Before I let you in on how to shoot good stock photos that sell, you need to know more about stock photography. A stock photo is a photograph licensed for specific uses. It is normally used by graphic artists and in design businesses to create logos or other types of pictures.
The key to succeeding in stock photography is being able to take good photos and putting them up for sale at the best markets or stock photo agencies.
Before you venture into stock photography, you need to do a little bit of research to find out the type of stock photos high in-demand judging by the stock photos with the most downloads.
Some of the most popular and in-demand stock photos are Lifestyle based images (mostly of people) which are at the #1 spot at most stock photo agencies followed by stock photos of people in business situations or people doing specific types of activities. Stock photos of nature, landscapes and travel are equally popular but to a lesser extend.
To shoot good stock photos, you need to have a professional digital camera like say an SLR, dSLR or Canon Powershot which is great and pocket friendly. High-quality stock photos cannot be taken with simple and cheap digital cameras.
Upon arriving at a decision on the type of stock photos you want to take, you need to find good subjects to photograph. It is recommended to shoot what you know and stick to it. In case you want to try a new category of stock photos, do a thorough research by taking a look at existing stock photos high on demand in that category, to familiarize yourself with the current trends and styles.
You are best adviced to know your proper category and learn more on how to come up with great shots and angles. Don't just shoot stock photos in popular demand. If you know your category well, it's a great motivation that will drive you to shooting stock photos that sell.
When shooting photos of your subject, don't elaborate. A simple, wide range of realistic but natural positions, an extreme close-up and dramatic POV shot, or an all macro B&W will suffice.
Ensure to minimize clutters in your shot by keeping it simple and clean by leaving some area round your subject.
Avoid stock photo cliches and keep it real. Check out a stock photo library or images like getty stock photos or istock photo for inspiration.
Always beware of lighting as it affects the overall quality of stock photos. Once you've taken your photographs, you can load and edit each photo in a photo editing software like Adobe Photoshop, clean the photos and give them professional stock photos, polished look. Adding some subtle effects to your photos will also make them look unique and stand out.
Finally, sign up for free with various professional and free stock photo sites and sell your stock photos and earn some income for your efforts.
Learn more about Stock Photography
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