How is your stock photography going?

02/27/2006 02:47:28 PM · #3

Melissa,

Have you sold any photos on Fotolia? I have a lot of my shots accepted there, but I have not sold anything yet. I have made some sales on Dreamstime and BigStock so far.

Shutterstock denied me for a 2nd time - I really think I need a better camera before I can get in there.

I also have photos on Image Vortex but have not sold any there yet either.

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

02/27/2006 02:54:38 PM · #4

It took me over a year, but I finally got a check from Shutterstock -- but that delay was based on only having 80 images posted. Having a large gallery, and constantly uploading so you show up more often in the searches, seem to be the key to making money.

I'm estimating an approximate return (at Shutterstock) of around $1/posted photo/year -- since I don't anticipate being able to post 35,000 photos in the next month, I think I'll keep my day jobs as well ...

With the bonus upload program at Fotolia (see previous link) expiring tomorrow, I've finally given up a night's sleep and edited/submitted a bunch of photos which have been lingering for a while ...

Pixlmaker

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70 2.8L II

02/27/2006 03:01:26 PM · #5

While we're on the subject of Shutterstock, they just really p!ssed me off today. They denied me for the second time as well. The first time was understandable, as I really didn't know what I was doing. However, this time they rejected my images with NO reason given on 6 of the 10 images. Now, I realize people are going to think I'm just whining about my rejected shots, but almost all of the shots I submitted have been submitted to, and accepted by, istock. Some of them have been getting downloads in istock too, so you can't tell me they weren't "stock worthy". Honestly, these were NOT bad photos. 2 of them were said to be OOF, and I know they are not--not even a little. The worst thing is, now I have to wait another 3 %^&$* months to try again. Meanwhile I'm uploading and getting sales on istock. Getting into Shutterstock has been the most frustrating thing I've tried to do with my photography, and I'm thinking of giving up on them and just working with the other sites. Sorry for the rant, but it feels good to blow off some steam about this! Thanks for listening. :o)

-Don

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

02/27/2006 03:02:52 PM · #6

Originally posted by ArpeggioAngel:

Shutterstock denied me for a 2nd time - I really think I need a better camera before I can get in there.

DPReview seems to think it's OK -- what kind of problems are you having with Shutterstock submissions?

I'm considering getting something in the same line (Fuji S900), so I'd like to know about any problems. I have to decide if I want the manually-controlled zoom, making every shot pretty a two-handed operation!

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

02/27/2006 03:04:55 PM · #7

I have (up to now) about an 80% acceptance rate at Shutterstock, and about 10% at iStock, where they give me detailed (but contradictory) rejection messages ... : (

OdysseyF22

Panasonic DC-G9

Olympus 12-45mm /f4.0 Pro

02/27/2006 03:13:00 PM · #8

I think I have a grand total of $20 across five sites.
Shutterstock does okay
Dreamstime annoys the piss out of me, with what they do and dont' take. Yet they are one of my highest amounts right now, cash wise.
BigStock is m'eh
Fotolia, I missed the Jan program by one pic. But I'm doin' okay with them
123RoyaltyFree was on fire for me in Jan, but has slowed a little.
iStock kept asking me to resubmit new trial photos. They'd like one but not the other two. After the second time, having gotten contradictory comments from them, I said to hell with them.
For images that would just be eating MBs otherwise, I think it's a good deal. Can't wait to get that first check.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/27/2006 03:24:14 PM · #9

Here is my review of them

Shutterstock - My best site by far. Accepts the most images and earns the most $/image. I earn almost 50% of my stock income from them
Fotolia - Is a big up and commer I think. I have been getting more and more downloads there all the time, and with their upload reward program (20 cents) per accepted upload, they are worth you effort uploading.
Dreamstime - real sticklers on acceptace, but pretty good downloads, and a nice site.
Can Stock Photo - not good, I have stopped uploading here. I am still waiting for my first check.
Istock - almost as high of a $/image as shutterstock, but they are much harder to get images accepted under. They also have a really small daily upload limit (many have no limit at all) which makes things go much too slow
Bigstock not too bad.. but not too good either

Alamy - don't forget about the macro stocks. I have had 3 sales there... but my $/image is still better on the micro sites.

melking

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III

Canon EF 28-105mm f/3.5-4.5 II USM

02/27/2006 03:35:10 PM · #10

Shutterstock is one of the best sites I am on right now...I find the review time very fast and the company is very nice to deal with.

If anyone gets rejected the first time trying to join ShutterStock I would not get down about it....Just collect your best images and wait to apply again...thay are really worth the extra efford and the more images you have up there the more money you will make.

