Author Topic: How was/is your April compared to March? (Read 18063 times)

JetCityImage · « **on:** April 27, 2018, 14:31 »

Not a complaint thread, but I am interested because March was actually very good, and April may be less than half.

Pauws99 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 27, 2018, 16:44 »

Quote from: JetCityImage on April 27, 2018, 14:31

Not a complaint thread, but I am interested because March was actually very good, and April may be less than half.

Still three days to go...though looking similar for me unless something exceptional happens...March was one of my better months for a while April looking one of worst.

fotoroad · « **Reply #2 on:** April 27, 2018, 16:58 »

Quote from: JetCityImage on April 27, 2018, 14:31

Not a complaint thread, but I am interested because March was actually very good, and April may be less than half.

So far March is cca 30% better

Mantis · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2018, 19:56 »

SS WAYYYY down. DT down, Story Blocks decent. 123 is like CanStockPhoto....$20 or so. 123 is a complete disaster of a business. In a matter of a year or so I went from nearly $200 a month to $20 a month. Pathetic. I see them and DT in a race to go out of business if in fact their decline is due to fewer transactions.

akaza · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2018, 22:17 »

SS good, but AS and IS down about -25%

Chichikov · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2018, 00:18 »

All enough stable (for the good and for the ~~bad~~ worst).
Plus three unexpected big sales on Alamy this morning!

dpimborough · « **Reply #6 on:** April 28, 2018, 02:06 »

Have to go back to August 2014 to see a month with similar low sales revenue though sales quantities are the same as they have been for the last twelve months

SS have been appalling with one of the worst performances in years.

Probably something to do with the fact they cut the search options down to "best selling" and new

As to Adobe well they've given up the ghost and are just as bad.

The others are just pennies or a few bucks.

Compared to March about 50% down

Pauws99 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 28, 2018, 02:35 »

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 02:06

Have to go back to August 2014 to see a month with similar low sales revenue though sales quantities are the same as they have been for the last twelve months

SS have been appalling with one of the worst performances in years.

Probably something to do with the fact they cut the search options down to "best selling" and new

As to Adobe well they've given up the ghost and are just as bad.

The others are just pennies or a few bucks.

Compared to March about 50% down

I don't know if its coincidence but I noticed quite long spells of zero US sales on SS. Had a few first time sales of my non-selling years old not very good pics...god knows how buyers drag these up!

dpimborough · « **Reply #8 on:** April 28, 2018, 02:45 »

Quote from: Pauws99 on April 28, 2018, 02:35

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 02:06
Have to go back to August 2014 to see a month with similar low sales revenue though sales quantities are the same as they have been for the last twelve months

SS have been appalling with one of the worst performances in years.

Probably something to do with the fact they cut the search options down to "best selling" and new

As to Adobe well they've given up the ghost and are just as bad.

The others are just pennies or a few bucks.

Compared to March about 50% down
I don't know if its coincidence but I noticed quite long spells of zero US sales on SS. Had a few first time sales of my non-selling years old not very good pics...god knows how buyers drag these up!

I'd agree also the total lack of sales from SE Asia and Japan and also the total absence of any SOD sales apart from a few cent sales.

I'm always suspicious with SS though, that the quanitities remain similar every month somewhere between 250 to 270 per month never varies

PinHead · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2018, 05:00 »

SS = exceptional Feb 279, March 643, April 747
Storyblocks = normal
IS = normal
Others = inexistent
The biggest surprise comes from pond5 ... I do not understand what's going on there = worst

JetCityImage · « **Reply #10 on:** April 28, 2018, 06:53 »

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 02:06

Probably something to do with the fact they cut the search options down to "best selling" and new...

So SS buyers are purchasing less? If the viewing options have been limited, are they buying from other agencies?

dpimborough · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2018, 08:36 »

Quote from: JetCityImage on April 28, 2018, 06:53

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 02:06

Probably something to do with the fact they cut the search options down to "best selling" and new...

So SS buyers are purchasing less? If the viewing options have been limited, are they buying from other agencies?

Not quite I was just pointing out that instead of 3 searches SS cut the buyers options down to just two.

A few years back there was also undiscovered which gave images that had not sold a chance of being found too, not any more of course.

loop · « **Reply #12 on:** April 28, 2018, 09:03 »

Quote from: PinHead on April 28, 2018, 05:00

SS = exceptional Feb 279, March 643, April 747
Storyblocks = normal
IS = normal
Others = inexistent
The biggest surprise comes from pond5 ... I do not understand what's going on there = worst

How can you, and some other poster, report April sales on IS if IS sales are not told to us until May 20???

dpimborough · « **Reply #13 on:** April 28, 2018, 11:29 »

Quote from: loop on April 28, 2018, 09:03

Quote from: PinHead on April 28, 2018, 05:00
SS = exceptional Feb 279, March 643, April 747
Storyblocks = normal
IS = normal
Others = inexistent
The biggest surprise comes from pond5 ... I do not understand what's going on there = worst

How can you, and some other poster, report April sales on IS if IS sales are not told to us until May 20???

