Which Is Better For Stock Photo Shoots: Planned Or Improvised?

[@andrewapsley7259]

Great advice as always. Sometimes coming up with the concept takes longer than the setting up and processing, i probably need to be more open about creating concepts. Your advice is great as its always based on your actual experience of what works and what doesnt.

[@wollertz]

Thanks so much! Yes, coming up with concepts and a difficult, start simple and then add more props, look for inspiration in the same stock agencies, look for ideas and put your own spin on them, enjoy the process, it’s supposed to be fun 😁

[@donnabollenbach1922]

Another great video. As a nature photographer, I could say most of my shoots are unplanned-but not really. While I may not be able to control the weather, the wildlife, or nature in general, I do plan where I am going and what time I want to be there, and I research what I might see there. I am also a big believer in previsualization-it helps be ready when the shot presents itself. This is very important for wildlife photography and landscapes in places where the climate changes constantly (i.e.: high mountains). That all being said, plans are just guidelines; you must be spontaneous as well, like when you see people far out on a rock outcrop, giving scale to the landscape. It’s a great editorial shot. In any case, while I don’t think I will ever be a hardcore lifestyle photographer, animals, plants, and landscapes are really my thing; you have put a seed in my head, so I do look for those people shots now, whereas before, I would not. I still have to work on putting myself in the photo. I’ve just been on the back side of the camera too long, I think. By the way, my stock sales are doing well. I am selling several images each day; I recently sold my first two enhanced licenses. (It was a nice surprise.) I would like to know if you ever do any marketing specifically for your stock photography. For example, I was wondering if you ever “cold call” (via email or messaging today) organizations or companies that you think would be interested in your photos and send them a link to your Shutterstock or Adobe portfolio.

[@wollertz]

100% correct! Thanks for sharing. Yes when we plan on being somewhere and wait for the best light, or go out knowing we are going to spend 4 hours waiting for a bird that might show up, I consider that planing, everything else is out of our control but making the decision to be there and stay there is what’s going to get the shots! I was actually out today filming and I happened across a doe and two newborn fawns running fown the road. That was not planned, and I wasn’t prepared I got a couple of photos but nothing good, I went to film “me” and didn’t bring a telephoto 😅. That’s where the planning comes into play. As far as reaching out to companies, I haven’t done it for stock, what I have done is reached out and offered my services personally so that I can make the full amount and not give the agencies any 😅. But it is a good practice for companies that are not local, or to sell photos you already have instead of doing a new shoot for someone. Great idea, agencies also offer a referral fee if you happen to find a new client for them, so that’s a great idea!

[@donnabollenbach1922]

@@wollertz When I want to see wildlife, I just need to put the "wrong" lens on my camera... haha. In any case, it must have been heartwarming to SEE the doe and her babies!

[@wollertz]

It was, they were goofy looking and learning how to walk, probably just a couple of days old, they were nursing any chance they got

[@vukburgic1626]

Great video, i am just curious do photos of cakes sell? And when and how much to upload 😊

[@wollertz]

Yes, I sell cakes and pastries, just upload as much as possible, preferably on a weekly basis. Things that say happy birthday, happy Mother’s Day, happy Father’s Day, Independence Day etc, specific holidays should be uploaded about 3 months before the holiday! Thanks for the comment

[@Gobilovable]

❤ learned from india🎉

[@wollertz]

Awesome! thanks for sharing!

[@chadrobertson217]

Were your friends easily willing to sign model releases? This seems to be one of my biggest holdbacks: either I feel bashful asking them to sign one, or they don’t want to. Also, what model light are you using thru the water cube?

[@wollertz]

Thanks! I’ve honestly never had anyone say no to a MR, I’ve had a few photos make it to magazines, so most people want to see if they can be in one too 😅. The light I was using is the newer ms60c They are offering a big store wide discount right now (I’m not associated with them)

[@chadrobertson217]

@@wollertzMaybe I'm not "selling" it well.

[@GregKelton]

Good video, I agree totally, you need quantity over quality, in stock photography. Unfortunately for me 98% of mine is Improvised, now I'm doing Planned and AI to change that and seeing better results.

[@wollertz]

Absolutely! I think we were all sold the idea that Stock photography is not work, and just uploading photos from your vacations can be financially rewarding 😅. Thats why I try to keep reminding everyone that this is not the case anymore, and I don't think it ever was 🤷‍♂️

[@GregKelton]

@@wollertz So true!

[@pauldarville3843]

Great advice, thanks Charlie!! What do you think of the new R5 M2?

[@wollertz]

Thanks so much1 it sounds amazing, i hope the specs are real and that they fix the overheating issue, its the only thing I don't like about the R5, everything else is perfect, I cant imagine how they are going to make it better 🤷‍♂️

[@WondersofHimalayas]

Good information 👏

[@wollertz]

Thank you!

[@WondersofHimalayas]

@@wollertz most welcome 🙌🌎

[@mykhailorepuzhynskyi3234]

👍🏻

[@wollertz]

🙌🏼

[@siennaawesome6902]

Im from Montana ❤🎉

[@wollertz]

Montana is awesome!

[@StArK_Imagery]

Question, when I take different angle pictures and i want to upload, do i upload all with the same description or do I have to make different descriptions

[@wollertz]

I use the same 🤷‍♂️ Takes too long to change them and this is about numbers

[@StArK_Imagery]

@@wollertz thank you