MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: encrenciel on March 27, 2017, 09:08
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Just wondering if it's possible for those who joined in later.
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Yes.
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You??
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I do. Been selling since 2010, but only started putting some real effort into it since mid 2014. Before that I was making less than $100 a month. Now I'm making enough to live on. I am in South East Asia currently, so it's pretty cheap, but still... as long as I'm not living in London, New York or LA, I'd still be able to get by without any worries.
That's me though, I seem to have found a decent niche, and I guess my stuff is of a reasonably decent quality with commercial viability. Not sure how easy it will be for others, but it is doable.
I hit a bit of a wall six months ago though, although I've not been uoading that much new stuff, which doesn't help. Will need to get my thinking cap on and put some graft in to increase what I'm making currently.
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Or Australia. Probably couldn't afford to live there, especially as a 20 a day smoking habit will set you back $900 a month... before you even start thinking about rent and general living costs!
I can get my rent, bills, food, half a dozen beers a day, and cigarettes in Cambodia for less than $900 a month!
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Or Australia. Probably couldn't afford to live there, especially as a 20 a day smoking habit will set you back $900 a month... before you even start thinking about rent and general living costs!
I can get my rent, bills, food, half a dozen beers a day, and cigarettes in Cambodia for less than $900 a month!
Yup buddy. What makes things great for you is your videos. I'm more on vectors tho.
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Just wondering if it's possible for those who joined in later.
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It is possible, but will take some time for things to take off.
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A common topic if you spend some time poking around these forums. here is a recent discussion. http://www.microstockgroup.com/newby-discussion/it's-possible-to-live-only-selling-photos-in-microstock-site/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/newby-discussion/it's-possible-to-live-only-selling-photos-in-microstock-site/)
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Those who can survive on microstock alone, are an endangered species.
Like animals threatened with extinction, they can survive for some time in areas with the most favourable conditions (i.e. "low costs of living") or if they are very strong.
But I am afraid that at some point in the future, they will all go the way of the dodo, nevertheless. Unfortunately.
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I can just about pay my rent :o
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I can just about pay my rent :o
That's already a great benefit.
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With music + footage + pictures, yes, very well.
Just pictures, not so much, but that's not what I focus on for the most part.
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Those who can survive on microstock alone, are an endangered species.
Like animals threatened with extinction, they can survive for some time in areas with the most favourable conditions (i.e. "low costs of living") or if they are very strong.
But I am afraid that at some point in the future, they will all go the way of the dodo, nevertheless. Unfortunately.
I belong to this endangered species (doing vectors only). :) In my case the low cost of living helps me to achieve this. On the other hand I get what you mean, it makes me wonder how long could this work too, wouldn't expect to go on forever, but I'm not panicking either. Succesful people always stand on more "feet" and it's always better to be prepared, so even though I manage for now, I'm already thinking of finding other income sources beside microstock.
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"Safe" sources of income do not exist. The only thing which is safe is to be flexible and prepared.
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2.5 times minimum wage is not good enough for decent living in an expensive US state, but it is a nice enjoyable bonus.
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I have worked a bit on what I need to sell it for granted that I do not have any overhead. My place on Earth is in Scandinavia, which means that about 5600 US dollars per month is required to deal with living expenses and taxes. There is a long way to go yet.
To achieve this required that I work full-time with photo and recruit models I pay and have a studio and great location to photograph. This drives cost (tax deductible in taxation).
It is probably more profitable to sell photography services as the main job and let the unbooked time be used for the production of stock images.
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I have worked a bit on what I need to sell it for granted that I do not have any overhead. My place on Earth is in Scandinavia, which means that about 5600 US dollars per month is required to deal with living expenses and taxes. There is a long way to go yet.
To achieve this required that I work full-time with photo and recruit models I pay and have a studio and great location to photograph. This drives cost (tax deductible in taxation).
It is probably more profitable to sell photography services as the main job and let the unbooked time be used for the production of stock images.
That makes sense as of course you can do the stock anytime......Scandanavia is a very expensive country to live in I guess.
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Scandanavia is a very expensive country to live in I guess.
No such country ... :P
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Scandanavia is a very expensive country to live in I guess.
No such country ... :P
Yes well spotted if it was a country it would be expensive! Scandinavian countries I guess are expensive.
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Yes well spotted if it was a country it would be expensive! Scandinavian countries I guess are expensive.
Yes, but usually cheaper than NYC, Sydney, Melbourne, London, Singapore, Hawaii, San Fran, Monaco, Paris, etc. etc. All depending on the city of course.
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https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp) For those that want to delve.
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Yes, but it's usually more interesting to look at cities rather than countries. Just going an hour outside an expensive city will let you buy a big house for the same price as a small apartment within the city center. Groceries, parking, gym membership etc. Almost everything will be much cheaper.
