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07/13/2006 11:30:11 PM · #51 |
I just started and made my first dollar!
Message edited by author 2006-07-13 23:38:43.
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07/13/2006 11:52:46 PM · #52 |
| I was in the book store earlier today and saw articles in two of the curent photo magazines concerning stock photography. One was in Popular Photography and the other in one of the English magazines (Practical Photography, I think). They were both interesting articles you might be interesting in lookin into. |
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07/13/2006 11:56:23 PM · #53 |
I'm almost to my second $100 at shutterstock though its taken a fair amount of time and much if it is due to my referred folk rather than my own images.
My portfolio is growing exceptionally slowly, even though I decided to focus on stock images about two weeks ago.
For some reason the photos I've taken and submitted most recently have been bounced for noise, artifact and hazing at full size. No clue why they are coming out that way either. Rather frustrating really. Of the 16 I submitted only 1 didn't get rejected for that reason. :\
Anyway, I've about 21 images online and started around Oct. 2004. $200.00 in 22 months, it isn't spectacular but its more than I would've made with those shots just sitting on my computer.
I'm hoping I can figure out why my shots aren't coming out correctly, fix it and then start building my portfolio more.
I haven't bothered to check istock in awhile, I'd be surprised if I'm anywhere near my first $100.00 there and I started that company a few months before shutterstock.
:)
- S
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07/14/2006 12:28:58 AM · #54 |
Originally posted by digitaldave:
I was in the book store earlier today and saw articles in two of the curent photo magazines concerning stock photography. One was in Popular Photography and the other in one of the English magazines (Practical Photography, I think). They were both interesting articles you might be interesting in lookin into. |
Current issue of popphoto (Aug), Practical photography (July), and Digital Photographer (issue 44) talk about microstock sites and how some of the photographers with the most photos, have 100,000's of downloads, and buying houses with their micro earnings, etc.
Funny how I got a Shutterstock check in the mail for $86.68 today and at Dreamstime I have earned $86.68 up to today. Kinda weird. |
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07/17/2006 06:14:47 PM · #55 |
Originally posted by melking:
Originally posted by photoneer:
Mel, how many photos do you have uploaded? Thanks, |
1 Istockphoto 880 images
2 Shutterstock 1049 images
3 Fotolia only 515 images
4 Dreamstime 996 images
Melissa |
This may be one of those un answerable questions but with 3500 images making $700 a month or so on micros - I wonder (realistically) how much they'd make on Macro sites?
With 3500 images I wouldn't think 7 images a month would be that hard to sell (assuming macros average $100 pay out per picture).
Could a person start out on Micro sites and then when they get a huge collection take them all off the Micros and submit them to the Macros?
This isn't pointed a anyone in particular and I'm not trying to flame anyone for submitting to micros or macros. I'm working up to the equipment to do this sort of work though and I'm really torn on which direction to go. |
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07/17/2006 06:40:35 PM · #56 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
Originally posted by melking:
Originally posted by photoneer:
Mel, how many photos do you have uploaded? Thanks, |
1 Istockphoto 880 images
2 Shutterstock 1049 images
3 Fotolia only 515 images
4 Dreamstime 996 images
Melissa |
This may be one of those un answerable questions but with 3500 images making $700 a month or so on micros - I wonder (realistically) how much they'd make on Macro sites?
With 3500 images I wouldn't think 7 images a month would be that hard to sell (assuming macros average $100 pay out per picture). |
I imagine that Melissa, like most of us, has the same photos at more than one site, so she wouldn't actually have a portfolio of 3500 photos. And I don't think it would be acceptable to move those over to macrostock now.
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07/17/2006 08:46:43 PM · #57 |
Originally posted by Megatherian:
This may be one of those un answerable questions but with 3500 images making $700 a month or so on micros - I wonder (realistically) how much they'd make on Macro sites? |
Many images which are successful on micro sites would not be accepted at macro sites because they are too small. Also, the people shopping at the two types of sites might be different. There's no assurance that an image downloaded at a micro site would attract any interest at a macro site, even if eligible to be listed there. |
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07/31/2006 01:26:17 AM · #58 |
Hello DPC world :-)
Just wanted to share my experience with stock photography... to start off i'll answer skips original questions -
I joined istock and shutterstock in october or november 2004 from a discussion about stock photography on dpc. I did not become serious about it till I got my 350D in May 2005... I still remember all those noise rejections before then ;-)
I currently have just shy of 1400 images on istock. I went exclusive with istock in February and havent looked back since. Probably one of the best decisions i have ever made.
