Author Topic: What TYPE of photo actually does well at Fotolia (Read 13111 times)

donding · « **on:** April 10, 2009, 09:40 »

What is your experience with the best TYPE of photo you have sold on Fotolia. I'm curious to know what has been doing well for everyone.

null · « **Reply #1 on:** April 10, 2009, 12:37 »

Quote from: donding on April 10, 2009, 09:40

What is your experience with the best TYPE of photo you have sold on Fotolia. I'm curious to know what has been doing well for everyone.

For me nothing at all. I have no clue what sells there or what they want. Rejection reasons are very mystical, so I don't read them any more. There is also no way to see what images were rejected, at least not for me. I get a cryptic rejection site mail with an image number, not even a thumb or a title.

They are my lowest selling site. My 7 days rank went down to an all-time low of 8000+. I don't understand them at all. Many claim it's one of their top sites, for me, it I go down all the time despite regular uploading: last 7 days rank = 8060+ coming from 2000+ a year ago with half the portfolio. Submitted: 600, accepted 400, lately going up to 85%.

Perhaps contributors like Arcurs (he says FT is his best selling site) made private deals with FT to get precedence in the search engine. With the last commission deal made in such a sneaky way, I also lost my trust. There was also an incident 2 years ago when my password change didn't work, and support never replied. I just got an email much later when I mentioned it here on the MSG. It turned out they changed my password to 'fotolia' and it staid like that for months. Very difficult to guess for a hacker

.

The password on my FTP is still a mystery, so I have to upload by HTML: more than 3 images at a time fail without any error message. Given the cumbersome upload process, included their much too complicated and overlapping categories, the time to upload isn't really worth the meager sales, so I stopped uploading last March.

vonkara · « **Reply #2 on:** April 10, 2009, 12:50 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on April 10, 2009, 12:37

The password on my FTP is still a mystery, so I have to upload by HTML: more than 3 images at a time fail without any error message. Given the cumbersome upload process, included their much too complicated and overlapping categories, the time to upload isn't really worth the meager sales, so I stopped uploading last March.

It happen to me also. I can pass half an hour to upload there if not more.

Quote from: FlemishDreams on April 10, 2009, 12:37

Perhaps contributors like Arcurs (he says FT is his best selling site) made private deals with FT to get precedence in the search engine.

It's also what I thought lately

astrocady · « **Reply #3 on:** April 10, 2009, 12:54 »

I don't think I have ever sold anything but isolations on FT.

Xalanx · « **Reply #4 on:** April 10, 2009, 13:14 »

FT came in the 3 place for me last month and it's holding its value this month too. Yesterday I sold about 10-12 photos, some of them XL, few subs. I mainly shoot people so... I'm selling people. But in the yesterday sales I saw 2 landscapes and a bus on a mountain road (2 times). I absolutely have no idea what sells BEST, because it's up to the how your images are exposed. Sometimes images that I think would have a very good chance of selling really sell, sometimes they don't. They also don't get views. Keywording is done the same, through yuri's website, that's not an issue. So... have no idea

FT is weird. This month started really low behind DT and StockXpert for me, then just moved between them on the third place (after SS and DT) in 2 days. They're not constant, but they do sell.

Another thing - search engine has its role here. Its really bad done if you ask me. Because my photos are not exposed properly. I have LOTS of images that get lets say 5-6 views and 3 sales, so the photos ARE good, but they're not seen unless occassionally. Of course, I have my share of photos with big number of views and low sales number. But a lot of them is the other way around. Keywording being done the same... you judge.

Dreamframer · « **Reply #5 on:** April 10, 2009, 13:15 »

My last 5 sales are animals, and my best seller is an isolation....But my sales are generally poor.

batman · « **Reply #6 on:** April 10, 2009, 13:25 »

Quote from: Xalanx on April 10, 2009, 13:14

Keywording is done the same, through yuri's website, that's not an issue. So... have no idea
--edited--
I have LOTS of images that get lets say 5-6 views and 3 sales, so the photos ARE good, but they're not seen unless occassionally. Of course, I have my share of photos with big number of views and low sales number. But a lot of them is the other way around. Keywording being done the same... you judge.

all being equal Xalanx, i'd much prefer 5-6 views and 3 sales , then xxx views and 3 sales. it may mean that you are getting less ppl visiting just to looksee to get ideas for their own port or get your keywords, and that only buyers are viewing and bought. the exception being if less views mean less sales , then that's not cool.

lisafx · « **Reply #7 on:** April 10, 2009, 14:35 »

Fotolia tied with Shutterstock for second place in my earnings last month, so I guess I am doing well there, but I don't see any particular sales trends I can point to. I have noticed the vast majority of my sales are older images. My newer images seem to take an unusually long time to start selling there.

