Fine Art America – Round Two
Talk about bad timing! I publish a post suggesting that we ought to promote each other’s work and then I find the FAA site is down for the rest of the day! But it did give me a chance to think more about this. It is probably best to promote a specific image rather than a portfolio and so I suggest that I use this post as a repository of images that you would like this community to “like” and comment against. I suspect the Likes are the most important element in search. Supply your image URL to me either in the comments below or via my contact page and I will add them here. In that way we have a repository of favorite (or at least potentially best selling) images. To start, here is mine:
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Steven, I’m new to Stock photography and really don’t have any idea if I have anything good!
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/honolulu-skyline-ken-desloover.html
Hi Ken – those images are generally very good. Just think about the big question though – would you want this on your wall, and why would someone look for this for a wall print? The images of the lock gates are good technically, but I’m not sure what would make someone say – I’d really like that on my wall, or would search for it in the first place. Whenever I say something like this, I find that it has sold already, so maybe take this as general advice!
I would also experiment with different painting techniques if you enjoy that. I’ve been happy using the Jixipix range for my attempts in that space!
Hi Steven, Thank you for the very thoughtful feedback here and on FAA. Sorry for not responding sooner. I really struggle with what I want on my own walls, so it’s even tougher guessing what other people want to see. LOL However, I’m really starting to understand some of the differences between stock and artistic images. Some of the source photos used for the FAA site, sell decently as stock, but don’t seem to have any interest as wall art. I do like playing with the Jixipix software and purchased another product this week. Thanks for the discount tip this week!
I really like your images of Waimea Canyon. These are the first images, I have ever seen without the fog or mist, nice change of pace.
https://fineartamerica.com/featured/panorama-of-the-waimea-canyon-from-the-waipoo-falls-overlook-on-steven-heap.html
Ken
Thanks – that canyon certainly is dramatic! It is difficult to think about what someone might like – although I usually look at the recently sold prints to get an idea of what people are buying. If you look at those critically and ask yourself what someone might have seen in the image, it can help your own work. If ever you want me to critique an image, please let me know. I don’t want to write anything critical in the comments over on FAA as buyers probably look at those and you don’t want to point out areas where things could be improved!
Steve
Steven, while nearing retirement transitioning from my active local photography to more passive photography and looking at stock. Taking time off and traveling – forced to go to Switzerland a couple weeks every year to spoil the grandchild plus add a week for independent travel while over there – takes a terrible toll on a local client base. I do agree that photos may provide way too much detail and need to think like a painter where less is better. Haven’t tried jixpix but am trying to learn Corel Painter which is feature rich. Haven’t expanded my FAA account beyond the 25 free yet but about to. https://fineartamerica.com/featured/zermatt-and-the-matterhorn-larry-gray.html
I think you need to get a lot of images up there to get regular sales – a bit like stock agencies, they have so many images! I sell more photos than paintings, but then I have a lot of photos up there. Good luck with Corel Painter – it was just too complicated for me, which is why I like the one click solutions like Jixipix.
Hi Steve, thanks for letting us participate. Stay strong.