Optimize your production process

Practical tips for producing successful stock content. Part 2 of our 5 Keys to Stock Success series, to help Adobe Stock Contributors earn and grow. 

In the first part of this series we explored how to create assets that stock buyers are looking for – now, it's time to talk about the actual production process. To strike a balance between trending, seasonal and evergreen content and incorporate these themes into your work, you need to be organized and maximize your resources. The production of the output, especially for photography and video, is one of the most critical parts for stock contributors. Get it right, and you’ll be able to think ahead and create the right kind of material that sells.

Let's dig deeper into how you can get the most from your production – from finding a versatile location to enhancing your visuals in post-production – and also cover best practices for illustrators.

Photoshoots are costly and tend to be very time consuming. To make the most of the opportunity, do your best to come prepared. Before you start the actual production process, carry out as much research as you can and plan how you will use your unique location, props, and models. Attention to detail matters and will affect the long-term potential of your finished stock photos and video clips. 

If you can, scout the location before the shoot. Find one that's versatile and gives you plenty of shot options. Ensure that there are lots of different spots you can use for multiple setups. Spend some time taking pictures to get an idea of how the location looks at different times of the day for lighting purposes, and – if applicable – familiarize yourself with where the sun rises or sets. Try to get as much variety out of the location as possible and make the scenes look different each time, for example by switching the models and their outfits, or by using different angles and perspectives.

Before you start, also take a few moments to organize your location. Remove distractions, and add objects that will direct the eye across the composition. Be prepared to dust or clean the area as necessary. It’s also a good opportunity to remove artwork and cover any unwanted brand elements or logos to avoid IP issues. A few minutes at the beginning can make a big impact in the end.

Buyers these days want to see real, relatable people in stock content, so spend some time searching for the right models with diversity and authenticity in mind.

This might mean you’ll work with people that are not professional models. Set them up for success in advance of the shoot and give them time and space to feel comfortable in front of the camera (which can make a big difference in the end result). Discuss any wardrobe expectations and explain what you want to get from this shoot. Help your models understand you’re trying to make them look their best and that you’re after realistic scenes. Natural light, which is important for authentic content, also helps reduce anxiety.

Encourage your subjects to become actors when the camera is on them and to truly take on the role they’re playing as authentically as possible. Don’t go too far, though. There’s a fine line between sellable stock and clichés. And if your models struggle with a particular scene, ask them to share their ideas about how they would normally behave in a similar situation. Make the process as collaborative as possible and also invite them to prepare the props for your shoot (e.g. assembling food or blowing up balloons). All of this can help establish trust and put your models at ease.

To ensure the right look, also consult with the models in advance about the themes you’re shooting and the different clothes they should bring. It’s important that they feel relaxed in these clothes and that the outfits are right for stock content. Always aim for simple, timeless outfits, without any logos, to reduce the chances that your content will look outdated in the near future.

It’s useful to try to empathize with your models, so you can represent them accurately. For example, it might be relevant to have a conversation with a model about their ethnicity, cultural background, or identity to gather as much precise information as possible and better represent them in your images. This will all help you identify the correct keywords you can use when it comes time to upload your images to Adobe Stock.

This level of detail is really helpful for buyers to find specific types of visuals featuring people. Use sensitivity when talking about personal matters like race, culture, and gender; some models will be enthusiastic and open about discussing this, and some might not. In many cases, your models will appreciate your efforts to depict and describe them accurately.

Again, preparation is everything. Don't improvise when you can plan. Carefully consider what you want to shoot and how to incorporate trending, seasonal, or evergreen content that’s in demand all year long.

Visualize your upcoming shoot with a storyboard. Write down a shot list with a description of the photos you intend to capture, along with rough timelines. Creating a visual mood board with reference images is very handy too, so you have something to aspire to. If you’re ever in a creative rut, you can then use this mood board as inspiration. Reference images can be anything from actual scenarios you want to recreate, a general mood of your subjects, or even just lighting references, poses or angles and compositions.

Share all these documents with everyone that's involved in the shoot. Organize the props you’ll need, and if other opportunities present themselves during the actual shoot, be spontaneous and change the shot list on the fly.

