We’re often told to shop local, eat local and support local business whenever we can but I want to remind you that if you’re a stock photographer then please don’t forget to shoot local too.
As photographer Keith Morris discussed with us recently, you don’t need to go far to produce money making imagery and there is gold to be found wherever you are. No-one knows your back yard and local area as well as you do and it’s time to capitalise on that. Maybe it’s a local landmark that gets the best light at a certain time or a stunning stretch of river round the corner from your house that is just begging to be documented. Beautiful images aside, maybe the extensive potholes down your street would make a great stock image to connote a “difficult journey” concept or editorially for a story about the state of our roads. Why not take inspiration from photographers like Don Smith? His 聽shows how you can create punchy, creative imagery from around your home and using your family as models.
Many of us who like to shoot travel or destination imagery are perhaps guilty of thinking we need to go far and wide in order to get the best work but I bet you can go out now and shoot 50聽decent stock images without travelling more than聽1 hour away from your front door. Give it a go, but be creative. I’m not suggesting you go out and take 50 photos of your nearest postbox and submit them – look for a different take on something that’s been done and shoot out of your comfort zone, try something new. If you live near a famous town or city, grab a tourist book or go online and have a look at the imagery already being used, then go out and improve on it. Get a better angle or shoot in more interesting light.
And before you think ‘I don’t live somewhere interesting enough’ remember, customers are constantly telling us that one of the main things they LOVE about 17吃瓜在线 is that聽we have images that no-one else has – especially the unique, weird and wonderful.
Take away’s:
- Look creatively at what’s around you
- Improve upon what is already being sold
- Use local knowledge to your advantage
- Sellable stock photography聽opportunities can be found everywhere