New eBook: How to get started with Stock Photography

[PhotoWorkout]

Hi there!

We have been researching a lot on how to make your first $1,000 with Stock Photography.
 
We have put it all together in a PDF eBook and you can get a copy here: https://photoworkout.com/club/1k-stock-photography/ [nofollow]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice given in this forum! Microstock Group members have been very helpful to craft this little guidebook.

UPDATE 21 September 2017: Thie eBook is now FREE here https://www.photoworkout.com/free-stockphoto-ebook [nofollow]
(you just need to subscribe to our free newsletter and you will get a free copy of the eBook delivered to your inbox). 

[SpaceStockFootage]

The three images in your DP and FT portfolios... are those the ones you used to reach $1,000?

[Pauws99]

The three images in your DP and FT portfolios... are those the ones you used to reach $1,000?

I'm assuming most of their images are not linked as this would give away information about those succesful pics....rather than pay $10 think I will stick to searching sites for "most popular" for inspiration. You can find Stefans port quite easily on Shutterstock.

[Justanotherphotographer]

How did you get the photographers to agree to share info about their best sellers for the book? Every newbe who reads the book will be creating duplicates of any images given as an example.

[Pauws99]

How did you get the photographers to agree to share info about their best sellers for the book? Every newbe who reads the book will be creating duplicates of any images given as an example.

Its really not hard to find out best sellers from looking at various sites.......

[Justanotherphotographer]

How did you get the photographers to agree to share info about their best sellers for the book? Every newbe who reads the book will be creating duplicates of any images given as an example.

Its really not hard to find out best sellers from looking at various sites.......

Agreed, but the specific examples used in the book that are supposed to be best sellers for the individuals in there are going to see many times the duplicates of your run-of-the-mill best seller. Anyone starting out reading the book is going to try and exactly duplicate them.

[Red Dove]

I can write - with the help of a few people on this forum and some of their work I'm prepared to produce an e-book and put it out there for $5 a copy - all proceeds to be shared equally amongst the contributors. How's that?

[SpaceStockFootage]

I can write - with the help of a few people on this forum and some of their work I'm prepared to produce an e-book and put it out there for $5 a copy - all proceeds to be shared equally amongst the contributors. How's that?

Sounds good. I can provide some info for the motion graphics section! In fact, doesn't look like there's a video section in that book... get some footage experts on board (not me!) and price it at $9. Cheaper, and a bigger potential client base. What's not to like?!

[Mantis]

I can write - with the help of a few people on this forum and some of their work I'm prepared to produce an e-book and put it out there for $5 a copy - all proceeds to be shared equally amongst the contributors. How's that?

Sounds good. I can provide some info for the motion graphics section! In fact, doesn't look like there's a video section in that book... get some footage experts on board (not me!) and price it at $9. Cheaper, and a bigger potential client base. What's not to like?!

I can add an underwater photo section, too.  That's worth a buck at least.

[etudiante_rapide]

why not get sjlocke here to let you in on his secret???
he makes a lot more than $1K in his first month with ss

[Pauws99]

I've got a couple of books on Mstock which were useful when I was starting out but when you have been doing it while I think decent books about composition lighting photoshop etc are far more useful

[SpaceStockFootage]

I've got a couple of books on Mstock which were useful when I was starting out but when you have been doing it while I think decent books about composition lighting photoshop etc are far more useful

I agree, but making great images isn't going to automatically result in success at selling microstock. There's definitely valuable info that people can benefit from that isn't lighting and composition based. Which sites to go for, ways to speed up workflow, tagging, item descriptions, social media strategy and most importantly... what to shoot. There's a guy on VH who has about 1000 items. Half of them have never had a sale. From those 1000 items he's had about 4000 sales over the last three years.

