Author Topic: Anyone going to Ref5resh in Malta? (Read 20393 times)

michealo · « **Reply #100 on:** July 21, 2008, 11:09 »

Thanks, I am well on the way to covering the cost of the trip ;-)

JoanVicent · « **Reply #101 on:** July 22, 2008, 18:52 »

Hi Malta friends. Nice to meet you here. I'm still investigating this site, but I like it.

And remember... CISK!!!!

leaf · « **Reply #102 on:** July 24, 2008, 02:32 »

Quote from: JoanVicent on July 22, 2008, 18:52

Hi Malta friends. Nice to meet you here. I'm still investigating this site, but I like it.

And remember... CISK!!!!

welcome here.

kparis · « **Reply #103 on:** July 24, 2008, 08:48 »

hello everyone

cIsk!

faber · « **Reply #104 on:** July 24, 2008, 11:03 »

Hello and welcome JoanVicent and kparis

For all of those who wonder about CISK -> http://www.cisklager.com/

Cheers!

JoanVicent · « **Reply #105 on:** July 25, 2008, 10:55 »

Thanks for the wellcome! Did you derefreshed well? Uploading a lot of images? Only 5 for me... hehehehe... I think I was too much busy doing other things!!

michealo · « **Reply #106 on:** August 01, 2008, 04:21 »

So at the end of July I have 38 files online from Ref5esh

My trip cost was €350 flights + €250 event ticket + €200 hotel, these are the incremental costs as I would have to live at home anyway, the dollar equivalent is approximately $1250

I have had 3 sales for a total commission of $2.01

You can see the images here

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=4379218

michealo · « **Reply #107 on:** September 01, 2008, 05:45 »

Now have 95 files online, will probably get to 100 so that will be a production cost of approximately $12.50

I have had 13 sales for a total commission of $13.60

You can see the images here

http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=4379218

leaf · « **Reply #108 on:** September 01, 2008, 05:56 »

only 5 sales and under 50 files online for me so far.

I need to get editing!! summer holidays and other stock images have unfortunately taken priority... but i am almost caught up now so perhaps I will squish in some more time for istock

leaf · « **Reply #109 on:** October 15, 2008, 02:47 »

well i FINALLY finished editing all the files and ended up with 240 images. Perhaps I was too liberal in my editing, but I guess I will find out when I see how many get accepted. 240 images = 12 weeks up uploading = 3 months .... ouch!

michealo · « **Reply #110 on:** October 15, 2008, 05:28 »

111 accepted uploads
25 dls

leaf · « **Reply #111 on:** October 15, 2008, 05:55 »

you're doing well. I'm only at 71 files and 13 downloads.

faber · « **Reply #112 on:** October 15, 2008, 06:21 »

Quote from: michealo on October 15, 2008, 05:28

111 accepted uploads
25 dls

Congrats!

My numbers: 26 Uploads, 5 DL (including 3 DL of a Valetta mailslot, my Ref5resh-bestseller

), $ 8,30

This amount covers roughly 1,5 packs of Marlboro.....

leaf · « **Reply #113 on:** October 15, 2008, 06:45 »

Quote from: faber on October 15, 2008, 06:21

Quote from: michealo on October 15, 2008, 05:28
111 accepted uploads
25 dls

Congrats!

My numbers: 26 Uploads, 5 DL (including 3 DL of a Valetta mailslot, my Ref5resh-bestseller ), $ 8,30

This amount covers roughly 1,5 packs of Marlboro.....

well you gotta start somewhere. I think I have covered at least a bottle or two of Ginny or whatever that weird tasting pop was called again!

faber · « **Reply #114 on:** October 15, 2008, 08:31 »

leaf, I´m deeply shocked about your ignorance....the name of this world-class product is -> Kinnie http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnie. And I really liked it......ok....maybe I´m weird too..

leaf · « **Reply #115 on:** October 15, 2008, 08:45 »

ahhhh.. yeah.. kinnie

of course. Well I liked it too, just couldn't remember the name - I was close though!

michealo · « **Reply #116 on:** March 25, 2010, 05:17 »

Just started using Lookstat recently and out of interest created a collection for my Malta images

$1.25 Avg dl
141 Number of dls
$176.89 grand total

Cost of trip $1250

FD · « **Reply #117 on:** March 25, 2010, 07:34 »

Quote from: michealo on March 25, 2010, 05:17

$1.25 Avg dl
141 Number of dls
$176.89 grand total
Cost of trip $1250

Thanks for that report. Travel for microstock alone is, certainly at current low prices, not a sustainable cost. It can be very viable at marginal cost, when you have to be somewhere for other reasons, and the shots just cost the click and the depreciation of your equipment. My China photos (some editorial on a business trip in factories) are still highly profitable, but I didn't go there for photography.

The Lypses could be profitable for IS exclusives since they have a higher commission than non-exclusives that can't make up on other sites since the shots can only be uploaded to IS. If I would participate in any event, I would prefer the Vegas shoots since you get a proper training there by one of the best, plus you can upload the yield to all sites, and break even faster.

Another idea would be a non-agency bound gathering, for instance in one of the cheaper European countries, where everybody brings his own light (cheap bus lines allow much more weight than planes, some can use their car) and where models and hotels are not expensive. If I remember well, Dolgachov proposed to organize such event a couple of years ago, and also a prominent stock shooter from Belgrade.

leaf · « **Reply #118 on:** March 25, 2010, 11:28 »

Yeah, being able to upload to multiple sites is a bit of a necessity for non-exclusives. I had fun at Ref5esh and would probably do it again but have only just recouped my costs. I spent a total of $1400

From the images I shot at the ref5esh event I have earned $416 through iStock
I also went a couple days early and took some landscape shots and other malta shots I could sell on all the agencies. Those images have sold for $110 on Dreamstime which is about 10% of my total income so say around $1000

So after just over a year I have maybe broken even on my direct costs - so not counting equipment, time spent etc.etc.

