54 What Sells and What Does Not
- Try a new angle. Get low; get high, but avoid a boring snapshot.
- Remember, simple sells. This is true for fl owers just as for most other subjects, and
a macro lens will help isolate the subject from the clutter. Simple, bright colors
against a darker background also work (but check the exposure).
“Gerbera Daisy” (Figure 3.23) and “Backlit Narcissus” (Figure 3.24)
are examples of images that go beyond simple snapshots of fl owers,
yet both could be taken by anyone with a little effort and application.
(You will notice that the daisy is isolated on a white background and
set to one side so that there is room for a designer’s message.)
The daisy image is bright, is colorful, and has water droplets on
the petals to add to the sense of “freshness.” It is a well-taken macro
(close-up) image. Note that only part of the fl ower is included in the
image. This works well in this context.
I took “Backlit Narcissus” in my garden, getting down low, below
level of the fl owers and shooting upwards, deliberately including a
little sun fl are (normally a fault) to add to the sense of energy. The
fl ower heads seem to dominate. A shot of the same fl owers from above
would look routine and boring in comparison. My wife was angry with
me for the grass-stained clothes from my low-down shot, but I explained
that artists have to suffer for their art. (Ever tried that excuse? Nope,
didn’t work for me either!)
Both these fl ower shots offer the buyer something a bit different,
and for that reason both have sold well. Can you do the same or better?
I bet you can.
FIGURE 3.21 “Mouse.” © Dawid Konopka/
Shutterstock