Is it possible to make a living from Stock Photos?

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

10/15/2009 11:58:28 AM · #1

....can it be done ?

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

10/15/2009 12:07:14 PM · #2

Originally posted by TonyUK:

....can it be done ?

Yes. Just depends on how much you need for a living.
I submit to fotolia , Shutterstock , iStockphoto , dreamstime and 3 other agencies; assumed sales develop further like they do now, it should be enough by mid next year.

10/15/2009 03:05:57 PM · #3

Yes

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

10/15/2009 03:12:10 PM · #4

just out of curiosity, who buys stock photos? Also what are these "people" looking for when they go to buy stock photos?

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

10/15/2009 03:18:17 PM · #5

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

just out of curiosity, who buys stock photos? Also what are these "people" looking for when they go to buy stock photos?

I bought $122 worth of stock photos just a couple of weeks ago. I used them as part of some store window coverings. I made $563 for throwing it together and emailing it. All from the comfort of my living room.

Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR II

10/15/2009 04:06:14 PM · #6

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by cowboy221977:
just out of curiosity, who buys stock photos? Also what are these "people" looking for when they go to buy stock photos?

I bought $122 worth of stock photos just a couple of weeks ago. I used them as part of some store window coverings. I made $563 for throwing it together and emailing it. All from the comfort of my living room.

So what type of stuff really sells or really doesn't sell. I might be interested in trying it out. Does it normally cost anything to set up a stock photo account?

snaffles

Nikon D7100

10/15/2009 04:27:09 PM · #7

I am on Fotolia and in the case of that and most other microsites, no, it doesn't cost anything to you. In terms of what they are looking for...demand in various fields fluctuates greatly. Like when I first joined they were really looking for lots of medical images - instruments, doctors, etc. Make sure you have model releases for both adults and children, btw. Hope this helps!

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

10/15/2009 04:32:24 PM · #8

Thanks I am interested in possibly making some extra money on the side and having fun doing it....I will try to throw some pics up there and see what happens..

Strikeslip

Canon EOS-5D

10/15/2009 04:37:42 PM · #9

Originally posted by snaffles:

I wanted "isolated" shots, on a white background, so I could easily put them together. Oddly enough, I did use two shots with 'medical' type people/activities in them! :-O

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/15/2009 07:36:31 PM · #10

Success

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

10/16/2009 04:41:44 AM · #11

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

Originally posted by cowboy221977:
just out of curiosity, who buys stock photos? Also what are these "people" looking for when they go to buy stock photos?

I bought $122 worth of stock photos just a couple of weeks ago. I used them as part of some store window coverings. I made $563 for throwing it together and emailing it. All from the comfort of my living room.

So what type of stuff really sells or really doesn't sell. I might be interested in trying it out. Does it normally cost anything to set up a stock photo account?

You should just take a look at the stock sites and see what they are selling and which images are featured. You can also search for a subject you are interested in and sort by most downloads. This will give you a good idea of what sells.

Melethia

Canon EOS-80D

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

10/16/2009 07:38:45 AM · #12

Originally posted by Ivo:

Success

A bit of money in that studio.

nova

Canon EOS-6D

Canon EF 35mm f/1.4L USM

10/16/2009 08:58:55 AM · #13

=

Message edited by author 2009-11-13 23:45:43.

oboy

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

10/16/2009 11:55:10 AM · #14

I created this page //photo.hlehnerer.com/WhatIsSelling.html that shows lists from different agencies with images that sell.

Message edited by author 2009-10-16 11:56:46.

11/11/2009 09:17:50 PM · #15

I just registered for istock photos. I had to upload my 3 pics so I could get approved....How long does the approval normally take????

11/11/2009 09:44:36 PM · #16

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

I just registered for istock photos. I had to upload my 3 pics so I could get approved....How long does the approval normally take????

Hmmm, maybe not the best choice of agencies to get started with. They are a tough lot. I've been on shutterstock for some time and have close to 300 images there. Tried to get onto istock twice and was refused. Had something to do with my nose hairs or the color of my socks. ;-) The point I'm making is they are about the toughest agency to get your foot into and I fear you may get shut out unless you have some "stock" experience. I may be worng but I'm probably not.

