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Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: melastmohican on June 19, 2008, 17:29

Title: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: melastmohican on June 19, 2008, 17:29
I just roughly calculated per hour output from my first 3 months and it seems like I do it for $1 per hour :-) So far it's pretty expensive hobby only :-)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on June 19, 2008, 18:07
Dude, you just got in this and seem like you hate it. Why do you still do it?
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: vonkara on June 19, 2008, 18:24
Like it's been already said, you need to shoot stock images. If you get many images rejected, then don't upload the same type of images.

Your pictures have to deliver a message or show a concept of our modern lifestlyle or anything isolated on a white background I don't know. If you keep trying whit your old pictures that when you was a amateur photographer then nothing will came up.

... The time you was taking pictures in a zoo is past :)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: snurder on June 19, 2008, 18:35
Dude, you just got in this and seem like you hate it. Why do you still do it?

Patient: "Hey Doctor, it hurts when I go like this!"

Doctor: "Well then don't go like that anymore!"

 :)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: melastmohican on June 19, 2008, 18:40
Somebody posted this survey here: http://blog.photoshelter.com/school/2008/06/buyer-survey-2008.html

According to buyers there poor availability of travel/destination/nature/animal pictures. How many pictures of Wrangell-St Ellias NP in Alaska Crestock has? They got 3 before I was uploading there.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: madelaide on June 19, 2008, 18:44
Are you counting on Crestock to make money?  ;D

Regards,
Adelaide
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: melastmohican on June 19, 2008, 18:47
I probably stop uploading there cause they probably want only shots of business people shaking hands and isolated object like somebody suggested :-)

I'd rather put effort on uploading to SS when I am close to 1000 downloads in 3 months. Also I hope to be accepted at Alamy.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: vonkara on June 19, 2008, 18:53
How many pictures of Wrangell-St Ellias NP in Alaska Crestock has? They got 3 before I was uploading there.
Yes, and how many buyers work on a project representing the Alaska...? I don't know how many people are living there or even what to see but still, you're better to go in India and take pictures of the Indian people building their new world, that will be worthy.

That's in the news and gone be dominant in the next 20 years or so.

About the survey, I think you misinterpret it

Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on June 19, 2008, 18:55
Somebody posted this survey here: [url]http://blog.photoshelter.com/school/2008/06/buyer-survey-2008.html[/url]

According to buyers there poor availability of travel/destination/nature/animal pictures. How many pictures of Wrangell-St Ellias NP in Alaska Crestock has? They got 3 before I was uploading there.


The survey is a great look into a buyer's mind but is it a real look into what they will buy? It's kind of like the girl who says she likes nice guys but every guy she dates is a jerk. Is what she says she likes and what she really likes the same? Travel/destination/nature/animal photos don't seem to be flying off the shelves at PSC.

So do any of my nature pics I tested the waters on fly off the shelves? No.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: melastmohican on June 19, 2008, 19:02
So be it.

 I am shooting nature I am not going to rent a studio and hire models out of sudden. I can shoot something more suitable for stock on a side but most of my photos would be in my current category. Maybe I should rather aim to macro or more specialized agencies but right now I am testing waters here. At least I got myself to get thru my pictures archives and select some photos to create portfolio.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: graficallyminded on June 19, 2008, 19:09
I'm making per hour, what I made about a few years ago at my dayjob.  I've only been going full time at this for about a month now.   I've been part time 2-5 hours a week for the last 2.5 years.  I'm seeing huge increases, now that I have more time for stock - let me just put it that way.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Jack Schiffer on June 19, 2008, 19:09
Meldstn Look at my portfolio on DT it may give you an Idea I don't do
model photography or nature  ;D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Snufkin on June 19, 2008, 19:11
How many pictures of Wrangell-St Ellias NP in Alaska Crestock has?

That's the wrong question. The real question would be: "how many buyers for those pictures can Crestock have?". Answer: probably not too many, because they are too specific and because potential buyers for those pictures rather look for them elsewhere. To do well in microstock you need pictures that can be useful to many people, it is a game of numbers. 
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Phil on June 19, 2008, 19:19
shooting nature go macro.  It is low demand so go for higher price.  But regardless of macro / micro, one great (or lucky :)) image will sell 100's of times whilst others sit unsold.