Also, I have been gradually losing ground in the rankings for about the past 6 months, which is disappointing after working so hard. They reject more of my images than any other site.

If there was a deal made with Yuri, which I doubt, it sure doesn't extend to Emerald contributors... $:-\$

goldenangel · « **Reply #8 on:** April 10, 2009, 16:05 »

Looking at my (not too many) sold files, it's a wide variety of pictures. The most pictures sold were with people, followed by nature shots including animals and landscapes. Some isolations are there too, as I don't have many to start with.

fotografer · « **Reply #9 on:** April 10, 2009, 16:11 »

Look here
http://es.fotolia.com/TopSales/FromTheBeginning

takestock · « **Reply #10 on:** April 10, 2009, 16:12 »

I have one photo that sells continually and more than any other at FT
It's a very very simple image but I'm not going to show it.

Best sellers get copied all the time ( please note donding I'm not referring to you or suggesting that you would)
Maybe that's why we see so often in forums " Show me your Best Seller"

donding · « **Reply #11 on:** April 10, 2009, 16:45 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on April 10, 2009, 12:37

For me nothing at all. I have no clue what sells there or what they want. Rejection reasons are very mystical, so I don't read them any more. There is also no way to see what images were rejected, at least not for me. I get a cryptic rejection site mail with an image number, not even a thumb or a title.

I agree Flemish...that's why I'm trying to figure them out. Everyone talks about having good sales there.

Quote from: goldenangel on April 10, 2009, 16:05

Looking at my (not too many) sold files, it's a wide variety of pictures. The most pictures sold were with people, followed by nature shots including animals and landscapes. Some isolations are there too, as I don't have many to start with.

My best seller is a shot of canned goods....which now they proubably wouldn't even except because they'd say copyright issues. My people shots I save for the macro stock sites although I may try a few more than what I already have there. As for landscapes they reject mine saying they already have to many...go figure on that one.

Quote from: takestock on April 10, 2009, 16:12

I have one photo that sells continually and more than any other at FT
It's a very very simple image but I'm not going to show it.

Best sellers get copied all the time ( please note donding I'm not referring to you or suggesting that you would)
Maybe that's why we see so often in forums " Show me your Best Seller"

takestock I was just wondering what Type of photo sells not what it is. Believe me I wouldn't do something like that and I'm sure you didn't mean it that way.

madelaide · « **Reply #12 on:** April 10, 2009, 18:24 »

I sell all types of things in FT. My best-seller is an illustration:

donding · « **Reply #13 on:** April 10, 2009, 18:56 »

Quote from: madelaide on April 10, 2009, 18:24

I sell all types of things in FT. My best-seller is an illustration:

I don't do illustration's....I don't even know how...lol...of course I don't have photoshop either which proubably helps with that doesn't it? I'm stuck with Nikon Capture NX

donding · « **Reply #14 on:** April 10, 2009, 19:01 »

Another question...do you think it would be worth the time it takes to rekeyword all those pictures??? or would it be a waste of time?

fotografer · « **Reply #15 on:** April 11, 2009, 03:49 »

It's not possible to re-keyword on fotolia. The only thing you can do is to delete them and re-upload but then you risk them being rejected this time round.

Quote from: donding on April 10, 2009, 19:01

Another question...do you think it would be worth the time it takes to rekeyword all those pictures??? or would it be a waste of time?

Anyka · « **Reply #16 on:** April 11, 2009, 09:09 »

Fotolia switches between 2nd and 3rd place for me (changing places with Istockphoto all the time).
My top 10 photos cover all subjects (food, nature, objects, 1 isolation, people, animals). I also notice that 70% of my sales is downloaded during European working hours.

Yuri_Arcurs · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2009, 18:44 »

Quote from: lisafx on April 10, 2009, 14:35

Fotolia tied with Shutterstock for second place in my earnings last month, so I guess I am doing well there, but I don't see any particular sales trends I can point to. I have noticed the vast majority of my sales are older images. My newer images seem to take an unusually long time to start selling there.

Also, I have been gradually losing ground in the rankings for about the past 6 months, which is disappointing after working so hard. They reject more of my images than any other site.

If there was a deal made with Yuri, which I doubt, it sure doesn't extend to Emerald contributors... $:-\$

I have had no special treatment at Fotolia.

chasmcn · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2009, 07:07 »

I think Fototilla they mostly like images with people in and isolations took me a while to find out submit a landscape and it gets the boot , so only isolations and a piece of the human body in any form i only upload to them now , love it thou when the rejects sell else where.

donding · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2009, 10:31 »

Quote from: chasmcn on May 04, 2009, 07:07

I think Fototilla they mostly like images with people in and isolations took me a while to find out submit a landscape and it gets the boot , so only isolations and a piece of the human body in any form i only upload to them now , love it thou when the rejects sell else where.

