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Author Topic: Are things going well in microstock?  (Read 117563 times)

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« Reply #300 on: January 21, 2008, 13:50 »
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$1 per photo PER MONTH is the AVERAGE income in microstock when you submit to the big 7 and you have a portfolio of more than 200 photos.

Top earners earn between $3-6 dollars per photo per month.

It's a fact, I am not making the numbers up.

It all comes down to individual portfolios no matter we talk about micro macro or whatever. So saying the average for micro is that xx amount and the average of macro is this xx amount is pretty senseless.

Actually I find the numbers very useful.  As rather new to MS.  The numbers not only tell me how well I am doing they tell me what I should expect and what I should strive for.  If I am making $.25 per photo per month after a year I should recognize that I am either going to have to learn a lot, work a lot harder or give it up.  fred


« Reply #301 on: January 21, 2008, 14:43 »
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Your "number" is a measure of how commercially viable your images are - nothing more, nothing less.

« Reply #302 on: January 21, 2008, 17:44 »
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Ouch.  My average is probably around 50c/image/month or less...

Regards,
Adelaide

« Reply #303 on: January 22, 2008, 13:59 »
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As vector contributor, mi average per image is bigger, around 4$/image/month.

My average per time worked is around 1,5$/worked hour/month

« Reply #304 on: January 24, 2008, 00:33 »
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it will be interesting to see what the poll reveals next month.

Yup!
 :)

« Reply #305 on: January 25, 2008, 01:23 »
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My average per time worked is around 1,5$/worked hour/month

This number is the most important one, in the end...

If the return per hour worked really worth it... That is what each of us has to figure out with our own numbers and our own data.  And if that return satisfies us... Interesting...

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #306 on: January 25, 2008, 08:51 »
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My average per time worked is around 1,5$/worked hour/month

This number is the most important one, in the end...

If the return per hour worked really worth it... That is what each of us has to figure out with our own numbers and our own data.  And if that return satisfies us... Interesting...

How is this calcuated? Does this take into consideration that the image continues earning after the work has been completed?

« Reply #307 on: January 25, 2008, 10:48 »
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My average per time worked is around 1,5$/worked hour/month

This number is the most important one, in the end...

If the return per hour worked really worth it... That is what each of us has to figure out with our own numbers and our own data.  And if that return satisfies us... Interesting...

How is this calcuated? Does this take into consideration that the image continues earning after the work has been completed?

If the image continues earning for various months, then I multiply $/worked hour/month by months of image life.

I dont know yet how long is the image life in microstock, but I supose almost one year.

« Reply #308 on: January 25, 2008, 12:59 »
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Add me to the list.  I am with MShake.  I am going now to see about cancelling my account with CanStockPhoto.

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« Reply #309 on: January 25, 2008, 14:12 »
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I have had no increase in income for the last four months. None. I am actually down with about 5%

How'd the advice from here work out?

« Reply #310 on: January 26, 2008, 04:04 »
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This forum has made me think about strategy going forward once again. In the last few weeks I've actually had a decent level of sales, however as usual these are predominantly from IS and SS. DT has been showing some increase, however even my best week there still only amounts to 10% of earnings.

In doing some image searches, I've found that in some cases my images were used from BS on the same publication as other images from IS and more expensive agencies. This convinced me that some designers do in fact shop around for cheaper images. It could in fact be that by uploading to cheaper sites, you're canibalising my own higher price sales. In any event, if I calculate the time spent uploading to the smaller sites, it just doesn't seem worth the return.

In any event I've decided over the next few months to:
1. Concentrate on uploads to IS
2. Continue uploading to SS - but with reduced resolution
3. Stop uploading to the "cheaper" or low volume sites such as DT, FL and BS
4. Convert my $8 in earnings on CS to credits, download someone else's photos and close my account there. I'd rather another photographer get some revenue than the site.
5. Consider exclusivity at IS if sales there continue to rise.

One more thought - as a group, I think there is the power to influence sites. I did a rough calculation based on DT's data, the top 200 photographers make up over 500,000 of the photos online - the next 500,000 come from about 600 more photographers. DT claims to have around 28,000 photographers. What this says is that existing images, and new images come from a relatively small number of photographers. I suspect that a fair few of these top 1000 participate in this group.

« Reply #311 on: January 26, 2008, 11:47 »
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I am sure some buyers shop around but it doesn't seem like a significant number of them do.  For the first 8 months doing this, I concentrated mainly on SS and IS but last year I uploaded most of my portfolio to the smaller sites and it seems to have made a significant boost to my overall earnings.

« Reply #312 on: January 26, 2008, 11:54 »
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4. Convert my $8 in earnings on CS to credits, download someone else's photos and close my account there. I'd rather another photographer get some revenue than the site.


I am looking to cash out on CanStockPhoto so I can close my account, so here is a LINK to my portfolio there.  As soon as I hit the minimum payout I am cashing out and closing the account because they won't let me opt out of sub sales.

