MicrostockGroup

After 1 month of uploading I sell only on SS and other sites seems to be dead. I just wonder if I should focus more on them or drop all my stuff on SS only?

I am new to microstock and amount of time spent on "photoshopping" pictures just kills me

Shutterstock is nice because beginners get an instant return on investment.  Downloads right away to boost confidence.  For me and I think many others, the other sites take a while (sometimes quite a while) to get going.  When I first started it took 3 or 4 weeks to get 1 download on Fotolia.  I have since done a better job of taking pictures of what sells well, and sales have increased ever since. 

At first I was uploading whatever I took a picture of, listening to everyone saying upload, upload, upload!  This wasn't working great and I was spending a ton of time post processing, so I began trying to concentrate on just one photo at a time.  Whether it was one I already had and really like or thinking up a new one to take.  One well thought out photo will make way more money and take way less time in the long run than a whole bunch of average photos. 

Once the photoshopping and keywording is done uploading to more sites doesn't take much effort and in the long run it will pay off. 

Same was happening to me but now after about 2 months sales are picking up on the other sites (SS still makes 75% for me though).

Getting it right or close to it, in camera is key. Think about what you shoot.

Shooting raw virtually eliminates artifacting problems, getting white balance right is done in usually one click. I have just about eliminated any need for third party noise reduction software too. My photoshop time in microstock images is minimal these days.

If I have som small series (less than 10 images) I upload only to FT, SS and DT. It is not rentabile for me to bother with other sites. (but I save those files in a separate folder, and when number of them is larger, I upload on StockXpert and 123rf later) If I have a series of more than 10 images, I upload on 123rf, StockXpert, ft, ss, dt. (IS is not in count because of 15 per week limit).

I spend about 1 minute in PS for editing each picture I take.