How to Shoot Stock Photography: Macro Stock Guide

Info media photography : Continuing on with the stock photography guide, I bring you the next addition in the series: Macro Stock Photography.

Macro photography is probably one of the most over used and over played types of photography, but it tends to retain a high place in the stock photography category. This is because Macro Stock Photography is responsible for some of the most interesting stock photos. Macro photography is the practice of capturing a very small section of an object or a very small object in general. The best way to describe it is an extreme close up. The idea of only a portion of an object is what makes macro stock photography entertain a slightly different demographic of stock photography, the aesthetic appeal demographic. Most Macro Stock Photography is used for the purpose of “looking good/pretty”.

Be Interesting and Unique

Flower shots, such as this, are some of the most tried macro shots. Image by Eyevent

Unlike the other types of stock photography, for macro stock you do not need to provide cliche, tried, or generic images along with unique and different images. This is because typically those looking for macro stock will go through thousands of Macro flowers, bees, and pebbles looking for a genuinely unique macro stock image. Now this does not mean you should not do some macro stock images of these tried shots, but if you do try to make them unique in their own way. When you shoot macro stock images you should try to capture everything in an interesting way, beyond being a close up.

Color and Contrast

While the colors make this image stand out, it is the contrast of and within the colors that makes it interesting. Image by Yampy Yankee High Dynamic Ranger

When your shooting macro stock photography you should keep in mind that color and contrast are vital to a well composed macro image. Color and contrast does not mean that you need to find the most colorful object possible and shoot it. Rather this means that you want contrasting colors to create a surreal look. This means that you could use an old iron gear with multiple colors of rust and rust flakes to create a strong variant in color, even though the rust is a similar color. What makes the color really stand out is the contrast. By using strong contrast and sharpness you can create a beautiful macro even with the same colors.

Macros are Everywhere

A macro shot of an bass guitar provides for an interesting shot in an everyday item. Image byAtomicPuppy68

What makes macros easy to shoot, but hard to sell is the fact that you can find them everywhere. An old worn piece of rope, a cracked tile, fabric grain on a shirt, or any other everyday item can become a macro stock. But while anything can become a macro, finding a perfect macro shot is typically done but finding non everyday items. This could be old lanterns, rotted wood, crystal, or any other object that you typically wouldn’t think much off. Look for objects that have odd textures or materials, and shoot them in a way that someone might be able to recognize what the material or texture is from, without actually knowing. The best way to find the objects is to start with the everyday objects, and then discover other objects that would make beautiful macro shots.