Author Topic: become a full timer? (Read 21930 times)

nicku · « **Reply #25 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:35 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on November 11, 2012, 06:47

Quote from: john_woodcock on November 11, 2012, 03:57
Quote
and to rest of the guys who has doubts about this thread, i can post a snapshot of my earning here, then what?

Why not just show us your portfolio?

I have said who he is and it wasn't that hard to find out, that said you have my respect SIFD

Maybe i missed something here .... who is?? a link....

I really want to see how a 8k/month portfolio look like...

leaf · « **Reply #26 on:** November 11, 2012, 08:54 »

Quote from: Anyka on November 11, 2012, 02:03

SIFD, one year ago, I was in your position (though not with $ 8000/month). I had the worst boss I ever had, and because of him I hated every day at work. I had already gone from fulltime to 4/5 and microstock income had grown to a bit more than my 4/5 job.
In January this year, I quit and since then I am a fulltime photographer. But not just fulltime microstocker. Because I am cautious like you (and also pessimist and always expect microstock to go downhill), I started offering commissioned portrait work. Today, in my 10th month, portraiture takes up about 20% of my income, the rest is microstock. And I have not used 1 penny of my savings (yet).
Right now, what you spend is probably much more than what you really need, simply because your income is very high. Make a list, calculate how much income you really need per year, and then calculate how much microstock (or any other photography income) can go down without getting into trouble. Then realise how much you hate your job ...

Good advice. Yes, your microstock income can go down but as you are independent (I believe you said that) it isn't going to drop to 0 over night like getting fired or having your regular job go bankrupt. If there are other types of photography you are interested in, it could be smart to diversity into those a little as well, just to get your feet wet in case your microstock income starts to drop.
$8000/month is a very good income but if you are shooting full time you will also have more expenses setting up shoots and other photography expenses. I guess only you can say how much you need to live and how much you spend per shoot.

Good luck and let us know what you decide.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #27 on:** November 11, 2012, 09:10 »

Quote from: nicku on November 11, 2012, 08:35

Quote from: luissantos84 on November 11, 2012, 06:47
Quote from: john_woodcock on November 11, 2012, 03:57
Quote
and to rest of the guys who has doubts about this thread, i can post a snapshot of my earning here, then what?

Why not just show us your portfolio?

I have said who he is and it wasn't that hard to find out, that said you have my respect SIFD

Maybe i missed something here .... who is?? a link....

I really want to see how a 8k/month portfolio look like...

why don't you look it yourself, I have said the first name

mtkang · « **Reply #28 on:** November 11, 2012, 13:42 »

i am curious to see the 8k portfolio too.. is it photos or illustrations? and i am curious what country the thread starter is..

EmberMike · « **Reply #29 on:** November 11, 2012, 14:08 »

Go for it, SIFD.

I'm the same age as you, went full time in microstock early this year after doing it part time for almost 5 years. My October earnings were double my January earnings. Going full time means you're cranking up the production speed, and given your already successful run in microstock so far, I have no doubt you'd only see continued success doing this full time. You obviously know what you're doing, based on your income and previous growth. You should have no trouble continuing on and growing your earnings further as a full-timer.

click_click · « **Reply #30 on:** November 11, 2012, 14:21 »

Just to add to this "microstock is going down-mentality".

So what?

What goes up - WILL come down.

Just because he/we is/are shooting photos doesn't mean that microstock is the only way to make money with them...

cidepix · « **Reply #31 on:** November 11, 2012, 17:43 »

Yeap Luis said his name.. That port can of course do 8k.. it's illustrations as I initially thought..

Leave you day job man.. NOW!

noodle · « **Reply #32 on:** November 11, 2012, 19:10 »

If your the guy with the 14k illustrations on ss - your work and port is pretty * awesome
That is your gift man, and you should not be doing it for anyone else, as an employee, or doing what ever it is you do at your fulltime job that you hate...

lisafx · « **Reply #33 on:** November 11, 2012, 21:12 »

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on November 11, 2012, 01:02

No, absoloutely not! today micro is so unstable that just by the flick of a search change you could be down 50% in income and then what?
Besides isnt it quite obvious micro is on its last legs. There is no future in micro, its totally over saturated and the supply outstripps the demand by lightyears.
In short, keep your job.

I am afraid I have to agree here. Micro is my FT job, but if I was the only support of my family, it wouldn't be. I make more than my hubby does as a teacher, ATM, but this volatile micro market has taught me that it can change in a heartbeat.

The dreaded "wall" is a b1tch once you hit it, and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Adding more pictures doesn't help, even when they are better than what you have previously uploaded. The fact is that your older images are losing sales faster than your new ones can pick up the slack.

Not to mention, all the major sites are continuously changing their search engine algorithms, so a site that was a top earner one month can see sales evaporate pretty much overnight, along with a significant portion of your income.

Like I said, I have made good money doing this. I and others here were fortunate to be doing microstock during its heyday. The heyday's over.

