Photoshop CS5... the future is beautiful

Adobe Photoshop CS5 is just around the corner, and with it a bundle of new and exciting changes as always. I'd like to write about a particularly interesting change, the Content Aware Fill tool. This tool is a very efficient way to delete an object from a scene, or even add an object to a scene, when the usual photoshop tools would not be large enough to accomplish it. You typically use the "healing brush" to remove something, and hope that photoshop makes a smart move in deciding what to fill it with. If the area is too large, you can also select the area to delete and obtain the background color selected (or transparent), leaving you with an area that needs significant work.What if I told you that those are things of the past... and that on the horizon, Photoshop CS5 will replace those removed pixels with exactly what should have been there?

It is hard to explain, you really need to see it for yourself:

First introduction
and
Presentation Video

...Seeing is believing, and let me say, I am a believer.

Three (3) small, seemingly obvious tips to improve your Microstock Photography

I wanted to just detail a few points I have learned so far concerning microstock. I consider these tips to be valid information, useful for anyone beginning microstock photography. Remember, these tips are based off personal experience, and may or may not apply directly to your situation.

1). Comply with the microstock agencies guidelines!
-I do not know how many times I had an image rejected for not including a model release for a recognizable face, or submitting in a category that the agency did not need more images of. Typical points that fall into this category are:

• Always make sure you include a model release with any image that has a recognizable face. The only exception here is if the image is labeled for editorial use only. Editorial images do not require model release forms, anything other type of image does. "What if it's a friend of mine... my wife... husband... child?", it still requires a model release, in the case of a child, it can be signed by the legal guardian (you) and may need a witness signature as well. Also, keep in mind that a model release only applies to that ONE shoot. A model release for X model does not grant permission for 47 different shoots with that X model, each shoot should have its own model release form signed and submitted.

• Do not submit items with trademark info. Known branding (or unknown for that matter) should be edited out of your image. This includes logos and/or names. You can remove the issues pre-submission or the image should be taken in a manner where it cannot be seen. Images *will* reject for this reason, prevent the time loss... do it right the first time.

• If you mark "exclusive" make sure those images are, indeed, exclusive to that one agency. This is a considerably large offense to most MS agencies and could even lead to a ban. 

2). Take your images with no post processing in mind... take them right the first time.
-An easy mistake to make, and one that I think everyone has to consistently work on to correct. It becomes easy to say "Ohh, this background won't be white/black enough... I'll fix it in post". Post processing is amazing, a God send, an epic tool with amazing powers, but a curse at the same note. Post process takes time, precious time, precious time that could be better spent at your next shoot or planning a shot. Composing, proper lighting, proper manual settings, and proper exposure are all things that should be addressed to ensure less time spent in post.

3). Run photos through noise reduction software, pre submission.
-A good software to use is Noise Ninja or Neat Image. However, if you have Photoshop CS4 (or CS3 for that matter) you can go a long way with the "noise" filter to reduce noise issues and ensure an image that is considerably more appropriate. For a normal image, this would be a moot point with today's great DSLR cameras and their low ISO Noise ratios. Unfortunately, your images are not normal images... they are Microstock Images. In order to gauge quality, one of the big things Microstock Agency review boards analyze is the "noise" or "artifacting" of an image. Wikipedia has a fairly good article with comparison images, actually, and here is the excerpt:
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ISO 100, f/5.6, 1/350 s (click on image for larger version)

ISO 1600, f/5.6, 1/4000 s (click on image for larger version)

Comparison of both images. This is a crop of a small section of each image displayed at 100%. The top portion was shot at 100 ISO, the bottom portion at 1600 ISO.

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These tips are simple for the most part, but handy little things that need to be followed and addressed to ensure less rejections, more sales, and less time spent at the computer versus behind the camera! I hope they help. Drop me a line with any questions or concerns, I'll see what I can do!

New to Microstock? Here is a photographers guide!

I'd like to take this opportunity to present to you the Photographers guide to the different Microstock Agencies. The link should be at the top of the page: "Photographers Guide to Microstock Agencies". It's a short summary of the microstock agencies and details about each but it should be very handy. Keep in mind it is only based off of my own experiences and information I have gathered from other photographers. I hope it is beneficial to you!

Without further delay, I bid that you visit and read up on where to begin! Although it is primarily geared towards the beginner, any microstock photographer may benefit from some of the little insights gathered here.

Enjoy!

New Camera, New Experiences

If you have been looking at the digital SLR field at all these past few months, then you have no doubt heard of the Canon 7D. The Canon 7D, along with a few other Canon DSLRs (The also new T2i (Canon EOS 550D) and the older 5d Mark ii) can do what DSLRs had previously only dreamed of, they can shoot video.

Not just any video, but film like 24fps format video, 30fps normal format, and even a 60fps format for slowmotion playback. What does this mean for microstock? It means you no longer have to decide between shooting microstock footage or microstock photos due to the investment in the camera... one camera can do both, and do both *very* well. Shutterstock allows footage sales along with istockphoto. There is also a new site: http://eosfootage.com/ that dedicates itself to EOS stock footage only. Review on that forthcoming.

