From most of these posts,  I can tell I have a LONG way to go.  after about 4 months I have anywhere from 60 to 300 images on each of the big six and my TOTAL sales is just now approaching  $100.  But if I extrapolate my growth in sales caused by added images and getting better (I think...hope),  I believe that I can go from my current level of $1-2/day to aobut $10/day.  But it may take another 12 months to get there.  But at that level it should take care of some of my photo gear habit.

this is how my microstock adventure was looking like in last 3 years:

this is how my microstock adventure was looking like in last 3 years:

Peter, it looks like you plateau-ed at 3k images. would you say that 3 k would be the minimum number of images one should have in your port to be successful?
And from how many sites are these earning? Which of the Big 6? Would you care to share the info?

Another version of my earnings graph against number of pictures - not such a nice shape, but it works for me so far ...

I agree with Peter - sadly...

Peter is now only feeds the beast...

My calculation shows that Peter produces about 100 new images per month...

 I'm right Peter!?

yeah, about that number. But lately I am lasy a bit, and produce much less

Why is anyone that shy to share numerary of income?
Does this get anyone deflections?

Oh...and because of the special someone who will be the fisrt to ask....i do roundabout 1300$ at the moment, started 12 month ago, and i'm attached to this since 5 Month, still uploading.
But i expect a jump of income on end of august because i don't have any sommer, holiday-images.

Don't you think that all information without fact are just useless. Am i wrong? how usefull is a chart with numbers of images without numbers of earnings? If you get 100 or 100.000$ with 3K images does make a big different - even if you wouldn't belief, it makes sense to have this information.

...just read a post where someone cryed out for information and solacion because he sold one image less than last month. What kind of community is this or should it be?

I think its usefull for the one who lost this one sell last month but also for the one who count their sales in hundrets. But if you want to differ, it's necessary to speak in facts.

...and for puravida who called me gloryfiing myself last time i spoke in facts: there're always in every thread all around the world and at every topic (from microstock up to prostate-issues) two ore more women who have the ambition to controll any thread. I respect this need of control and egotism, please igniore me i would like to change information with other intrested and involved people. Thanks.

I'd say it is entirely useless to post any numbers of income here or anywhere.

If I made $3000 a month with 600 images or $600 with 3000 images what does that tell you?

It only tells you that you are making more or less than someone else not having a clue where they are coming from.

There are so many factors to consider that it's pointless to try to put this into an equation.

Some factors:

- how long have the images been online?
- what is the upload/acceptance rate (stoeady, decreasing, increasing...?)
- how many images did the person start off with?
- how many images are online now?
- how many agencies is the person contributing to?
- what type of images are being produced?
- is the portfolio diversified or only one theme?

If all those (and many more) would be the same for everyone - only then you can read something out of the numbers...

In the end what people (and especially newbies) want to hear is:

"Microstock is like printing money. I have started six months ago and just bought my first Porsche. If my income keeps growing at this rate for the next 25 years, I can buy Microsoft and retire at the age of 43."

It is still work. A lot of work if you want to make a living and an 18 hour day, seven days a week if you want to be really successful. Screw the numbers.

If somebody can have a look at your pictures and the more information he can get the more he can learn. Any creative business is complex, but creative people also have to be and have to think in a complex way to be successfull. If not its just like playing lottery. Only the lucky one will earn but nothing else than luck decides on success.
I don't think so.
What you say is: there is no way and no need for any information. So what is this community for? Crying and moarning?
There's no jackpot for some lucky few, nowhere. It's hard work, like anywhere else. But it is the work we like to do, more or less. It's better than washing cars.

...and what do you call success? (that bad fact question). I do microstock between freelance jobs. Any sale ad on my normal profit. I'm happy with this and i don't spend 18 hours on it. If it would throw out 30.000$ a month, maybe i would for some years. How's your output for 18 hours a day in the month?

You're in communication business and you tell me facts are not necessary? How funny is this? Okay, you want to hear the following: you are a brave good fotographer, you do everything right, you work hard, you do a lot of clicks every day. Its a bad bad world and you haven't deserved to work that hard. Customers should have more mercy with the hard work you have done...

much appreciated! 

I can only speak for myself. I've done this for over 4 years now making a living off of it. What I consider making a living is an insult to some people and others would be happy to make that much - it depends on the country you live in and what your standards are.

As long as I have a roof over my head, food and health insurance I'm good. Others have to have a pool, yacht and five prostitutes a week to call themselves successful - it's all relative.

There is no way around but checking successful photographer's portfolios to see what the standards are. Try to be better and you won't have to worry.

Good luck to everyone!

also a lot of strokes on your head, ghostwyck. (means in german to fondle/cuddle someone)
How many of you are here? Is this a community for sacrificed people?
Did i get something wrong?

Nee, das passt schon. Ich schreibe in letzter Zeit auch nicht mehr so viel hier im Forum, da zuviele Trolle einem den Spass verderben. In jedem Fall, ich denke, dass Zahlenspiele nicht wirklich meiner Karriere nuetzen wuerden. Das ist aber Ansichtssache...

-----------------
as I explained to "werkmann":
"No offense taken. I rarely post here these days because trolling has become a common nuisance. In any case, I believe however that number games would not really have benefited my career. But that's just my opinion.

as for my sales,if I make a 100 every couple of months I'm happy.

@ pixelbytes

you try to tell a joke, aren't you? Any agency is full of pictures that are copied of the copie of someones copy of a picture what sells. Anyone who is interested and have a little experience in what the prices of any agency are can do a roundabout calculation  what each picture have earned...but here, at this community, between people who share more or less the same profession its better to gave no one facts?  This remember me at my times as startupconsultant, a lot of rookies whos biggest fear is that someone could understand what their idea was....if an idea is that easy to copy and no profession, no talent und no knowhow is necessary to copy it...its a worthless idea. When somebody reaches with a picture more than 100 sales, 400-1000 people had a look on it, leastwise 20% of them are no customers but competitors who decide if they can do it at the same level or better. But "here" is the best place to hide information...well, kindergarten.

If puravida is a guy i would guess he's gay. But i had no information about this...maybe it is hidden because someone could copy it.

@ melastmohican

I had a look at you portfolios. I'm no expert in travel and editorialstock but i know people who earn a lot with pictures like yours. The quality is good (not best) but you're completly wrong at microstock agencies in my opinion.
Try alamy and try macroagencies for travel and editorial. You will earn a lot more, no, you will earn what your pictures are worth of. There will be no compare to that what you get at microstock, because it's just the wrong marketplace for your pictures. You don't have a quality problem, you are just at the wrong place. Didn't anyone told you this before?
You can/should also send a selection of your pictures to different hotelcompanys PR-adresses. They are allways interested in travelling photographers to invite them if new hotels at interesting locations will be openend. Don't forget to send a selection of pictures at traveling magazines.

@ click
if pigs dig and rage in my garden i can close the patiodoor or i chase them out. I'm a newbie here but it's the only place i know to communicate about this business. I came in nobody sayed hello, but somebody pissed on my leg. Okay, i'm long enough in communication business to handle this, if not i'm not worth my daily rate.
...and i take it personal because thats the fun at this game :-)