I'm not wanting to blow my own trumpet, but on my non-exclusive account, I have 51 items and I've had 680 sales over the last eight months. So over 13 sales per item (1.5 a month) compared to his 4 sales (0.1 a month). There's absolutely nothing wrong with his composition, lighting and video quality. He's a talented guy who knows a lot more than me about shooting video and creating great looking images. I just feel that some people have trouble figuring out why their 500 images of specialty breads from Moldova aren't selling as well as 5 images of famous landmarks... or their 100 images of their cat in slightly different poses isn't selling as well as one image of two business people shaking hands.

I'm not trying to teach anyone to suck eggs... everyone here probably knows a lot more than me when it comes to selling stock, but for those that such a book might appeal to, those looking to start out selling stock... I think it's pretty important to get their sales and marketing heads on, as well as their photographer/videographer head on.         

[Pauws99]

I think we agree yes useful to have something when you start out but it will only take you a little way. If you want to do it as a living marketing, cash flow management, etc etc are all equally important.

[Noedelhap]

I never understood why the writers of "How to make $1000 with..." e-books are trying to make a living selling those books, instead of just using the ideas from their own book.

Sounds like those "How I earn $9500 a month working from home" schemes. If it's so easy, why spend your precious time selling crappy books?

How long does it take to get to 1k? And how many pictures do you need? This eBook has the answers.

I expect to find the answer somewhere on page 186: "it depends."

[cathyslife]

I never understood why the writers of "How to make $1000 with..." e-books are trying to make a living selling those books, instead of just using the ideas from their own book.

Sounds like those "How I earn $9500 a month working from home" schemes. If it's so easy, why spend your precious time selling crappy books?

How long does it take to get to 1k? And how many pictures do you need? This eBook has the answers.

I expect to find the answer somewhere on page 186: "it depends."

You know the old saying..."Those who can't do, teach." 

[ShadySue]

If you want to do it as a living marketing, cash flow management, etc etc are all equally important.

Indeed.
Most people could spend $5000 and make $1000.
Turnover is vanity; profit is sanity.

[etudiante_rapide]

You know the old saying..."Those who can't do, teach." 

true,... and those who can,
either are too busy sailing
or/and won't tell you about it

[MRommens]

Some dt blogs are usefull and free
http://blog.dreamstime.com/

[Difydave]

If you want to do it as a living marketing, cash flow management, etc etc are all equally important.

Indeed.
Most people could spend $5000 and make $1000.
Turnover is vanity; profit is sanity.

Reminds me of the old joke about how to make a small fortune.
"Start with a large one"


I don't think I've ever read a "get rich quick" book.
I'm not rich, and I don't think that reading a book would change that!

[steheap]

I'll tell you what - I'll give you all a special offer on my own eBook for the next week. Its $7.99 on Amazon but I'll make it $4.99 on my own site. Then you can make your first $1000!

Steve
http://www.backyardsilver.com/stock_photography_ebook/

[ravens]

Love this discussion.
Personally I would welcome help in "how to deal with stock agencies ripping us off"

[Dr Bouz]

here is one good book regarding that matter.
(how i know it's good? - well, i know the guy )

http://www.amazon.com/Microstock-photography-Turn-your-passion-ebook/dp/B01C3FJK8W/ref=la_B00TXC5B6E_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1456243715&sr=1-2

[hjalmeida]

Humm!! I guess someone read my book "How to make $1000 selling books teaching how to make money with stock photography" 

[Difydave]

Humm!! I guess someone read my book "How to make $1000 selling books teaching how to make money with stock photography" 

Can I volunteer to write the foreword concerning the inadvisability of turning a hobby into a profession?
I'll only want 70% of the profits. . . . 


(Edited for spelling!  [size=78%])[/size]

[steheap]

Humm!! I guess someone read my book "How to make $1000 selling books teaching how to make money with stock photography"

You know what they say - those who can, do, those who can't, teach! I have probably made more from the sale of my book than from most of the smaller stock sites combined!

Steve
PS - only 4 days before the price goes back up!

[cathyslife]

Humm!! I guess someone read my book "How to make $1000 selling books teaching how to make money with stock photography"

You know what they say - those who can, do, those who can't, teach! I have probably made more from the sale of my book than from most of the smaller stock sites combined!