But as all things, nothing is ever perfect. The Canon 7D has issues with picking up sound for microstock footage. In short, the microphone compensates for low sound by amplifying it leading to sound gains and losses that are strange and do not sound all that great. The good news is it can be fixed easily through using an external mic attached to the camera, or by using a seperate sound recorder all together and splicing the sound in post processing. Also, microstock footage is not required to have sound, and depending on what the footage is of, may be best without it.

One thing you will note with a camera such as the Canon 7D or the T2i, is the need for excellent glass. The sensors are crop sensors (APC) and due to that, the 18MP size created a sort of vacuum for information that few lenses can fully fill. In essence, a poor lens cannot provide enough information for the sensor to utilize, leading to images that at 100% (yes, pixel peeping here) are oddly soft. The images do take to sharpening very well though and with a sensor this size, you can crop considerably and still have a very useable image for microstock (and say, use only the center of the image, where it is sharpest, for example).

Here you will find discussion regarding this issue/topic/concern:

Forum posting on Canon lenses that are viable

Photographer on shutterstock giving an explanation/Discussion

Flickr Discussion with good info

Great info and sample shots (especially the comments)

Despite these short comings, the Canon 7D is an amazing work horse with the fastest burst shot I have ever used and an impressive low light (high iso) noise quality.

Test images forthcoming along with a personal opinion review in the coming weeks! Hit the RSS feed button so you'll see it when it materializes! Also, don't forget to click some of those ads when you decide to go, keeps this place going! :)

Microstock worth it to a Newcomer?

One topic that never seems to die in the world of microstock is the old belief of "get rich quick". I'm here to say, flat out, that just like anything else in life, you'll have to work hard in microstock to make money. Now, we are not talking about making 200$ a month. That is easy doable with a bit of perseverance and invested time. Large, full-time income levels of money are what I am discussing here. Yes it can be done... no it is not a get rich quick scheme... yes it is difficult, but yes it is rewarding if you make it.

I would love for you all to read http://www.arenacreative.com/blog/microstock-related/can-you-really-make-a-living-selling-microstock-photography/.

This article sums it up nicely. Basically, it can be done, but it will not be easy. Nothing is stopping you from joining Shutterstock and tossing a ton of images on there in hopes of making some cash. But turning this into a sincere serious business takes planning, creativity, and invested time.

Personally, I would consider myself at the beginner level as far as income from microstock. However, I have hopes that as I chug along and work at this, it only grows more beneficial.

I hope those facts do not dissuade anyone though, especially not those looking to this as a great way to fuel your own hobby. And speaking of fueling your own hobby... clicking on those advertisements on the side are a great way to help me keep these posts coming. :)

A few tips on camera use from Scott Kelby!

If you are anything like me, you feel you could always learn a bit more about your photography craft. Today I wanted to link to a article by Scott Kelby where he posted a few videos with tips and tricks for camera use. I would particularly like to recommend that you catch the episode with "shooting people in studio" and the episode with "5 ways to use a reflector". Both are insightful and come in handy for both microstock photographers and non microstock photographers!

http://www.scottkelby.com/blog/2010/archives/8967

Remember, microstock is a lot more than shooting on a white slightly over exposed background, it's an art like many things. These things (arts) need to be nurtured into full bloom, so learn learn learn!

New Company Enters the Fray! Snapixel

Snapixel

Snapixel is a different microstock company from the usual affair. Microstock companies typically want very "microstock" images and will decline most images done in an artistic or unusual fashion. Snapixel is different, they merge home photo type style with the microstock industry to make a website where buyers have truly interesting choices. That's not to say your regular microstock images wont sell at this site, they would most likely be accepted as well.

Different?
Remember how I said that Snapixel is a different company? It is different in that it combines photo sharing with photo agency. You can share photos with other photographers similar to Flickr and see what your followed friends are doing just like Facebook.

The site offers two account types. You can have a free account for just sharing and social features, or obtain a Pro account for €9 per year (Or free, if accepted as a marketplace photo contributor).

Commission for photo sales are 60% and payouts are done through Paypal only. The site is coded for Euro but payment can be obtained in any format that Paypal allows.

Potential
Snapixel is not a direct contender with the larger microstock agencies. It is not microstock focused to that degree. Rather, Snapixel is a new format allowing images that usually would not be selected for a microstock portfolio to gain acceptance and possibly even sell. Consider this though, Yuri Arcurs (A God in the microstock world) just uploaded his whole portfolio to them... food for thought.

Studio Seamless Whites Through Zack Arias's Eyes

What exactly is a Seamless White?

Its where the photographer takes an image, and ensures that the subject of the image is the center of attention with nothing but pure white as the background.

In microstock you will see a lot of this. It isn't the only way to make an image, but it is a popular way to display stock photography. Reasoning here is that a graphic designer who purchases your image will then be able to use that "white space" (also known as copy space) to place their company logo, company title, slogans, information, etc. with little work on their part.

