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Author Topic: What income should a beginner expect?  (Read 10028 times)

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« on: October 12, 2012, 05:37 »
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Hello there!

I started microstock a while ago and I have around 50 images on Fotolia and Dreamstime ( will try to get accepted by istock and shutterstock soon too ). I know 50 images are not enough to jump to conclusions, but I can't help noticing I barely have a few sales once every few weeks. So I was wondering, how many pictures do you need to have online to start seeing some nice income? And by "nice income" I don't mean getting rich or getting a lot of money.  I know most of the people who shoot microstock want to be able to live on this income, but I'm just a student who's doing this for fun and wouldn't mind some pocket money. Let's say, even 100$ every 2-3 months would be ok for me, at least until I finish university.

Is that possible without having thousand of images online?
« Last Edit: October 12, 2012, 05:43 by morning.light »


« Reply #1 on: October 12, 2012, 05:44 »
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It all depends on you, your keywording, your themes, your composition, your lighting, etc.

Sure it's possible.  Is it possible for you?  Who knows.

« Reply #2 on: October 12, 2012, 05:47 »
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I will give you my thoughts as I do not have a very large portfolio either. I have between 200 and 600 images at each site. With that I am way over $100 every 2 or 3 months. So if that is what you are looking for, I think it should be relatively easy. But you need to work on increasing your portfolio size and most importantly get accepted at Shutterstock. You need to be on all the highest earning sites.

But even if you earn $100 every 2 or 3 months, if it is across multiple sites, it will not do much good if you cannot make a withdrawal. So you will need to earn enough from each site to make a withdrawal.


« Reply #3 on: October 12, 2012, 05:55 »
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@sbonk: Thank you for your answer! I aim to get to 1000 images in 1-2 years but was scared it wouldn't be enough even then. I keep reading that even people with thousand of images are not happy with their income, but as I didn't know what expectations they have, I thought it would be safer to ask before getting depressed.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2012, 05:58 by morning.light »

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #4 on: October 12, 2012, 06:00 »
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Shutterstock accounts for more than 50% of earnings for many of us, so getting into shutterstock - as you say you are looking forward to - is the best thing you can do to reach your goal.

Are you already using IPTC to tag your pictures? That way, your pictures will be ready to submit to more sites.

« Reply #5 on: October 12, 2012, 06:03 »
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even if you have 1000+ online just some random shots, you will not be happy with the result.

Microbius

« Reply #6 on: October 12, 2012, 06:11 »
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Yes, IStock and Shutterstock are the big ones so get in there. Do a search for RPI on this forum and that should give you an idea of what others are getting per image (Return Per Image)

« Reply #7 on: October 12, 2012, 06:54 »
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Think this will vary HUGELY with various factors - I' relatively new and decided to give it three years of serious effort - early into the third year and the plan sees to be coming together but not without climbing a very steep learning curve!!!

CD123

« Reply #8 on: October 12, 2012, 07:06 »
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You will get people earning $1000 a month here complaining. It all depends on your expectations. You seem to have a realistic perceptive for a starter. Without knowing how your portfolio looks, but also considering that you will not easily get approved at the mentioned sites if if was not at least of acceptable commercial standard, I would guess 300-500 images will at least give a "feel good" income for a student and 1000+ some nice pocket money. Go as wide subject/style wise as you feel comfortable with and then, keep on learning by looking at what sells on the sites and even better, from a personal perspective, what sells in your portfolio and let that guide you.
Wish you lot of success. This is a tough place to learn.  ;)

« Reply #9 on: October 12, 2012, 07:16 »
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If your goal is 100 dollars in a couple of months, you can reach that with just one picture. You can also not reach it with 1000 pictures.

And it is not about the quality of the picture.
Not as much as you think. Its more about what the customers want to pay for.

So I suggest you take a look at customers habits, instead for shooting a lot of piuctures of spices, cats and sellery on white.

« Reply #10 on: October 12, 2012, 07:19 »
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Double post, sorry
« Last Edit: October 12, 2012, 13:29 by JPSDK »

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« Reply #11 on: October 12, 2012, 08:03 »
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50 images out of tens of millions?

You have a way to go unless they are spectacular and unbelievably outstanding.