Compare that to the PhotoPlus GTG shoot .... GTG used very lightly as I was the only one shooting .. haha - two others did show up to assist though, which was good times, and one more almost showed up

.. but anyhow I spent $1300 in model fees plus let's say 50% of my flight and hotel, another $600 - so total of $1900. With my 10% DT figure again I am a few hundred in the plus, so I have earned around $2200 or so with those images from all the sites. It probably makes a bit of difference that I was shooting alone as well, but being able to upload the images to 10 sites makes it quite a bit more profitable for non-exclusives.

michealo · « **Reply #119 on:** March 26, 2010, 08:53 »

Quote from: leaf on March 25, 2010, 11:28

Yeah, being able to upload to multiple sites is a bit of a necessity for non-exclusives. I had fun at Ref5esh and would probably do it again but have only just recouped my costs. I spent a total of $1400

From the images I shot at the ref5esh event I have earned $416 through iStock
I also went a couple days early and took some landscape shots and other malta shots I could sell on all the agencies. Those images have sold for $110 on Dreamstime which is about 10% of my total income so say around $1000

So after just over a year I have maybe broken even on my direct costs - so not counting equipment, time spent etc.etc.

Compare that to the PhotoPlus GTG shoot .... GTG used very lightly as I was the only one shooting .. haha - two others did show up to assist though, which was good times, and one more almost showed up .. but anyhow I spent $1300 in model fees plus let's say 50% of my flight and hotel, another $600 - so total of $1900. With my 10% DT figure again I am a few hundred in the plus, so I have earned around $2200 or so with those images from all the sites. It probably makes a bit of difference that I was shooting alone as well, but being able to upload the images to 10 sites makes it quite a bit more profitable for non-exclusives.

Nice to know you recouped the cost, it will be interesting to watch how it works out for you over time. :-)
And it was great to meet you there. Are you planning on going to Cannes?

leaf · « **Reply #120 on:** March 27, 2010, 17:07 »

Quote from: michealo on March 26, 2010, 08:53

Quote from: leaf on March 25, 2010, 11:28
Yeah, being able to upload to multiple sites is a bit of a necessity for non-exclusives. I had fun at Ref5esh and would probably do it again but have only just recouped my costs. I spent a total of $1400

From the images I shot at the ref5esh event I have earned $416 through iStock
I also went a couple days early and took some landscape shots and other malta shots I could sell on all the agencies. Those images have sold for $110 on Dreamstime which is about 10% of my total income so say around $1000

So after just over a year I have maybe broken even on my direct costs - so not counting equipment, time spent etc.etc.

Compare that to the PhotoPlus GTG shoot .... GTG used very lightly as I was the only one shooting .. haha - two others did show up to assist though, which was good times, and one more almost showed up .. but anyhow I spent $1300 in model fees plus let's say 50% of my flight and hotel, another $600 - so total of $1900. With my 10% DT figure again I am a few hundred in the plus, so I have earned around $2200 or so with those images from all the sites. It probably makes a bit of difference that I was shooting alone as well, but being able to upload the images to 10 sites makes it quite a bit more profitable for non-exclusives.

Nice to know you recouped the cost, it will be interesting to watch how it works out for you over time. :-)
And it was great to meet you there. Are you planning on going to Cannes?

Yeah, I just heard about Cannes from Lee. I don't know how these things pass by me without hearing about them :S I guess I don't follow the istock forum enough. So anyhow, yeah, after hearing about it, is is mighty tempting. I would say I am at about 80% confirmed

you?

michealo · « **Reply #121 on:** March 28, 2010, 05:28 »

Quote from: leaf on March 27, 2010, 17:07

Quote from: michealo on March 26, 2010, 08:53
Quote from: leaf on March 25, 2010, 11:28
Yeah, being able to upload to multiple sites is a bit of a necessity for non-exclusives. I had fun at Ref5esh and would probably do it again but have only just recouped my costs. I spent a total of $1400

From the images I shot at the ref5esh event I have earned $416 through iStock
I also went a couple days early and took some landscape shots and other malta shots I could sell on all the agencies. Those images have sold for $110 on Dreamstime which is about 10% of my total income so say around $1000

So after just over a year I have maybe broken even on my direct costs - so not counting equipment, time spent etc.etc.

Compare that to the PhotoPlus GTG shoot .... GTG used very lightly as I was the only one shooting .. haha - two others did show up to assist though, which was good times, and one more almost showed up .. but anyhow I spent $1300 in model fees plus let's say 50% of my flight and hotel, another $600 - so total of $1900. With my 10% DT figure again I am a few hundred in the plus, so I have earned around $2200 or so with those images from all the sites. It probably makes a bit of difference that I was shooting alone as well, but being able to upload the images to 10 sites makes it quite a bit more profitable for non-exclusives.

Nice to know you recouped the cost, it will be interesting to watch how it works out for you over time. :-)
And it was great to meet you there. Are you planning on going to Cannes?

Yeah, I just heard about Cannes from Lee. I don't know how these things pass by me without hearing about them :S I guess I don't follow the istock forum enough. So anyhow, yeah, after hearing about it, is is mighty tempting. I would say I am at about 80% confirmed you?