Search Engine powerful

[Bill Brooks]

Here is something that I consider very powerful about the Alamy search engine.

 

As you can see this page answers the client’s request, “I like this image, but show me the rest of the shoot”

 

It is a very powerful sales tool. I keeps the rest of the shoot from becoming lost to the client. It shows your vertical and also your horizontal. And it shows your images

 

Here is the page

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-deciduous-trees-forming-a-windbreak-and-farm-fence-in-winter-snow-129431313.html

[tarsierspectral]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean by "show me the rest of the shoot".  By the "rest of the shoot" do you mean it shows other images from the same photographer of the same subject or you like the fact that you are being shown other images with similar keywords?  

[John Mitchell]

Nice feature, but it only works for very specific searches, ones for which you have the only set of images available.

 

P.S. I like your deciduous tree images (honest).

[Brian Yarvin]

Yes, but ... for many of us, those very specific searches are the reason for Alamy in the first place. More than a few picture buyers say "we can always find something on Alamy." 

[ReeRay]

In some instances I've notice how the caption plays a very big part in assembling similar images for view.

 

Look at "Woman hard hat" (no quotes). The first image is mine and zooming this image brings up all the others in my set where I have used the same caption. See the bold type at the bottom of the set where my exact caption has been used as a criteria.

 

I imagine there are other examples.

[DHill]

If that is the intention to let buyers see more from a shoot then it is a(nother) contradiction.

 

Over the past years we have been encouraged to make tight edits and only upload the best. The ranking system as was punished those who uploaded too much from the same shoot. The current one seems to do much the same.

Absolutely - I've very deliberately, for a number of years now, avoided uploading similars. Often, I'll only upload one image of a particularly subject, especially if it's quite specialist. As a result of being a 'good boy' like this, I don't benefit from that kind of search, unfortunately! Hmmm. 

 

And, as alluded to above, if the intention really was to show the rest of the 'shoot', surely it would show that photographer's images first so that they appear as a nice cohesive set, rather than mixing in other photographers' images. 

[tarsierspectral]

 

Here is something that I consider very powerful about the Alamy search engine.

 

As you can see this page answers the client’s request, “I like this image, but show me the rest of the shoot”

 

It is a very powerful sales tool. I keeps the rest of the shoot from becoming lost to the client. It shows your vertical and also your horizontal. And it shows your images

 

Here is the page

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-deciduous-trees-forming-a-windbreak-and-farm-fence-in-winter-snow-129431313.html

It would IF it shows the same photographer's images FIRST, but it doesn't. See here (my 38 images scattered all over the page. Well, there should be 38 but I didn't bother to count them), here (same silhouette pictures on the BOTTOM of the page), here (my 28 images scattered all over the page. B.t.w. notice the completely irrelevant ones due to severe keyword spamming? Search for Castle of the counts Ghent), here (where's my vertical one with exactly the SAME caption and keywords? ) .... and those are the very first random subjects that came to mind.

 

Bill, don't base your statement on just one example which happens to suit you.

 

Cheers,

Philippe

 

 

Exactly what I was trying to say, I wasn't sure what Bill was excited about as I don't see images from, "the same shoot".  I see a random mess.

[Graham]

When you have finished uploading a batch of images, a dialogue box appears asking if you want to upload more images from the same shoot. Maybe the same terminology means that Alamy will consider images in the same upload batch as all being part of the same shoot for search purposes. I have not tested this, I am simply wondering whether this is just a coincidence or not.

 

It would not make any practical sense unless everyone adopted a regime of only uploading batches of related images to form a "shoot": I have, for example, this morning uploaded 160 images (in a single upload) which are the results of several weeks working on whatever topic happened to appeal at the time, from African Safari wildlife, to various UK destinations, to ... well, you name it. It would make no sense to link my more or less random collection of images in any particular upload batch as a "shoot" for later search purposes. If, however, this is what Alamy would like us to do, and to tailor our upload batches accordingly, hopefully this is something Alamy will tell us about.

 

Graham

[spacecadet]

When you have finished uploading a batch of images, a dialogue box appears asking if you want to upload more images from the same shoot.

