An Image To Sell?

honestly i think you'll get a can't print this note. but no i don't like it. while i understand it, there is very little of that girl and the red thing is distracting. to sell as art, you don't need a release. if you sold it commercially, then yes, it's clear enough to see her face.


---Mike Savad

I do like it Lara.

Not for print sales really - but (cropped) wouldn't that make a great image for a book cover ? It's rather melancholy - it tells a story.

I don't care for that yellow blur "smile" on the left. distracting. It takes my eye back to the left side - looks like she is reaching out for her cheese doodle.

" Goodbye to Summer"

I'd definitely clone out the yellow line.

Thanks Mike and Janie for the honest input. :-)

YES!! Lara, this is a marvelous photo. This is Fine Art as opposed to Stock. It has emotion, composition, excitement, beauty, movement and evokes memories for anyone who's ever been to a county fair. I love the background, the girl, her hand, her expression -- you've captured a dreamlike quality in a sea of motion.

I would clone out the lower left streak and the upper right white dot. Otherwise, it's beautiful!


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

This is a marvelous photo in the area of candid street photography. Will it sell here? I doubt it. But be proud of this wonderful image. You did yourself proud.

My Rule of Thirds meter is reacting violently! But maybe that's just me. I'd prefer the little girl to be back to the left much further instead of haphazzardly in the lower right hand of the frame. I like the idea behind the shot way more than the execution.

And, yeah, clone out the yellow line.

Barf. Take the type off. You've ruined it.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

I can't explain why, but I actually like it much better now! Yeah, as a greeting card, it definitely works in my opinion.

I love the photo and had the same reaction Dan did but NOT with that text, or ANY text

Its a wonderful capture Lara. I didn't see it without the text but I believe I would like it better without the text.

I don't like the font choice...needs to be more playful~

It's beautiful, the feeling of motion is wonderful. It should sell! Use both, with text and without. I have a gallery with quotes.

definitely loose the words, not only is the font wrong, but it's distracting. the girl is leaving the picture, it could mean anything. i think it's best to try this again and get the girl in the shot, and toss this one. there isn't much that will save it. and if your going to add text it should be at the top or the bottom, in a cursive whimsical font.

---Mike Savad

How about "Reach for your Dreams"? I agree the old-fashioned font doesn't work. Try a sans serif for a more modern look.

Apparently, I'm the lone dissenter, LOL. The feeling I get is that the text explains why the girl is leaving the frame. That's why to me it works better with the text. Maybe they're right about font choice. With a little girl, the font should be more playful, I guess. I might also consider "Follow Your Dreams"

Thanks for all the input everyone. I got permission from the mom to use the photo so here is what did with the photo. I've got some with text and some without and I added a border because I didn't like the text accross the photo so now it will work better as a greeting card or poster.

Hi Lara!

Just another opinion here so please take it with a grain of salt ...

I like the image as a stand alone but with that said - coming from experience with making greeting cards (over 1,500 for sale online and a few/several thousand sales) it's my opinion that both your font and the color really don't go well with the image. For me they are both too strong and don't work well with the image, which is the draw for almost any greeting card. The blue does nothing for the image, neither does the color of the border around the image.


--Donna Proctor

Edit - did you try playing around with a white border and add the text more in line of the blue in the sky? Also, you might try playing around with a font that is not so competing with the image. Sometimes simpler is better.

The space to the left and top of the photo is what makes the photo work, along with the inclined lines leading to the girl. The border chokes the space. The words further destroy the composition because they are shoved into a space that's too small. They can't breath. As Donna mentioned, wrong font, wrong color. So far, every attempt to add anything else to this outstanding photo has ruined the photo.

An analogy would be looking at Beethoven's sheet music and saying "There's too much space between some of these notes. Let's add some notes to even this out." The spaces between the notes are as important as the notes themselves. The composition doesn't need anything added to it.

The picture is perfect as it is.


Dan Turner
Dan Turner's Seven Keys to Selling Art Online

I agree with Dan....The picture is perfect as it is.
This is just a wonderful image.

You don't need a model release unless you use it as an ad or for commercial purposes.

For fine art, no model release is required.

If you know who the parents are, you might give them a free 4x6 print.

Lara,

Minus the wording I think the shot is killer good. I've gone back to it several times and it evokes emotion every time. Makes me think of my Daughters as little girls and makes me sad. I guess what I'm trying to say is I love it. I actually got a little choked up and I'm not ashamed to admit it. :-)

Gary

Just Lol Lara.
Im upgraded my skills all the time when someone tells me im have bad painting skills or something like that
people who tells you this picture is good make bad for you
couse this picture is not good
trying to craet another one

I agree to fix the font as it seems to be a "generic" type.. I'd use a cursive, which would make it seem more delicate and meaningful..
The photo itself is quite nice and tells a story and makes for a wonderful Greeting Card. :)

@Chastity Hoff dont tying to desert shes respectful . it dont help her ...

Lara, I think it is a wonderful shot, love it.

I hope you don't mind that I did this, but it was easier than trying to explain it! If you want to keep type for one or more of the versions, I would keep it light but readable in this area. It doesn't work imo with the border around for the above stated reasons, nor the blue or the font choice. I'll delete this once you've had a chance to look at it. edit: a carefree font - light. Also, I like the image without type too.