Steve
PS - only 4 days before the price goes back up!

Nobody ever reads post #16. 

[steheap]

Sorry, Cathy - I didn't read that. I guess I could say that great minds think alike?

Steve

[cathyslife]

Sorry, Cathy - I didn't read that. I guess I could say that great minds think alike?

Steve

No worries. "I guess I could say that great minds think alike?" Indeed! 

[PhotoWorkout]

Thanks for the suggestions and advice given in this forum! Microstock Group members have been very helpful to craft this little guide book.

Then it should be free for MSG members, shouldn�t it?

We made the eBook FREE until 27th April 2016 (only on Amazon) >> https://photoworkout.com/club/1k-stock-photography/ [nofollow]

[dbvirago]

Thanks for the free download. A quick flip through shows a well organized and written book. Good luck with it

[BaldricksTrousers]

Here's how to make great money in stock photography.  First, build a time machine. If you want to make the real big bucks in RM, set it for the 1980s or 90s.  If you want to make big money in microstock, set it for 2006 and upload to Istock and Shutterstock.

If you skip the first step, forget about it, and don't waste your money on books selling you false hopes.

Darn it, you beat me to it! Though I would say March 2004 was the time to start. After getting approved on April 1, by April 23 I was getting sales at iStock every single day with around 50 or 60 images online. I continued to get at least one sale there every single day for the next seven or eight years (and often 30 or 40/day).
Now, I'm lucky to get four sales a week there (ignoring the PP and subs).

[Brasilnut]

There is a lot of crap out there, so to put together a premium product that newbies find useful is admirable in my opinion. The market moves quickly (while earnings drop) but there appears to be no shortage of people who want to get into photography but are a bit clueless.

As for "why write when you can shoot" argument and "those that can't do teach", I don't agree.

I'm painstakingly putting together a comprehensive eBook for newbies/intermediates (not a get rich quick scheme) now that it's winter and i'm shooting less. I must say that from the researching and drafting I am learning a lot, so in a way I am learning to teach. Plus I enjoy writing even if I am halfway through drafting a snooze fest chapter on releases.

For me it won't be so much about making money from the sales but to raise my profile as both a photographer and author. Also something to give to prospective clients.

If anybody is interested in having a look at my latest draft, I would appreciate comments.

Thanks

Brasilnut
www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com

[niktol]

You peeps forgot about the similars.
"How to make the first $500" for $3.99
"How to make the first $2000" for $12.99
and "How to make the first $5000" for $19.99

Until of course someone starts selling a comprehensive book on "How to write books on how to make the first $1000" for $6.99 and then we are all screwed.

[etudiante_rapide]

in my first days of photography, carrying a view camera wanting to be ansel adams, i bought this book "how to make a million taking photographs with a 35mm" or something like that.
till this day, i still haven't made a millions even as a commercial photographer, and finally a stock photographer.
but i have a strange feeling, those who did earn a million, either wrote books like that,
or like lise g of istock, never read one of those books.

[stockastic]

My eBook will be titled "How To Get Out of Microstock".   It will have the details of closing your account, and getting that last payout, at all the sites that sell subscriptions or take more than 50% of the sale price.    The last chapter will be suggestions of other things you can do with your time that will benefit you far more than producing photos for 30 cents a sale and hoping for a miracle. 

   

[cascoly]

the sad fact is that sleazy ebooks sell (no reference to any of the MS related books mentioned here -- I haven't read any of them)

for example:
http://cascoly-images.com/pix/book-web-copy-sells/

lots of ethically challenged suggestions (eg, plagiarize others), poor logic, oversimplification, etc

unfortunately it gets 4-5 stars on goodreads, amazon et al

[Brasilnut]

lots of ethically challenged suggestions (eg, plagiarize others), poor logic, oversimplification, etc

I agree.