I haven't used the web uploader for 18 months. All FTP.

[Bill Brooks]

 

Here is something that I consider very powerful about the Alamy search engine.

 

As you can see this page answers the client’s request, “I like this image, but show me the rest of the shoot”

 

It is a very powerful sales tool. I keeps the rest of the shoot from becoming lost to the client. It shows your vertical and also your horizontal. And it shows your images

 

Here is the page

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-deciduous-trees-forming-a-windbreak-and-farm-fence-in-winter-snow-129431313.html

It would IF it shows the same photographer's images FIRST, but it doesn't. See here (my 38 images scattered all over the page. Well, there should be 38 but I didn't bother to count them), here (same silhouette pictures on the BOTTOM of the page), here (NONE of the 6 other very similar ones with more or less the same captions and keywords show), here (my 28 images scattered all over the page. B.t.w. notice the completely irrelevant ones due to severe keyword spamming? Search for Castle of the counts Ghent), here (where's my vertical one with exactly the SAME caption and keywords? ), here (you see my other pictures from the same series? I don't, despite the same captions and keywords) .... and those are the very first random subjects that came to mind. Need more?

 

Bill, don't base your statement on just one example which happens to suit you.

 

Cheers,

Philippe

 

 

 

Philippe:

 

Don’t be so pessimistic. It will work against you both in business, and the rest of your life.

 

The sky is not falling.

 

Cheers,

Bill

[DJ Myford]

Philippe, I just gave a red arrow to your post 2 up, by mistake. First time using these forums with a tablet and now I can see why many others say they've accidentally given red when using a tablet! So sorry about that. Would some kind person please cancel that out. Thanks. 

 

I won't give my opinion on what you're discussing with Bill as it isn't worth the stress. What I will say though, which says enough, is......

 

 

Geoff.

Fixed that for you.

[Bill Brooks]

Here is another example:

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sun-yat-sen-the-first-president-and-founding-father-of-the-republic-128977695.html

 

I shot two images. The one featured. Head and shoulders portrait with room at the top for type, and the full figure image top row right under similar.

 

If a client sees the head and shoulders image I want him to see the full figure image. He will usually see both together on the same page if searching “New” but not so often together when searching “Commercial” or “Relevant”. Also when it suits the subject, I will shoot a vertical and a horizontal version. I think it is good that the client is made aware that the second version is available on the similar page.

 

The similar function does show my competition. However when it comes to the right image for a specific use, I have enough optimism to think my images are able to compete.

 

I think the similar function will lead to more sales for me. I will be shooting, submitting, captioning, and keywording with it in mind.

[tarsierspectral]

 

Here is another example:

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sun-yat-sen-the-first-president-and-founding-father-of-the-republic-128977695.html

 

I shot two images. The one featured. Head and shoulders portrait with room at the top for type, and the full figure image top row right under similar.

 

If a client sees the head and shoulders image I want him to see the full figure image. He will usually see both together on the same page if searching “New” but not so often together when searching “Commercial” or “Relevant”. Also when it suits the subject, I will shoot a vertical and a horizontal version. I think it is good that the client is made aware that the second version is available on the similar page.

 

The similar function does show my competition. However when it comes to the right image for a specific use, I have enough optimism to think my images are able to compete.

 

I think the similar function will lead to more sales for me. I will be shooting, submitting, captioning, and keywording with it in mind.

 

 

How do I make this happen for my images?

[spacecadet]

Identical captions and/or esskeys, I think.

[tarsierspectral]

Identical captions and/or esskeys, I think.

 

No.  It doesn't happen for images with identical captions and/or essays

[John Mitchell]

I'm having a bit of a problem getting excited about this feature. For instance, if I enter old montreal lantern into the search box, five of my images show up at the top of page one of the search results. However, if I click on one of the images, the "Similar stock images" list doesn't show my other four Old Montreal lantern images but oodles of other lanterns from around the world (not even any from Montreal that I can see). What am I missing?

