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Author Topic: April 2015 Earnings  (Read 14795 times)

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KB

« on: May 01, 2015, 10:08 »
+8
In honor of my worst month ever as an exclusive iStock contributor, and my worst month as a contributor since 2008 (when I had a few dozen images in my port), I thought I'd start this month's earnings thread.  ::)

My April earnings were down 34% from last year's April earnings (exclusive of subs and GI), and down 35% from March earnings.

To give an idea of how far I've fallen, April earnings were almost exactly one third of my BME (which was only in Sep 2013) ... and over 40% off my average earnings from just last year (which itself was my worst year as an exclusive).


« Reply #1 on: May 01, 2015, 11:34 »
+4
For me it was down about 34% from last month (which was a BME) and a little over 11% from April last year.  So not great but not horrible either.

dpimborough

« Reply #2 on: May 01, 2015, 11:36 »
+3
Don't worry KB it was terrible all round even for a none exclusive

April was 28.35% down on March and the worst month ever globally considering the images I've added across 16  agencies.

 :'(

« Reply #3 on: May 01, 2015, 11:50 »
0
April 15 up about 8% vs Apr 2014.

Comparing April to March is pointless, since March is always better than April.   I was down 10% from March 15 (BME) to April 15, which is a typical difference between the two months, so nothing of great insight there.

EDIT: In terms of avg daily income, Feb 15 was my BME.  But since there were only 28 days in Feb vs 31 in Mar, the total was a bit off.  So I'm calling Feb my BME since daily avg income is the more useful number to analyze.
« Last Edit: May 01, 2015, 11:55 by stockmarketer »

KB

« Reply #4 on: May 01, 2015, 11:52 »
+3
Don't worry KB it was terrible all round even for a none exclusive
 :'(
I understand what you mean (and appreciate hearing it) -- but are you sure that isn't a reason to worry even more?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #5 on: May 01, 2015, 12:08 »
+3
Don't worry KB it was terrible all round even for a none exclusive
 :'(
I understand what you mean (and appreciate hearing it) -- but are you sure that isn't a reason to worry even more?
I think it is, because although I think the main reason for the downswing is subs, I also feel I'm losing out to being undercut on my own site.
The fact that indies aren't benefitting from that is, indeed, very worrying.
(My dismal stats coming soon ...)

Semmick Photo

« Reply #6 on: May 01, 2015, 12:13 »
+1
One word,  pants. Will post stats in a few days.

« Reply #7 on: May 01, 2015, 14:54 »
0
Not really a good month - down by 18% overall from March, -32% down from Apeil 2014

Stocksy 76%
SS 11% (WM since 2010)
DT 7%
FT 4%
others 2%

« Reply #8 on: May 01, 2015, 15:35 »
+4
Rough April.  Down 17% from March and down 14% from last April. 

Bah.  Doesn't seem worth the effort uploading anymore. 

Only bright spots were FT and 123, which showed significant growth from last year.

SS earnings about half last April.  Jon O., enjoy your 28 mil bonus.  It's clear you got it from boning us
« Last Edit: May 01, 2015, 15:39 by PixelBytes »

« Reply #9 on: May 01, 2015, 15:40 »
0
Best month ever at SS.

Regular sales at P5

Even got a sale at A

Closed my Istock account last year and have never looked back.

lucato

  • [<o>] Brasil


« Reply #10 on: May 01, 2015, 15:54 »
+3
In honor of my worst month ever as an exclusive iStock contributor, and my worst month as a contributor since 2008 (when I had a few dozen images in my port), I thought I'd start this month's earnings thread.  ::)

My April earnings were down 34% from last year's April earnings (exclusive of subs and GI), and down 35% from March earnings.

To give an idea of how far I've fallen, April earnings were almost exactly one third of my BME (which was only in Sep 2013) ... and over 40% off my average earnings from just last year (which itself was my worst year as an exclusive).
I'm sorry to hear that. Just as curiosity, I have left exclusivity on 2012. I wonder once you are there since 2008, how much your April earning are down from your latest Feb/13?

