Janet Schlarbaum Custom Photography

By Al Sanez

Learning how to take photos that sell is not hard at all. However, it does take some work. Before I learned how to take sell-able photos, I’d struggle to get my photos sold online. This article shows you how to take more profitable shots.

The main type of photo that will be discussed in this article is stock photos. Stock photos are very different than any other type of photo. Their primary purpose is to sell. Most people that buy stock photography use it for advertisements, book covers, magazines, etc. The pictures are purchased to add visual appeal or make an ad look more appealing to buyers.

When you take stock shots, you have to work differently. Taking pictures the normal way just doesn’t work very well. Your aim should be for a mix between two important aspects:

1. Sells Looking Shots
Stock photos all have that certain look to them. They are simple, have very easy concepts that anybody can understand, and are composed in a basic manner. Stock photos usually have plain backgrounds, high key even lighting without any harsh shadows, and are as sharp and focused as possible. Most stock photographs are too perfect looking.

2. Your Own Style
Anybody can take stock shots like described above. This is the generic type of photos that most agencies have. The key to taking great stock pictures is to balance this generic stereotype with your own personal style of photography.This is what will show your own unique voice. The trick, however, is creating the right balance.Too much personal style and your photo becomes artsy instead of stock photo material. And too little style and too much generic looks will make your photo just like all the others on those sites.