Author Topic: 2010 Microstock goals (Read 21275 times)

leaf · « **on:** December 22, 2009, 03:34 »

What are you 2010 microstock goals / or new years microstock resolutions?

And for interests sake, here is the 2009 and 2008 thread
2009 microstock goals
2008 microstock goals

Xalanx · « **Reply #1 on:** December 22, 2009, 04:07 »

Microstock full time, quit my day job. It will most certainly happen in 2010.

keo · « **Reply #2 on:** December 22, 2009, 04:14 »

Make more money from SS, DT and FT

leaf · « **Reply #3 on:** December 22, 2009, 04:34 »

for me

upload more video ... get over 200 hundred online (or maybe 500 if I am ambitious)

I would like to reach 10,000 uploads but I am afraid that may be a bit too high of a goal, but 8000 would be a happy middle ground.

grp_photo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 22, 2009, 05:01 »

My goal is to bail-out of microstock completely but this will be step by step and not completed in 2010

Fran · « **Reply #5 on:** December 22, 2009, 05:57 »

My goals for 2010 (ambitious version):

- Improve quality and diversity (more macros, some business concepts, more portraits)
- 1000 images online
- 300$ a month
- Start doing videos
- Reach exclusivity level on ISP (just in case in the future I dont have time to submit everywhere)
- Get accepted at Getty via Flickr

Extra photography:
- Go back to UK as Technical Director of another important IP

laflor · « **Reply #6 on:** December 22, 2009, 07:15 »

Thanks for the question. Made me take a pause from Capture One/Photoshop and think ahead. Proactivity is indeed key to succes

Of the top of my head my goals for 2010 are:

In terms of quality:

- produce more authentic looking images
- be innovative in terms of angles and composition - experiment more
- improve my eye for styling - more research beforehand and awareness on set
- create highly conceptual great stuff for the Übercool VETTA-collection
- seek more advise and inspiration from senior micro shooters
- be helpful and kind to junior shooters (don't worry I will also be kind to you seniors out there

- become experienced in new ways of lighting plus refine my present techniques
- unlock even more of the potential of Capture One Pro and Photoshop
- optimize administration and communication between myself and my employees
- be even more appreciative for this great niche of photography on an everyday basis - its a great way to make a living ... makes me feel free as a bird (maybe like a peacock or a green parrot)

In terms of quantity:

- achieve Diamond by the 23rd of February 2010. Go buyers, go, go, go!!!
- max my upload limit on iStock all year. That means I should produce 700 images until 23rd of Feb (7 x 100 per week). And thereafter 5.625 to max out for the rest of the year (43 weeks @125 images per week). Presently I'm good until about June/July.
- attend 3 seminars on lighting. 1 planned 2 to go
- get into stock video
- get into macro photography (making small things appear big ... not traditional stock

- get a bit into food photography (mainly because I'm writing a cookbook about Ekadasi, an ancient Indian vegetarian tradition)
- make enough money to equal out my present investments into microstock

I love reading others´ goals as that makes me reflect further. One of my teachers always says that one should know a little about everything and a lot about a few things. I want to know a lot about stock photography and this forum does a great job in doing just that; creating a space for learning.
Thanks!

Yours,
laflor

- "No one ever became poor by giving", Anne Frank

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #7 on:** December 22, 2009, 07:25 »

"make enough money to equal out my present investments into microstock"

I would concentrate on that. If you're running in the red, something is going wrong.

Here's what I wrote in the iStock thread:
More location shoots.
More content to Vetta.
Keep on 2000 images a year track.
Investigate other video sales sites.
More lens flares and blown out backgrounds to approximate trendy P&S flickr look.
Eat less cheese.

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #8 on:** December 22, 2009, 07:38 »

My goal is an increase in earnings, despite uploading less than 50 images next year

GeoPappas · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2009, 07:45 »

To get back to taking pictures that I enjoy and having fun with photography.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #10 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:02 »

My goals would be:

- Double size of current port (uploading at least 2 pics a day)
- Maintain current RPI (by adding diverse new topics so I don't cannibalize my existing pics)
- Double overall income
- Keep having fun!

laflor · « **Reply #11 on:** December 22, 2009, 08:25 »

Quote from: sjlocke on December 22, 2009, 07:25

"make enough money to equal out my present investments into microstock"

I would concentrate on that. If you're running in the red, something is going wrong.

Fortunately that is not the case. I have a substantial amount of money invested in camera and lighting gear, models fees, location fees, styling, assistants, transportation, studio etc. That needs to be taken care of while I'm making a living at the same time. As mentioned I have more than 4.000 images waiting to go online, so that is where my money sits right now.

If my overall investment is returned within 2 years of startup then that is best case scenario (that would be ultimo 2010). Any qualified business school professor will clap his hands with this scenario. As things look right now this goal can be achieved, meaning I will have about 8000 images on iStock and close to zero "dept" ultimo 2010. You may be there already Sean, but again you also started in 2004 where everything you uploaded caught on like wildfire. That is not a "normal" business structure, its like Walt's EPCOT. Point being that it takes more patience and higher quality (meaning good styling, models, locations etc.) to make it big in microstock now. The only reason why Yuri is still growing is because he has madly improved the before mentioned factors. He can only upload I think it is 35 images a week on iStock, but still he is the second best selling artist. Why is that? Well because his quality is significantly higher than everyone below him who can upload 100+ images every week. Isn't it Sean? Please don't take offense. I think you produce great art, but Yuri really excels. You, Lise and the other rulers of iStock can only maintain your positions if you keep on uploading the high standard art you are presently uploading. It simply takes more to achieve the same result anno '09.

