After many years as an commercial and fashion photographer based in the NYC area, I decided approximately one year ago to investigate Microstock.  Don't know what took me so long.  I really wish I had started years ago.  I had dabbled in RM/traditional stock with the agency Retna who syndicates my celebrity portraits (not all that many) and a few hundred lifestyle images that never really amounted to much, so I wasn't that encouraged.

Honestly model releases were the biggest hurdle to get over.  Most of my assignment work is with models from agencies who are generally averse to signing any sort of model release that would allow for any stock usage.  That applies to the lion's share of my archive. I finally started collecting stock model release from some shoots and directing other shoots specifically for microstock. 

I hit two interesting (to me) milestones this week.  Just about one year to the date of first uploading, I had my 100th download from iStockphoto and my 1,000th download from Shutterstock.  Overall my impression of the two websites differ greatly. I have found iStockphoto to be frustrating with uploads and petty with rejections.  With effort I have maintained a 70% acceptance rate.  I could generally live with those two factors, but the biased search engine (towards exclusives) and the reduction of percentages to contributors leave me unenthusiastic to contribute to iStockphoto going forward.  On the plus side, the average value of each download has been about 4x that of Shutterstock.

On the other hand, I have found Shutterstock to be very easy to deal with.  The higher upload limits have allowed me to upload more than double the number of images in a slightly shorter amount of time.  Although I haven't specifically calculated it, I would guess my acceptance rate at SS is >90%. Of course the value of each download is significantly lower due to the subscription set up. 

I have seen both sites change their contributor's pages--generally for the better. However, trends in the overall photography marketplace do not leave me that optimistic for the future.  I don't imagine them to be any different in the microstock world.  Trends specifically at iStockphoto are not encouraging at all.

I can't say that the revenues from microstock for me have been disappointing, because I did not put any goals or expectations on them.  However comparing the results and revenue of my time and effort put into creating the images to that of my commercial work shows that microstock pays literally pennies on the dollar (maybe only a single penny??).  But that is, I know, not a fair comparison.  20 years in magazines and advertising vs. 1 year in microstock is never going to balance out, but my year in microstock has been rewarding from an information standpoint, if not a financial one.

I have learned an additional style of shooting and more about the lifestyle stock market.  I've also become more disciplined and efficient in retouching and image preparation.  I have valued the opportunities that having the goal of contributing to microstock has motivated me to do perhaps a dozen or more shoots that I would not have otherwise done as well as a use for numerous images I was creating anyway for other projects.

I had given myself a year to decide if microstock is worth the effort for my specific set-up.  At this point I would cautiously say that it is with the codicil that I would never take time away from my commercial assignments (or even my marketing efforts) to shoot or upload for microstock.  With the ebbs and flows of my schedule (somewhat determined by fashion seasons) I will find time that can be constructively applied to microstock and I believe that I will continue to find new ways of 'harvesting' images from assignment work that have value in microstock.

-Dan  (www.danhowellphotography.com if anyone is interested)

p.s. I have learned a lot from topics and messages on this board

Thanks for sharing, Dan. Wish you continued success. 

Thanks Dan for sharing that beautiful port again. That's the second time I've seen it and it still amazes me as to why you'd even consider microstock. It's just an amazingly beautiful portfolio. I know with everything that is happening in the microstock world any more, it's really hard to stay motivated to even shoot stock any more. I personally don't know that I will continue, unless things change dramatically and I really don't foresee that happening. Unless the enjoyment of microstock comes back into my life it will be difficult to continue. Guess we'll see what 2011 brings.

Good luck to you and hope you have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year...

Yeah, stunning work on your webpage.  Just jumps right out at ya.

Are those all assignment?  Do the creative types come to you and say "we want images of girls in these outfits standing by big cut out circles, with such and such lighting", or do they just give general direction and you come up with it?

I just checked out your website .. very impressive.  Can we see what you put up on microstock as well?  You've got me curious.  scratch that.. Google told me.

Very nice work Dan.

Oh Retna this reminds me as my time as a music-photographer (more than 10 years ago) :-)  time flies :-)
really nice and balanced post was a pleasure to reading it :-)

Awesome work Dan, thank you for sharing...

Quote from: cclapper on December 23, 2010, 19:13

Just noticed your photos of Chumlee. Were they promo shots for the show, or personal? Just curious.

snip
Hmm...of all the people I photographed you noticed Chumlee!!!  

Just kidding.  That shot was from a recent assignment for a group tattoo magazines that I have been working with for a couple of years Rebel Ink/Urban Ink.  Tattoos are not a core interest of mine, but the magazine was founded by an editor I had been working with for several years and it has become quite popular.  Because I have worked with this editor for a long time I have enjoyed freedom and flexibility to set the tone of some shoots.  For this project I suggested the backdrop of the vintage casino signs because it was a location that I had longed to shoot at--The Neon Museum in Las Vegas.  I am fortunate to have also been able to suggest several subjects for feature layouts.

No, I noticed all of the other shots you did too. The women are gorgeous. And who wants to look at gorgeous women?    I'm just a big fan of Pawn Stars, that's all. 

I do agree with the "more you put into stock the more you get out". Photography is not my main career. I do believe that if I had the financial opportunity to do so, I could turn it into a career. But I have a lot of years experience in graphic design, and most recently web design, and I really like that work and want to continue on with it. Consequently, my photography is only a part-time thing. It has paid for all of the equipment I have purchased, plus helps out every month with the bills. I have gotten out of it exactly what I had intended.

But I have a lot of years experience in graphic design, and most recently web design, and I really like that work and want to continue on with it. Consequently, my photography is only a part-time thing. It has paid for all of the equipment I have purchased, plus helps out every month with the bills. I have gotten out of it exactly what I had intended.

That sums up my experience almost exactly! The only difference is that I started in web and am now expanding into other areas.

Quote

But I have a lot of years experience in graphic design, and most recently web design, and I really like that work and want to continue on with it. Consequently, my photography is only a part-time thing. It has paid for all of the equipment I have purchased, plus helps out every month with the bills. I have gotten out of it exactly what I had intended.

That sums up my experience almost exactly! The only difference is that I started in web and am now expanding into other areas.

 

After seeing your stunning images Dan, I think I'll take my ball and go home.  What beautiful work.

Not at all.  Looks like you get to some interesting places yourself.  Keep it up.