Micro Assignments
The photography of microstock can run the continuum from accessory to utility. But assignments can demand simple requirements from a broad range of pictorial and photo file needs. Microstock images can vary from one off purchases to a series of similar purchases. Requests for a group of files may happen when a buyer likes your work but does not see an existing subject covered with the range they need. The above image was part of a series displaying the motifs of fabric from an online catalog.
The feature image was chosen to show the best part of a product fabric that the beta versions were made out of. This kind of shot is particularly important if trademarked materials are involved and product offerings must specifically advertise certain aspects of the product or size and scale. The color can be a critical part of the detail.
 For one website the photographer may need a series of shots of 100 items, one from the front, top, and side. They must all be taken from the same angle and in the same light. These kinds of assignments present a challenge to the microstock photographer because they require ongoing focus and attention to detail. Not everyone can be a photographer, and not everyone can deliver the image files successfully. The clients will be looking for the talented professionals who can deliver consistent suites of material on time
 Working in a timeframe and under deadline, a microstock photographer must render these products electronically and in an agreed upon manner. The quality must be sufficient and the material must be successully accessible at the other end of the line. Negotiating formats and delivery dates is an important part of freelance microstock photography.
Â
Recently I was hired to photograph a series of dogs for a dog and pet products website. Each breed of dog needed its own photograph. The microstock setup for this was challenging as I needed the same size shot from roughly the same distance in similar background conditions. Also, finding the dogs and recognizing the various breeds was my job too. I started out at the nearest dog park and worked my way through the list.