Concerning the utopia of 2004+ it seems that now with the new deal for exclusives on iStock the RPI will increase with at least 40-50 percent next year. That sort of pulls us back a few years in time. Don't you think Sean? You must benefit greatly

Kind regards,
laflor

laflor

FD · « **Reply #12 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:25 »

To buy Getty.

lisafx · « **Reply #13 on:** December 22, 2009, 09:48 »

Get a new house (while they're cheap) with a lot more studio space.

MatHayward · « **Reply #14 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:15 »

Great thread! I hope to increase my portfolio with 2,000 unique, quality images and to increase my stock income by 100%.

I just took a big jump to move in that direction by maxing out my prices out to $5 for XS and $30 for XL at Fotolia. It's a gamble as I may price myself out but I'm optimistic it will work out. With a 54% commission rate I figure I can sell approximately 40% fewer images and still break even. If I keep uploading it shouldn't be too out of reach to meet my goal.

I believe we are all going to see an unprecedented jump in sales across the board for micros. The change from 2008 to 2009 was very impressive and the momentum is stronger than ever now.

gbcimages · « **Reply #15 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:39 »

To continue on and be thankful for what do make

nicemonkey · « **Reply #16 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:44 »

To be richer than my wildest dreams

epantha · « **Reply #17 on:** December 22, 2009, 10:50 »

Upload more images per week, generate more sales per month, surpass 2009.

leolintang · « **Reply #18 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:06 »

uploading 300 picture a month
adding vector
adding video
more business concept photo
buy new gear
$2000/month

that's for 2010

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #19 on:** December 22, 2009, 11:20 »

A payout from BigStock.

gostwyck · « **Reply #20 on:** December 22, 2009, 12:26 »

Quote from: laflor on December 22, 2009, 08:25

If my overall investment is returned within 2 years of startup then that is best case scenario (that would be ultimo 2010). Any qualified business school professor will clap his hands with this scenario.

Not sure that this works so well with short shelf-life products. In my experience most microstock images have an earnings 'half-life' of about one year __ that is to say they will about earn half the amount in Year 2 as they did in Year 1 ... and so on. If the image is really unique and difficult for others to replicate then it can go on and on but this is the exception rather than the rule.

You may be there already Sean, but again you also started in 2004 where everything you uploaded caught on like wildfire. That is not a "normal" business structure, its like Walt's EPCOT. Point being that it takes more patience and higher quality (meaning good styling, models, locations etc.) to make it big in microstock now.

To be honest I don't think images actually sold significantly better back then __ yes, there may have been less competition but there were also fewer buyers too. They also generated a lot less money per sale too although the costs of production were approximately the same. It took much longer to achieve payback on a shoot when you averaged 20c per sale

The only reason why Yuri is still growing is because he has madly improved the before mentioned factors. He can only upload I think it is 35 images a week on iStock, but still he is the second best selling artist. Why is that? Well because his quality is significantly higher than everyone below him who can upload 100+ images every week. Isn't it Sean? Please don't take offense. I think you produce great art, but Yuri really excels. You, Lise and the other rulers of iStock can only maintain your positions if you keep on uploading the high standard art you are presently uploading. It simply takes more to achieve the same result anno '09.

Sean might sell a few less images than Yuri but his production costs are a tiny fraction of the latter's. I'd take Sean's business model over Yuri's any day of the week __ it involves less risk, has a faster payback and is much more profitable.

Anyka · « **Reply #21 on:** December 22, 2009, 12:36 »

- 30% growth of uploads, 20% growth of income (or more)
- get my boss to say YES to my request for a part-time job
- be more creative with lighting, especially on location
- have a GREAT photography holiday in France, and may-be another one in Greece
- be proved right in my dispute with Belgian social security (with regard to selling photos) without legal steps
- do less boring shoots, and more fun and creative stuff.
- at the end of 2010 : buy the perfect photoshop-computer.

cobalt · « **Reply #22 on:** December 22, 2009, 12:42 »

- Find a way to be free of my day job

- upload 1000 images to istock

- upload 400 images to getty

- improve my photoshop skills

- have at least 1 image that was produced for Vetta accepted

- meet more microstockers!

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #23 on:** December 22, 2009, 13:05 »

Quote from: grp_photo on December 22, 2009, 05:01

My goal is to bail-out of microstock completely but this will be step by step and not completed in 2010

This is my ambition for microstock for 2010 as well. I'll likely keep most of my portfolio in place but not add anything to it.

cthoman · « **Reply #24 on:** December 22, 2009, 13:25 »

Hopefully next year goes as well as this year. My goal is to keep growing my portfolio and hit $3000 a month.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: 2010 Microstock goals (Read 21275 times)

leaf

Xalanx

keo

leaf

grp_photo

Fran

laflor

Sean Locke Photography

Freezingpictures

GeoPappas

PowerDroid

laflor

FD

lisafx

MatHayward

gbcimages

nicemonkey

epantha

leolintang

WarrenPrice

gostwyck

Anyka

cobalt

PeterChigmaroff

cthoman

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors