There isn't any question, there is always a strong demand for quality people photos. All the stock photography books and internet sites will tell you this, so any photographer serious about selling photos online is going to try and add these to their portfolio on a consistent basis. Sadly, most photographers do it without really considering the end-user, and as a consequence, the majority of the people photos you see online are never going to sell in a thousand years.
As with many fields of stock photography, if you take a Client-centric view and consider the requirements of your end-user, the photo-buyers, it's actually quite easy to not only shoot more marketable people stock photographs, but you can increase your output dramatically also. Here are some pointers to get you going.
1. Know and Understand Your Markets
Think about the demographics of your usual 'models ' and then take some time to look at how stock images of those groups are used? If you tend to photograph lots of seniors, explore the markets for those photos. If you usually work with children, it's going to be different buyers/buyer-types again, so identify as many of those as you can.
Start a shot list for every one of your key markets, so any time you've got a photograph opportunity, you will know exactly what you want from it. It's all about getting clear on who might use the images you shoot, so that you can capture images that are optimized for their wants. So that means studying the images that are being used to identify what elements are most crucial for each buyer-type?
Most photographers aren't going to bother, so any effort and time you put into this will help you, and your images stand proud of the masses.
2. Tell Stories
There really is very little demand for posed portraits in stock. If you're photographing people in the expectation of selling the photographs as stock, you need to be making photographs that tell a story or convey a concept or emotion. They do not need to be action shots, but the parts of the image need to convey that there is more going on than someone having their photograph taken.
You can do this with setting, clothing, props and face expressions, and each component should be congruous with the message of the image. The message itself can be really subtle, so long as everything fits. (In reality subtle photographs frequently work best as the photo-buyers can then add their own copy to the photographs to finely tune the message).
3. Focus on the Eyes
People being people, when we look at a photograph of a person , our eyes automatically look towards the face to establish what's happening in the image. I believe it's some sort of primitive survival instinct that allows us to evaluate mood from a quick look and in people stock pictures, the eyes, and the facial expression will generally be both tangible and clear.
If either of these are obscured, it's done purposely to convey another message totally. In those cases you need to ensure the other components of the image are congruous with that and as a consequence, the accidentally obscured shots are rarely going to work.
4. Stay in Front
There is very little call for rear-end views of people. For commercial work, buyers need clear emotion and expressions that they can tie their own message on, and as soon as you shoot from the rear, you lose any chance of capturing that.
I actually see plenty of shots like this in photographer submissions where they caption the image with some emotionally detailed phrase ... Because that's how they remember the situation ... But having a look at the photo, the viewer wouldn't know if the model was giggling, sobbing or fast asleep.
5. Get in Close
Another problem I see far too frequently is shots obviously taken anonymously from a distance. There truly is little value in this. Far better you approach the people in question and simply ask if you can take their photo. Tell them what you'd like to achieve and give them encouragement to work with you to get the shot.
Sure, some will decline the offer, but just as many will be very happy to try for you. Of course you should have some pocket releases with you, and offer to send them a low-res copy of the image for their own use in return for a signature and their e-mail!
6. Take Control Of Candid Scenarios
I think there is a certain mythology about some of the great street photographers, in that they fired from the hip and just happened to catch their amazing pictures, almost by chance. The simple fact of the matter is, good 'candid ' photography is generally the results of extremely well thought out planning and preparation, and a good knowledge of the subject's habits and behaviour.
The shots should have been captured in a second but the set up might have taken hours.
Shoot from the hip without that sort of preparation and you'll be getting pictures with zero commercial potential. You might get fortunate from time to time, but do not hold your breath. On the other hand, make sure you know your subject so you can predict behaviours and reactions, and you stand a good chance of catching some great images.
Take it a step farther and plan for 'candid ' situations which tell stories that photography buyers might be in a position to use, and you'll also be making photographs with real sales potential.
7. Take Care With Friends & Family
If you're only ever photographing family members or good friends, shooting marketable images is a tough task. The emotional connection with your model makes it really tough for the photographer to work objectively and even tougher for them to appraise the results, especially when the images are shot in the course of a social/family event.
In our library I'll frequently spot horrible 'family ' photographs from some of talented photographers, and when I check with them, the photographers are totally unable to see the issues, because the emotional memory of the circumstances are so over-powering.
Having said that , it is a superb way to learn and practice, if you do it properly. Step one is to treat it as work, and be absolutely clear on the message or story you're wanting to convey with each frame. Write out a shot list before you start and ensure your model knows what you are trying to do.
Ensure the setting, the clothing, the props all work towards the same goal, and work with your model to make the poses and expressions work also. And when you're done, check you are totally honest when reviewing the results!
8. Lighting Considerations
This is simpler than you may imagine. Outside look for clouded days or find a location away from bright sunlight. You can always use reflectors and fill flash as required, but if you start with a 'good day ' the extras are just fine tuning what's already there.
Inside, light your subject any way you like, as long as you don't use on-camera flash. If you're serious about shooting commercial people stock photographs, you'll need to invest in some extra lighting or flash kit.
It doesn't have to be very costly or complicated, as long as you can move it and fire it away from your camera. Even a flash you can hold outstretched in one hand, while you hold and fire the camera with the other hand, will be a massive improvement over on camera flash.
As with most fields of photography, there are going to be exceptions, and most rules can be broken from time to time. But as a starting point, if you keep these in mind whenever you've got the chance to photograph some human subjects, you should get some stronger photographs with good commercial prospects.