Isolates can be done in two ways:
1). In post (post processing)

2). In studio: when the image is taken through lighting.

And because lighting, is a very in depth topic, I would like to recommend: http://www.zarias.com/?p=71

This tutorial is amazing as far as studio lighting goes... bar none, zack has written an amazing guide with sample images and information on materials necessary as well.

We'll get into post process white isolates a bit more indepth in the next post, until then, happy reading!

How to make the best of it

We have already covered how microstock is a great field, but like many great fields, has a lot of competition. We've also covered a few ways to improve your skill set and be more successful in the microstock game.

Now we will discuss one of the most important points of microstock, branding.

Like any product, the brand gains momentum and power. A "good" brand name is associated with quality, success, and people will desire it. A "bad" brand name has already developed a poor prognosis in the eyes of buyers and is associated with poor quality. You are selling your art, your skill, it has to be branded with quality all over. This leads ito an age old debate... quantity v.s. quality.

I'd like to direct you to this website: http://www.arcurs.com/branding-a-cliche

The opinion expressed on that page I agree with 110%. To make it in this field, you need to make a name for yourself. The two ways to do this are:
1). Be good, be very good. Perfect your craft and then you can compete in even "saturated" fields (such as business microstock). This method may require extensive gear however. A studio is never required and neither is top end gear but, when you are in competition with thousands in a popular field, it may be helpful.

2). Carve a niche for yourself. Some topics in general just do not have many images up when compared to others. If you happen to be in a particular position to take certain pictures with a competitive edge (such as being a firefighter, and getting images of fires) then by all means exploit that potential! Be the best where others cannot!

Both methods work, which do you prefer? I hope this tip helped! And i hope that website I linked is a good read, I find the information there invaluable.

Photography Deal

I know most are only starting to get into photography, but the Tamron 18-250mm lens is on sale for decent prices:

Tamron 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 AF Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Lens for Nikon Mount : $269.00

Tamron AF 18-250mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II LD Aspherical (IF) Macro Zoom for Canon Mount: $329.00

The lens is not too bad. It does not have Vibration Reduction, but microstock is *usually* performed in a controlled environment, such as a studio.

This may also make a great walk around lens, depending on where you plan to go. Check them out, you may like what you see!

So I know what microstock is, now what?

So you now know what Microstock photography is and you know that you can use it to market and sell your photos. So what is to stop you from picking up one of these and one of these and becoming a billionaire? Well, quite simply it is the other thousands upon thousands of photographers like you that are trying to do the same, possibly with better gear, more years of experience, and more time then you might have.

A few recommendations I can make, before pushing too far into the realm of techniques and my past experience.

a). Practice... practice practice practice. The more photos you take the better you become, simple as that.

b). Know your audience and keep the consumer in mind. Remember, you are not taking photos to display at your friends gallery or at an art expo at the beach. You are creating images that need to sell, and as such need to appeal to your buyers. A business needs photos of boardrooms, employees, business suits, laptops. A travel company needs photos of the beach, of snow, of skiing, of young couples having fun, of old couples having fun. You can see where I am going with this, I'm sure. You need the images to appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers.

c). Never imitate. Instead, make it better. If you see an image that inspires you, do not duplicate it... make it better. Take that idea and mold it into your own vision, take inspiration from it and visualize how you can take that 9.5 and make it a 10.

These three points have been invaluable to me! I hope they help you as well.

And of course, at somepoint, picking up a camera of some sort isnt a bad idea either! After all, you cannot take pictures without a camera.

More to come! Keep an eye out.

First of many, Welcome to Microstuck!

Welcome to Microstuck! The blog that helps you get stuck on Microstock photography.

Content will be divided into different categories as they become necessary. Since today is day one, I would like to start with basics.

What is microstock?

Microstock is (as defined by Wikipedia): Microstock photography, also known as micropayment photography, is an offshoot of traditional stock photography. What defines a company as a microstock photography company is that they:

(1) source their images almost exclusively via the Internet

(2) do so from a wider range of photographers than the traditional stock agencies (including a willingness to accept images from "amateurs" and hobbyists)

and (3) sell their images at a very low rate (anywhere from $.20 - $10) for a royalty-free image.

That definition is right on the money. That is exactly what you will find when you enter the world of microstock photography: A company selling your pictures to clients and paying you (the photographer) a percentage of the income.

It does not stop there, however, as microstock companies are a recent development (within the last 10 years or so) and are still expanding rapidly into new and diverse fields. Take video footage, company logos, and even sound clips as perfect examples of how microstock is growing.

This business model makes selling your images a snap and simplifies one of the biggest issues photographers face, finding buyers. Microstock facilitates that issue by uniting a large portion of the buyers market under "one roof" so to speak. These gathered buyers can then pick and choose images for a fee. Imagine, if you will, a buffet type setting. Buyers look around, sample the delicacies and take what they like, and the chefs get paid a commision for each of their delicious items that get chosen.

Bad analogy aside, I am sure you can see the next question forming... How do you make them choose your images instead of your competition's?

And that we will leave for the next entry :)