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I earn a living from only microstock. Video, photo, and some audio.
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Yes, but it's usually more interesting to look at cities rather than countries. Just going an hour outside an expensive city will let you buy a big house for the same price as a small apartment within the city center. Groceries, parking, gym membership etc. Almost everything will be much cheaper.
That really depends if you choose to live in a city though.....you are right in the UK there is a huge property bubble in London in the north of the country you can obtain property for 1/4 of the price.
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On the whole, most countries in Scandinavia are more expensive than the UK, France and the US. Even for big cities... according to Numbeo, there are five Scandinavian cities that are more expensive than New York, which is the most expensive out of the whole 'London, Paris, New York, Monaco etc' selection.
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On the whole, most countries in Scandinavia are more expensive than the UK, France and the US. Even for big cities... according to Numbeo, there are five Scandinavian cities that are more expensive than New York, which is the most expensive out of the whole 'London, Paris, New York, Monaco etc' selection.
Specially if you like a drink or two!!! Its really property prices that kill it in London......if you avoid posh restaurants bars etc.
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A few years back I lived solely on income from microstock, lived in UK and an expensive part too. Supported me and my wife.
Now I live in North Africa and still survive on microstock.
In a few years I guess I will be living in the Antarctic.
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https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp) For those that want to delve.
Very interesting link.
I am very surprised though to see Italy as the 8th most expansive, same level as Japan and well ahead of USA, UK, France.
Sure it must be a mistake
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On the whole, most countries in Scandinavia are more expensive than the UK, France and the US. Even for big cities... according to Numbeo, there are five Scandinavian cities that are more expensive than New York, which is the most expensive out of the whole 'London, Paris, New York, Monaco etc' selection.
Specially if you like a drink or two!!! Its really property prices that kill it in London......if you avoid posh restaurants bars etc.
I do like a drink! Cheapest drink on my travels was $0.25 for half a pint of beer at happy hour... normal price was $0.50. Most expensive was $11.50 a pint, with cocktails approaching $20 (that was a cheap'ish' pub - clubs would have been a lot more). Crazy!
Although, I think I paid 9 Euros for a pint in Sweden in 2002, which would have been nearly $11 at the time, so it's possible it's a lot more than $11.50 there these days.
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Well, "normal" price for a pint in Sweden is about $6.70 in a bar/club but as with ANY country, it mostly depends on what type of places you want to visit.
In Bangkok, there are nice bars with extremely expensive drinks, and you can find really cheap happy hour shots in Copenhagen.
And when it comes to housing, in Sweden/Norway, the housing standard is extremely high (highest in the world most likely) which means there aren't really any bad apartments (dumps). They don't exist anymore. The crappiest apartment you will find will still be miles better than a medium level place in the UK.
If you want the same standard in London, expect to pay four-five times as much.
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My current pad in Cambodia. Free wi-fi, free water, free cable TV, electricity is less than $100 a month, even with the air-con on 75% of the time, small garden out the back... $375 a month. You wouldn't get that in London!
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It all depends on what you're content with and what you already have. I could live in Greece on $500 a month quite easily, I have a house and my books, computer and photo gear. I stopped smoking long ago when I was really broke, I cook for myself and local wine is about 2 euros a litre. But while I would be happy observing the insects in an olive grove all day, most people would be bored to death by that sort of life.
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My current pad in Cambodia. Free wi-fi, free water, free cable TV, electricity is less than $100 a month, even with the air-con on 75% of the time, small garden out the back... $375 a month. You wouldn't get that in London!
Been many times in south east asia...with 900 dollar u live basic life even if you have a 10 dollars day ypulive of basicstuff.
As i said many times this is an industry for people who move in poor country mostly, and especiallyeasterneruope where with 800ypu can live.
Butwith 900 you have zerolexibility. So its clear you have savi gs a d the. Survive in a country so poor.
Uneed probably a healtcarei sirance policy, air ticket to come back where u live...if some unexpectedthings jappen 9000 dollar yearswill cover kt?
Most of peopledoing microstock arehjust living. The days. This is not business its survival.
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I may have confused the matter with the cost of cigarettes in Australia being $900 a month, and then explaining what you can get in South East Asia for that same $900. I don't earn $900 a month... I earn around $2800 to $3850 a month selling stock, plus my freelance earnings on top.
So yes, $9000 a year (when living in a country, time period, or on a planet that has and/or had a ten month year), would be a bit of a stretch... but having a minimum of $33,000 (and a realistic amount of $40K+) a year, gives me a lot more flexibility.
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I may have confused the matter with the cost of cigarettes in Australia being $900 a month, and then explaining what you can get in South East Asia for that same $900. I don't earn $900 a month... I earn around $2800 to $3850 a month selling stock, plus my freelance earnings on top.