If you were single and only supporting yourself, or if your wife had a good job and health insurance for the family, as my husband has, then I would say go for it. But it's a heck of a risk to take with your family's future. The signs for this industry are not positive.

Sion · « **Reply #34 on:** November 12, 2012, 00:54 »

Life is too short to do you job you hate.

No one ever starves doing stock full time.

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #35 on:** November 12, 2012, 01:42 »

Quote from: lisafx on November 11, 2012, 21:12

Quote from: ClaridgeJ on November 11, 2012, 01:02
No, absoloutely not! today micro is so unstable that just by the flick of a search change you could be down 50% in income and then what?
Besides isnt it quite obvious micro is on its last legs. There is no future in micro, its totally over saturated and the supply outstripps the demand by lightyears.
In short, keep your job.

I am afraid I have to agree here. Micro is my FT job, but if I was the only support of my family, it wouldn't be. I make more than my hubby does as a teacher, ATM, but this volatile micro market has taught me that it can change in a heartbeat.

The dreaded "wall" is a b1tch once you hit it, and there isn't a whole lot you can do about it. Adding more pictures doesn't help, even when they are better than what you have previously uploaded. The fact is that your older images are losing sales faster than your new ones can pick up the slack.

Not to mention, all the major sites are continuously changing their search engine algorithms, so a site that was a top earner one month can see sales evaporate pretty much overnight, along with a significant portion of your income.

Like I said, I have made good money doing this. I and others here were fortunate to be doing microstock during its heyday. The heyday's over.

If you were single and only supporting yourself, or if your wife had a good job and health insurance for the family, as my husband has, then I would say go for it. But it's a heck of a risk to take with your family's future. The signs for this industry are not positive.

Yes it never stops to amaze me. People think they are in the hands of themselves and their work and that great work will prevail? yes it would, in a perfect world ofcourse.
They still havent realized they are in the hands of people who doesnt give 2 cents about your work, good or bad and who quite deliberatly will crush thousands of ports just over a night. We have seen it many, many times.

there are people here rooting for you to kick your bosses backdside, etc. Its all too easy for them to say isnt it?

Consider this! I have been doing stock for over 20 years, RM, RF, micro, even have my own RM library together with a commercial studio with 3 employees and earn substantionally more then you do from stock alone. Think I can speak for Lisa as well here.

Dont think about your creative masterpieces, thats one thing. Wife, kids? would you gamble with them? knowing fully well that just a simple sort order change can kill you off, just like that.

Anyka · « **Reply #36 on:** November 12, 2012, 02:17 »

I am amazed that so many people advise a 33 year old to stick with a job he hates. What, for the rest of his life? At least give him the advice to find another job ... Yes, I know wife/kids is important, but does that mean you have to be unhappy during every working hour for the next 30 years?
You say it's easy for me to tell him to quit his job, well I say it's easy for people with nice(r) jobs to tell him to stay with a terrible job. What about the wife/kids when he comes home every evening depressed after another rotten day at work?

If you think about fulltime stock photography, you have several choices :
- nice job? ask for part-time
- rotten job? find another job / ask for part-time
- rotten job? try stock fulltime (+ diversify!!)
- rotten job? stay unhappy - - - is this really your best solution?

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #37 on:** November 12, 2012, 02:45 »

Quote from: Anyka on November 12, 2012, 02:17

I am amazed that so many people advise a 33 year old to stick with a job he hates. What, for the rest of his life? At least give him the advice to find another job ... Yes, I know wife/kids is important, but does that mean you have to be unhappy during every working hour for the next 30 years?
You say it's easy for me to tell him to quit his job, well I say it's easy for people with nice(r) jobs to tell him to stay with a terrible job. What about the wife/kids when he comes home every evening depressed after another rotten day at work?

If you think about fulltime stock photography, you have several choices :
- nice job? ask for part-time
- rotten job? find another job / ask for part-time
- rotten job? try stock fulltime (+ diversify!!)
- rotten job? stay unhappy - - - is this really your best solution?

Annika! youre missing the point here. Only 10 years back, I would have told him gladly to stick the job up the bosses back.

Micro isnt governed like the traditional agencies, now way near. Micro is short term plans of fast bucks and pictures off the peg, thats it. I mean you can not seriously believe that micro ( as we know it) will be around in say 5-10 years time?

Now just the fact that he is asking for advice hear proves that he isnt sure but is using his brain. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and just get on with it. Better or worse?
Then when ha tells us he is the sole provider, kids and everything, sorry but you can not gamble with that. That would no doubt end with divorce and all other baddies. When the money stops coming in, love and all that jazz flies out the window.

