This message is directed to Marksout regarding his topic "Sad day for photographers"

I am a 53 years old security guard doing a mixture of night and day shifts in a government building. 4 years ago I knew nothing about photography. Microstock has given me $41,000.00 since then and I am still growing. I will not stop until I make enought to get out of my regular boring job. I don't care what anybody says, this is definetly the best opportunity that has ever happened to me. I guess this is what freedom is all about.

 Denis

Hi cybernesco,

 I am glad for you and your new excitement about the future there is nothing better than to wake up feeling the future looks bright. I wish you the best of luck with your sales and hope you are out from behind that desk sooner than later. Keep shooting.

Cheers,
Jonathan

Thank you Jonathan and cheers to you as well.

Denis

Congrats. For someone who knew "nothing" 4 years ago, you seem to have learned quite a lot. Looking at your shots, I can see that you jumped right in and created the background/lighting setup for good isolated people shots.  And I'm guessing that's you, as the model in a lot of the photos?  

I should learn from your example and get into some people shots myself.  Like many wannabe photographers I keep telling myself - it's too much work, too much investment, needs too much space, don't have any models.  But my guess is you quickly figured out how to do it without spending thousands on lights, backdrops, "cutters" etc...?

Thank you stockastic. Yes it is me in most of those guy shots. I have first learned how to shoot people by selfphotographing myself before asking for models. Most female models are from Modelmayhem.com which, depending of your neighborhood, are easy to get in exchanged of photos. Most of everything I have learned is from reading Shutterstock forum and trying to understand all the rejections at the beginning. At first I had a Canon Rebel 300d, then a 5d and right now I have been waiting 2 months for a 5d mark II.  My lenses are Canon 24-105mm L, Canon 1.4 50mm, and Canon IS 70-300mm. My lights at first were halogen but a year later I upgraded to 4 Alien Bees with a giant softbox and umbrellas. 4 months ago I got a Wacom Cintix, 21 inches tablet, oh men!! this is the greatest thing for editing. My best month so far was last June with $2250.00, this July, $1470.00. So far in 2009, $12400.00.  I have 1100 photos online exept Istock 960.

Denis

F�licitations Denis, ton parcours est impressionnant et un bon exemple � suivre. J'ai commenc� en photo stock il y a deux ans mais en r�alit�, surtout depuis 1 an et j'ai des cro�tes � manger avant de rejoindre tes revenus mensuels.

Bravo encore une fois! et bonne chance pour le temps plein

Merci Eric, tu as des belles photos. Faut pas lach�. Bonne soir�e

Denis

Awesome, my hubby is a security guard too but he prefers to let me do the photography. It's nice to see someone who has grabbed the world and made something of it with a positive attitude. My best wishes.

Awesome, my hubby is a security guard too but he prefers to let me do the photography. It's nice to see someone who has grabbed the world and made something of it with a positive attitude. My best wishes.

Thank you Einochi. Denis