I have images that I have spent 10-20 hours on in photoshop (after driving, hiking, taking shot etc) to earn a few dollars a year. others that took less than 5 minutes all done become best sellers.  hourly rate sometimes isn't good to look at.

also if you stop uploading / shooting / working your sales will continue and so hourly rate goes up. sold an image that I took 3 years and has sat unsold on alamy for 2 1/2 years.  sold yesterday for $350 that just increased my overall hourly rate.   

most importantly for me is I really love taking photos whether it be objects on white or traipsing through a national park, around an old farm, falling down house etc.  I took photos before doing stock, photoshop them etc etc all without being paid, selling them is a bonus. the only part of it that I consider work is keywording and uploading.

Phil

Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: helix7 on June 19, 2008, 20:13
... it seems like I do it for $1 per hour :-) So far it's pretty expensive hobby...

Nothing wrong with that. There are lots of things I'd never be able to do as anything more than a hobby. And most of them wouldn't even get me a dollar per day. Maybe stock just isn't your thing.


Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Pixart on June 19, 2008, 21:15
Usually people reference Amazon (or an online music store) when they talk about the Long Tail theory.  Amazon has their best sellers, and they also carry niche topics that don't sell often and would just collect dust in a brick and mortar store.  Each category sells very little, but there's millions of little categories like this and with the online store being able to have such an extensive catalogue, the combined sales from these poor performing categories make up the bulk of Amazon's business.

The Alaska photos that someone mentioned may not be best sellers, but you have to look at the earnings of such niche subjects over a longer period than a few months.

Microstock may be a lot like that.  You will have your best sellers, but as your portfolio grows, the Long Tail will become more significant.  It's an important factor to consider when you get the urge to "clean house" on your portfolio as well.  Unless a photo is something that makes you groan now that you are more experienced, you should really keep it live.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: litifeta on June 20, 2008, 00:22
You know have  you ever thought of how other artists get their money?

You can spend millions on creating a music album, but you are only paid 8 to 10 cents each time a song is played on radio.

the least I have got is 25cents
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Microbius on June 20, 2008, 05:48
I just roughly calculated per hour output from my first 3 months and it seems like I do it for $1 per hour :-) So far it's pretty expensive hobby only :-)
Seriously, dude, you seem so bitter about this game.
If your doing it as a hobby then you shouldn't be calculating the income per hour. It's debatable whether you should be in the business at all, why not just post on flikr etc?
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: nicemonkey on June 20, 2008, 06:05
I don't see the problem here, surely if its a hobby you do it for fun and not for profit.

I just got back from doing my hobby (mountain biking) and nobody paid me for riding round the wood for 2hrs! in fact I made a loss as I got a puncher! If anyone wants to pay me for my hobby (via sponsorship) I am willing to do it for $1 an hour  ;D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: leszek on June 20, 2008, 08:29
Well, OP has a point (to some extent). A decent picture takes at least 2 hours to prepare-at least in my case. At the same time microstock sites expect quality etc. Quality costs.

I am not complaining - for me it is a game, although I usually try to win when playing. I started about 4 months ago, got 2 payouts at SS, 2 at StockXpert, 2 at Mostphotos - and payments are almost ready at Fotolia, Dreamstime, BigStock, 123RF (oops, sorry, just started at Istock, so no payments there yet).

But from financial perspective - it is a waste of time, even in the long run, I think. I make more every day at my regular job then all the above combined - at it cost me 200+ hours to get there.

Let's not kid ourselves: the money train has left long time ago. The early starters with talent, skills and a knack for hard work are at the top now: but today (methinks) this is just not enough anymore, and the entry level has been dramatically raised (not that I claim any great talent or skills).

I am not going to give up - but all this talk about "do what needs to be done to get a sellable picture" or "keep at it and the results will come" is a bit of a BS (sorry if someone feels offended, no such intentions on my part).
But it appears to me that frequently it sounds like creating ideology to justify the not so bright reality.