They can't simple as that

BalkanskiMacak · « **Reply #14 on:** April 28, 2018, 11:58 »

Let's have a look at the stats (these are the stats from the 20th of March till the 20th of April, taking in account IS earnings from the previous month. Not the most accurate in terms of performance, but it still gives an idea of the dynamic):
Earnings: +20%
Uploaded pictures: +4% (-21% pictures uploaded compared to previous month)
Income excluding the big 2 (IS &SS): +25%

In a nutshell, a pretty good month, even taking in account the portfolio increase. I still get concerned by the sustainability of this growth, given IS is performing unusually well (+116% earnings on Q1-2018 compared to Q4-2017 for a 20% portfolio increase), but April seems to follow the general positive trend my portfolios started in 2018, with only 123RF showing bad signs.

seamless · « **Reply #15 on:** April 28, 2018, 12:15 »

My April sales were 175% higher than March.
Video only though.

fiftyfootelvis · « **Reply #16 on:** April 28, 2018, 13:40 »

Still a pretty solid month for me, but down a bit from March.

jonbull · « **Reply #17 on:** April 28, 2018, 13:45 »

Quote from: BalkanskiMacak on April 28, 2018, 11:58

Let's have a look at the stats (these are the stats from the 20th of March till the 20th of April, taking in account IS earnings from the previous month. Not the most accurate in terms of performance, but it still gives an idea of the dynamic):
Earnings: +20%
Uploaded pictures: +4% (-21% pictures uploaded compared to previous month)
Income excluding the big 2 (IS &SS): +25%

In a nutshell, a pretty good month, even taking in account the portfolio increase. I still get concerned by the sustainability of this growth, given IS is performing unusually well (+116% earnings on Q1-2018 compared to Q4-2017 for a 20% portfolio increase), but April seems to follow the general positive trend my portfolios started in 2018, with only 123RF showing bad signs.

it's not sustainable and will only slow. till there is chance to earn money more people will enjoy and upload per week will soon double. so no. there is no hope.

temis · « **Reply #18 on:** April 28, 2018, 13:52 »

SS has been a disaster, 30% compared to march more than half than last year, 123 the same as march, istock excellent the double compared to march, fotolia a slight decrease compared to march. On the whole revenues are decreasing quarter to quarter, year to year. The worst is SS which is performing very badly month after month. SS after the quotation in the stock exchange has started to accept everything and good pics have started to mix with the bad ones and the big supply has overwhelmed the demand. So next future will be just a pure amusement to take part in the microstock world.

PinHead · « **Reply #19 on:** April 29, 2018, 03:00 »

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 11:29

Quote from: loop on April 28, 2018, 09:03
Quote from: PinHead on April 28, 2018, 05:00
SS = exceptional Feb 279, March 643, April 747
Storyblocks = normal
IS = normal
Others = inexistent
The biggest surprise comes from pond5 ... I do not understand what's going on there = worst

How can you, and some other poster, report April sales on IS if IS sales are not told to us until May 20???

They can't simple as that

Yes i can.
iStock brought me steady earnings in the last six months even though I have not uploaded there for almost a year.

BalkanskiMacak · « **Reply #20 on:** April 29, 2018, 09:17 »

Quote from: jonbull on April 28, 2018, 13:45

Quote from: BalkanskiMacak on April 28, 2018, 11:58
Let's have a look at the stats (these are the stats from the 20th of March till the 20th of April, taking in account IS earnings from the previous month. Not the most accurate in terms of performance, but it still gives an idea of the dynamic):
Earnings: +20%
Uploaded pictures: +4% (-21% pictures uploaded compared to previous month)
Income excluding the big 2 (IS &SS): +25%

In a nutshell, a pretty good month, even taking in account the portfolio increase. I still get concerned by the sustainability of this growth, given IS is performing unusually well (+116% earnings on Q1-2018 compared to Q4-2017 for a 20% portfolio increase), but April seems to follow the general positive trend my portfolios started in 2018, with only 123RF showing bad signs.
it's not sustainable and will only slow. till there is chance to earn money more people will enjoy and upload per week will soon double. so no. there is no hope.