« Reply #12 on: October 12, 2012, 08:06 »
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its hard to predict without taking a look at your portfolio, if you arent shooting people, niche stuff, high demand stock subjects (doesnt make sense but you need to try and take a few sales from other too) you will be doing from 10 to 30 cents a picture (suming up all agencies), if you are shooting some of those even if not as good as competition you will do certainly from 50 cents to a 1$ (maybe more), why don't you try it yourself? we all have different experiences but yes all depends on the quality of your work unless you are going to give the market a picture that hasnt been done before

this can only happen if you join SS and IS like Microbius have said :)

« Reply #13 on: October 12, 2012, 08:42 »
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its hard to predict without taking a look at your portfolio, if you arent shooting people, niche stuff, high demand stock subjects (doesnt make sense but you need to try and take a few sales from other too) you will be doing from 10 to 30 cents a picture (suming up all agencies), if you are shooting some of those even if not as good as competition you will do certainly from 50 cents to a 1$ (maybe more), why don't you try it yourself? we all have different experiences but yes all depends on the quality of your work unless you are going to give the market a picture that hasnt been done before

this can only happen if you join SS and IS like Microbius have said :)

I'd agree. With a portfolio on the 'Big 4' an average performer would probably earn between 50c - 90c per image/month. For a begineer to stock photographer you'd have to be a natural talent to achieve that. It takes time to understand stock photography and you have to develop your own niche subjects on which to concentrate your efforts. As a student you have access to some good subject matter, such as education, so make use of them. Microstock is about maximising the opportunities around you, especially as a begineer, to minimise the expenditure and risk.

tab62

« Reply #14 on: October 12, 2012, 08:52 »
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$.50 to $.90 per image? I assume that would include all the MS Companies? I am around $.20 per image on Shutter per month...

« Reply #15 on: October 12, 2012, 10:47 »
+1
I'm in the same boat. Also a student who just want's to make a bit of pocket money to buy extra photography equipment.
I am now at about 600 - 900 pics across the sites and make roughly 200$ a month. Am quite happy about it, since i also have fun photographing and editing the pics. Only thing i hate is keywording and submitting!

tab62

« Reply #16 on: October 12, 2012, 11:31 »
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I am in the exact range as Dan the Man! 750 pics across the board except iStock...


« Reply #17 on: October 12, 2012, 12:19 »
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I am in the exact range as Dan the Man! 750 pics across the board except iStock...

Same here, on iStock i only have 330. Main reason being the upload limit and secondary reason that i keep on making excuses not to upload, because i just hate the upload process there ;D

« Reply #18 on: October 12, 2012, 13:41 »
+1
You can approach the whole matter differently and shoot keywords:
 1    flower
2    christmas
3    background
4    medical
5    family
6    vector
7    tattoo
8    music
9    woman
10    baby
11    logo
12    wedding
13    business
If you shoot these popular keywords, and quality is not so important as we use to think, as long as the pictures get approved, and fx shoot 52 pictures of each and then upload 13 pictures a week, each being one of the keywords.

If you shoot "strange shadows on railroad fences in Minnesota", you are not going to have many downloads.

« Reply #19 on: October 12, 2012, 13:50 »
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You can approach the whole matter differently and shoot keywords:
 1    flower
2    christmas
3    background
4    medical
5    family
6    vector
7    tattoo
8    music
9    woman
10    baby
11    logo
12    wedding
13    business
If you shoot these popular keywords, and quality is not so important as we use to think, as long as the pictures get approved, and fx shoot 52 pictures of each and then upload 13 pictures a week, each being one of the keywords.

If you shoot "strange shadows on railroad fences in Minnesota", you are not going to have many downloads.

flower, really? ;)

tab62

« Reply #20 on: October 12, 2012, 16:21 »
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that flower better smell like perfume right out the pic  :-*


« Reply #21 on: October 12, 2012, 18:56 »
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How do you shoot a vector

CD123

« Reply #22 on: October 12, 2012, 19:10 »
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How do you shoot a vector

With a Smith & Wesson

« Reply #23 on: October 12, 2012, 19:31 »
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How do you shoot a vector

With a Smith & Wesson

I suppose you could.

CD123

« Reply #24 on: October 12, 2012, 19:41 »
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Vectors are special types of illustrations, created by using programs like Adobe Illustrator, not photos. Can not be shot.  ;)

PS Sorry, could not resist.
« Last Edit: October 12, 2012, 19:50 by CD123 »


 

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