Hello,

I have posted my earnings, my portfolio size and other numbers from my last year in microstock at the big agencies istockphoto, Fotolia, Dreamstime, Shutterstock and 123rf.

The post is in German, here is the Google Translation:
http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=de&sl=auto&tl=en&u=http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2010/07/21/zwei-jahre-microstock-mein-zahlen-und-erfahrungen/&twu=1

The original German version can be found here:
http://www.alltageinesfotoproduzenten.de/2010/07/21/zwei-jahre-microstock-mein-zahlen-und-erfahrungen/

Do these numbers compare to yours?

Have fun reading.

Interesting that you have so many more sales at FT than IS. Compared to my figures, I had significantly higher sales at IS and DT, a bit higher on SS, and significantly lower on FT.

Did you include affilate revenue in these statistics?

out of curiosity what's the rationale for putting some images as exclusive @ fotolia and spreading the others around the different ports?  How do you determine which shots you'll put exclusive and which you'll spread?

For me I also find my fotolia sales no where near that high (though in the last year it's gone from a solid #4 to a solid a #2, things are really picking up there).  Shutterstock still makes almost as much as all the other agencies combined so I can't justify putting any images exclusive anywhere, that's aside from the whole theory of not putting eggs in one basket and expecting eb & flow of different agencies, different pics etc

My result looks a lot diiferent, but my acceptance rates are also not as high. I don't have statistics, but Dreamtime is the only one of the "Big Four" where my acceptance rate is close to 90%. At iStock I'm at something like 65%, and Shutterstock about 78%.

My income for the last year is more or less this: Shutterstock on top, Dreamstime second at less then have of Shutterstock, iStock less than half of dreamstime. Then I must add, I have more than 6 timees more photos at Shutterstock and Dreamstime, not only because of the acceptance rate but also because the iStock upload procedure that is not so user friendly.

Hello, good report.
I am also new, but also not good for report so I am sorry no report to give you.
But for me is like this:
SS - the most sales and the fastest to make money for me, even new images.
FT - the least sales but the faster to gain for EXt Lic.
DT - the best for old old old images but the worst for new stuff.
IS - the best single $ per dl but the difficult to bigger portfolio .

of course, I have to say, SS give me the most downloads but also same time the smallest $$ per dl. But if I increase my portfolio I believe SS will make still best money for me because I get download the same day my photos get approval.
No other site do this for me, so I believe SS placement for search is the best.

This my own story. And this, I give SS all the top attention for my new stuff
because also noting SS is my newest agency and already earning same $$ than
IS, BigStock, FT which I have already 2, 3 years. 
When people told me I must have SS I did not believe it. Maybe I should believe
2 - 3 years earlier, then I am sure I making more today with SS bigger portfolio.

Big stupid dummy should listen more to Shutterstock people . It si no big surprise SS is number one.
I hope the abbreviation I used correctly ? FT IS SS DT ? Thank you.

impressive work, great portfolio..

why don't you allow EL sales at IS?

please visit my blog I got also stats since the beginning, far from yours I guess

@Luis:

whereever possible I try to deactive Extended Licenses because I feel that they are priced too low at many microstock agencies. Combined with the fact that I mostly do people shoots the risk of finding an image in use where me or the model wouldn't like the deal is higher. I can live well without ELs... :-)

P.S. I already had your blog in my RSS reader...

Oh? fotorob, why is Ext Lic ofr people not good idea? Pls explain. TY

@Luis:

whereever possible I try to deactive Extended Licenses because I feel that they are priced too low at many microstock agencies. Combined with the fact that I mostly do people shoots the risk of finding an image in use where me or the model wouldn't like the deal is higher. I can live well without ELs... :-)

P.S. I already had your blog in my RSS reader...

I can understand the pricing concern, but except as far as volume is concerned, the same prohibitions on use apply to extended licenses in respect to the use of images in an embarrasing way (at least at istock) - these clauses apply to both licenses:

6.  use the Content in a fashion that is considered by iStockphoto (acting reasonably) as or under applicable law is considered pornographic, obscene, immoral, infringing, defamatory or libelous in nature, or that would be reasonably likely to bring any person or property reflected in the Content into disrepute;
7. use or display any Content that features a model or person in a manner (a) that would lead a reasonable person to think that such person uses or personally endorses any business, product, service, cause, association or other endeavour; or (b) except where accompanied by a statement that indicates that the Content is being used for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted in the Content is a model, that depicts such person in a potentially sensitive subject matter, including, but not limited to mental and physical health issues, social issues, sexual or implied sexual activity or preferences, substance abuse, crime, physical or mental abuse or ailments, or any other subject matter that would be reasonably likely to be offensive or unflattering to any person reflected in the Content, unless the Content itself clearly and undisputedly reflects the model or person in such potentially sensitive subject matter in which case the Content may be used or displayed in a manner that portrays the model or person in the same context and to the same degree depicted in the Content itself;

The chase for affiliates is still opened ?

FT was performing better than DT before I became exclusive to IS.

But since I became exclusive to IS recently, my DLs have been worse than when I was independent. I was envious of old IS exclusives who had spectacular sales. Maybe exclusivity only offers better revenue per image and does not offer more DLs anymore.

I agree with you, Vonkara. I was comparing this summer with previous summers and seeing a decline.

Quote from: Freedom on July 26, 2010, 16:31

FT was performing better than DT before I became exclusive to IS.

But since I became exclusive to IS recently, my DLs have been worse than when I was independent. I was envious of old IS exclusives who had spectacular sales. Maybe exclusivity only offers better revenue per image and does not offer more DLs anymore.

Since there is a lot of exclusive, it's difficult to give everyone a better best match IMO. I also have equally or less downloads than before, but that is partly because of the summer vacation. Maybe also some buyers shop elsewhere. The thing I know is that many contributors have poor sales at Istock, I read that a lot lately.