I have just posted in another thread that:
Yes, in my case, the exclusive income started to drop like a crazy starting on Mar/11 (35%+). I quit the exclusivity on 04/12. Since then I didn't get to make even the income as non-exclusive based on the latest income as exclusive, but the times were other and the income was better in that time for exclusives. The things has changed a lot since then and as you said, the market is really oversaturated now. So in sum, after 3 years as non-exclusive, summing up all agencies income/month, the actual income as non-exclusive, represents 52% of the income I was receiving as exclusive at iStock in 2012 average month. By reading that you assume that non-exclusive doesn't worth, but it is hard to say, once I have my doubts if I was exclusive today it would be the same average income as I was receiving on 2012.

KB

« Reply #11 on: May 01, 2015, 16:27 »
0
Just as curiosity, I have left exclusivity on 2012. I wonder once you are there since 2008, how much your April earning are down from your latest Feb/13?

I have just posted in another thread that:
Yes, in my case, the exclusive income started to drop like a crazy starting on Mar/11 (35%+). I quit the exclusivity on 04/12. Since then I didn't get to make even the income as non-exclusive based on the latest income as exclusive, but the times were other and the income was better in that time for exclusives. The things has changed a lot since then and as you said, the market is really oversaturated now. So in sum, after 3 years as non-exclusive, summing up all agencies income/month, the actual income as non-exclusive, represents 52% of the income I was receiving as exclusive at iStock in 2012 average month. By reading that you assume that non-exclusive doesn't worth, but it is hard to say, once I have my doubts if I was exclusive today it would be the same average income as I was receiving on 2012.
Your portfolio is about 5x the size of mine, so there's a very good chance that it would act differently from mine.

But to answer your question, Feb '13 happened to be the third-best month of that year for me.  Removing GI sales from the comparison, April 2015 was down 60% as compared with my Feb '13. As a more accurate comparison, compared with the "average" month in 2013, April 2015 was down 55%.

« Reply #12 on: May 01, 2015, 16:38 »
+1
so, based on the -1 I got I'll assume that this is a thread for IS non-exclusive income only or something.


Carry on  ::)

« Reply #13 on: May 01, 2015, 16:44 »
0
April was an improvement over a weak March.  Up 7% over March, down 8% from April '14, up 2% year over year.  SS was #1 at 44% of my total, up 66% over March and up 18% over April '14.  123RF was 2nd at 25%, down 32% from March (when it surpassed SS for the first time) but up 4% over April '14.  They were followed by Deposit at 6%, iStock at 5%, Envato at 4%, DT at 4%, Canva at 4%, BigStock at 3%, CanStock at 3% and a few other small fry for that last 2%.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #14 on: May 01, 2015, 16:45 »
+1
so, based on the -1 I got I'll assume that this is a thread for IS non-exclusive income only or something.


Carry on  ::)

Stupid if so, as the OP is photo-exclusive.

KB

« Reply #15 on: May 01, 2015, 17:04 »
+1
so, based on the -1 I got I'll assume that this is a thread for IS non-exclusive income only or something.
Apparently the person disagrees with the idea that you had a BME at SS.  ::) I plussed you, because I agree.  :D

lucato

  • [<o>] Brasil


« Reply #16 on: May 01, 2015, 17:04 »
+1
Quote
Your portfolio is about 5x the size of mine, so there's a very good chance that it would act differently from mine.

But to answer your question, Feb '13 happened to be the third-best month of that year for me.  Removing GI sales from the comparison, April 2015 was down 60% as compared with my Feb '13. As a more accurate comparison, compared with the "average" month in 2013, April 2015 was down 55%.

Thanks a lot for your feedback. I appreciated that. Taking that value as a reference I would say that today I'm making the same income as non-exclusive when I was exclusive. I know it is not a real way to compare, but just a way to fool myself. :0)


KB

« Reply #17 on: May 01, 2015, 17:07 »
0
Quote
Your portfolio is about 5x the size of mine, so there's a very good chance that it would act differently from mine.

But to answer your question, Feb '13 happened to be the third-best month of that year for me.  Removing GI sales from the comparison, April 2015 was down 60% as compared with my Feb '13. As a more accurate comparison, compared with the "average" month in 2013, April 2015 was down 55%.