Thanks for your note of optimism. However, the niches where I'm well positioned are still pretty much unoccupied, and there are several others that I am identifying.

More people will upload, but very little people actually do it properly and on a regular basis. So, unless your plan is to be positioned on isolated vegetables or business people, you may find plenty of opportunities. Let's never remember that only 17000 people, last year, had a portfolio superior to 1000 files on SS, it's not that much.

When I was referring to the sustainability of this growth, I was referring to the fact that you can't reasonably expect your quarterly earnings to double every three months (especially when your portfolio does not increase that much). Apart from this, when I look at my results over the past years, I still see a pretty steady and regular growth on the long term, without actually increasing my workload.

So, for a hopeless situation, it's still not that bad. i am not saying that it will be the same forever, but there's still money to make, so let's continue. the day everything will be locked... well, I will find something else, but for the moment, the opportunities are present.

dpimborough · « **Reply #21 on:** April 29, 2018, 13:33 »

Quote from: PinHead on April 29, 2018, 03:00

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 11:29
Quote from: loop on April 28, 2018, 09:03
Quote from: PinHead on April 28, 2018, 05:00
SS = exceptional Feb 279, March 643, April 747
Storyblocks = normal
IS = normal
Others = inexistent
The biggest surprise comes from pond5 ... I do not understand what's going on there = worst

How can you, and some other poster, report April sales on IS if IS sales are not told to us until May 20???

They can't simple as that
Yes i can.
iStock brought me steady earnings in the last six months even though I have not uploaded there for almost a year.

So you are saying you have April's sales figures already?

How? when they have not published them yet

Pauws99 · « **Reply #22 on:** April 29, 2018, 16:21 »

Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 29, 2018, 13:33

Quote from: PinHead on April 29, 2018, 03:00
Quote from: Sammy the Cat on April 28, 2018, 11:29
Quote from: loop on April 28, 2018, 09:03
Quote from: PinHead on April 28, 2018, 05:00
SS = exceptional Feb 279, March 643, April 747
Storyblocks = normal
IS = normal
Others = inexistent
The biggest surprise comes from pond5 ... I do not understand what's going on there = worst

How can you, and some other poster, report April sales on IS if IS sales are not told to us until May 20???

They can't simple as that
Yes i can.
iStock brought me steady earnings in the last six months even though I have not uploaded there for almost a year.

So you are saying you have April's sales figures already?

How? when they have not published them yet

I guess theres that sales so far counter thing......if you find it trustworthy ;-0

HalfFull · « **Reply #23 on:** April 29, 2018, 16:37 »

SS - Not too bad not as strong as last month which was a BME (1st one in 12 months)

IS - Counter seems good, last month was good

FT/Adobe - Pants. Every time my 7 day rolling sales figure reaches 178, sales stop and don't return until it drops below that figure. Been like that for 4 weeks now!

123 & DP both improving but not quite in the $100's yet

Brasilnut · « **Reply #24 on:** May 01, 2018, 04:37 »

Not so great $ wise but some nice milestones reached*

- SS: 453 downloads which is OK but wayyyy too many subs
- iStock: $53 (already wrote about this, re-building so should pick up)
- AS: $50 (a bit disappointing)
- FAA*: $41 (first sales on there and finally broken-even)
- Alamy: 6 for $156 gross. One $70 RM sale yesterday to salvage an otherwise disappointing month
- Dreamstime $30 (so sad what has become of DT)
- Pond5*: $19 (my first ever footage sale)
- Canva: $11 (started recently and looking encouraging)
- Arcangel*:My first cover, finally! Details pending.
- Rest not worth reporting (Canstock, 123rf, Colourbox, DepositPhotos)

Pauws99 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 01, 2018, 04:54 »

Is that IS for March?

Rasica · « **Reply #26 on:** May 01, 2018, 05:07 »

Almost the same as March.
Somewhat better compared to April 2017, but far worse compared to April 2016 and 2015.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2018, 07:17 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on May 01, 2018, 04:37

Not so great $ wise but some nice milestones reached*

- SS: 453 downloads which is OK but wayyyy too many subs
- iStock: $53 (already wrote about this, re-building so should pick up)
- AS: $50 (a bit disappointing)
- FAA*: $41 (first sales on there and finally broken-even)
- Alamy: 6 for $156 gross. One $70 RM sale yesterday to salvage an otherwise disappointing month
- Dreamstime $30 (so sad what has become of DT)
- Pond5*: $19 (my first ever footage sale)
- Canva: $11 (started recently and looking encouraging)
- Arcangel*:My first cover, finally! Details pending.
- Rest not worth reporting (Canstock, 123rf, Colourbox, DepositPhotos)

How much from selling books about not selling photos?

mesamong · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2018, 07:47 »

SS Be less as well.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #29 on:** May 01, 2018, 07:51 »

Quote

How much from selling books about not selling photos?

christiano · « **Reply #30 on:** May 01, 2018, 08:19 »

My best month since my starting in may/june 2017 in term of volume and $ : IS, AS, SS.
I have 2 first GOOD sale with Alamy (started with Alamy in last december/january 2018)

-Very bad with DT and 123rf
-SS, too many 0,25 $ sale... (like 98%)

Zero Talent · « **Reply #31 on:** May 01, 2018, 08:25 »

Attached line chart is based on Paypal actual income.

