Since I started last it seems like uploading my landscapes is not really working. I do want to play with model releases so I cannot photograph people. I do not know Photoshop so I cannot really do so called "concept shots".  Maybe I need to invest in lighting setup and start doing macros of objects?

Since I started last it seems like uploading my landscapes is not really working. I do want to play with model releases so I cannot photograph people. I do not know Photoshop so I cannot really do so called "concept shots".  Maybe I need to invest in lighting setup and start doing macros of objects?

I'm primarily a landscape/nature shooter.  It isn't that they don't sell,  they do sell.  They just don't sell like 53 different angles of the same model holding a piece of cheesecake.  Why?  Simple, that's what the need is. That's what the buyers want.  And that's cool.

If you are getting into stock to make good money or make it your prime source of income,  you will need to get into the whole model biz,  isolated images and such, become diversified.   If you are just looking for a nice side income, your landscape and nature will do that for you. Personally, I do better pimping my landscape/nature stuff privately direct to publishers, art directors and editors of magazines & books.  These folks want that kind of stuff. These people don't decide on an article and then search the micros to download random stuff. They'd rather pay a photog to go out and shoot what  they want.  Or as has been my experience, they'll write a feature around a series of photos that you have submitted.
    With landscape/travel/nature, try getting in with a major publisher as a free lance/assignment photog. The pay is better.  4 digit payout for a dozen pix as opposed to $4.00 on a micro  (or even a $240 in EL's). Whatever......

However, by all means, upload your landscape.  It'll sell. 

Stick around,  melastmohican, there are real pros here at MSG that can give you far better advice on really getting into microstock.  And many of them are REAL pros that do much more than micro/macro submission. Folks that truely are professionals, doing this for a living. 

In fact, now that I think of it, when you read my comment,  do so with a cold beer and take it for what it's worth.   My landscape sells for me, but I'll never become rich on it in the micros.  Welcome to the club! =tom

melastmohican,

I also think that you could try other type of sites for landscape photography.  I have very limited results with them in microstock.  I believe that sites that offer prints, such as Imagekind, are a good option.  I have a dozen images there and never sold anything, but I know people who do.

There is Art.com, but today "normal" people can't upload there.  You have to upload to their sister site Artists Rising and if you're lucky to have sales there, then Art.com may perhaps at some point display some of your images there.  I have 3 images in Art.com and sold four prints there (very small return, however), but in Artists Rising, even with a larger portfolio, I've sold nothing (and there are many people complaining the same - with much larger portfolios).

There is also ArtWanted, to which I may start submitting now that I see there is a way to upload watermarked images (a pain however - you have to upload the non-watermarked one for sales and the watermarked one for display).

I know people with good results in RedBubble.  There have been complaints here however of sales that were not accounted.

I am also in a site called Shutterpoint, were landscape/nature sell reasonably well, but it's a paid site (with no inspection). Some people never sold anything. I have had however good returns. If you want to try it, here is
my referral link. They also have a sister site, KeenImages, more of the macrostock type, no storage fee but with inspection but it never took off.  After two years, they don't even have 40000 images online, so I think it never will.

Regards,
Adelaide

Thanks Tom. It is a hobby for me but I decided to try sell some of the stuff that was sitting idle on my hard drive for last 5 years. I got 100 gigs of photos to look thru :-) Some of them from time when I scanned slides :-)

Same here melastmohican.  I've been a passionate hobbyist since I was about 13 (turn 60 this year).   My wife started selling my pix on DT not even 2 years ago. They sold, and we expanded.  Just worked out that now I make some money doing something I love.  And it keeps me in new toys without spending 'my' money.  LOL.  I am not a pro.  Just having some fun.  =tom
     

Thanks "y'all" for that good practical advice. I can see I am not going to get rich in microstock-but if it keeps me flying -I will be happy.

Smiling Jack

SJ, it's not all that bad...... there are plenty of people making a good living in this business (i'm just not one of them ).  If you are a good photog, what you make is more or less what you put into it.  Just like any other profession.   =tom

Yes, great comments. I would only add ImageKind to the list of art selling website. They support Flickr API so It's easy for me to get pictures upload but I do not have highest resolution photos on Flickr so maybe why I am not selling much.

***** OLD THREAD ALERT!!!!  ***** charliegnomes is on a roll with restarting threads!