First experience in stock: some thoughts about it

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

11/07/2011 01:11:15 PM · #1

Well, let me brief you in the story:

I really want to give stock photography a chance. I thin I have good photos, good technique, but I haven't got any experience in this market. But I want to see what a part time "job" as a stock photographer can really be.

I was preparing and thinking of this for some time, and I've taken this in to consideration in the last 10 or 20 photo sessions I did, so although they weren't targeted for stock I have signed model releases in order to sell the photos if I want.

As so I'm now editing some photos to put online. I've set an objective: to have 100 photos online at some stock agencies before the endo of the year. I've started to upçoad in the end of September and this week I will beat my objective in 2 stock sites (fotolia and Depositphotos). So I'm happy I've acoumplished that objective, although it is not sales related.

For this "give it a go" experience I've started with 123RF, Pixmac, Canstockphoto, Shutterstock, Dreamstime and Fotolia. I've also tryed Istockphoto, but because of one problem with the model release I've choosen my files are beeing rejected.

Here are my first thoughts about the results I've seen:
- With more than 50 files I've got no sales on 123RF, Pixmac and Canstockphoto. My thoughts are when I reach the 100 files upload I will stop upload and see what happens.
- Shutterstock is where I sold more photos and I see the sales increase with the increase of the portfolio. But I also saw what I've heard before: that if you stop uploading the sales also stop, like if your files are going to the endo of the searching.
- dreamstime and fotolia are slow sales sites. Fotolia is easy and have a good upload interface. Dreamstime is a pain and not so user friendly. They are also very picky about the files you upload. So I don't know if it is going to be worth the time.

So my thoughts right know are:
I hope that in 6 month time I will be able to upload a total of 500 photos so I can have a more realistic opinion of the market and the real money you can do with some effort. And after this inicial analisys I will see if I will stay like this, with a kind of 5 stock sites to work with or if I will go exclusive with only one.

This is my small experience so far.

Please you are wellcome to share your own story and thoughts.

EL-ROI

Canon EOS-450D Rebel XSi

11/07/2011 02:24:49 PM · #2

Nice insight. Can you post some links to your stock portfolios in order to view your work?

11/07/2011 02:44:21 PM · #3

Portfolio on Shutterstock

This is my gallery in Shutterstockthgat is more or less representative of the photos I have online.

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

11/07/2011 03:02:45 PM · #4

Originally posted by Nuno:

- Shutterstock is where I sold more photos and I see the sales increase with the increase of the portfolio. But I also saw what I've heard before: that if you stop uploading the sales also stop, like if your files are going to the endo of the searching.

Not really my experience at SS, and that's where I've had the best results by far. I have a few photos that really seem to get downloaded consistently, and then others every once in a while. If you have models, you should do better than I do -- my Shutterstock gallery is almost as weird and varied as what I submit here. :-)

And, you just never know ... this picture (shot 7 years ago with my Olympus P&S) just got downloaded under the "Extended Download" agreement = $28.00 royalty payment. I seem to get one of those every couple of months.

For reference, I have about 150 pictures plus a bunch of abstract backgrounds up there -- not too many -- and I don't upload new ones that often. If you can get 2-300 pictures uploaded -- especially "people pics" you should do better than I do.

There are useful links to a microstock blog and other stuff on

leaf's Profile page.

Message edited by author 2011-11-07 15:06:25.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

11/07/2011 03:54:34 PM · #5

For now I'm just uploading the photos I've done in past shots that weren't done for stock (with some exceptions), so I think when I really get doing stock types of photos I'll get more downloads.

I've heard and I do notice that also that if you don't do stock photos on purpose and you just upload what you got you do better in sites where the costumers look for the type of photos you "produce". Makes some sense to me :)

Art Roflmao

Canon EOS-6D Mark II

11/07/2011 03:58:35 PM · #6

Originally posted by Nuno:

Portfolio on Shutterstock

I'm self-employed, so my boss doesn't care what I do, but you forgot the NSFW warning.

My first thought is what/where/how big is the market for your category of stock images? Definitely not mainstream stuff.

This one seems oddly out of place...

Thanks for the thread, though. Always interesting to read about people's stock experiences.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

11/08/2011 05:52:24 AM · #7

Originally posted by Nuno:

yeah, that made a big difference for me. Shooting images specifically for stock has a much better return than just picking out snaps that can work as stock from daily shooting.

karmat

Apple iPhone 7

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4.0L USM

11/08/2011 08:35:10 AM · #8

Last winter and spring, when things were a bit slower, I had the goal of getting at least one stock shot every time I shot for something else. If I was shooting a basketball game, I tried to get a stock shot. If I was shooting something for dpc, I tried to get a stock shot. If I was shooting baseball, same thing. The challenge for me was non-people, discreet logo shots. (Most of what I shoot is children and getting a model release can be a bit of a task. Even the most comfortable parent will do a double take when you ask to get a release to sell pics of their kids.)

Point being, I didn't have time to shoot *just* stock, but I still wanted to add to my portfolios. It was actually kinda fun and something that I will probably do again this winter.

Also, at shutterstock, I've never stopped earning, though I do notice a spike when I upload for a few consistently.

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

11/08/2011 10:01:05 AM · #9

Originally posted by karmat:

The challenge for me was non-people, discreet logo shots. (Most of what I shoot is children and getting a model release can be a bit of a task.

Most sites will not accept photos which display/feature trademarked logos.

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

11/09/2011 12:09:42 PM · #10

Originally posted by Art Roflmao:

Originally posted by Nuno:
Portfolio on Shutterstock

I'm self-employed, so my boss doesn't care what I do, but you forgot the NSFW warning.

My first thought is what/where/how big is the market for your category of stock images? Definitely not mainstream stuff.

This one seems oddly out of place...

Thanks for the thread, though. Always interesting to read about people's stock experiences.

I did a first batch of photos from several diferent subjects. But this is not my "thing" :)

GinaRothfels

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/09/2011 03:11:11 PM · #11

Originally posted by karmat:

Last winter and spring, when things were a bit slower, I had the goal of getting at least one stock shot every time I shot for something else.

I badly need to learn that kind of discipline. I've been so lazy with stock shots this year in isn't even funny.

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

11/09/2011 03:34:33 PM · #12

Originally posted by GinaRothfels:

Originally posted by karmat:
Last winter and spring, when things were a bit slower, I had the goal of getting at least one stock shot every time I shot for something else.

I badly need to learn that kind of discipline. I've been so lazy with stock shots this year in isn't even funny.

I often take shots with "stock potential" when I'm shooting other things, but I have a hard time getting around to finding, editing, and uploading them. :-(

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS

11/10/2011 03:20:51 AM · #13

Originally posted by Nuno:

- With more than 50 files I've got no sales on 123RF, Pixmac and Canstockphoto.
- Shutterstock is where I sold more photos and I see the sales increase with the increase of the portfolio. But I also saw what I've heard before: that if you stop uploading the sales also stop, like if your files are going to the endo of the searching.
- dreamstime and fotolia are slow sales sites.

My humble opinion: leave 123RF, Pixmac and Canstock alone. With your kind of special portfolio it will take years til the first payout.
What you say about shutterstock is partially true; as it still is mainly a subscription site, new files will be downloaded more often, but good files will be downloaded for years - some of my first uploads from 2007 have almost reached the 1000th download mark there.
Fotolia takes time, usually the first download comes after about 40 views for me, which is after 4-8 weeks

11/11/2011 08:04:14 AM · #14

Tank you all for the feedback.