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Agency Based Discussion => Dreamstime.com => Topic started by: steheap on November 29, 2017, 14:54

Title: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: steheap on November 29, 2017, 14:54
Dreamstime have announced (on their blog) a competition for the best blog post posted on their site between now and December 22nd:
https://www.dreamstime.com/blog/unveiling-our-new-blog-section-one-month-blog-marathon-prizes-47768 (https://www.dreamstime.com/blog/unveiling-our-new-blog-section-one-month-blog-marathon-prizes-47768)

I decided to write about a tricky subject – how to come up with ideas (and images) to illustrate things in the news. I know this is a shameless request, but if you have an account at Dreamstime, would you mind having a look at my blog post and, if you find it useful, click on the green “Useful” button at the top of the left column (at least it is there on a webpage view of their blog!)

Here is my entry:
https://www.dreamstime.com/blog/how-to-illustrate-difficult-concept-47795 (https://www.dreamstime.com/blog/how-to-illustrate-difficult-concept-47795)

Thanks, Steve
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: steheap on November 29, 2017, 15:58
Looks as though they didn't approve it yet! Sorry - the link works when I am logged into their site!
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Yay Images Billionaire on November 29, 2017, 22:11
Pity. That would be a refreshing change from the vacuous vapid BS on 95% of their blog.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Brasilnut on November 30, 2017, 05:51
Quote
I decided to write about a tricky subject – how to come up with ideas (and images) to illustrate things in the news.

Interesting topic, I look forward to reading.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: steheap on December 04, 2017, 09:09
Well, my entry was rejected! I'm not altogether sure why, but it was... I'll reformat it and post it on my own blog a little later.

In the meantime, Alex has written a nice blog post about the perspectives of someone who is trying to make it full time in stock photography but was pretty late to the game. If you get a minute, you could help Alex get to that fantastic prize with a marking of "useful"! Here is his entry:
https://www.dreamstime.com/blog/can-you-make-living-stock-photography-47942 (https://www.dreamstime.com/blog/can-you-make-living-stock-photography-47942)

Steve
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Brasilnut on December 04, 2017, 09:51
Thanks for the mention, Steve.

Hope you try again to have your article accepted, it sounds like an interesting/useful theme.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on December 04, 2017, 10:44
I used to get paid for writing, now all these amateurs are coming and giving words away for free. They're ruining the market!
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: JimP on December 04, 2017, 11:00
"Perhaps in total you’ll be earning $4/RPI with 10,000 images which equals to $40,000" Perhaps you are leading people on with inflated dreams? I suppose DT wouldn't publish the truth that the average person here, 79 of them, are making $35 a month on DT. That's one of the good sites. Average means the top people are doing better and using your same assumption of a bell curve, a similar number are doing worse.

I wouldn't tell a friend to start in Microstock at this time. I would have five years ago, or how easy it was ten years ago. Maybe you could ask friends to read the earnings posts here.  :-\ They don't seem to support the $40,000 a year plan.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Brasilnut on December 04, 2017, 11:07
Quote
Perhaps you are leading people on with inflated dreams? I suppose DT wouldn't publish the truth that the average person here, 79 of them, are making $35 a month on DT. That's one of the good sites. Average means the top people are doing better and using your same assumption of a bell curve, a similar number are doing worse.

I made some mention of Midstock sites and Rights-Managed, which they edited out. DT is a low earner that's for sure...it's a tough market out there and they'll struggle to stay competitive.

Have to give them some credit for their fun incentive for contributors to get these articles up.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Stockmaan on December 04, 2017, 11:08
I am a photographer and not a writer  :-X
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: JimP on December 04, 2017, 11:24
Quote
Perhaps you are leading people on with inflated dreams? I suppose DT wouldn't publish the truth that the average person here, 79 of them, are making $35 a month on DT. That's one of the good sites. Average means the top people are doing better and using your same assumption of a bell curve, a similar number are doing worse.

I made some mention of Midstock sites and Rights-Managed, which they edited out. DT is a low earner that's for sure...it's a tough market out there and they'll struggle to stay competitive.

Have to give them some credit for their fun incentive for contributors to get these articles up.

+ for you, - for BS, to lead on new people and edit out your better, more truthful, information.

Good luck everyone here I hope somebody from MSG wins.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Brasilnut on December 04, 2017, 11:57
Quote
I am a photographer and not a writer  :-X

We're storytellers!  :D
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: niktol on December 04, 2017, 13:38
I am not a writer either. I am a reader.
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Clair Voyant on December 04, 2017, 15:22


I wouldn't tell a friend to start in Microstock at this time. I would have five years ago, or how easy it was ten years ago.

Too funny! That is the biggest mistake in thought... "how easy it was 10 years ago"...

Stock photography has never been easy. Microstock certainly might have dropped the bar for entry and enabled the deliriously happy amateur to sell images. But in this subculture of never getting rejected or even knowing what an editor is, not once did it cross their mind it is * hard work to succeed.

Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Brasilnut on December 07, 2017, 18:31
I might have a chance!

@Michele, will you vote for me? ;)
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: steheap on December 16, 2017, 09:39
When I started this thread, I was expecting to see my own blog post on the Dreamstime blog rise in the ratings - dream on! They rejected my entry for some reason and I couldn't be bothered to work out why.

However, to save my pearls of wisdom for a more appreciative audience, I have extended my original entry and put it on my own blog, so if you are interested in reading about how I go about creating stock images for abstract topics in the news, here it is:

http://www.backyardsilver.com/2017/12/create-images-things-news/ (http://www.backyardsilver.com/2017/12/create-images-things-news/)

Steve
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Nordth on December 16, 2017, 13:41
Thanks for sharing! Interesting blog
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: Brasilnut on December 29, 2017, 16:31
Wow just looked into my Dreamstime account and saw $300 for my blog post which got the most votes :) Happy days. I owe you a pint, Master Steve for helping me out  :D
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: steheap on December 29, 2017, 18:09
Great news, Alex! You deserve it!

Steve
Title: Re: Dreamstime Blog Post Competition
Post by: YadaYadaYada on December 30, 2017, 09:24
Wow just looked into my Dreamstime account and saw $300 for my blog post which got the most votes :) Happy days. I owe you a pint, Master Steve for helping me out  :D

Nice going both of you.