Like I said before here are my sites in Order:

Istockphoto
Shutterstock
Dreamstime
Fotolia
123 Royalty Free
Bigstockphoto
Stockxpert

Melissa

Pixlmaker

Canon EOS-5D Mark IV

Canon EF 24-70 2.8L II

02/27/2006 03:37:37 PM · #11

Wow, so some of you find istock harder to get into? It took a couple tries to get in, but the beauty with them is that you can re-upload right away. Once my initial 3 were accepted, I was off to the races. I am currently at a 10-upload-per-day limit, but that's not a problem for me. I upload about 10 per WEEK right now, let alone 10 per day.

severin

Sony DSC-R1

02/27/2006 03:46:20 PM · #12

Why are so many of you interested in micro stock sites? You should really read this.

//www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/micropayment.asp

digitalpins

Canon EOS-60D

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

02/27/2006 03:49:06 PM · #13

my stock photography is going great just got my very first check.....

orussell

Canon EOS Rebel T6s

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

02/27/2006 03:52:17 PM · #14

Originally posted by severin:

Why are so many of you interested in micro stock sites? You should really read this.

//www.photographersdirect.com/sellers/micropayment.asp

Most of the links on the page are broken. Hope that isn't indicative of the company.

I do agree with their stance however.

KHolt

Canon EOS-20D

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

02/27/2006 03:53:16 PM · #15

I was thinking of signing up to Shutterstock however it appears that you can only get payouts through check is this true....?

Istock allows paypal and so does fotolia.

Any ideas for stock for us English guys and gals.

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

02/27/2006 03:54:04 PM · #16

Shutterstock can pay you through PayPal.

And they just approved the 24 pictures I uploaded over the weekend : )

Message edited by author 2006-02-27 16:01:48.

severin

Sony DSC-R1

02/27/2006 04:08:04 PM · #17

Originally posted by orussell:

Most of the links on the page are broken. Hope that isn't indicative of the company.

I do agree with their stance however.

All of the links appear to be working for me. Check your internet connection or firewall.

Message edited by author 2006-02-27 16:09:54.

ArpeggioAngel

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 135mm f/2.0L USM

02/27/2006 04:38:09 PM · #18

Originally posted by Pixl Mastr WannaB:

This is exactly what has happened to me. My first time trying I didn't have any noise reduction software so they were denied due to noise/artifacts/hazing. Now I have the software and the rejection is due to being overfiltered.

I would love to be able to use macro sites like Alamy, but with my camera I don't think they quality is quite good enough. Using micro until I can save the cash to buy better equipment to move to the realm of macro.

KHolt

Canon EOS-20D

02/27/2006 05:01:23 PM · #19

Shutterstock.....

Did everyone that signed up to shutterstock....provide a passport / driving license etc across a non secure internet connection!!?

Seems a little strange to me.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/27/2006 05:09:31 PM · #20

I signed up before they started that.

I think they are wanting to make sure that people don't sign up with two, three or four user names... so that they can collect referral earnings off themselves or download their own pictures.

I think Shutterstock could seem hard to get into because they are STICKLERS on the noise. I have since purchased noise ninja, and run everything through that in an action before submitting it.

leaf

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

02/27/2006 05:11:09 PM · #21

Originally posted by KHolt:

Yes Shutterstock pays with paypal as well. They even pay automatically when you earnings are over $100 (or whatever you want, over $100). Unlike some sites like istock, where you have to search for 15 minutes to find the button to click to get your money.

Falc

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L USM

02/27/2006 05:15:40 PM · #22

Shutterstock - standing at $132 todate
Dreamstime - standing at $168 todate
istockphoto - standing at $145 todate
fotolia - standing at $7 todate

I guess I'm drawing in about $30 per month at the moment.

I get more downloads from dreamstime, followed by shutterstock, then istock. only just got started on fotolia.

I have to admit thet this is not a lot, but then the photos are what I regard as 'good rejections'. That is that are not fit for macrostock or competition but can still earn a few pennies instead of being thrown in the bin.

I will be considering the macrostock sites and doing some serious photography specifically for that market when I get a 10Meg+ camera.

ArpeggioAngel

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

02/27/2006 05:25:01 PM · #23

Originally posted by leaf:

That is what I purchased - noise ninja - and my photos still got rejected by Shutterstock. Very frustrating as I hear such good things about them from people on DPC.

GinaRothfels

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

02/27/2006 06:13:24 PM · #24

I find iStock the best, followed by Shutterstock and then Dreamstime. Personally I find Shutterstock accept more than the other sites. Dreamstime's acceptance policy can be quite difficult to understand.

I've got some photos at Bigstock, Canstock and Fotolia as well, but they seem to be a waste of time for me.

As for Gimmestock, I doubt they'll be around for too much longer. I've given up submitting, having earned only $1.60 off about 80 photos, but people are complaining about photos taking over a month to be reviewed. That's the odd occasion when someone still bothers with the forums there.

youngnova

Canon EOS-50D