I have been averaging about 100-150 uploads a month for the past few months. In the beginning it was a lot less... and it really depends on how much free time i have; and i actually quit my part time job in college (about 10 hours a week) to make more time for stock photography.
I was accepted on Alamy in November 2005 with a 100% acceptance on my test cd, but then i never sent in another cd. Although exclusivity on istock allows photographers to sell rights managed shots on macro sites i never bothered. Microstock is faster, easier, and suits me better.
How much do i make? Enough to keep me doing microstock. I do not want to post the monthly sum in a public forum but i make more than 100 dollars every day except on weekends.
I made back all the money i've ever spent on equipment a long time ago, and this year i paid for a trip to istockalypse (a big istock gtg) in slovenia, another trip to the world cup in germany with tickets for ukraines group games, a new very powerful laptop (for processing photos), a trip to spain and some other nice stuff. Im still a student and istock is my only source of income.
You are welcome to look at my istock portfolio
Best advice i can give to anyone starting out is that although its fun and "not work" it helps to be focused and motivated. Its extremely slow at the beginning so you need to work hard, keep uploading and not focus on the earnings, but it helps to set goals for yourself and try to reach them. Start off with at least 1 download everyday, then 1 dollar a day, then eventually a check every month, 1000 downloads a month, etc. My present goal for next year is to make at least $5000 every month and to get to 100000 downloads. Shorter term im approaching 25000 downloads which will get me to the diamond royalty level (about a 14% raise in royalties from my current position) so im pretty excited about that. |
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07/31/2006 01:43:25 AM · #59 |
Your portfolio on istock is amazing.
I could only dream of having that kind of skill. Thank you for sharing your experience too!
Great to hear of others who are really making it in the microstock world.
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07/31/2006 02:46:24 AM · #60 |
Hi Nick,
Thanks For sharing..
Impressive stuffs... and inspiring..
Hope to reach your standards one day...
Eric |
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07/31/2006 03:05:57 AM · #61 |
I uploaded approx. 100 images to istockphoto, shutterstock and dreamstime two years ago and made approx. 2000 USD so far.
Istockphoto and shutterstock especially do well.
Could make more by more regular uploads, but shooting stock is boring and uploading is a pain so it is low on my to-do list.
Nice to get a steady flow of dollars though.
Willem
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07/31/2006 03:06:23 AM · #62 |
how long have you been shooting "just stock"?
I don't shoot just stock, but everytime I shoot I try to shoot several shots that can be used for stock.
how many images do you have out there?
I'm at about 500 on Alamy right now, same on MyLoupe, a few on PhotographersDirect
how many do you try to add a month? a year?
I try for 100 - 150 a month - realistically it's more like 75 a month
do you do micro, macro, or both?
See above. BTW, not ONE sale on MyLoupe - and they are VERY sensitive to me selling on micro sites under the same name I'm using on their site.
which does better for you?
Did all of the micros with about 350 images for 3 months - sold a ton of images - made $72
Moved the EXACT same 350 to Alamy starting in January - $875 in sales this year - I'm sending them disks monthly now to build that number to 1,000 ASAP - and have identified some areas that I need to specialize in
why do you think that?
I feel better telling people I'm a stock photographer when I know my images get hundreds of dollars each. Fifty cents each makes it hard for me to look myself in the eye in the mirror. Just me personally - nico seems to be looking in the mirror in really cool locations because of micro - hmmmm
and, would you mind sharing some examples, especially your "best sellers"?
The two images I sold on Alamy this year - both DPC entries - :-)
 with the brand name removed
This is one that I took while waiting to go into my kids piano recital - thinking of what might sell that I could shoot while I waited I shot this for the billboard challenge - and sold it later
Sold two different shots from this same shoot - paintball is a bugger for removing logos, they are EVERYWHERE - but got the cover of a magazine in London (never saw it) and recently in a textbook.
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07/31/2006 02:00:01 PM · #63 |
hey i am with alamy and am simply intrigued by nico's success at istockphoto. For those on Alamy and/or istockphoto, can you have images on both, or at least be a contributor to both. I can't find this in the FAQs. Thanks.