« Reply #313 on: January 26, 2008, 12:34 »
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In doing some image searches, I've found that in some cases my images were used from BS on the same publication as other images from IS and more expensive agencies.
   Couldnt' this mean simply that they were impossible to find on IS?  Do designers really have the time to search to page 128 for a perfect image?


In any event I've decided over the next few months to:
1. Concentrate on uploads to IS
2. Continue uploading to SS - but with reduced resolution
3. Stop uploading to the "cheaper" or low volume sites such as DT, FL and BS
4. Convert my $8 in earnings on CS to credits, download someone else's photos and close my account there. I'd rather another photographer get some revenue than the site.
5. Consider exclusivity at IS if sales there continue to rise.

One more thought - as a group, I think there is the power to influence sites. I did a rough calculation based on DT's data, the top 200 photographers make up over 500,000 of the photos online - the next 500,000 come from about 600 more photographers. DT claims to have around 28,000 photographers. What this says is that existing images, and new images come from a relatively small number of photographers. I suspect that a fair few of these top 1000 participate in this group.

1. Giving IS attention is very wise because they are an incredible earner.
2. I fully agreed to send smaller versions to SS unless they begin charging more for large images.
3. Why stop uploading to DT, FL, BS? 
- FT - maybe.  Many thrive there, my sales are very mediocre at FL.   I do not like their commission - way too low.
- BS - earnings aren't fabulous, but commissions are fair and it's nice to get a few extra payouts a year there.  One thing that happened last year is I questioned a sale for a book cover where I got $1.  I think on the other sites it would have at least been an EL.  It doesn't make sense to me that BS can ask for more to put it on a coffee mug than a book, but oh well.  Sales there seem to be in decline.
- DT - Some grumble about DT, but maybe that is because we expect so much from them.  They are extremely fair to contributors.  50%.  They advertise.  They have a solid, well planned structure and have not had the technical tragedies that we have all witnessed elsewhere.  They answer requests to support.  Sure, I don't make what I do on the big 2, but I am a real supporter of DT.

If we collectively don't support the smaller agencies like DT and StockXpert, that puts all the power in the hands of IS and SS.  I would love to see these two grow to the power that IS has.  They treat us way better, and we should stand by them.

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #314 on: January 26, 2008, 22:06 »
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Why stop uploading to DT, FL, BS??? Probably because that time saved would be better spent creating and uploading more images to SS and IS where it would get a better return. IS and SS are 83% of my earnings so far this month. The other 9 make up the remaining 17%. Fotolia is at 7% and is the only one of the lower earners that is showing growth for me.

« Reply #315 on: January 26, 2008, 22:15 »
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Why stop uploading to DT, FL, BS??? Probably because that time saved would be better spent creating and uploading more images to SS and IS where it would get a better return. IS and SS are 83% of my earnings so far this month. The other 9 make up the remaining 17%. Fotolia is at 7% and is the only one of the lower earners that is showing growth for me.

Yep that's the main reason. I actually really like DT, and it does show some promise and makes up about 10% for me at the moment, but I want to see how IS and SS go over the next few months - if it becomes worthwhile to become exclusive on IS, then I want to be able to exercise that option - unfortunately that means no uploads to DT for 6mths.

« Reply #316 on: January 27, 2008, 00:57 »
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Yep that's the main reason. I actually really like DT, and it does show some promise and makes up about 10% for me at the moment, but I want to see how IS and SS go over the next few months - if it becomes worthwhile to become exclusive on IS, then I want to be able to exercise that option - unfortunately that means no uploads to DT for 6mths.

I have stopped uploading to BigStock because of the 90 day lock in and may do the same at DT if sales don't improve.  Would like to see everyone stop uploading to these sites that require you to keep your portfolio there after you quit.  Perhaps we could influence a change in that policy.

fred


« Reply #317 on: January 27, 2008, 01:18 »
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I like fotolia, as they sell more EL's for me than the other sites.  I haven't had an EL with DT or StockXpert yet and that does concern me.  How can I get them with SS, IS, LO and FT but not with DT and StockXpert?  Perhaps some sites make it more obvious to the buyers when they need to purchase an EL?
« Last Edit: January 27, 2008, 01:19 by sharpshot »

« Reply #318 on: January 27, 2008, 02:21 »
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In any event I've decided over the next few months to:
1. Concentrate on uploads to IS
2. Continue uploading to SS - but with reduced resolution
3. Stop uploading to the "cheaper" or low volume sites such as DT, FL and BS
4. Convert my $8 in earnings on CS to credits, download someone else's photos and close my account there. I'd rather another photographer get some revenue than the site.
5. Consider exclusivity at IS if sales there continue to rise.

Similar thoughts here.

And I even might stop uploading to Shutterstock - if you consider uploading images as (at least medium-term) investments, its just a too bad return there.