After all - who wants to admit that, in reality, all that can be made is $2/hour ? Or $5, or $10 ?  The fact is - we are paid peanuts for a lot of work and effort put into producing those pics. No point complaining - everyone knew what he/she was getting into - but let's not kid ourselves: for one winner there will be 100's of losers.

And if one wants to be a winner at this game - this is a full-time job.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Microbius on June 20, 2008, 08:35
Yes, everyone quit, there's no money in it!!!!
muahhhh hahhhh hahhhhhh  (<----- evil laugh)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: litifeta on June 20, 2008, 23:37
a white van drove past my house 3 years ago and I took a shot of it. Took me 17 minutes to create a clipping path around it and post it on 4 sites. Since then that image has sold around 1000 times.

Yeah sure some of the stuff takes a while to set up. But if it sells, it will probably continue to sell for 10 years.

At a lousy $10 a year per image that is $100. I spent 4 hours driving to a remote place to do a front cover for a magazine and got $400. Sounds pretty good return to me.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: vphoto on June 20, 2008, 23:52
I just roughly calculated per hour output from my first 3 months and it seems like I do it for $1 per hour :-) So far it's pretty expensive hobby only :-)

I thought so too. But 1 have have spent only 6 hours in the past 2 months and uploaded a just dozen images.  Still the almost the  same amount of money.  So initial investment of time seems  disproportional, but since images resell it may turn out to be profitable to do microstock.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: rjmiz on June 21, 2008, 04:14
I know of few hobbies that are as rewarding as this one.
I love the challenge, the game of collecting downloads, and the pure satisfaction of being creative.

Money, although I like it, serves in last place. I know it not like that for others who will read this thread though.
If micro did not exist I would still be creating images, and NOT being paid to do so. That is why money is not an issue with me.

(I do however count DL's...thus the reason subs don;t bother me. You never heard me complain about subs)

OPEN UP A GAS STATION if you want to make a profit

Next time I hear you you sob, moan, complain, and cry about this.....I'm gonna make you sit in the corner facing the wall for 4 hours!

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: 4seasons on June 21, 2008, 04:30
all microstock is evil!

lot of rejections...
lot of new photographers to conquer me...
lot of new creative images (I can't do that..)...
low prices for subscriptions...
low acceptance rate...
no downloads at all...
BIG brother on forums...
no freedom to f**k admins...
......

I think, I like it... ;)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Bateleur on June 21, 2008, 04:40

I just roughly calculated per hour output from my first 3 months and it seems like I do it for $1 per hour :-) So far it's pretty expensive hobby only :-)


Yeah ... you'd earn more asking "... do you want fries with that?"

Are you only in it for the money?
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: leaf on June 21, 2008, 05:39
i am only in it for the money!... and the fact that it is an enjoyable job, but if it didn´t pay my time i wouldn´t be doing it.

To figure out how much a picture is worth to me, i take the $/picture i earn per month and figure out how much the image will earn me in 5 years.  THAT is the amount that i am getting for uploading new images.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Gregor909 on June 21, 2008, 09:43
a white van drove past my house 3 years ago and I took a shot of it. Took me 17 minutes to create a clipping path around it and post it on 4 sites. Since then that image has sold around 1000 times.

Hey that was me!! Where is my cut?  ;D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Adeptris on June 21, 2008, 09:55
Quote
Are we slave workers for microstock industry?

No as we do not work for the microstock industry, we work for ourself, for me it is a hobby and for others it is part of thier income, there are a few that do it full time.

The microstock industry is an agency or merchant at best that has no stock but brings the Vendors goods to the Customer

Like any pastime, hobby or sport, lots take part but very few make a full time living at it!

I must go the slave master is about and I don't want to get caught not working ;D   
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on June 21, 2008, 11:56
Man, such whining.  I want the reward , but I don't want to do the work.  If you don't like it, you're not a slave...
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: fotoKmyst on June 21, 2008, 12:07
a white van drove past my house 3 years ago and I took a shot of it. Took me 17 minutes to create a clipping path around it and post it on 4 sites. Since then that image has sold around 1000 times.