Take as many pictures as possible, including location setup shots or still life images, and think through useful variations to maximize the selling potential of all your images. But be selective with what you submit, only pick the best of the batch.

If you also shoot video, keep in mind that stock videos need to be 5-60 seconds long. Audio isn’t necessary (though you might decide to add some if it helps bring your footage to life with atmospheric sound). Also offer a variety of shot distances so buyers have flexibility. Remember, your goal is to maximize visual options and client storytelling potential.

Consider creating series and variants to get the most out of the material you’ve shot (for example by producing a vertical, a horizontal, and a panoramic from each concept you had set up at the shoot) but be careful not to select too many similar images. This may be perceived as image spam by our moderation team and can result in your account being blocked or even permanently closed.

Keep your edits simple and clean. Avoid excessive HDR and filters, over-saturation, or styles that are faded, “vintage,” or muddy without creative intent – keep them as natural as possible but polished. Less is more. Creatives that buy your images prefer to add effects themselves to match the look and feel of their brands and the campaigns they’re working on. 

Skin, meanwhile, should have texture. Depending on the subject, blemishes can be central to the image’s message, but take time to clean up anything unintentional using the healing tool. An app like Adobe Lightroom can make a big difference in helping you manage, edit, and organize all your assets before you submit them.

If you’re an illustrator, you don’t need to assemble elaborate photography productions to create your work. However, there are still various things to keep in mind to optimize the production of illustration and vector assets for Adobe Stock.

Buyers often search for multiple pieces of content that look related and have a cohesive aesthetic. Creating variations of your illustrations to meet that need is pretty straightforward — you can reuse design elements for different assets and reconfigure them in different ways. For example, change attributes like colors, strokes, and backgrounds. Alter the orientation and placement of the main design elements. Consider using one element for multiple use cases and in a variety of contexts. To get the best results, combine several of these options. 

It’s also a good idea to break up work and group variants by style, theme, or subject to give yourself more room to explore and provide buyers with multiple matching assets. Select only the best content and make sure each individual asset you submit offers something special to the buyer — each piece needs to be different enough from the others to provide meaningful variety and unique value.

It’s important to know that the Adobe Stock team accepts up to three color, style, and composition variations of the same image. Be sure to consult our vector and illustration spam guidelines for more details before you submit. 

Of course, you must get written permission from your models in the form of a valid model release before your content can be published for commercial purposes. You’ll also need a model release for videos if any voices are recognizable, and you’ll need one for any illustration or piece of vector artwork that’s based on real people or body parts.

The same applies to locations. If you’re shooting a recognizable property or a ticketed location, you’ll likely need a property release. Some places require that you get permission to shoot and distribute images for commercial purposes, while some don’t allow this at all. Be organized and find out about your location’s policy in advance to avoid any hiccups. Once you’ve got the necessary releases, keep them all in one place for easy reference.

Whether you’re producing stock photos, videos, or illustrations, consider the following tips for the best results: 

• Have a purpose in mind. Consider how a buyer might use or interpret your work. Is it suitable for a greeting card, brochure, or infographic?
  
• Leave room for copy. Buyers often look for content that provides a background for text, whether it’s for a presentation, a card, a product, or a video. Experiment with incorporating negative space into your visuals. 
  
• Keep things simple. Leave plenty of cropping potential, and aim for simple compositions without unnecessary details that could restrict the use of your visuals. 
  
• Edit inconspicuously. Follow the dos and don’ts in our Adobe Stock Contributor user guide for photos, vectors, and video to ensure that your visuals meet our quality standards and technical requirements. 
  

Variety and versatility are crucial when you produce stock content. Always plan ahead and think about how your visuals could be used by buyers. What are the possible use cases? What context could your assets appear in, and what format would buyers need?

Just as important is adding your personal spin and making sure that what you produce really stands out from the crowd. Differentiate yourself with the location and the models you choose, try out fresh perspectives, and establish your own style. The more thought and preparation you put into the production of your visuals, the more you’ll increase their commercial potential. 

In the next part of this series, we’ll show you how you can use metadata to your best advantage. This will help ensure that you’re always submitting your assets with the right keywords and titles so your potential customers will be able to find them.