Is stock photography worth my time?

Sigma 18-125mm f/3.5-5.6 DC for Canon

12/05/2005 03:04:17 PM · #2

If you haven't already, I'd suggest taking some time to read over the existing stock threads. There's quite a number of them and many contain helpful information, especially in regards to your questions.

Kavey

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

12/05/2005 03:04:56 PM · #3

There are lots and lots of threads about this - would suggest doing a search in the forums using the word "stock" and then posting if you have any specific questions.

In short though, many DPCers sell images as stock and a number of them make money - some doing better than others.

How easy it is to make money though depends entirely on how desirable your photography is to the market segment captured by the stock agency you choose to sell with.

12/05/2005 03:13:40 PM · #4

Very worth it for me!

Melissa

cheekymunky

Canon EOS-40D

12/05/2005 03:14:38 PM · #5

I still think I'm a novice but I have just started seliing stock as of two weeks ago. I only have 50 shots up so far, and am averaging about $1 a day. So although I wont be able to retire early, it'll all help towards new equipment :)

Tokina AF 12-24mm f/4.0 AT-X Pro DX

12/05/2005 03:58:59 PM · #6

Yes it helps out with alot of things...I got my new Canon 20D with the money...and now Xmas gifts

Beagleboy

Canon EOS-30D

12/05/2005 05:08:51 PM · #7

From what I understand, shots of beautiful people (business, casual, etc) seem to do the best. Get yourself some hot friends and have them model for you free.

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

12/05/2005 05:41:35 PM · #8

its worth it!

last month i made $900! and i have already made more than $100 in december.

idnic

Canon EOS-60D

12/05/2005 05:45:15 PM · #9

Originally posted by Beagleboy:

From what I understand, shots of beautiful people (business, casual, etc) seem to do the best. Get yourself some hot friends and have them model for you free.

What if all of your friends are ugly? Oh god! I'm sunk! lol

12/05/2005 05:50:46 PM · #10

Originally posted by nico_blue:

its worth it!

last month i made $900! and i have already made more than $100 in december.

Wow that is great! How many images do you have online?

Melissa

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

12/05/2005 06:53:37 PM · #11

i have about 450 on ss and is and 150 on ds... i've always been curious, if you dont mind me asking, how much you are making per month? you have a very large portfolio of images accross many sites.

Gordon

RIM BlackBerry Curve

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

12/05/2005 07:27:05 PM · #12

Originally posted by stare_at_the_sun:

Maybe a more important question to ask is how much your time is worth to you. Only then can you decide of the investment is worth it.

Canon EF 55-200mm f/4.5-5.6 II USM

12/05/2005 08:25:40 PM · #13

Originally posted by nico_blue:

i have about 450 on ss and is and 150 on ds... i've always been curious, if you dont mind me asking, how much you are making per month? you have a very large portfolio of images accross many sites.

I made around $800.00 last month, but every month gets better and better! You have so great images! It does not matter how many photos you have but how good they will sell... You are doing great!

Melissa

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

12/05/2005 08:29:23 PM · #14

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by stare_at_the_sun:
I've been debating whether or not I sould get into stock photography...I'm not sure if I want to invest a lot of time in it though unless it was worth it.

I guess what I'm really asking is...how easy is it to make money? If you have done stock photography, are you satisfied with your results?

Thanks in advance

Maybe a more important question to ask is how much your time is worth to you. Only then can you decide of the investment is worth it.

Not only that, are you devaluing your other work, say if you are selling prints, by selling stock pictures for so little per image?

cpanaioti

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 DO IS USM

12/05/2005 08:32:30 PM · #15

To me, the images put up for stock are a different type than those put up for prints. Fine art type images don't generally do well as stock.

Another question, micro or macro stock? Royalty Free (RF) or Royalty based stock? Investigating these may answer some of your questions.

inspir8tion

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED

12/05/2005 08:35:54 PM · #16

What does ss, is and ds mean?

Originally posted by nico_blue:

i have about 450 on ss and is and 150 on ds... i've always been curious, if you dont mind me asking, how much you are making per month? you have a very large portfolio of images accross many sites.

faidoi

Pentax K10D

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

12/05/2005 08:37:26 PM · #17

Originally posted by inspir8tion:

What does ss, is and ds mean?

Originally posted by nico_blue:
i have about 450 on ss and is and 150 on ds... i've always been curious, if you dont mind me asking, how much you are making per month? you have a very large portfolio of images accross many sites.

SS = Shutterstock
IS = Istock
DS = Dreamstime

inspir8tion

Nikon D90

Nikon AF Zoom-Nikkor 70-300mm f/4.0-5.6D ED

12/05/2005 09:21:36 PM · #18

Thanks.

Originally posted by faidoi:

Originally posted by inspir8tion:
What does ss, is and ds mean?

Originally posted by nico_blue:
i have about 450 on ss and is and 150 on ds... i've always been curious, if you dont mind me asking, how much you are making per month? you have a very large portfolio of images accross many sites.

SS = Shutterstock
IS = Istock
DS = Dreamstime

nico_blue

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon 12x IS USM (S3 IS built-in Lens) -- 36-432mm (35mm EQ)

12/05/2005 10:05:33 PM · #19

Originally posted by orussell:

Originally posted by Gordon:

Originally posted by stare_at_the_sun:
I've been debating whether or not I sould get into stock photography...I'm not sure if I want to invest a lot of time in it though unless it was worth it.

I guess what I'm really asking is...how easy is it to make money? If you have done stock photography, are you satisfied with your results?

Thanks in advance

Maybe a more important question to ask is how much your time is worth to you. Only then can you decide of the investment is worth it.

Not only that, are you devaluing your other work, say if you are selling prints, by selling stock pictures for so little per image?

I am a full time college student, soon to be in medical school so i dont have a lot of time in general. Stock is great for me bcos it is completely flexible, no fixed hours, work at your own pace, set your own goals etc. I have tried to calculate my per hour work put in vs revenue and its impossible. The thing is I like doing photography so i dont really see it as work but rather a hobby and escape from school work in a way. And my hobby is paying for itself so thats great!

I dont sell prints online, I have tried a few times and no one bought anything :-)... and for me it is too much work to get stuff printed and framed and then set up a booth somewhere and wait for people to stop by. I could start doing macrostock rather than microstock but right now I am more focussed on the micro stuff, and in a way its more rewarding for me to watch all those cents add up rather than making one sale every few months.

It starts of slowly, but once you get the hang of the process its fun and you can make some money from it.

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

12/05/2005 10:51:10 PM · #20

Originally posted by nico_blue:

Very well stated, nico. BTW, I consider both you and melissa as role models even though you are both much younger (not to mention more talented) than I am. I aspire to reach the level that you two have attained on istock, one of these days.

The clincher for me, though, is that the awesome portfolio you have built on istock will continue to produce for you from now on, even if you don't add to it or exert any effort to manage it. I have never worked in a job that will pay you a lifetime "pension" as it were, after only a couple of years of work. Way to go!

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

12/05/2005 11:11:08 PM · #21

This hasn't been mentioned in one of these threads for a long time, but even for people like myself -- with smaller cameras only suitable for microstock and not a lot of time -- every download represents a real-world validation of one's photographic ability as far as subject and composition. That alone may be worth more than the 20 cents cash ...