Message edited by author 2006-07-31 14:00:29.
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07/31/2006 02:26:45 PM · #64 |
Beginning in May of this year I started uploading photos. I reached payout at Shutterstock at the end of June and I reached my second payout today. If they approve my last batch of images today, I'll have 100 images on Shutterstock.
Message edited by author 2006-07-31 14:27:37. |
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07/31/2006 03:20:00 PM · #65 |
Originally posted by Cutter:
hey i am with alamy and am simply intrigued by nico's success at istockphoto. For those on Alamy and/or istockphoto, can you have images on both, or at least be a contributor to both. I can't find this in the FAQs. Thanks. |
I think nico (or someone) mentioned somewhere that you can be exclusively micro- with iStockPhoto and still submit to RM sites like Alamy.
I'd definitely submit different pictures to each type of site -- make a decision for each photo as to which class of stock it belongs in and stick with that. |
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07/31/2006 03:21:27 PM · #66 |
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Beginning in May of this year I started uploading photos. I reached payout at Shutterstock at the end of June and I reached my second payout today. If they approve my last batch of images today, I'll have 100 images on Shutterstock. |
That's a super-excellent rate of return/photo -- I'm guessing you have many model-released "people" photos? |
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07/31/2006 04:22:34 PM · #67 |
Originally posted by Cutter:
hey i am with alamy and am simply intrigued by nico's success at istockphoto. For those on Alamy and/or istockphoto, can you have images on both, or at least be a contributor to both. I can't find this in the FAQs. Thanks. |
istock exclusivity contract
Reading there it states that istock does not require exclusivity for other rights managed sites. However you inherently cannot sell the same images rf on istock then rm on alamy, because rights managed has a guaranteed control of usage which you cannot achieve when the same image is sold as rf. If you are not exclusive you could in theory sell the same images rf at both places but it is frowned upon by the macrostock industry. |
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07/31/2006 04:41:26 PM · #68 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I'm guessing you have many model-released "people" photos? |
None. |
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07/31/2006 04:43:52 PM · #69 |
Originally posted by nico_blue:
istock exclusivity contract
Reading there it states that istock does not require exclusivity for other rights managed sites. However you inherently cannot sell the same images rf on istock then rm on alamy, because rights managed has a guaranteed control of usage which you cannot achieve when the same image is sold as rf. If you are not exclusive you could in theory sell the same images rf at both places but it is frowned upon by the macrostock industry. |
perfect thanks. I will think about it all. And thanks to the other responders..
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07/31/2006 04:48:32 PM · #70 |
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I'm guessing you have many model-released "people" photos? |
None. |
I wish I had your secret formula then, or maybe just talent : )
Di you have successful referred photographers? I think abut 1/4 of my royalties come from downloads other than my own (at Shutterstock). |
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07/31/2006 04:59:57 PM · #71 |
| Can someone tell me what the difference is between micro and macro stock? |
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07/31/2006 05:09:27 PM · #72 |
Originally posted by GeneralE:
Originally posted by TechnoShroom:
Originally posted by GeneralE:
I'm guessing you have many model-released "people" photos? |
None. |
I wish I had your secret formula then, or maybe just talent : )
Di you have successful referred photographers? I think abut 1/4 of my royalties come from downloads other than my own (at Shutterstock). |
Nope, not a one. No secret formula or talent here. I'm happy people are buying the photos, no idea why they do but it works for me. |
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07/31/2006 05:10:12 PM · #73 |
micro - images sell for $10.00 or less
macro - images sell for around $100-$5000
however this is just in general. There is macro stock agency images that sell for $10.00 as well, if the image is going to be used as a postage size in a print run of 100 (for example) |
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07/31/2006 05:47:48 PM · #74 |
Question for Nico (and for anyone else who has alot of stock "people" photos):
I notice you have a lot of people photos in your Istock portfolio. I'm curious how get them (yourself excluded of course.) :) Are they mostly friends and family or actual models? And secondly, if they are models, do you pay them or are they from TFP shoots? Just curious. I know there are places like OMP and Model Mayhem to find them, but I'm curious if you pay them or if they know your shooting for stock? I would assume so since you usually need releases for stock.
Thanks! :)
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07/31/2006 06:32:56 PM · #75 |
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