In my case, I want to put something out there that I'll be proud. It must be original and add value, hence why it's taking so long and I'm ripping my hairs out trying to draft the * thing  . Will be worth it in the end though.

I'll include a chapter on transitioning out of Microstock and making money elsewhere in photography, as it seems to be a common theme on this forum.

[stockastic]

I'll include a chapter on transitioning out of Microstock and making money elsewhere in photography, as it seems to be a common theme on this forum.

I could imagine a chapter on the business model - i.e. "Is It Worth Doing"?  Compare the payments at different agencies, the impact of the subscription model, differences in percentages, will you actually "make it up on volume" etc.  And what does the future hold?   People obviously come to very different conclusions on this issue, but there are plenty of objective facts to present.

[Brasilnut]

I could imagine a chapter on the business model - i.e. "Is It Worth Doing"?  Compare the payments at different agencies, the impact of the subscription model, differences in percentages, will you actually "make it up on volume" etc.  And what does the future hold?   People obviously come to very different conclusions on this issue, but there are plenty of objective facts to present.

Some great ideas there. I have drafted such a chapter (more or less), although it's still quite unpolished.

Would you care to take a look and give me your opinion?

[steheap]

Hi Brasilnut

Bear in mind that you really should plan to keep it up to date (which can be quite a chore). I try to do a new edition of my book about every 12 - 18 months normally and include the latest sites, what is working, what isn't etc. I also finally decided to focus just on Amazon and took the order form off my own website so I could submit it to the Kindle lending library - still waiting to see exactly how much that pays, but it is getting page views.

I can tell you though, that it doesn't earn anything like as much as actually selling photos. I was the "best seller" in professional photography books for a while and still only sell one or two a day on average. So don't plan to retire on this!

Steve

[cascoly]

http://cascoly-images.com/pix/make-money-digital-photography/

has a table comparing various outlets (ms, self hosted, etc) and the costs assoc'd with them -- feel free to incorporate anything there you might find useful

[stockastic]

Would you care to take a look and give me your opinion?

I'm not the right guy. You want someone who's currently shooting for microstock, and is at least somewhat serious about it.  I stopped doing it over a year ago and today I just have a few hundred photos sitting at Alamy and GL. Basically I decided it wasn't worth doing, and the big 'agencies' weren't businesses I wanted to support. You should find someone with a more positive outlook. 

[Brasilnut]

Bear in mind that you really should plan to keep it up to date (which can be quite a chore). I try to do a new edition of my book about every 12 - 18 months normally and include the latest sites, what is working, what isn't etc. I also finally decided to focus just on Amazon and took the order form off my own website so I could submit it to the Kindle lending library - still waiting to see exactly how much that pays, but it is getting page views.

I can tell you though, that it doesn't earn anything like as much as actually selling photos. I was the "best seller" in professional photography books for a while and still only sell one or two a day on average. So don't plan to retire on this!

I didn't intend to hijack your thread. I have no regrets since we are contributing to a positive discussion and you are getting more links to your page.

That's a good point about not earning too much with this gig and I'll keep my expectations low. As for the the new editions, it makes sense as this industry moves fast and with drones and mobile phones, etc. Wish I had a drone though!

I'm not the right guy. You want someone who's currently shooting for microstock, and is at least somewhat serious about it.  I stopped doing it over a year ago and today I just have a few hundred photos sitting at Alamy and GL. Basically I decided it wasn't worth doing, and the big 'agencies' weren't businesses I wanted to support. You should find someone with a more positive outlook.

I think in many ways you'd be the perfect person to comment since you would portray an accurate image of this tough industry, even if it was a year ago. I do respect that you rather not. Hope you are having more success outside of Microstock. 

 

[steheap]

I didn't intend to hijack your thread. I have no regrets since we are contributing to a positive discussion and you are getting more links to your page.

I don't think it was my thread - so no worries there! Good luck with the book!

Steve

[Brasilnut]

I don't think it was my thread - so no worries there! Good luck with the book!

Steve

Ah, that's right! You too, good luck with your sales and shooting