MicrostockGroup

I'm still pretty new in stock business so I'm trying a few different approaches. In the last two months I started learning how to use vector design programs. Even though I'm still a beginner I started getting fabolous results with vectors. I know that my pictures are far from the best but I didn't expect the vectors to sell so much better (well it depends on the site). Even simple ones. So now I'm wondering if I should even continue adding photos or  rather just focus on vectors since the income is much greater.

How many of you submit both? How do the photo sales compare to the vector sales for you?

I know nothing in vectors, but it came to my mind when reading your post that it might be possible to use your pictures to create vectors?
By the way can you tell how you learned to make vectors, is there any tutorial on the net somewhere?
Thanks in advance!
jean

I've been trying to learn Illustrator so I could start uploading vectors and I'm finding it very difficult so far.  I enjoy it though because it's doing something creative.  Photography will always be my biggest passion, but sometimes it's fun to do other creative things too.

Me.... I make Frankenstein Images. I borrow 1 part of a photo and put it into another photo and change it from a photo to an image.
Then I take part of that image and perform photoshoptic surgery on it. When I'm done I stand back .... look at it .... and scream "It's ALIVE!"

The MIZ

You just need to consider how much longer and how much more.

I've tossed around numbers in forums before about vectors outselling photos by a margin of 7x-10x. One thing I've always neglected to figure out, though, is the margin of time it takes to produce those vectors compared to photos. And quite honestly, it could be 7x-10x as long to produce a single vector image as compared to a single photo. So really, I would guess that things pretty much even out.

No doubt vectors earn more per image, but the time needed to produce them increases at a similar rate as the income does.

One note about the amount of time to create...

Vector:  presumably you have an idea and sit down at a computer.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not denying that a lot of time goes into a single file.

Photo:  Have an idea, get a model, make arrangements or rent location, arrange travel for models, prepare shooting list, print up releases, arrange costumes and makeup, check batteries, check backup gear, (then double check everything) pack gear, gas up car, drive to location, setup, clean up clutter, measure light, shoot, change costumes, shoot,  find witnesses, get signatures, pack up gear, scan releases, backup RAW files, edit, clone... from that point the procedures are the same except for the how to compensate the model part, by cd, print, or cash.

Sure a photographer gets more shots from one sitting, (hopefully dozens or hundreds) but it isn't as "simple" as it appears at first glance. 

Unless all your shots are the unplanned type.

Well I think I can earn more from vectors than from pictures if I spend the same ammount of time on it. Today I passed 100dl/day on SS (and the day is not over yet) and it's mostly thanks to vectors(70-80% of sales). I think I wouldn't be able to reach those number with photos in a while since I have no people, isolation photos (and to be honest my photos aren't spectacular since I'm still a beginner).

I've started doing photo, then 3D now I'm also starting vectors.

As I enjoy all these techniques (for different reasons), I will continue doing all of them because I think that if quality is the most important quality for a portfolio (sic), diversity is the second one and quantity the third.

The advantage of 3D and vector is that "objects" you create are easily reusable: the bigger your library of objects is, the easier and faster you are able to produce new pictures.

Another advantage is that the only limitation with vectors and 3D is your imagination... and your skills.

As a conclusion, I would say that if you can produce photo and vectors, you should not limit yourself to only one technique as it is an advantage you have compared to most contributors who are either good at photo, vector or 3D.

Now, concerning your portfolio, I think that your photo are not very stock oriented (animals, landscape) while your vectors are (icons): this is also one of the reason you have far more success with your vectors IMHO.

True, and yet another advantage is that the skills used to do vector drawing and 3D modeling are almost identical. If you have done 3D modeling, then learning to do vectors is very easy, and vice versa. Vectors and vertices, filled-areas and polygons are essentially the same things.

And, of course, ai10 files can be imported into Max, Carrara, and other 3D programs to make instant 3D objects, yielding yet another way to use and re-use your 'library of objects'.

I second this, weather you are doing stock as a hobby or a job if you don't enjoy what you are doing you will never produce your best work.