One thing as a photographer that I have been doing lately is putting my photos on Adobe Stock.  By putting my photos on stock websites I’m hoping to earn some extra income and gain even more exposure as an artist. Here are a few reasons why it was important for me to consider putting my photos on stock websites:

I’m hoping to get increased visibility as a photographer.  In putting my photos on stock websites, they become available to a much larger audience. This can help me gain exposure for my work and potentially lead to new opportunities.

I’m looking to make passive income money and stock photography can be a great way to earn passive income. Once I upload my photos to a stock website, they can continue to generate income for me over time without any additional effort on my part.

This also can help with a diversification of income as a photographer.  I’ve made a lot of my income as a photographer doing business headshots, but this is a way to help reduce my reliance on a single source of income (such as headshot or event photography) and create a more stable and sustainable business model.

By taking stock photos I’m hoping gain more clients.  Stock photography is often used by businesses and individuals who need high-quality images for a variety of purposes, including marketing materials, websites, and social media. By putting my photos on stock websites, I’m making my work available to potential clients who might need a photographer for things other than stock photos.

Overall, putting my photos on stock websites can be a great way to expand my audience, generate passive income, and diversify my income streams as a photographer.

What are your stock photography needs?  Here is the link to check out my photos on Adobe Stock: https://stock.adobe.com/contributor/207058840/Steven%20Hankins%20Photo

Some of you might ask, why don’t photographers give their clients all of the RAW files.  First, let’s define what RAW is.  RAW is a type of image file format that contains minimally processed data.  It is called “raw” because it is the pure, unaltered data that has not been processed.
Unlike other image file formats, such as JPEG or PNG, which are already processed and compressed, RAW files allow for more flexibility and control in post-processing. With a RAW file, photographers can adjust the white balance, exposure, and other settings to achieve the desired look for their images without losing detail or introducing artifacts.
However, because RAW files contain uncompressed data, they tend to be much larger in size than other image file formats, which can lead to larger storage requirements. Additionally, RAW files require specialized software to process and convert them into a more accessible image format, such as JPEG or PNG.

So, here are a few reasons that photographers might not give their clients all of the RAW files.

1. Copyright - Having the RAW files might help prove ownership. By not delivering the RAW files, photographers can protect their intellectual property and ensure that their work is not used without permission or compensation.

2. Creative Control - RAW files give photographers greater control over the final image, allowing them to make adjustments to color balance, exposure, and other variables. By delivering only the edited JPEG files, photographers can maintain control over the final look of their work.

3. Quality Control - RAW files are unprocessed and may contain some errors or unflattering shots that the photographer may not want to be associated with their work. By only delivering edited JPEG files, photographers can ensure that they are delivering only their best work.

Capturing a perfect portrait with a camera is only half the battle. The other half is the post-processing, which can make or break the final product. Let’s delve into my portrait photography editing process and how I use both Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop.

Adobe Lightroom is the go-to software for many photographers when it comes to managing and editing their photos.  Lightroom offers a range of tools to help you enhance your images, from basic adjustments to more advanced techniques like selective adjustments, color grading, and noise reduction.

The first step in my editing process is to import the raw images into Lightroom.  After that, I typically like selecting the best images I shot with the client.  Then, I start editing the few best photos we chose.

I like to start doing some basic adjustments like exposure, contrast, and white balance in Lightroom.  Then, I move on to more advanced adjustments, like skin smoothing, color correction, and sharpening. Lightroom also offers selective adjustments, which allows me to adjust specific areas of the image, like the eyes, lips, or hair.

Oftentimes, once the basic edits are done in Lightroom, I will move on to Photoshop for more advanced retouching. Photoshop offers a wide range of tools and techniques for retouching portraits, including skin smoothing and blemish removal.

The first step in Photoshop is to create a new layer and use the healing brush tool to remove any imperfections like acne, wrinkles, or blemishes.  If needed, I will then use the clone stamp tool to remove any distracting elements in the background.

In conclusion, my editing process using Adobe Lightroom and Adobe Photoshop can be complex and time-consuming process that requires skill, patience, and attention to detail. But with the tools and techniques I use, we will take your portrait and turn it into a stunning work of art.

Contact me when you are ready to schedule your portrait photography session.