As with many fields of stock photography, if you take a Client-centric view and consider the requirements of your end-user, the photo-buyers, it's actually quite easy to not only shoot more marketable people stock photographs, but you can increase your output dramatically also. Here are some pointers to get you going.
1. Know and Understand Your Markets
Think about the demographics of your usual 'models ' and then take some time to look at how stock images of those groups are used? If you tend to photograph lots of seniors, explore the markets for those photos. If you usually work with children, it's going to be different buyers/buyer-types again, so identify as many of those as you can.
Start a shot list for every one of your key markets, so any time you've got a photograph opportunity, you will know exactly what you want from it. It's all about getting clear on who might use the images you shoot, so that you can capture images that are optimized for their wants. So that means studying the images that are being used to identify what elements are most crucial for each buyer-type?
Most photographers aren't going to bother, so any effort and time you put into this will help you, and your images stand proud of the masses.
2. Tell Stories
There really is very little demand for posed portraits in stock. If you're photographing people in the expectation of selling the photographs as stock, you need to be making photographs that tell a story or convey a concept or emotion. They do not need to be action shots, but the parts of the image need to convey that there is more going on than someone having their photograph taken.
You can do this with setting, clothing, props and face expressions, and each component should be congruous with the message of the image. The message itself can be really subtle, so long as everything fits. (In reality subtle photographs frequently work best as the photo-buyers can then add their own copy to the photographs to finely tune the message).
3. Focus on the Eyes
People being people, when we look at a photograph of a person , our eyes automatically look towards the face to establish what's happening in the image. I believe it's some sort of primitive survival instinct that allows us to evaluate mood from a quick look and in people stock pictures, the eyes, and the facial expression will generally be both tangible and clear.
If either of these are obscured, it's done purposely to convey another message totally. In those cases you need to ensure the other components of the image are congruous with that and as a consequence, the accidentally obscured shots are rarely going to work.
4. Stay in Front
There is very little call for rear-end views of people. For commercial work, buyers need clear emotion and expressions that they can tie their own message on, and as soon as you shoot from the rear, you lose any chance of capturing that.
I actually see plenty of shots like this in photographer submissions where they caption the image with some emotionally detailed phrase ... Because that's how they remember the situation ... But having a look at the photo, the viewer wouldn't know if the model was giggling, sobbing or fast asleep.
5. Get in Close
Another problem I see far too frequently is shots obviously taken anonymously from a distance. There truly is little value in this. Far better you approach the people in question and simply ask if you can take their photo. Tell them what you'd like to achieve and give them encouragement to work with you to get the shot.
Sure, some will decline the offer, but just as many will be very happy to try for you. Of course you should have some pocket releases with you, and offer to send them a low-res copy of the image for their own use in return for a signature and their e-mail!
6. Take Control Of Candid Scenarios
I think there is a certain mythology about some of the great street photographers, in that they fired from the hip and just happened to catch their amazing pictures, almost by chance. The simple fact of the matter is, good 'candid ' photography is generally the results of extremely well thought out planning and preparation, and a good knowledge of the subject's habits and behaviour.
The shots should have been captured in a second but the set up might have taken hours.
Shoot from the hip without that sort of preparation and you'll be getting pictures with zero commercial potential. You might get fortunate from time to time, but do not hold your breath. On the other hand, make sure you know your subject so you can predict behaviours and reactions, and you stand a good chance of catching some great images.
Take it a step farther and plan for 'candid ' situations which tell stories that photography buyers might be in a position to use, and you'll also be making photographs with real sales potential.
7. Take Care With Friends & Family
If you're only ever photographing family members or good friends, shooting marketable images is a tough task. The emotional connection with your model makes it really tough for the photographer to work objectively and even tougher for them to appraise the results, especially when the images are shot in the course of a social/family event.
In our library I'll frequently spot horrible 'family ' photographs from some of talented photographers, and when I check with them, the photographers are totally unable to see the issues, because the emotional memory of the circumstances are so over-powering.
Having said that , it is a superb way to learn and practice, if you do it properly. Step one is to treat it as work, and be absolutely clear on the message or story you're wanting to convey with each frame. Write out a shot list before you start and ensure your model knows what you are trying to do.
Ensure the setting, the clothing, the props all work towards the same goal, and work with your model to make the poses and expressions work also. And when you're done, check you are totally honest when reviewing the results!
8. Lighting Considerations
This is simpler than you may imagine. Outside look for clouded days or find a location away from bright sunlight. You can always use reflectors and fill flash as required, but if you start with a 'good day ' the extras are just fine tuning what's already there.
Inside, light your subject any way you like, as long as you don't use on-camera flash. If you're serious about shooting commercial people stock photographs, you'll need to invest in some extra lighting or flash kit.
It doesn't have to be very costly or complicated, as long as you can move it and fire it away from your camera. Even a flash you can hold outstretched in one hand, while you hold and fire the camera with the other hand, will be a massive improvement over on camera flash.
As with most fields of photography, there are going to be exceptions, and most rules can be broken from time to time. But as a starting point, if you keep these in mind whenever you've got the chance to photograph some human subjects, you should get some stronger photographs with good commercial prospects.
About the Author:
Matt Brading is a contributor to GlobalEye Photo Stock Agency, which represents many people photographers. View their best people pictures photography here. Talented photographers can find out more about selling photographs online and download a free stock photography business kit on the GlobalEye website.
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