Melissa thanks! I don't mind at all. I struggle with text. What font is that? Did you use the color from the photo? Thanks for your help
Cards aren't my strong point ;-)

Yes, selected color from the image. It's Bradley Hand ITC. The color came from that middle section, one of the medium shades...sort of a mauve, not too dark. Had to space the words individually.

I love the image just as it is and yes, it will sell. Anything with kids will sell. May take a bit to find the right buyer but it will sell

I don't like it as well with any of the text or borders but that is just me. I would show them all if it were mine because people like choice.

I also like what Melissa did with the text if you want text.

Be proud of that image and go for it! You did good!

Thanks again Melissa I'm going to try to duplicate what you did tomorrw :-)
Thank you Floyd for the kind words and I will go for it. :-)

okay, going to delete it now!

I like the image and it would be great for commercial purposes and greeting card. You don't need to clone anything but leave the text out of the image.

I loved the text and the photo, great job. I'm no expert on composition tho, but loved the very first version. Good luck to you.

I, too, like your photo. I don't like the black text font you used. It seems distracting. Softer might be better and in a better placement on the photo. What you could do is present the photo without any text, then in your description show 3 or 4 different lines of text as possibilities to add on the photo. Thus the purchaser could choose which to add (or not to). That gives choice and might be perfect for a card, if chosen. Just an idea!

I just saw this. It doesn't need words it is universal. I think it would work very well as a fine art print in the right setting.
The composition is superb and far beyond the rule of thirds. (which is also at work here along with the intersecting diagonal lines).

Unlike Dan I do not see stock and Fine Art diametrically opposed.
For all the reasons he liked it as art it could be a runaway best seller as stock in the right collection. Funny, one of the best selling stock photo images of all time was of a child (the wish) and before they were removed there were a many paintings of it here, some almost exact copies.

Always get a permission for children if there is not an obvious parent or guardian in the photo. That is standard policy where I submit my editorial work and for the same reasons it is a good policy for art even if it is a release limited to fine art prints.

As for whether they would print it i would say you might get a letter, since this the image is obviously blurry. But since the blurriness is visible clearly visible on the sale page it is likely they would print it, either right away or after contacting you.

I have added typography to many of my images, but I do it carefully. Not every image needs It or should have it. I agree with those who say this one is better without it. It's a great image...let it speak for itself.

As for Floyd's statement that anything with kids will sell...well, sure, IF you market the heck out of it. No different from any other subject matter. I have over 30 beautiful images with children, and not one has ever sold here. It's ALL about the marketing, which I do not do enough of.

Just wanted to say thanks everyone for all your input and help especially with the text part. Here's the final text version but I still have a non-text version as well so people can choose either one. :-)

I LOVE the photograph. As for the text on the first one I saw... One could go either way with it. With, or without.

As for a release? Was it truly made on public property? Would the girls mother object to the image being sold as a greeting card? If I knew this girls mother and she objected to the use of her daughter's image in such a way.

Even though you would more than likely be quite safe legally speaking (I am NOT a lawyer and this should in no way be interpreted as legal advice) I would certainly ask “mom” if she had any objections.

Hi, Joe. As for the thirds “rule” please notice the attention given the 'lower left streak', 'the yellow line', eta all.

The girls face is just below one of the intersecting points established by the thirds “rule”.

I believe this image is an exceptional example of using the Golden Mean (which is what the thirds rule attempts to introduce beginning photographers to one of the basic concepts of composition.

Not to mention that the girl is just far enough from the intersecting point as to suggest both, she is---quickly--- leaving the scene, as well as advancing the illusion of movement.

Joe wrote, “Apparently, I'm the lone dissenter, LOL. The feeling I get is that the text explains why the girl is leaving the frame.”

No, Joe! I too agree with the use of text. Especially when used as a greeting card. One only need visit the nearest card, or gift shop, or even the nearest grocery store to see that the vast majority of greeting cards include text. I submit that the marketing personnel for the large card companies know a thing or two about what they are doing.

As well, I suggest that if you submitted the image to one of these card publishers they would not answer you using the word, “barf”. Nor do I believe they would suggest that adding text would ruin it. One should expect an expert in marketing would be a bit more congenial.

Again, I love the photograph. It is certainly a wonderful shot. It evokes emotion and may certainly remind adults of the joyous times we all experienced in the days of Summer.

Perfect? Well, I am not sure there is any photograph that would---or should---be considered perfect.

Edit: I see that you have since received permission from the mother of the girl. Excellent!

I am reminded of my own shot, “Dreamgirl”.

Certainly it is noisy, and grainy, but I am happy with it.



I used this photograph in a video I put up on Youtube: I believe it fit nicely.



The video was indeed made with a dreamlike theme. Which correlates to the dreamlike quality of your own image, Lara.

Thanks Walter I really like your dreamlike photo too and nice imagery in the video too! I did indeed get permission from the mother and she loves the photo and is going to make a print for herself too (I sent her the large version). :-) I'm going to close this thread now that it has run it's course. Thanks again to all the people who helped me with this one.