Fotolia’s 200,000 contributors supply our amazing array of images from around the world – and there are currently over 27 million to choose from!
Every artist we’ve interviewed has their very own unique style and technique, which they attribute to their stock achievements. We asked them to share some tips and tricks for every reader - from newbies just starting on Fotolia, to professionals looking to branch out. There’s something here for everyone.
This week we’re focusing on photography equipment as we are regularly asked what our recommendations are. Interestingly the common responses from our Contributors are not all based around purchasing expensive, top-of-the-range kit but instead making investments in your passion and your personal photography education.
Sam Antonio: The person behind the camera is much more important than the camera itself. You can take great photographs with an expensive DSLR, a compact camera or a smartphone. Invest in your photography knowledge by reading books, video tutorials online or taking a photography workshop. Photograph with passion and creativity and that will be evident in your images.
Tomasz Tulik: Sadly there’s no such thing as a universal lens so different lens need to be purchased depending on the light you’ll be shooting in for example in a studio, or artifical light. Again with outdoor shooting every scenario requires a different lens: static for outdoor, stabilization for shooting traffic or fish eye for perspective shots.
Robert Kneschke: When a new photographer really wants some advice, I’d suggest to dig heavily into how “light works” and how to manipulate it. Be it by flash or by understanding the factors that come into play for great lighting, like waiting for some clouds to cover the sun to get your best softbox ever.
My equipment grew over time and I did not have to take a loan or something like that to afford it. That is the good thing about stock photography; since you can choose what you want to take pictures of, you can adapt your motives to your equipment, not the other way around.
Ilja Mašík: Firstly, you need to love photography. Forget the rumors that you must have expensive equipment; great photos you can make take with cheap cameras. This photo of New York was taken with a digital camera, comparable with today’s cheapest types.
Darren Baker: As far as buying a camera is concerned, I think getting the best combination of camera and lens you can afford is a good idea, but don’t get too hung up on equipment. Kit doesn’t make a photograph; it’s the creativity and skill of the photographer using it.
Jelena Jovanovic: The DSLR made every photographer’s life easier. Today, you can take unlimited images that cost almost nothing compared to taking and developing analogue photographs.
For me personally, the biggest significance is digital art and the aid of the drawing tablet, which can turn your photographs into fantastic surreal scenes.
Konrad Bak: Basic knowledge of graphics software is very useful in the stock photography industry, for example in colour post-processing. Sessions often take place in different weather conditions, so images may not be light enough, there may be differences in contrasts or in the background, and correction becomes indispensable so that nothing distracts attention from the foreground.
In such cases delicate colour treatment is required. However, when combining photos with graphics a thorough knowledge of programs such as Photoshop is essential.
I often post-process as in this way my work become more magical and unique. The nature of the images also determines the approach to the subject – certainly an ordinary photo ‘lifestyle’ image will look better without excessive post-processing.
Have you any questions you’d like answered by our contributors? Send them over to dinah.hillsdon@fotolia.com