So yes, $9000 a year (when living in a country, time period, or on a planet that has and/or had a ten month year), would be a bit of a stretch... but having a minimum of $33,000 (and a realistic amount of $40K+) a year, gives me a lot more flexibility.
4000 dollar wirh a bunch of video animation?
Be serious man we are not coming from the monkey tree). 900 dollar were also strange to me...4500 dollar? I
Yes and i am superman.
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4000 dollar wirh a bunch of video animation?
Be serious man we are not coming from the monkey tree). 900 dollar were also strange to me...4500 dollar? I
Yes and i am superman.
Why is it so hard to believe? :D
You can even calculate yourself what every author at Envato makes.
I did a quick calculation (with the Wayback Machine) and since August 2016 SpaceStockFootage made an average of $2,491 per month from both his profiles just from Envato (I skipped the third, smallest one).
Then you can add Shutterstock, Fotolia, Pond5, VB and the rest to that and $4,000 isn't strange at all.
Many people make MUCH, MUCH more than that, up to around $30,000 per month.
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Good find on the numbers, that's pretty much spot on! But just to clarify, I said $2,800 to $3,850... not $4000. Not a massive difference, but it can add up over a year. I do make extra money doing freelance work though (custom space shots here and there, logo animations, a bit of editing and VFX from time to time), but I'm 39 in a few months, so I'm trying to take it easy at my age. Don't want to over do it.
So that could mean an extra $250 a month or an extra $5,000 a month... or $0 a month. Depends on the gig and how motivated I am to work, which usually isn't very much. There are horses to be ridden, seas to dive, balls to pot, temples to explore, shots to putt, PS4 games to play... and the world's scotch supplies aren't going to drink themselves.
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Oh, by the way, tell me if you want it removed. Figured it was OK since you posted numbers yourself.
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Yeah, that's no worries. Adds a bit of context!
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4000 dollar wirh a bunch of video animation?
Be serious man we are not coming from the monkey tree). 900 dollar were also strange to me...4500 dollar? I
Yes and i am superman.
Why is it so hard to believe? :D
You can even calculate yourself what every author at Envato makes.
I did a quick calculation (with the Wayback Machine) and since August 2016 SpaceStockFootage made an average of $2,491 per month from both his profiles just from Envato (I skipped the third, smallest one).
Then you can add Shutterstock, Fotolia, Pond5, VB and the rest to that and $4,000 isn't strange at all.
Many people make MUCH, MUCH more than that, up to around $30,000 per month.
So is no problem for u to show uor shutterstxok balance for this month? Ir space balance?
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Sure....
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Sure....
ok i understand.
so u are earning 2000% what u earn in shutter stock in envato?
sounds good i never considered envato or video.
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Sure....
ok i understand.
so u are earning 2000% what u earn in shutter stock in envato?
sounds good i never considered envato or video.
is nevato selling so good? strange i never taken this agency in account.
good to know.
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Actual video footage doesn't do very well there, but motion graphics do well. That's mainly what VideoHive is known for. I also have some After Effects files which do well.
I've always made around $100 to $150 at SS, a bit less at iStock, around $200 to $300 at Pond 5, up to $450 at VideoBlocks, $50 to $100 at Artbeats Express, $50 or less at Fotolia, $25 if I'm lucky at MotionElements, $35 to $70 at CG Trader, $10 at Dreamstime... it all adds up, but not as much as VideoHive.
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Actual video footage doesn't do very well there, but motion graphics do well. That's mainly what VideoHive is known for. I also have some After Effects files which do well.
I've always made around $100 to $150 at SS, a bit less at iStock, around $200 to $300 at Pond 5, up to $450 at VideoBlocks, $50 to $100 at Artbeats Express, $50 or less at Fotolia, $25 if I'm lucky at MotionElements, $35 to $70 at CG Trader, $10 at Dreamstime... it all adds up, but not as much as VideoHive.
Right, buyers are usually the people or companies who look for the source files which gives them more flexibility. I appreciate you for sharing those numbers and good luck with more sales. Your work is amazing and challenging.
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2.5 times minimum wage is not good enough for decent living in an expensive US state, but it is a nice enjoyable bonus.
In US Is nothing enough 8) :(
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I'm almost there! Started just over 2 years ago, got serious about a 1 1/2 years ago doing videos and photos part-time. I've reduced my day job to 2 days a week with plans of quitting by the end of the year to do microstock and freelance full time. Freelance work actually comes secondary only when I'm motivated to deal with clients. There's plenty of money to still be made. I live in an expensive area outside Seattle and can just about pay bills from microstock alone doing it just part-time. There's no way I could do that if it was just photos though.