My impression is that the market is willing to pay reasonable prices for images, no need for giving them away nearly for free.

And I will try to upload to macrostock sites (first on the list is alamy). Maybe we amateurs just have to do a little "trial and error" to learn how far we can go in this market and whats the right direction.


« Reply #319 on: January 30, 2008, 08:05 »
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Hi, I'm new here, made a bit observation.

Lately I have been to some forums to see Microstock photographers idea of Microstock business.

I think the value of photographers work has been cheapen by some photographers providing bulk amount of high quality photos and sell them at a low price.
For the photo buyer, the cheapest way to get big amount of high quality photos is go to Shutterstock. That is also who most photographers get their biggest payment from. Sounds reasonable, the biggest sales produce the biggest income. But photographers forget about the most important thing, their idea, skill, creativity and talent. While they sell their photos cheaply, they also sell a good photographers qualities cheaply. Well, if you dont respect yourself, how can you expect agencies and buyers to respect you?

Photographers should have a price of the photo in mind. If you think 0.25 cent is too cheap then dont sell your work there. Thinking about a neat carpenter sell his/her work in the car boot (flea market), how much do you think a person coming to the car boot would pay for the carpenters work? Must be cheap, isnt it?

Mind you, pirates are everywhere. I dont know if they have come to Microstock. If they want to pirate some decent photos for a cheap price, so that they can make a big money of it, where they will go to buy a bunch of cheap and high quality photos? You know, I know.

In this kind of business, photographers would not be able to know where their photo has been used. One day you might find a poster which has illegal used your photo to do the promotion and you might show the photo to friends and family proudly.
As silly as me, that situation might happen to me. So I decide to category my work and decide where and what price I am going to sell them. Also consider to let some good photos go exclusive to certain agency. Although I am not that sort of girl that can easy make a commitment.

I believe a lot of photographers have earned good money by selling cheap price. That is also the main reason they cant draw out from the cheap market. I dont know what would happen if they choose some photo to go exclusive to certain agency. That would definitely earn more than usual. But how much more? Can it make up the lose by exclusive photo? Self-esteem and money, hard to choose isnt it?
I dont have children need to be fed, I guess I can have a go.

« Reply #320 on: January 30, 2008, 08:20 »
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I have had no increase in income for the last four months. None. I am actually down with about 5%

How'd the advice from here work out?

No comment?

« Reply #321 on: January 30, 2008, 09:10 »
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I was working out some numbers today between the agencies who have introduced subscriptions and the ones who hasn't.

A while ago Fotolia, Dreamstime and Stockxpert where pretty much head to head for me, bigstock was behind and istock was in between, none of them had subscription sales available on their sites:
FT 16%, IS 15%, StockXpert 14% DT 13%, and BigStock 4% right?


Then DT decided to introduce subscriptions, sales didn't fall much because they increased prices at the same time but the growth rate almost stopped. I upload about 500 good quality images a month so my growth is quite high overall.
3 Months after DT started subscriptions the numbers looked like this:
FT 20%, IS 16% StockXpert 17%,  DT 11% and BigStock 5%
as you can see DT fell well behind in the race against the immediate competitors, istock remained the same (with the photos I can upload there the growth is not as noticeable) and bistock went up a little bit.

Then StockXpert decided to introduce subscriptions a couple of months ago and the numbers look like this in january:
FT 26%, IS 16%, DT 13% , StockXpert 12% , BigStock 8%

As you can see after several months all the sites who have introduced subscriptions have gone down.


I hope that no other per sale agency introduces subscriptions. >:(

If those numbers carry on like that in the next few months I will consider quitting subscription sites in the future.
The whole microstock market is moving towards midstock prices little by little; I believe it is successfully doing so but at subscription sites I can't see that happening at the same pace.
« Last Edit: January 30, 2008, 09:14 by andresr »

« Reply #322 on: January 30, 2008, 09:19 »
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Very interesting analysis Andresr:) I think at one stage the only way to increase $ is to gradually move pictures from microstock (avoiding sites with purely  sub sales) to midstock. Quite a lot of agencies are present on this market now and they pay  in Euros : I am thinking about  mostphotos, zoonar,panthermedia......
L
« Last Edit: January 30, 2008, 10:51 by ldambies »

« Reply #323 on: January 30, 2008, 10:10 »
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The whole microstock market is moving towards midstock prices little by little; I believe it is successfully doing so but at subscription sites I can't see that happening at the same pace.

I think your remarks are very important and should be taken as the proof of how correct we were (as contributers)being so  concerned about   sub models.
I wonder if the sites those  adopted sub model is loosing as much as we do?if not they may be willing to carry on.

« Reply #324 on: January 30, 2008, 10:23 »
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I guess agencies thrive on the part of the subscription not used by customers and it's a 100% gain as no percentage of that money go to contributors. The model is intrinsecally flawed, if you sell subscriptions you should pay contributors with the same logic (like per portfolio size) and not per sub download.


 

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