[tarsierspectral]

I'm having a bit of a problem getting excited about this feature. For instance, if I enter old montreal lantern into the search box, five of my images show up at the top of page one of the search results. However, if I click on one of the images, the "Similar stock images" list doesn't show my other four Old Montreal lantern images but oodles of other lanterns from around the world (not even any from Montreal that I can see). What am I missing?

 

This feature seems to work only for Bill

[Bill Brooks]

 

 

Here is another example:

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sun-yat-sen-the-first-president-and-founding-father-of-the-republic-128977695.html

 

I shot two images. The one featured. Head and shoulders portrait with room at the top for type, and the full figure image top row right under similar.

 

If a client sees the head and shoulders image I want him to see the full figure image. He will usually see both together on the same page if searching “New” but not so often together when searching “Commercial” or “Relevant”. Also when it suits the subject, I will shoot a vertical and a horizontal version. I think it is good that the client is made aware that the second version is available on the similar page.

 

The similar function does show my competition. However when it comes to the right image for a specific use, I have enough optimism to think my images are able to compete.

 

I think the similar function will lead to more sales for me. I will be shooting, submitting, captioning, and keywording with it in mind.

 

 

How do I make this happen for my images?

 

 

 

Shooting:

 

Always shoot for the very best group of related images. When shooting a group of images of the same subject, think of all the different uses the subject could be put to. Room for type, room to crop, self contained uncroppable image, horizontal, vertical. Always discard weak images in any submission, group or not, so you will have a higher than average CTR for your overall Alamy Portfolio

 

Captioning:

 

Write the same unique true caption for the related group. Do not try to game this information. Do not write an incorrect caption for marginal images in order to include marginal images in the group. Incorrect captions will work against your overall CTR

 

Keywording:

 

Keep your keywords for all images in the group the same. Do not try to game this information. Always keyword properly for the main features of the images. Insignificant details in some images of the group should not be keyworded, as it will exclude them from the group. Do not use irrelevant keywords on some images in order to hold the group together. Incorrect keywords will work against your overall CTR

 

Answering questions in “Manage Images”

 

Do not try to game this information. Always answer questions truthfully, even if it eliminates some images from the similar group.

 

Submitting:

 

Submit the entire related group in the same submission.

 

You may want to review this page again. The images on the page all conform to the suggestions made above.

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-deciduous-trees-forming-a-windbreak-and-farm-fence-in-winter-snow-129431304.html

 

Here is another group with lots of similars not all mine. 6 of the similars are mine. Good enough!!

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-barn-and-field-of-maize-corn-on-the-rolling-farmland-of-northumberland-115210193.html

 

Below is an older group from 2013. Only the warm ones are mine, under my 2 different pseudos

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-birds-on-piling-on-a-foggy-morning-in-frenchmans-bay-on-lake-ontario-63405441.html

 

A word of warning:

 

I do not know the above information as a fact, just a series of guesses. I had been consistently doing it this way since I started with Alamy, because it made sense. It also conforms to accepted standards for use of metadata. It may be that my historic image metadata better fits the search engine. It seems to work for me.

 

I hope everyone will try this. I think it will result in a better overall selection of similar images by myself and others. A “similar feature” that clients will use. This will benefit everyone.

 

Edited: changed 4 to 6 in the cornfield group as there were an additional 2, from a different shoot, from an earlier submission.

[tarsierspectral]

 

 

 

Here is another example:

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-sun-yat-sen-the-first-president-and-founding-father-of-the-republic-128977695.html

 

I shot two images. The one featured. Head and shoulders portrait with room at the top for type, and the full figure image top row right under similar.

 

If a client sees the head and shoulders image I want him to see the full figure image. He will usually see both together on the same page if searching “New” but not so often together when searching “Commercial” or “Relevant”. Also when it suits the subject, I will shoot a vertical and a horizontal version. I think it is good that the client is made aware that the second version is available on the similar page.

 

The similar function does show my competition. However when it comes to the right image for a specific use, I have enough optimism to think my images are able to compete.

 

I think the similar function will lead to more sales for me. I will be shooting, submitting, captioning, and keywording with it in mind.

 

 

How do I make this happen for my images?

