. I have the feeling they have enough images of everything.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #3 on:** April 04, 2016, 11:01 »

Quote from: HappyBunny on April 04, 2016, 10:45

Would I have to clone the leaves away?

Well, you don't _have_ to do anything. Depends if you think it would make it more usable for a designer.

What to shoot is the thousand dollar question...

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #4 on:** April 04, 2016, 12:20 »

I would clone out the pavilion as it distracts from the dry leaves.

HappyBunny · « **Reply #5 on:** April 04, 2016, 12:23 »

Microstock Posts · « **Reply #6 on:** April 04, 2016, 19:03 »

Most successful microstockers try to produce high volumes and they will try to limit the time spent on post production. Therefore if you are unable to determine whether the image would be better with or without out the big dry leaves, then send the image without removing the leaves and see if it gets accepted. If it does get accepted then wait 6 months and see how often the image has been downloaded and see if you are happy with the amount of downloads for the amount of time spent on it. If the amount of downloads fall well below your expectation then it would likely not make a massive difference by removing the leaves, more likely that your image is not in high demand. The point is, focus on minimising pp and sending as much as possible.

HappyBunny · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2016, 02:35 »

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply. I already have damaged arms from using the computer too much. Do I have to shoot images in RAW when taking photos of food at home? Wouldn't it be a lot faster to just shoot in JPEG? Less editing? I can't take many photos because of my injured arms. Well, taking photos is not so much the problem but the spending time on computer is really damaging my arms further. The time I spend on a photo and uploading them. I only upload to 4 agencies. I can't cope with more. When outside I take photos in RAW.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2016, 04:49 »

You can but it means you have to get the lighting etc even more "spot on" than shooting in Raw. You can achieve nearly as good results in JPEG with good preparation and execution its just harder to rescue shots that are not quite there.

HappyBunny · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2016, 04:54 »

Oh, thank you so much. That would make it sooooooo much easier for me. Outside shots I do in RAW because many go for print on canvas if my arms are good enough for editing them. They are a lot of work. I mean print on canvas.