i try to upload 50/week which is quite doable and many of the full time microstockers do more than that, some much more. On the year average though I haven't been able to keep up the 50/week average but only because I get sidetracked with other projects such as the microstockgroup website I run, and a wedding or two I took in the summer. I have also been doing a few other photography type jobs for lots of the years, and worked at a cafe the first year. I have been involved with microstock for 4.5 years, but only became self employed as a photographer the last 3 years and only the last 12 months considered myself full time microstock photographer... Most people who started in 2004 have quite a few more images than I do.
My experience though, it is far from a get rich quick scheme but it is definitely a viable profession for someone who wants to pursue it as such. There are probably not much more than 100 people making a living from microstock (that is just a wild guess from how much I earn and where i stand in the rankings on the various sites) and people are earning anywhere from $0.00/year to $1,000,000/year. I am guessing most full time microstock photographers are earning anywhere between $20,000-$100,000.... or put another way I would guess there are about 100-200 earning more than $20,000/year with microstock photography... there are several 1000 ppl that are earning under $1000/year .... but it is really up for grabs for anyone who wants to pursue it.
It is getting tougher to get images online and get sales as more people submit but that doesn't mean it is any less profitable for those who work hard and create attractive stock.
Message edited by author 2008-11-23 17:40:17.
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