Hey that was me!! Where is my cut?  ;D

drive by each other's house again, and you'll both have an image each to sell around 1000 times  ;D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: leszek on June 21, 2008, 21:00
Pretty funny to see how big a part of the responses is very defensive...
No one said anything about quitting, or complaining, or some such (at least I didn't).

But, objectively looking at the issue - for the vast majority of contributors the reward is totally out of proportion to the time and effort spent.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: chumley on June 21, 2008, 21:16
.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on June 21, 2008, 22:58
Here's what I got:  I'll shoot and upload what I want - who cares what actually sells?  Hey wait - I'm not selling anything!
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: sharply_done on June 22, 2008, 01:33
Here's what I got:  I'll shoot and upload what I want - who cares what actually sells?  Hey wait - I'm not selling anything!
You're right on the money with this one, sjlocke.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Magnum on June 23, 2008, 00:03
He used two smiley faces! take it easy guys... 
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: helix7 on June 23, 2008, 08:34
Here's what I got:  I'll shoot and upload what I want - who cares what actually sells?  Hey wait - I'm not selling anything!

Precisely.

What's the old saying; "Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different result," or something to that effect.


Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: bittersweet on June 23, 2008, 09:58
Here's what I got:  I'll shoot and upload what I want - who cares what actually sells?  Hey wait - I'm not selling anything!

Precisely.

What's the old saying; "Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting a different result," or something to that effect.




“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
—Albert Einstein

He also (is attributed as having) said:
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”

ETA:
Lest my post here be misconstrued, I was simply providing the quote to which helix was referring, and while verifying my information, came across the other one which was funny (to me). :D 

As far as the topic of this thread, I truly do not care. i started this for fun, I'm still doing it for fun, and when it stops being fun, I'll stop doing it. While it's nice that people put time and thought into what I do, the decisions I make, and how much I collect in royalties each month, to be completely honest, I don't really care what conclusions they come to about any of it. It is what it is. As long as I'm happy with it, I choose to make my choices based on criteria other than public opinion.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: fotoKmyst on June 23, 2008, 10:27
Pretty funny to see how big a part of the responses is very defensive...
No one said anything about quitting, or complaining, or some such (at least I didn't).

But, objectively looking at the issue - for the vast majority of contributors the reward is totally out of proportion to the time and effort spent.

DEFENSIVE? yaaaa leszek I agree!
sounds like some of them are angry with melastmohican being realistic about this.
so, really, on one hand, they get pissed off with melastmohican
for complaining and whining,
on the other hand, they're really doing the same by refusing to face the blooming truth. It sucks ;D ;D ;D

Einstein theory on stupidity could apply to us all...
those you call whiners, they who are in great denial, and let's not forget
the cynics :-*

Let 's all kiss and suck it up :-* ;D 8)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Pixart on June 23, 2008, 10:40
Maybe we are slave workers and it seems like we work for $1 per hour.  But how many jobs have you had that you earn dividends after you leave?  Just think of all those great Excel spreadsheets you set up for your department... you got paid to go to work that day, and they are still using your spreadsheets, but you are long gone.

Sure, in it's first year you only earned $1 per hour isolating that pencil.  Maybe next year you will have an EL or a search engine tweak will boost your pencil and it will fly off the shelf.  How many jobs can you earn a dividend over such a long period?  Maybe life insurance sales.  YUCK!

I don't shoot isolated pencils.  I could do that stuff and have a lot of photos on line that sell a little - but over average might bring a nice steady income.  I'd rather send in few of photos that I think will sell - and even then, I am not so good at guessing what might sell anyway, so maybe I should start photographing pencils. 

Investing our time in stock photos is a bit like like investing in the stock market, isn't it?  Hopefully less $ investment risked though.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: epantha on June 23, 2008, 10:51
Quote
Investing our time in stock photos is a bit like like investing in the stock market, isn't it?  Hopefully less $ investment risked though.

