A photo buyer calls for a picture of pigs. It can be anything. A hundred responses go online, and one lucky guy wins the bid. That's 99 images that are considered second-rate, and that's not good in any race.
So what's it about the winning image that led to the sale? Maybe it's the good lighting, maybe it's the eye-catching content... but hey, all the submitted images had the same theme, so scratch that one. Let's face it, there could be a million reasons for choosing the winning image, but there aren't!
The winning image is unusual. It's different from the others. It's something the others don't. It's oomph. It's pzazz. Call it what you'll, it's that streak that just blows the competition away. It's got that? What the heck is it? Tell me, and we'll bottle it.
Maybe it's a stunning revelation. It could be. It's certainly helpful. In fact, exposure IS is a factor, it's to be just right. But it's not the deciding factor. Image researchers, editors and publishers aren't looking for stunning exposures. No, it isn't. There's something else, an elusive factor that underlies every saleable photograph. You don't find that factor by playing blind man's buff either. If you want to sell photos, you've to recognise it, track it, capture it, master it, and make it work for you.
It's in virtually every photo that sells, and yet most people and even many photographers simply don't see it. How can something so obvious be invisible to a creative eye? It's a mystery to me. I can't understand it. When I look at the range of photos submitted, it warms my heart. Mostof the photos betray a complete lack of that elusive essential quality. They're flawed!
Shots so far removed from the subject that life-size objects are mere picks. Boring views that cover only 5% of the intended and desired subject. Constant repetitions of the same unimaginative point of view. Yes, you guessed it. I'm talking about composition.
If you want to sell photos, for heaven's sake THINK think about what you're photographing. The first angle MAY is the best, but I doubt it. The old gunslinger adage ... no matter how fast you're ... seems to apply to photography as well.
Sneak up on the subject you want, look at it from all angles, take mental pictures before you save one to film or digital, as the case may be. Don't take TAKE pictures MAKE them. Fill the screen with meaningful, compelling artwork. Look for interesting shapes, textures, colours in the most intriguing combination possible given the lighting conditions and your time constraints.
How you compose your photo says everything about you, so train your eye and mind to maximise your artistic abilities. When you photograph in search of beauty, you fulfil yourself. If you're asked to take pictures of everyday scenes, you'll bring an eagle eye to seek out the most appealing elements of the vision and combine them in a highly effective way. You'll always be an unpredictable photographer who can take unusual shots.
Discard the snakeskin of normalcy and throw out the usual suspects in favour of the racy, the dangerous, the exciting, and discover how to have fun with your camera by finding unusual angles and great compositions that will attract photo buyers like flies to a honey pot.
You can't achieve this by shooting the same thing as the average person. Be a special person! Be successful and you'll sell your photos with ease.
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