I read a few posts on Alamy that on average $1 per image per year is common. Micro seems to average $1 per image per month.

So since I only have 60 pictures there it looks like I only need to submit about 100,000 more to consider it successful. 

Top 100, but might be interesting.

If that's per year then those numbers are consistent with what I've heard.

Then why would you write this, when the data shows it's not accurate? "I read a few posts on Alamy that on average $1 per image per year is common. Micro seems to average $1 per image per month." Really? Micro averages $1 per image per month?

You win, I give up. Micro is 12 times more profitable than Alamy. 

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on March 27, 2009, 20:07

If that's per year then those numbers are consistent with what I've heard.

Then why would you write this, when the data shows it's not accurate? "I read a few posts on Alamy that on average $1 per image per year is common. Micro seems to average $1 per image per month." Really? Micro averages $1 per image per month?

You win, I give up. Micro is 12 times more profitable than Alamy. 

Selecting data for the top 100 and using that as an argument to claim that an average of $1 per image per year is inaccurate isn't exactly the best use of statistic. There are those who perform better - clearly represented in the top 100, and those who don't, which clearly aren't. If the top earner gets $59 per image per year, and the bottom earner in the top 100 gets only $1, then its entirely consistent with the theory that on average Alamy earns $1 per image per year. Actually on those figures $1 per year seems somewhat high.

I'm not saying that there isn't a place for Alamy - clearly there is which is why I contribute images that I think will do well. At the same time there are images that perform very well on microstock that would never register any interest on Alamy.

Maybe everyone should take their daily dose of Valium and relax about it.

Welcome afs, good to hear the opinion from such an experienced Alamy contributor as you!
I would be very interested to have a look at you portfolio, would that be possible? I am interested what sells on Alamy, thats why I ask. You can send me a PM, if you wish. Thanks!

My numbers on alamy:
joined 12/2007
94 images
3200 views
27 zooms
ctr .83
1 sale for $ 299.00 1 month ago
main subject  travel [mexico]/editorial
I believe if I would have work harder on my submissions by now I would have had more sales. But I concentrated on the easy micro sales.

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on April 01, 2009, 21:40

Your numbers show about .55 per image per month which is actually comparable to overall micro earnings. The average amount per sale is higher but with lower volume the end result is similar.

I apologize for this drift into off-topic land, but I hadn't come across that figure before.

So an average someone with, say, 1000 images in their port would be expected to make an average of $550 / mo? Is that at each micro? Just the top 4? 2? Or all of them as a combined effort?

Again, apologies, and I hope this ends up being just a one OT Q&A. Thanks!

I'd say that's average for all contributors. And yes, your calculation is right. If you submitted to the top 4 or a dozen sites, you'd probably be in the $.50 to $1.00 range per image per month. Some people make a lot more, some a lot less.

If you want a good example check out Lee Torrens site at http://www.microstockdiaries.com/. This month he's at $1.37 per image per month average. In the past he's been in the .80 range. So that's actually better than afs's figures but Lee is submitting to multiple sites where afs is using only Alamy. If Lee was only at one site his earnings per image per month would probably be a lot less.

Thanks, I really appreciate the info. It helps me get an idea of how I'm doing relative to the "norm".

Here's another one for you KB

Total Gross Sales: $3378.56

Total of 28 Sales

The number of images I have on Alamy has grown from approx 400 to just
over 1000 pictures during the year.

All sales editorial 1/4 or 1/8th page except for one website home page,
one brochure cover and one press advert.

Majority of sales from set up model released studio sessions. 18 out of
the total 28 sales.

Highest single value sales from sudio still life and "wandering"
pictures. Highest sale $ 404.69 for a UK financial services brochure
cover, lowest sale $ 36.07 for an 1/8th page Czech Republic editorial.

The other thing I want to mention is the shelf life of images on Alamy is longer. Images which I took 5 or more years ago continue to sell.

My photos are mostly real life people and places rather than set up situations or studio work.

The people you have, are they model released?  If so, are you selling RF or RM?

Some model released but not that many. All RM.

Thanks for the info. 

You certainly make a strong case for uploading my non-model released people shots to Alamy RM.   Will have to devote some time to that, maybe over the summer. 

Congratulations!

I wanted to know, do you get an email when you sell an image there?

Thanks! No email, so its probably worth checking there once in a while. They do give you a summary of how the image is used though which is nice:

Country: United Kingdom
Usage: Editorial
Media: Newspaper - National
Industry: Media Industry
Sub-Industry: Publishing
Print run: up to 2 million
Placement: Inside
Image Size: 1/4 page
Start: 03 April 2009
End: 04 April 2009

Congrats, holgs. It's good to sell at a fair price.