It really is quite challenging and exciting, isn't it? ;D
And without a doubt, one of the most interesting endeavors I've ever experienced. LOVE it!
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: RacePhoto on June 23, 2008, 12:42
Here's what I got:  I'll shoot and upload what I want - who cares what actually sells?  Hey wait - I'm not selling anything!

Perfect answer... again!

The one where you listed the stages of Micro was pretty much spot on also.

People have roughly three choices.

1) Shoot what the agencies want and what the buyers want, and sell photos. Get paid a small sum, but sell the same photos many times.

2) Shoot what you like and enjoy and don't worry about the sales, because if there's no demand, there won't be sales. Get paid even less, but at least you are happy.

3) Drop micro and go macro. Maybe you'll only sell one photo a month, if you are good, but you'll get paid $100 and up for it. Sometimes you'll get a licensed photo, for much more, but you can't sell that photo again for two or three years.

Feel free to add to the list.  :)
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: bittersweet on June 23, 2008, 12:58
Here's what I got:  I'll shoot and upload what I want - who cares what actually sells?  Hey wait - I'm not selling anything!

Perfect answer... again!

The one where you listed the stages of Micro was pretty much spot on also.

People have roughly three choices.

1) Shoot what the agencies want and what the buyers want, and sell photos. Get paid a small sum, but sell the same photos many times.

2) Shoot what you like and enjoy and don't worry about the sales, because if there's no demand, there won't be sales. Get paid even less, but at least you are happy.

3) Drop micro and go macro. Maybe you'll only sell one photo a month, if you are good, but you'll get paid $100 and up for it. Sometimes you'll get a licensed photo, for much more, but you can't sell that photo again for two or three years.

Feel free to add to the list.  :)


Can't you be happy doing number 1 also?  ;D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: mwp1969 on June 23, 2008, 13:03
Maybe we are slave workers and it seems like we work for $1 per hour.  But how many jobs have you had that you earn dividends after you leave?  Just think of all those great Excel spreadsheets you set up for your department... you got paid to go to work that day, and they are still using your spreadsheets, but you are long gone.

Sure, in it's first year you only earned $1 per hour isolating that pencil.  Maybe next year you will have an EL or a search engine tweak will boost your pencil and it will fly off the shelf.  How many jobs can you earn a dividend over such a long period?  Maybe life insurance sales.  YUCK!

I don't shoot isolated pencils.  I could do that stuff and have a lot of photos on line that sell a little - but over average might bring a nice steady income.  I'd rather send in few of photos that I think will sell - and even then, I am not so good at guessing what might sell anyway, so maybe I should start photographing pencils. 

Investing our time in stock photos is a bit like like investing in the stock market, isn't it?  Hopefully less $ investment risked though.


Pixart was absolutely correct when comparing microstock to insurance sales. There are few professions that have the ability to produce what is known as a residual revenue stream. In insurance sales, a good agent could write 100 policies over, say for example,  a couple of months and be paid recurring commissions on those policies (every 6mths or year). They would continue to receive those commissions for as long as they retain their client. However ... get use to cold-calling and hard-core sales "Yuck!"

In Microstock you go through your workflow process for an image once. There are no hassles such as customer servicing of the account. It is basically a lock-and-load "Fire and Forget" strategy and if its well thought-out, and technically sound, it will hit its bullseye mark of many downloads over the shelf-life of the image which can be many years. Repeat the process ... over and over ...

It is truly a beautiful thing. I don't know about you, but each and every day, I love to direct, produce, shoot, edit, upload, and see beautiful results for doing something I put my heart and soul into. To me that is "Priceless."

-Mark
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: RacePhoto on June 24, 2008, 00:18

Can't you be happy doing number 1 also?  ;D

Some people are very happy doing that, and making good money. I don't pretend to think for others or tell them how they should live either.

I hate to go off on a tangent with this, but some women sell their bodies to buy drugs, and who are we to judge them and say they aren't happy doing it?

If you are happy working for hours to get 35c each time someone downloads your photo. And you don't mind getting $3 for a book cover... that's fine with me.  ;) The agencies will pimp your photos for you for 50% and I'm sure they are very happy to have so many people willing to work for pennies.

