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DPChallenge Forums >> Photography Discussion >> What stock site?
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 10/14/2005 07:40:10 AM · #1
There's been a lot of talk about 'stock' photography.

But what is the best site to put your images in? Do you still mantain the rights of the images? Is there any real money in to it?

Please post you experiense here.

Tanks.
 10/14/2005 07:43:22 AM · #2
Look at the form 'Macro' 'vs' 'Micro'
Great info there
Im using Istock photo
but have yet to upload anything :P

Some one was showing how some lady from quebec city is making like $500/day on a 'micro' site...

But it takes alot more to make that kinda money then if you had it on a site that sells your pictures for about $200-$1000 a picture..

Cheers
 10/14/2005 09:00:33 AM · #3
I'm beginning to think that it depends on what kind of photos you have. I've done the 'micro'-payment thing (istock, big 'stock', another one I forgot) and will NEVER do that again - my 10 year old's photos might be worth .20, but everyone else's is worth far more.

Now I'm in Alamy, Istockpro, and ImageVortex. Some of my shots sell well, others that I consider my stongest shots, just sit there.

My trouble with these sites is there's no real information on the demographic that we are shooting for. I want to know what kinds of publications/buyers are coming so I can get a feel for what they want - and not waste my time uploading or submitting shots that don't work for that group.

I'm reading a book called "Sell and Re-sell your Photos" hoping to gain further insight into all of this.

Met a guy yesterday that *said* he was making 5 figures a month in 'stock' - but didn't seem very forth coming about how he built that - so my search continues - the truth is out there
 10/14/2005 10:58:10 AM · #4
Here are a few sites to check out

Shutterstock
Dreamstime
Can 'Stock' Photo
123 Royalty Free
Bigstock

And of course, all those sites have refferal credits, so if you click on my links I will get a referal credit :)

Anyhow for me I find the most profitable (currently) is shutterstock, but Istock is very close and in the long run, Istock has been the most profitable. Then comes dreamstime, and the last are Canstock and 123 Royalty free.

Of course it seems rediculous to sell your images for 20 cents. but when you are getting checks for $800, it doesn't seem like you are exactly giving anything away... And of course yes, there are the superstars who make $500 a day..

I would sudjest reading the other thread about the comparision between 'micro' 'stock' and 'macro' 'stock'.Found Here. I am sure you will find a ton of other info if you search a bit. But which one is better.. i think they definatly both have their place... and a primmer
Royalty Free - (all 'micro' 'stock''s are this), you keep the rights, the purchaser can use the image basically unlimited amount of times and for basically what he wants (however there are a few restrictions)
Rights Managed - ('macro' 'stock' agencies have both RF AND RM) The user pays per use, the cost is dependant on what the image is going to be used for.

Difference between 'Micro' and 'macro' 'stock'. 'Micro' 'stock' sells RF images for around 20-50 cents per image. 'macro' 'stock' sells images between $50-$5000 So it is a question of quantity.. the 'micro' 'stock' agencies try to sell many at a low price, the 'macro' stocks sell fewer at a high price.
 10/14/2005 11:00:27 AM · #5
I also forgot to mention, there are TONS of 'micro' 'stock' agencies... more starting up as i write this thread I am sure... if you do a search in google i am sure you could find 10 more..but these are the big ones that i have mentioned. On another note.. i would sudjest if you sign up with any 'new' 'stock' agencies that are starting up .. when you reach the minimum payout amount... WITHDRAW IT.. i think the market can easily support the big 'micro' 'stock' companies (ie. shutterstock, istock) but it can't support hundreds of them.. so if the company goes under.. so do all your earnings. .. there is going to be an implosion sooner or later.
 10/14/2005 07:04:56 PM · #6
And about the rights to the photos? does they continue yours? Meaning if you have a client for that shoot you can sell it again by your own means?
 10/15/2005 09:30:45 AM · #7
Whats the correct address for i 'stock' photos???? Ive tried but cant find it??
Jodi
 10/15/2005 09:36:28 AM · #8
www.istockphoto.com

Message edited by author 2005-11-02 11:29:18.
 10/15/2005 12:14:29 PM · #9
Yes if you have your pictures up on a royalty free site, and a client of yours wants to purchase your image directly from YOU.. that is ok. HOWEVER he has to be aware that it is a royalty free image.. which can be used by others basically however and how much they like.

Message edited by author 2005-10-15 12:16:03.
 10/15/2005 01:58:01 PM · #10
Originally posted by leaf:
Yes if you have your pictures up on a royalty free site, and a client of yours wants to purchase your image directly from YOU.. that is ok. HOWEVER he has to be aware that it is a royalty free image.. which can be used by others basically however and how much they like.

If someone wants to get an exclusive license from you, I think most of the microstock sites allow you to pull your images, although people who've already downloaded the image can still use it.
 10/15/2005 02:07:28 PM · #11
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If someone wants to get an exclusive license from you, I think most of the microstock sites allow you to pull your images, although people who've already downloaded the image can still use it.


But check the agreement on each site, they have different requirements. For instance, BigStockPhoto requires you to have your photo on the site for at least 90 days. Shutterstock doesn't appear to have any requirements. Just something to pay attention to when you sign up.
 11/02/2005 11:30:45 AM · #12
Yes you have to Watch for how long you have to keep your image on a site before you are allow to take them off! Like MK said
 11/02/2005 11:48:26 AM · #13
Originally posted by mk:
Originally posted by GeneralE:

If someone wants to get an exclusive license from you, I think most of the microstock sites allow you to pull your images, although people who've already downloaded the image can still use it.


But check the agreement on each site, they have different requirements. For instance, BigStockPhoto requires you to have your photo on the site for at least 90 days. Shutterstock doesn't appear to have any requirements. Just something to pay attention to when you sign up.


I was checking out myloupe.com and they wanted a year contract...
 11/02/2005 12:07:42 PM · #14
Wow, thanks for telling us know that

11/02/2005 12:11:15 PM · #15
Just got an email that iStock is down for a few hours -- someone (elsewhere) has apparently cut a major trunk line serving the region.
 11/02/2005 12:32:22 PM · #16
ya is said "a major accident at iStockphoto's hosted data facility "

I hope it is up soon

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