As you can see from the image below, I was able to get my second submissions for Alamy added to the library. I was curious if it was going to be a problem that they were black and white, however, the quality of the image was good so it didn’t seem to be an issue! 

I certainly learned from my submission of 3 photos using a diffusion filter, which in turn softened the image greatly. It was my own fault for not reading the criteria properly, which I then suffered a delay for as it can take up to 3 weeks to have your submissions accepted. 

It doesn’t feel like the first time I’m saying this, but I will learn to read the material thoroughly, to save myself further delays with projects in future. 

So for this stage in the preparations, I’ve selected one Image from the series of 10 which I will be putting through the preparations as a demonstration of the steps. 

Step 1: Make sure image meets technical requirements

This is a simple step, if the image is taken with the intent of stock use it certainly makes it a lot easier. However, as long as the photographer has followed the precautions for their subject to be properly exposed and in focus, then you should be good to go. However, for the sake of information I’ll list some factors to think about below: 

Correct exposure in the whites

Correct level of sharpness (depending on subject)

Correct depth of field (Again depending on subject)

No over processing 

Minimal amount of artefacts 

There are far more on alamy which go into specifics, however, these are some basics to keep you right. 

Step 2: Labelling and Copyright

Next, as I explained in my last post you will have to add some information to your images as a precaution. The main two will be 

Keywording 

Copyright

There are also other blanks you’ll have to fill in such as a description and some small information like your name and title. You can see what I’ve entered from the image below, but the quality isn’t the greatest so I will list here:

Document Title: Church 10

Author: Lee Lewis 

Author Title: Mr 

Description: Exterior, St Mungos Cathedral (In contrast to the interior images which were initially rejected) 

Rating: (5 stars in ref to bridge’s rating system) 

Description writer N/A (Left blank due to it being the same as the author) 

Keywords: Church; Glasgow; St Mungos Cathedral; Cathedral; Architecture; Gothic (Separated with semicolons to mark they are separate values) 

Copyright Status: Copyrighted (Make sure you click this as the copyright won’t mean anything otherwise) 

Copyright Notice: Lee Lewis © All Rights Reserved (copyright symbol achieved by clicking option + G on mac) 

For this brief we were instructed to select a total of 10 images and apply the necessary steps to have them submission ready for a stock library. Further, 3 of these images had to be submitted and accepted to Alamy, which was the stock library chosen for this brief. 

My Theme

The worksheet/brief states that a theme must be considered as all of the images must share this, which made it a rather easy selection for me. I do have photos which I could use which are portraits, however, most of them are on film, which rules them out. In addition, I’d need to go through a model release for each model, if they were even able to be submitted. Thus, I have decided to go architecture for my theme, as I have plenty images of not only architecture, but the same building. 

My Chosen Subject

I have taken many photos of the St Mungos Cathedral across my various visits there, as I love the gothic style of the building. I easily have 10 submission ready photos which I will be able to use, so it shouldn’t be an issue. 

Technical Criteria

I had already submitted a series of 3 images where I’d used a pro-mist diffusion filter, these were of the church interior and it was a test to see if I could get them accepted right away. Sadly I failed to consider the fact I needed a clinically sharp photo and using a filter which softens things only ended up getting them declined, However, I learned my lesson with this and will proceed to find other images which fit the bill. 

It is also worth noting that images shouldn’t be over processed by any means, they look for essentially all the things which make a technically sound photo. These factors can include: Proper exposer for both highlights and darks, proper focus, minimal artefacts, etc. 

Key wording and Copyright