Posting them on your photography Facebook page, in photography groups on Facebook, on Instagram, Twitter, 500px, and anywhere else you can think of, just to receive only a few likes?
I can tell you firsthand that a Composite barely getting noticed after you’ve invested so much of your heart and soul into it, SUCKS!
It feels like crap and like you’re on the wrong track with Composite Photography, wondering if it’s all worth the time and energy.
First off, I feel your pain and I can honestly say, when you reveal an image your client loves and everyone on Facebook likes, it’s definitely worth everything that got you there.
To help you along, I’d like to share the #1 Thing I’ve done to get my work seen and recognized by clients and photographers.
Just Make Awesome Pictures
The #1 Thing I’ve found that works, is to simply Make Awesome Pictures.
Now, a lot of photographers and marketing gurus will tell you they have the secrets to ranking higher and getting more love and likes on social media, and while some of their tricks may work, there’s no amount of trickery that makes up for a poorly executed Composite.
I know, you’re thinking, “Yea! Right! That’s easy for you to say!”
Listen, every great Composite Photographer was once where you are right now and faced the same mountain you’re facing, so if they can do it, you can do it too.
The first step to creating anything worth looking at is planning.
As I mentioned, all stories start with a spark of an idea before developing the characters and their roles, which I then create a Concept Sketch much like the storyboards created in the movie industry.
The sketch of your idea will help you chisel away the ideas that aren’t working and focus in on the ideas that are working.
Master Your Photoshop Skills
I would be lying if I said this was easy, and there’s a lot that goes into Making Awesome Pictures, but I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to MASTER your Photoshop skills.
Your Composites can only be as good as your ability to use the tools used to make them.
Imagine what your house would look like if your builder didn’t really know how to use a hammer or what your brain would look like if your brain surgeon didn’t have much practice with a scalpel.
Mastering Photoshop is the BEST gift you can give yourself if you want to Make Awesome Pictures.
1. Jennifer (Mom)
2. Houston
3. Andy (Dad)
4. Robert
5. DJ the dog
6. Kitchen Table
7. Kitchen #1
8. Kitchen #2
9. Kitchen #3
10. Island #1
11. Island #2
12. Island #3
13. Ceiling #1
14. Ceiling #2
15. Light #1
16. Light #2
17. Illustration
18. Diet Coke
19. Fruit Bowl
20. Wine
21. Oven Fire
22. Smoke
23. Book
24. Purple Ball
25. Wooden Cars
26. Flying Ball
27. Mail & Magazine
28. Water
29. Book
30. iPad
31. String
32. Lion King
33. Running Shoes
34. Fire Truck
35. China Plate
36. Helicopter
37. Toy
38. Rocket
A Peek Behind the Scenes
Isn’t it amazing how you can take a bunch of photos, mash them up, apply some digital artwork, and come up with an amazing Composite?
It never fails to BLOW MY MIND when I see the before and after.
I consider the scene as much a character of the story I’m telling in my Composites as I do the people and their pets, which is why I use several different photos and spend several hours perfecting the scene I’m setting.
If you want to learn more about telling better stories within your Composites, join me at the Creative Portrait on Patreon.
That’s a Wrap
Ok, I’ve covered a lot here in this post including the #1 thing you can do to get your Composites seen and recognized, which is Make Awesome Pictures.
I believe in this so much that anytime I get discouraged, or depressed, or down about something, I just tell myself and repeat…
Keep Making Awesome Pictures!
If business slows down, if my competition prints don’t score well, if photographers leave gnarly comments on Facebook, and even when my mom says, “It’s nice, but I just don’t get it”, when I ask her if she likes a Composite I’ve created, I just tell myself…
Keep Making Awesome Pictures!
The bottom line is the only thing you can control in this world is your ability to Make Awesome Pictures, so there’s no need to get caught up in all that other stuff anyway.
Now, Go Make some Awesome Pictures!
I love your attitude, mate!
You are very kind. Thank You.