You'll just have to believe me, because I worked for $1.37 an hour for a university as a "secretary" running the photo lab, because that's the only position and salary the state university had available. Well below minimum wage, and by the way... I was happy!  ;D

I also quite happy taking photos I like, of what I like, and not selling as many as people who are smarter and playing along with the stock program. I also don't feel that getting a dollar a photo is enough incentive to invest the time building a qualified portfolio, like some people have worked at, very hard and done a great job of succeeding at doing.

It's a personal choice. Please don't get me wrong.

Keep in mind that some weekends I pay my own way to drive to a site, take photos, pay my own food and lodging, and on Monday hope I can sell a few photos to a magazine for $20 each. It's just as crazy, but I like what I'm shooting. I'm not doing it for the money...

EDIT: I forgot to add this. No one is forcing any of us to do any of this. We have free will and a choice to do whatever we wish. It's not slave labor. It may be slave wages?  :D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: faber on June 24, 2008, 01:00
Slave workers for microstock? Of course we are!! Will-less victims of a cruel industry!

For example: I was forced to attend the istock ref5esh in Malta last week ->(http://www.microstockgroup.com/index.php?topic=4145.msg53255;topicseen#new). Worst experience ever in my life as a photographer!! Merciless istock staff whipping us to produce images in the mediterranean heat, drink beer, doing boat trips, swim in the ocean....and lots of other terrible activities. DREADFUL!!

I will definitely quit microstock photography and go back to work in a stone pit.  :D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: MikLav on June 24, 2008, 17:03
I like photography, and microstock is a great motivation for me to photograph more and to try different genre.

However having 14 years experience of working in large enterprises (not photography related) I perfectly realize that we are nothing else than raw material suppliers for the agencies. Supplier is important link in the business chain, but one is easily replaceable with another one...   and no, I don't think it has anything close to slave labor.

Realizing that doesn't stop me to appreciate microstock for opening photo business doors for keen amateurs.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Gizeh on June 26, 2008, 10:24

Pixart was absolutely correct when comparing microstock to insurance sales. There are few professions that have the ability to produce what is known as a residual revenue stream.


There is one small but critical difference: In insurance sales you know exactly what you will get as long as the customer is not terminating his contract. In microstock there are too much unknown factors for making any serious predictions.

Will your images be found in 2010 within a sea of billions of images? How about prices in general and especially the increase of subscriptions? Will our percentages go up or down?

Thinking of microstock as an residual revenue stream might be a good motivation for uninformed beginners but no one serious will count on that in an instable market like ours.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Pixart on June 26, 2008, 10:56
Also... will the format change?

Think... beta... vcr... dvd... blueray...

Will our JPEGs have any value in 5 years?
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: louoates on June 26, 2008, 15:43
Anybody here know of a good skin ointment? Those pesky ankle chains are giving me raw skin again.
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Gregor909 on June 26, 2008, 16:54
Anybody here know of a good skin ointment? Those pesky ankle chains are giving me raw skin again.


And you think you have enough time to apply the ointment between the whipping?  ;D
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: Lizard on June 26, 2008, 17:15
This is word of slaves anyway. If I pick direction and decide to just walk for the rest of my life , someone would stop me in a certain moment a forbid me to make one more step. If I would refuse , they would take that freedom they claim I own. And all I wanted is to walk .
Title: Re: Are we slave workers for microstock industry?
Post by: louoates on June 26, 2008, 17:26
Also... will the format change?

Think... beta... vcr... dvd... blueray...

Will our JPEGs have any value in 5 years?


My brother bought a 4 Track stereo system many years ago. It was so new that the store only had 1 tape available in the new format. So he bought the tape. A few weeks later the 8 track stereo system hit the market rendering the 4 track format forever obsolete. Last year I sold all my Laser video disks and player for a couple of bucks. The buyer had never heard of laser disks or the laser disk format.

I guess we need to expect obsolescence and hope the microsites have a way to upgrade to whatever format is the next jpg.