MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: Elenathewise on February 01, 2011, 12:15
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Today is exactly 3 years since I walked out of my corporate job and became a full-time stock photographer.
It's been a lot of work but also a lot of fun, and in spite of some unpleasant things that are happening in the industry I am looking forward to many more!
I also gave in to nudging from some people and started a blog where I wrote up some thoughts about my experiences and my views on microstock:
blog.elenaphoto.com (http://blog.elenaphoto.com)
There will be more - am planning to update it weekly. Now, where is that champaign? :)
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Congrats. It takes a lot of courage to quit a steady income and pursue something you're interested in.
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Congrats Elena :)
It has certainly been (and continues to be) a wild ride, hasn't it?!
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It takes a lot of courage to quit a steady income ..
lol stock-photography is my most steadiest income :D
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Well done, congratulations! I have an enourmous respect for anyone who makes their own living.
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Congrats! I hope to be as upbeat in three years when I look back :)
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Thank you all:) Wild ride it has been but hey at least it's not boring!:-)
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Congratulations Elena!!
So nice to hear someone being positive about this industry!!
I am currently on the verge of taking the full time plunge myself and it so nice to hear from someone who is actually doing it! Makes me feel much more confident in my descision!
Thanks!!!
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Congrats on the milestone elena.
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Congratulations!
So, you don't miss physics at all?
I am 1/2 time scientist (meteorology) and 1/2 time photographer.
Microstock supposed to be only a temporary fix for a lack of funding in science,
but, now, I am trying to do both. Probably, that's not the best idea.
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Congratulations Elena!!
So nice to hear someone being positive about this industry!!
I am currently on the verge of taking the full time plunge myself and it so nice to hear from someone who is actually doing it! Makes me feel much more confident in my descision!
Thanks!!!
You're welcome :) I am glad I could provide something positive.... We do need a bit of optimism here, it's too much doom and gloom around... things are not that bad.
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Congratulations!
So, you don't miss physics at all?
I am 1/2 time scientist (meteorology) and 1/2 time photographer.
Microstock supposed to be only a temporary fix for a lack of funding in science,
but, now, I am trying to do both. Probably, that's not the best idea.
Actually, I do miss physics a bit, physics is nice and lovely, but it turned out not to be my passion!
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Congrats on the milestone elena.
Thanks - it takes a bit of slowing down to even notice that there is a milestone.... three years flew right by.
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Lovely reading such a positive post about microstock. Congrats, I'll look forward to reading more about your journey!
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Congratulations! I wish I had your courage to quit my job too! How much have you diversified, or are you 100% stockphotography ?
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Congrats!! Im sure you have many more years left and you certainly dont lack incentives, thats for sure.
best.
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Thank you all:)
Congratulations! I wish I had your courage to quit my job too! How much have you diversified, or are you 100% stockphotography ?
100% stock photography. I haven't been even looking for clients. I am very happy with my lifestyle, sometimes I feel a bit isolated, but then there is Facebook:)
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I am very happy with my lifestyle, sometimes I feel a bit isolated, but then there is Facebook:)
lol :D
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Thank you all:)
Congratulations! I wish I had your courage to quit my job too! How much have you diversified, or are you 100% stockphotography ?
100% stock photography. I haven't been even looking for clients. I am very happy with my lifestyle, sometimes I feel a bit isolated, but then there is Facebook:)
Hi again Elena, just wondering if you have made any inroads into the RM market, as I was thinking this may be a good idea also...
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Thank you all:)
Congratulations! I wish I had your courage to quit my job too! How much have you diversified, or are you 100% stockphotography ?
100% stock photography. I haven't been even looking for clients. I am very happy with my lifestyle, sometimes I feel a bit isolated, but then there is Facebook:)
Hi again Elena, just wondering if you have made any inroads into the RM market, as I was thinking this may be a good idea also...
My images on Getty are RM but I am not too happy with sales there. So practically all of my stuff is RF.
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Hey Elena that is fantastic and your portfolio is beautiful..
wondering, if you dont mind my asking, how do your sales on your personal website compare to the microstock sites?
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Hey Elena that is fantastic and your portfolio is beautiful..
wondering, if you dont mind my asking, how do your sales on your personal website compare to the microstock sites?
Thank you - the site that sells my images in only a couple of weeks old :) So it's too early to tell. We did have some sales already, so hopefully this trend continues:).
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good luck with that..
keep us updated on how thats going
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Good to know that you're doing well and enjoying the ride. i took the plunge myself as a full-time microstocker in April 2009 and never looked back.
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Nice going. I'm still amused by someone having their own proprietary software for keywording and the extent of your efforts to become a success in three years. Not what the average person or even a success driven person might do. It's exceptional. Oh that and something like someone like myself couldn't buy in another 30 years of trying or training. Artistic ability and creativity! :D
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Nice going. I'm still amused by someone having their own proprietary software for keywording and the extent of your efforts to become a success in three years. Not what the average person or even a success driven person might do. It's exceptional. Oh that and something like someone like myself couldn't buy in another 30 years of trying or training. Artistic ability and creativity! :D
Thanks:) Not that exceptional considering the prospect of spending the rest of your life in office cubicle...:)
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Did you open this thread to help yourself by getting some emotional support or to promote your pictures?
Anyway, without knowing your numbers...it seems to be a good idea to communicate if the downloads are not as good as expected.
I wil also try in future if I had the time between my other jobs.
Best regards.
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Did you open this thread to help yourself by getting some emotional support or to promote your pictures?
Anyway, without knowing your numbers...it seems to be a good idea to communicate if the downloads are not as good as expected.
I wil also try in future if I had the time between my other jobs.
Best regards.
You can look up numbers on any site... check Fotolia ranking, for example. Or that's too much work? I have nothing to complain about :) Looks like you're the one badly needing emotional support. Tell us your sad story, there are kind people here who will read.
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Did you open this thread to help yourself by getting some emotional support or to promote your pictures?
Anyway, without knowing your numbers...it seems to be a good idea to communicate if the downloads are not as good as expected.
I wil also try in future if I had the time between my other jobs.
Best regards.
You can look up numbers on any site... check Fotolia ranking, for example. Or that's too much work? I have nothing to complain about :) Looks like you're the one badly needing emotional support. Tell us your sad story, there are kind people here who will read.
I was going to say something, at IS where you are #101. Hey, get to work and you'll be in the top 100! :D Files: 5753 Downloads: 110000 for "bad's" information.
I wouldn't have a clue how to find anyone on FT.
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Istock sadly has less than half of my files. Because of the upload limits. So it's not a matter of work, it's a matter of them keeping my work away.
Fotolia ranking page: http://www.fotolia.com/Info/Ranking (http://www.fotolia.com/Info/Ranking)
#16 to save you counting. Would be #15 if Monkey Business didn't negotiate themselves second account with Sapphire privileges.
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Congratulations Elena, and glad to hear you are already getting sales at your site. I haven't developed to your level of talent, but I really admire your style and the elements you photograph. Very inspiring. It's good to see something besides the usual isolated portfolios, and it is great that your imagery has proven so successful.
@bad - That was in really poor taste. Not sure what your issue is.
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Congratulations!!!....Imust say that is alot of courage....i'm still contemplating though....but with your testimonial i think i better take the bold step.
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Congrats Elena! way to go...
Always been a great admirer of your portfolio, great stuff! :)