They seem to always accept what everyone else rejects...and the rejects are almost always accepted on other sites and do always sell. I guess they just don't like my style....

They are the only Big 6 site that I don't sell much on and I just can't figure it out. I guess my shots are buried in the pile somewhere. I just finally after two years with them made it to the $50.00 payout....whoo hooo!!!

Roadrunner · « **Reply #20 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:22 »

I usually get one payout a year of between $50 and $55 from FT. Pretty near anything sells from scenic to isolation. I can't say anything in particular sells well.

The interesting thing is that I haven't been able to get one image accepted at FT for the past 12 months. The only other site that I submit to on a very limited bases also has a rejection rate over 90% is IS.

Perhaps that's why I took a three month leave of absence. I haven't bothered to submit to anyone for the past three months. I will probably just upload to BS, SS and DT. DT is my best selling site, but acceptance rate there is only 45%. Lets just say I'm lousy at photography, but it is an interesting challenge.

I am just happy that some folks find an image of mine to use.

The Roadrunner

donding · « **Reply #21 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:34 »

Quote from: Roadrunner on May 04, 2009, 12:22

I usually get one payout a year of between $50 and $55 from FT. Pretty near anything sells from scenic to isolation. I can't say anything in particular sells well.

The interesting thing is that I haven't been able to get one image accepted at FT for the past 12 months. The only other site that I submit to on a very limited bases also has a rejection rate over 90% is IS. Perhaps that's why I took a three month leave of absence. I haven't bothered to submit to anyone for the past three months. I will probably just upload to BS, SS and DT. DT is my best selling site, but acceptance rate there is only 45%. Lets just say I'm lousy at photography, but it is an interesting challenge.

I am just happy that some folks find an image of mine to use.

The Roadrunner

Yeah...I guess...whoops gotta catch the geico in my house,...be right back!!!!

donding · « **Reply #22 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:40 »

Quote from: donding on May 04, 2009, 12:34

Quote from: Roadrunner on May 04, 2009, 12:22
I usually get one payout a year of between $50 and $55 from FT. Pretty near anything sells from scenic to isolation. I can't say anything in particular sells well.

The interesting thing is that I haven't been able to get one image accepted at FT for the past 12 months. The only other site that I submit to on a very limited bases also has a rejection rate over 90% is IS. Perhaps that's why I took a three month leave of absence. I haven't bothered to submit to anyone for the past three months. I will probably just upload to BS, SS and DT. DT is my best selling site, but acceptance rate there is only 45%. Lets just say I'm lousy at photography, but it is an interesting challenge.

I am just happy that some folks find an image of mine to use.

The Roadrunner

Yeah...I guess...whoops gotta catch the geico in my house,...be right back!!!!

Got him...hope he stays outside cause it's raining and he doesn't think this is his new home!!

Anyway...maybe we are just to old school for them. It looks to me like Vector's sell pretty well on there. I haven't even tryed that and don't even know if I could do it. I struggle enough just trying to make a cutout...and even those don't seem to sell. My pictures hardly get any views so like I said before I think they are buired under the pile and don't get to see much daylight!

Magnum · « **Reply #23 on:** May 04, 2009, 12:55 »

Quote from: FlemishDreams on April 10, 2009, 12:37

Quote from: donding on April 10, 2009, 09:40
What is your experience with the best TYPE of photo you have sold on Fotolia. I'm curious to know what has been doing well for everyone.

For me nothing at all. I have no clue what sells there or what they want. Rejection reasons are very mystical, so I don't read them any more. There is also no way to see what images were rejected, at least not for me. I get a cryptic rejection site mail with an image number, not even a thumb or a title.

Click on "view deleted files" in the bottom right and you see rejected files

peep · « **Reply #24 on:** May 04, 2009, 18:16 »

Quote from: takestock on April 10, 2009, 16:12

I have one photo that sells continually and more than any other at FT

Exactly! In my case it is a very simple image of sliced cucumber on the white background. I cannot understand why it keeps being sold. It is not better than the other images of vegetables I have uploaded there...

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Author Topic: What TYPE of photo actually does well at Fotolia (Read 13111 times)

donding

null

vonkara

astrocady

Xalanx

Dreamframer

batman

lisafx

goldenangel

fotografer

takestock

donding

madelaide

donding

donding

fotografer

Anyka

Yuri_Arcurs

chasmcn

donding

Roadrunner

donding

donding

Magnum

peep

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