Thanks a lot for your feedback. I appreciated that. Taking that value as a reference I would say that today I'm making the same income as non-exclusive when I was exclusive. I know it is not a real way to compare, but just a way to fool myself. :0)
If you had a lot of income from Vetta or Agency sales, I think it is safe to assume that you are probably better off now as a non-exclusive, than you would be if you had stayed exclusive. If not, then probably about the same income, as you said.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #18 on: May 01, 2015, 17:10 »
0
Quote
Your portfolio is about 5x the size of mine, so there's a very good chance that it would act differently from mine.

But to answer your question, Feb '13 happened to be the third-best month of that year for me.  Removing GI sales from the comparison, April 2015 was down 60% as compared with my Feb '13. As a more accurate comparison, compared with the "average" month in 2013, April 2015 was down 55%.

Thanks a lot for your feedback. I appreciated that. Taking that value as a reference I would say that today I'm making the same income as non-exclusive when I was exclusive. I know it is not a real way to compare, but just a way to fool myself. :0)
If you had a lot of income from Vetta or Agency sales, I think it is safe to assume that you are probably better off now as a non-exclusive, than you would be if you had stayed exclusive. If not, then probably about the same income, as you said.
Ah, but what if he had a lot of Getty sales of these Vetta files? Some Getty sales are good value, even though sales are for peanuts. Still, he'll be making up the Getty Peanuts from the PP, maybe.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #19 on: May 01, 2015, 17:23 »
+1
So here goes.
Unlike what was posted above, my April, historically, has not been always lower than March, it's about 50-50.
Last year, April was my BMY, by a considerable margin, helped by 2 ELs. Even without them the regular credits were BMY by a fair bit. Then came subs ...  >:(

So, compared to April 2014, my normal credit $$ is -c66%. With the ELs, -c75%
Compared to March 2015, credits only: -c52%
My total payout for April, viz March subs and GI + April credits will be -45%

New worst full month as an exclusive.

Last 100 files sold as 'normal' credits (doesn't include any duplicate sales):
2007: 22
2008: 16
2009:   4
2010:   4
2011: 37
2012:   7
2013:   5
2014:   5
2015:   0
As I said on a different thread, I'm not noticing that what does sell are necessarily files with high previous sales.

~~~~~~
Added: Actually, the subs stats aren't so different (again, duplicate sales not accounted for):
2006:   2
2007: 19
2008: 13
2009:   4
2010:   4
2011: 39
2012:   9
2013:   3
2014:   4
2015:   3

~~~~~~~~~~~

Alamy: 4 sales netting $21.24 total.  >:(

FAA: 1 sale.  :)
« Last Edit: May 01, 2015, 20:12 by ShadySue »

lucato

  • [<o>] Brasil


« Reply #20 on: May 01, 2015, 17:30 »
+1
Quote
Ah, but what if he had a lot of Getty sales of these Vetta files? Some Getty sales are good value, even though sales are for peanuts. Still, he'll be making up the Getty Peanuts from the PP, maybe.
My iStock portfolio files never got into Getty or had Vetta files or better collections. Just regular files at iStock (PP+EL). ;0)

« Reply #21 on: May 01, 2015, 17:50 »
0
I had best Month EVER!! On Shutterstock!  Yahoo!

« Reply #22 on: May 01, 2015, 18:03 »
+3
Great month from Toonvectors!  These guys are usually pretty solid for me but sales about doubled in relatively week month. I don't usually participate in sales threads but these guys deserved a shout out. 70% commissions and now competing with dreamstime and 123 in commissions. These guys are worth looking into if you are an illustrator.

« Reply #23 on: May 01, 2015, 18:05 »
0
It was my best month this year - about on par with the average monthly income last year. SS sales were a bit lower in # but I actually had a good number of ODD compared to normal. The thing that made the difference was 2 good Alamy sales. April 2014 was my 3rd worst month that year though, so at least I beat that this year. None of the regular earning sites were particularly high or low compared to last years average - although especially Alamy was quite good for this year.

I think if you are taking the $/day average then the number of weekends and holidays per month will be a significant factor.

Justanotherphotographer

« Reply #24 on: May 02, 2015, 03:49 »
+2
Looks to be be way down on last month and the same month last year. Not sure what else I can do to increase my income!


 

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