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How do I know if my stock photo is good enough?

This is a question asked by so many new stock photographers, especially after a few returned images. So if you are new to stock photography and looking for a few pointers from the people who actually make decisions about your work, then read on.

High quality photos & images first and every time

When you submit that image to micro stock photo websites and agents the first thing we look at, above all else, is the quality of the image itself. Is it in focus or grainy? Well lit and balanced? Remember that a stock web site is selling your work, as a product and on your behalf. When a buyer or creative house finds a good value stock site, with high quality images, they are going to use it again. The quality of your photo therfore reflects the overall quality of all photos and images within your stock agency portfolio.

Is the image content suitable for a micro stock photo portfolio?

While there are obvious limitations on photo and image content (obscene, pornographic or illegal images are a definate no-no!) the content of your photo is vitally important too. While you may have produced a well balanced, focused and professionally finished image, there are certain key criteria that all stock photos must achieve. It must be free of brand names, logos and trademarks and any recognisable individual (including you) that is captured in the image must have signed a release agreement, which is provided to the stock site with the photo. Release agreements are a requirement for all photos containing people and in some cases for buildings as well.

Will your photo sell and is it relatively unique?

The moderators know what type of images sell well and what type of images all stock sites get inundated with (Pets, landscapes and wings through aeroplane windows to name but a few!) Remember: Every member generated image needs to be saleable as well as high quality and legal. Otherwise it will just take up valuable site bandwidth and disc space and all the promotion in the world by your agent will still not sell it! Turn the tables and think about how unique your image is. Look at it from a buyers perspective and therefore how useful is it to a commercially? If you just want to let all of your friends and family see all of your images on the Internet then you're probably better off using flickr!

However, if your photo passes these three stages the chances are that it will be approved for inclusion. Whether or not it is a suitable image is another matter and something for our next creative blog post....Happy snapping!

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September 8

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