To answer your question, it depends on how many people are in cue ahead of you. I'd give it a week as a reasonable starting point.

Hope that helps.

11/11/2009 09:49:48 PM · #17

I appreciate it ivo...I didnt know they were so cantakerous though...I might try shutterstock.....If you don't mind me asking are the sales good at that site...

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro

11/11/2009 11:17:25 PM · #18

Originally posted by cowboy221977:

I appreciate it ivo...I didnt know they were so cantakerous though...I might try shutterstock.....If you don't mind me asking are the sales good at that site...

As with anything, the sales fluctuate with the seasons and these economic times have definitely dampened things. I generally find my sales trend upwards when I upload new images and then stabilize and eventually sink. Keep in mind there are a bazillion images being uploaded to the stock sites every day so the competition is quite stiff due to volume.

My gallery is a collection of "stuff" I have captured over the years that fits the "stock" genre. I have never concentrated on subject matter or seasonal niches to fill the trends. It has provided me with some pocket change and a great way to have some cash sitting in Paypal ready to be deployed to some nonsensical ebay purchase every now and then.

If I had the ready access to a controlled studio environment, I'd treat stock like a science much in the same manner Yuri Arcurs does. I'd research sites like google trends, prepare shoots in anticipation of major holidays, etc, etc, etc. I could see with some determination and intelligence, you could pull in $500 plus per month easily.

That is off of shutterstock only. The smart stock pros upload to numerous agencies and benefit from multi channel marketing.

So can you make money? I really think you can if you focus and approach it with some discipline.

Much like anything, get serious and the benefit will reveal itself sooner than later.

oboy

Canon EOS-500D Rebel T1i

11/12/2009 01:21:32 PM · #19

for shutterstock it is good to have a continues flow of uploaded images. If you have 30 images ready for upload, don't upload them all at the same time and then no upload for the next two week. Better is to upload five at a time and whenever they get accepted, then upload the next five.

ALaCarteCablePhotos

05/23/2012 04:30:22 PM · #20

This thread has really helped. Im looking for some kind of feedback on whether my photos are good enough to sell online. Im new alacartecablephotos.photoshelter.com/gallery-list

Stephanie

sjhuls

Canon EOS-7D

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

05/23/2012 04:58:40 PM · #21

This is an old thread that looks like it was resurrected by a a new user. Can't tell if it is spam or not so if you are not a spam account I would wait a few weeks and then try posting again you might get a better response once you can post your link.

I had a read through this thread and thought I would add my thoughts since I have been pursuing stock these last few months. Shutterstock is where you want to start it will make you the most money by far out of any other agency. You will be wasting your time if you start with other sites. Be sure to post to the forums critique thread before you enter your first 10. Otherwise you most likely will get rejected your first time around and have to wait 30 days to try again. Istock is also a good money maker but they are so picky about everything it is almost ridiculous. I don't upload to them much but even with a small amount of photos I do pretty well.

I also upload to dreamstime, fotolia, 123RF, deposit and canstock. Sometimes I wonder why, I only make a fraction of what I make at shutterstock.

As far as making a living, you will make what you put into it. If you have good quality images that have value in a commercial market then you can make decent money. I have only been at it a few months but already am seeing significant return. It is rare for people to quit their jobs and just do stock but it can be done. You must be dedicated, I try to upload 100 new images a month, I would say you need to have the time to upload between 50-100 quality new images a month to see any kind of return.

GeneralE

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

06/30/2012 10:38:10 PM · #22

Originally posted by sjhuls:

This is an old thread that looks like it was resurrected by a a new user. Can't tell if it is spam or not ...

I'm re-using the thread to post this latest from Alamy:
Alamy publish report following round table discussion featuring key industry figures

Originally posted by Article Abstract:

The stock image industry has to challenge the status quo of the current pricing and licensing models if it wants to be fit for purpose for 21st century image use

Alamy publish report following round table discussion featuring key industry figures

28th June 2012

Ozzie

Nikon D90

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

05/28/2013 04:56:38 PM · #23

Sjhuls, if you post to several stock agencies, is it not a problem to submit the same image to all of them, or do they have to be different?

sjhuls

Canon EOS-7D