How to increase views/DL's

Hi


I am still pretty new here. I have built a small portfolio. Many pictures don't even have any views, let alone a download after a few months. Still waiting for my 1st. I am not employed in the art/desinger world. I am a scientist. Is the trick in keywording? If so how do I maximize the keywords without going overboard? What topics are popular sellers? I am into nature and wildlife area-any critters better than others selling wise ?Thanks for your help to directing my attention to the right area/topic I need to look into.


rmpphotos

Here is some views from me.

judging by those 12 images you have, that trend (no views no downloads) will continue well into the future. Snapshots from your brief field trips are not going to make much impact here. Most everybody starts like that. Next stage is probably your feet, shoes, pets, backyard ... That's not selling either. Think of a concept and try to be unique.

Buyers only buy photos that they think will help them sell their product.

Before you ever even click your shutter, ask yourself how the person buying your photo is going to use it to sell their product.

Keywords are absolutely a challenge for you. After you ask yourself how a buyer is going to use your photo to sell their thing, ask yourself what keyword is the buyer going to use to find my photo that will sell their thing.

You preferred area of shooting is also a challenge. Tens of thousands of people love shooting scenic and wildlife. It is incredibly difficult to compete with that.

My general advice is

1. Make more photos, and make them on purpose with an idea of what they can be used for.
2. Don't go through your hard disk looking for something that can pass the inspection (everyone does it, it is absolutely a waste of time in most cases.)
3. Make photos of people doing stuff.
4. Before you upload a photo, do a search with the best keyword you have for your photo. If there are more than 10,000 photos that use your main keyword, don't bother upload that subject again unless you can honestly say to yourself that your photo is better than 9975 of them. If there are less than 100 results, don't bother uploading your photo because it isn't commercial enough unless it is a really technical thing or something that almost no one has access to.

My advice to you specifically is

1. Take photos that only a scientist could take. Scientific journals tend to want photos that look real, with equipment that is real. A nurse I know complained that all the doctors on the show Scrubs had ghetto stethoscopes, people that use stethoscopes have expensive stethoscopes, people that have prop stethoscopes have cheap ones.

Thanks for your feedback, it really helps.

Excellent advice, garymilner! Even for the more experienced among us.


(spelling)

(Edited on 2013-03-12 07:11:49 by Sproetniek)

garymilner is right, tens of thousands of shooters for wildlife / scenic. A couple of thoughts for you:


 - check out the portfolios of the top wildlife and scenic shooters here on istock, see what you are up against. It will give you a clearer target to aim for with your shooting.


- Join one of the great nature photography forums on the web and post your photos there for critique. That can be immensly helpful in developing your photography. Check out:


www.naturephotographers.net


www.naturescapes.net


 

(Edited on 2013-03-12 10:10:35 by KenCanning)

I started with nature photos as well and it's what sells the least. I now shoot; construction projects, runners, rotten siding on houses, dented cars, painted arrows on the road, utility workers, cows, cedar siding, in other words anything that has commercial potential. iStock has transormed my love of photographyinto an obsession and an avocation.


You can find inspiration for things in your area you could shoot from other iStockers portfolios by searching for things you might like to shoot.


Best of luck.

(Edited on 2013-03-28 07:45:48 by RaeAnnaFrame)

You're a scientist - shoot science! There's definitely a market and if you can get access to people and equipment, wonderful.