 

 

 

Shooting:

 

Always shoot for the very best group of related images. When shooting a group of images of the same subject, think of all the different uses the subject could be put to. Room for type, room to crop, self contained uncroppable image, horizontal, vertical. Always discard weak images in any submission, group or not, so you will have a higher than average CTR for your overall Alamy Portfolio

 

Captioning:

 

Write the same unique true caption for the related group. Do not try to game this information. Do not write an incorrect caption for marginal images in order to include marginal images in the group. Incorrect captions will work against your overall CTR

 

Keywording:

 

Keep your keywords for all images in the group the same. Do not try to game this information. Always keyword properly for the main features of the images. Insignificant details in some images of the group should not be keyworded, as it will exclude them from the group. Do not use irrelevant keywords on some images in order to hold the group together. Incorrect keywords will work against your overall CTR

 

Answering questions in “Manage Images”

 

Do not try to game this information. Always answer questions truthfully, even if it eliminates some images from the similar group.

 

Submitting:

 

Submit the entire related group in the same submission.

 

You may want to review this page again. The images on the page all conform to the suggestions made above.

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-deciduous-trees-forming-a-windbreak-and-farm-fence-in-winter-snow-129431304.html

 

Here is another group with lots of similars not all mine. 6 of the similars are mine. Good enough!!

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-barn-and-field-of-maize-corn-on-the-rolling-farmland-of-northumberland-115210193.html

 

Below is an older group from 2013. Only the warm ones are mine, under my 2 different pseudos

 

http://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-birds-on-piling-on-a-foggy-morning-in-frenchmans-bay-on-lake-ontario-63405441.html

 

A word of warning:

 

I do not know the above information as a fact, just a series of guesses. I had been consistently doing it this way since I started with Alamy, because it made sense. It also conforms to accepted standards for use of metadata. It may be that my historic image metadata better fits the search engine. It seems to work for me.

 

I hope everyone will try this. I think it will result in a better overall selection of similar images by myself and others. A “similar feature” that clients will use. This will benefit everyone.

 

Edited: changed 4 to 6 in the cornfield group as there were an additional 2, from a different shoot, from an earlier submission.

 

 

Submitted same images with same keywords together and they don't show together.

[Bill Brooks]

 

Submitted same images with same keywords together and they don't show together.

 

 

 

Groping in the dark here, but do they have the same caption? Is your CTR consistently above Alamy average?

[tarsierspectral]

 

 

Submitted same images with same keywords together and they don't show together.

 

 

 

Groping in the dark here, but do they have the same caption? Is your CTR consistently above Alamy average?

 

 

yes, to both

[Bill Brooks]

RF or RM or both? Your file naming convention? My file names when submitted  are the following 00001234.jpg, 00001235.jpg. Only have 2 pseudos but "Similiar Images" does not seem to care. Anyone have any ideas?

[tarsierspectral]

RF or RM or both? Your file naming convention? My file names when submitted  are the following 00001234.jpg, 00001235.jpg. Only have 2 pseudos but "Similiar Images" does not seem to care. Anyone have any ideas?

 

all RM.

I just don't think the search engine is as powerful as you describe.  If that was the case then the search engine should not be showing any images that it thinks are similar based on the criteria you describe but it does show random selection. I don't find that powerful.  

[John Mitchell]

 

I'm having a bit of a problem getting excited about this feature. For instance, if I enter old montreal lantern into the search box, five of my images show up at the top of page one of the search results. However, if I click on one of the images, the "Similar stock images" list doesn't show my other four Old Montreal lantern images but oodles of other lanterns from around the world (not even any from Montreal that I can see). What am I missing?

 

This feature seems to work only for Bill

 

 

Here is an instance where it works for me as well. It looks as if the images all have to be taken on the same day (and possibly have same captions and keywords?), as these were.

 

P.S. There are plenty of other images of this clock tower on Alamy, and they aren't showing up in the similars list. Hmmm...

[Bill Brooks]

It could also be using visual recognition software, in combination with other things, as part of the similar selection process. I always keyword location as well.

 

Random can be good in my opinion