Pie chart ratios based on income reported in April (March for IS)
Notable observation for me: AS lost their second position, unfortunately.

steheap · « **Reply #32 on:** May 01, 2018, 10:38 »

Hit it out of the park in April:

Steve

Brasilnut · « **Reply #33 on:** May 01, 2018, 11:11 »

Quote

Hit it out of the park in April:

pancaketom · « **Reply #34 on:** May 01, 2018, 15:09 »

a little bit better than Feb and Mar, a little worse than Jan. SS is bad even for the new normal. DT, 123RF, and BS are bad too. Canva, Alamy, and Adobe kept it from being a horrible month. Surprisingly good but still small potatoes were Featurepics and P5.

fritz · « **Reply #35 on:** May 01, 2018, 16:58 »

Worst month on SS since 2009! Rest are more less"OK" except IS where 667dl netted only 120$

Graiki · « **Reply #36 on:** May 01, 2018, 19:14 »

Hello
For me it was the same as the previous month.
One agency lowered sales and another had better sales and the end result was very good.

angelawaye · « **Reply #37 on:** May 01, 2018, 21:18 »

Congrats on an arcangel sale!

tomn · « **Reply #38 on:** May 01, 2018, 23:32 »

My April was my second best month ever and was only beaten by this March where I sold a couple of video clips on Pond5 for $75. Mind you, I've only been at this since last August so I'm still trying to grow my portfolio as fast as possible.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #39 on:** May 02, 2018, 02:42 »

Quote

Congrats on an arcangel sale!

Thanks, only took me 3 years! Here it is...

Peruphotoart · « **Reply #40 on:** May 02, 2018, 11:14 »

I just am in beginner mode: I can say that it was the best month I could double what I got in March, I hope to have better results this month, I will share the results, but I have to say that April was the month that more files went up to SS ( more than 200 )

Artist · « **Reply #41 on:** May 02, 2018, 11:36 »

Little less than march but still a good month.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #42 on:** May 03, 2018, 03:56 »

Quote

I just am in beginner mode: I can say that it was the best month I could double what I got in March, I hope to have better results this month, I will share the results, but I have to say that April was the month that more files went up to SS ( more than 200 )

Nice one. Keep submitting quality work!

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #43 on:** May 03, 2018, 06:37 »

Bad almost everywhere and the latest iS figures are absolutely dreadful (back to the income level of summer 2004). CanStockPhoto actually did much better than usual, but it's still not much.

Jogga0 · « **Reply #44 on:** May 03, 2018, 09:45 »

Overall 15% increase compared to March income. Pretty good month at SS, FT, AL and Canva. For me P5, 123, PD, DT, DP and CS slowly dying. Don’t bother with Getty, cant bring myself to accept 15%.

derek · « **Reply #45 on:** May 03, 2018, 10:32 »

SS BME! superb for once! like in the old days!

reisegraf · « **Reply #46 on:** May 03, 2018, 11:32 »

April was not my best month, low $/DL, number of sales with 562 images been good so far. If i would not had my first sale of $ 65.- on Eyem it would be even worse... March was my best month ever with $ 375.-

akaza · « **Reply #47 on:** May 03, 2018, 23:16 »

123rf was BME for me in march, down -25% in april
but in may the sales really really crash, weekday sales feels like weekend

Peruphotoart · « **Reply #48 on:** May 04, 2018, 10:06 »

I can read everything and I think the following, some have had good and other bad sales, I think the important thing is that what quality are your photographs and how big is your portfolio, there are photographers who are involved in a single style and I think that that limits them, at least I take pictures of all styles (food, travel, landscapes, lifestyles, macro, etc.) and it seems to be working.
.
.
There are people who only 1000 photographs are already earning a little over $ 400 in shutter and others to be able to earn that amount need more than 5000 photographs, it is relative and depends on the portfolio of each photographer, the only thing left is to work in that the securities industry seeks and sells more, I think that's the key
.
.
My humble opinion