Dear Right Way to Travel Reader,

2009 is fast approaching, and I'd like to see you sell a few travel articles and a couple dozen photos by the end of the year... so you really start 2009 on the right foot.

To help you, I've asked three industry experts to uncover what's selling best in their market of expertise right now.  And I'm going to send you all three of their reports in lieu of this week's regularly scheduled e-letter.

You'll find the first below.  It's a report from professional photographer Shelly Perry on what's hot in online stock agencies today...

-- Lori

Lori Allen
Director, AWAI Travel Division

P.S. On Saturday I'm going to announce -- to all our readers -- our next big photography event: The Ultimate Photographer's Workshop 2009, March 13-15, in New Orleans, LA.

This March, we're going to pack the room full of seasoned photographers.  All are successful in fine art, stock, portraiture, travel magazines, and more.  And all are ready to share their hard-earned secrets of success with us. You'll find a sneak preview of the event along with comments from last year's attendees, here.

This year's event is going to be bigger and better than ever before, with more live models, more photography shoots, more Photoshop and Lightroom labs, and more guest speakers.  Sign up before the end of November and you'll save a full $700 -- our biggest workshop discount sale ever.  Details here.

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November 12, 2008
The Right Way to Travel
What's Working Series, Day 1 - Stock Photography
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WHAT'S WORKING IN STOCK PHOTOGRAPHY TODAY
By Shelly Perry in Portland, OR

When it comes to stock photography, the million-dollar question is, "What kinds of photos are people buying online?"

If you're involved in image creation for stock, this question is constantly at the forefront of your thoughts. It's a question that, if responded to correctly, could make all the difference in the world to your photo income potential.

I'm sure there are a few golden nuggets to be stumbled upon out there. But, generally speaking, the trick is to take a new look at an old subject; apply a twist to a tried and true theme. What's selling today is the same thing that's been selling for years -- photos that meet a customer's need.

Here are five trends I've identified as top sellers right now:

** 1. HOLIDAY: Christmas and the general holiday season can be the biggest singular event of the year for sales, even when it comes to stock photography. Those who make a point of adding this theme to their portfolios each year are usually greatly rewarded for the effort.  Granted, the life span of these images can be short -- September through December generally -- but the sales volume can be significantly greater than with other themes.

** 2. BUSINESS: You'd think this theme would be completely covered since it's the most lucrative theme out there for stock photography.  But here's the thing: designers always, month after month, need new and current business shots for websites, brochures, and advertisements they're creating for their customers.  And graphic designers are still the biggest buyers in online stock. Bottom line: "business" sells.

Here's a twist: think about life in the real world as your source material.  The real world is not made up of 20-something models.  It's made of people of all ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicities. These people work in a myriad of environments and industries doing a vast array of jobs, yet when you search for "business" you will tend to see the same type of shot over and over again. Be creative, think "real world," put a twist on it (and do it well), and you will help solve a designer's dilemma... and reap the rewards.

** 3. PEOPLE: Not every photo needs to include people, but those that include people generally sell well.  If you can include people in your shots at least some of the time, you'll do yourself a favor. Try to capture emotion and animation -- real people doing real things in a real life. Just like business shots, designers have a constant need for fresh faces and a variety of situations and emotions. Photos of women (especially business women) are more in demand now than ever before. And don't forget the model release.

** 4. CLEAN, LIGHT, AND BRIGHT: This is nothing new in the world of stock, but images that are clean (think logo and clutter free), light, and bright generally sell much better than the more artistic, dark and moody ones.  With the darker shots, a designer might have to fuss around a bit more to make them fit into a project.

** 5. DYNAMIC: Images that have life to them -- that are not stale or forced. They appear to be genuine, even though they are often highly staged.  It's the art of creating the illusion that you walked into the room and your models just happened to be there... or you (and the viewer) are caught in the middle of meeting with them. Creating these un-posed, energetic types of shots can be a challenge, but it's well worth the effort if you're able to pull it off.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: I've asked Shelly to keep an eye on new trends for our March event coming up in New Orleans.  And you can bet those will be the things we focus on in the studio shoots with our live models.  I'm going to announce this workshop to all our readers on Saturday.  But you can claim an advance seat at a big, big discount here before the rush.

What's more, we're adding sessions to this workshop for beginners and an extra Mardi Gras-themed photo shoot after the event.  Seats to these add-on sessions are strictly limited so don't wait and miss your opportunity to join us in all the fun.  More details here.]

[ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shelly Perry from Portland, Oregon, specializes in people photography -- what she calls documentary or lifestyle portraits. She is known especially for her imaging of children. Shelly's concern for people is reflected both in her sense of purpose and the images she produces.  Her images have been seen all over the globe on music CD covers, books, magazines, catalogues, web sites, ad campaigns and even on TV. Her work has also appeared in several local exhibits and gallery shows.

Meet Shelly in person.]

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