In fact I would rather recomend him to get himself a steady platform with more respected agencies in the RM/RF sphere where they just dont take your money and run.

best.
I

Anyka · « **Reply #38 on:** November 12, 2012, 03:06 »

And I thought I was the pessimist in the family

Don't you think that if Daddy comes home depressed every evening "love will fly away" too ?
The question is of course : does he REALLY hate his job, or was he just exaggerating, like in "I hate brocoli" ?
I quit (almost) one year ago because I realised that staying in that job would (1) make me unhappy for the rest of my career (really unhappy, no exaggeration) and (2) would even be bad for my health, both physical and mental. If you realise that, and at the same time earn $8000/month with microstock, becoming a fulltime photographer is a great option. I did NOT say fulltime stock-photographer ... This year, commisioned work amounts to 20% of my income, next year probably 30%. Gambling for 100% on stock photography without diversifying is indeed very dangerous.

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #39 on:** November 12, 2012, 03:17 »

Quote from: Anyka on November 12, 2012, 03:06

And I thought I was the pessimist in the family
Don't you think that if Daddy comes home depressed every evening "love will fly away" too ?
The question is of course : does he REALLY hate his job, or was he just exaggerating, like in "I hate brocoli" ?
I quit (almost) one year ago because I realised that staying in that job would (1) make me unhappy for the rest of my career (really unhappy, no exaggeration) and (2) would even be bad for my health, both physical and mental. If you realise that, and at the same time earn $8000/month with microstock, becoming a fulltime photographer is a great option. I did NOT say fulltime stock-photographer ... This year, commisioned work amounts to 20% of my income, next year probably 30%. Gambling for 100% on stock photography without diversifying is indeed very dangerous.

Nice one! and youve done well with a great port. Lets hope your commissioned work will take over. Thats what my studio, commissions, advertising, industry, etc did ages ago.

Yes I agree with you, does he really hate his job that much or isnt rather that being a photographer, fulltime is just so much more fun and glamorous compared to any old dayjob?
Always two sides to it.

Anyka · « **Reply #40 on:** November 12, 2012, 03:28 »

Just for the record : I did/do not earn $8000/month with stock, not by far, but then again, I only have myself to support so I need less. Still, diversifying is (IMHO) the key to a big step in life like this. Even if I like stock photography MUCH more than commissioned work.
On the other hand : commissioned work has its opportunities too : when a really cute/beautiful model comes along for commissioned portraits, you can offer him/her a free photo shoot + MR. I did so when parents came along with newborn twins of 11 days old.

ClaridgeJ · « **Reply #41 on:** November 12, 2012, 03:32 »

Quote from: Anyka on November 12, 2012, 03:28

Just for the record : I did/do not earn $8000/month with stock, not by far, but then again, I only have myself to support so I need less. Still, diversifying is (IMHO) the key to a big step in life like this. Even if I like stock photography MUCH more than commissioned work.
On the other hand : commissioned work has its opportunities too : when a really cute/beautiful model comes along for commissioned portraits, you can offer him/her a free photo shoot + MR. I did so when parents came along with newborn twins of 11 days old.

Right! thats one of the beauties of commissioned work involving people, never any problems with MRs, for stock, etc. In my case I get into places through commissioned work, places where I would NEVER gain entry if it wasnt for a commission.
So keep it up, right way to go.

leaf · « **Reply #42 on:** November 12, 2012, 04:33 »

Quote from: Anyka on November 12, 2012, 02:17

I am amazed that so many people advise a 33 year old to stick with a job he hates. What, for the rest of his life? At least give him the advice to find another job ... Yes, I know wife/kids is important, but does that mean you have to be unhappy during every working hour for the next 30 years?
You say it's easy for me to tell him to quit his job, well I say it's easy for people with nice(r) jobs to tell him to stay with a terrible job. What about the wife/kids when he comes home every evening depressed after another rotten day at work?

If you think about fulltime stock photography, you have several choices :
- nice job? ask for part-time
- rotten job? find another job / ask for part-time
- rotten job? try stock fulltime (+ diversify!!)
- rotten job? stay unhappy - - - is this really your best solution?

I agree with you in full Anyka. If he has a job he hates and can survive on his microstock income now, he should quite. Of course there are lots of factors we can't see and only he knows (like how hard would it be to find another job if he had to)... but at the very least try going part time, like Anyka suggested.

StayFocused · « **Reply #43 on:** November 12, 2012, 07:40 »

Quote from: mtkang on November 11, 2012, 13:42

i am curious to see the 8k portfolio too.. is it photos or illustrations? and i am curious what country the thread starter is..

Yea, I don't get the run around. Port link, please.

PaulieWalnuts · « **Reply #44 on:** November 12, 2012, 08:04 »

Quote from: StayFocused on November 12, 2012, 07:40

Quote from: mtkang on November 11, 2012, 13:42
i am curious to see the 8k portfolio too.. is it photos or illustrations? and i am curious what country the thread starter is..

Yea, I don't get the run around. Port link, please.

The question is around what they should do with their career. Why do they need to show their port? Maybe they don't want people using their port as "creative inspiration".

For all of you who want to make $8K a month, take your monthly RPI and figure out how many images you would need. If your monthly RPI is 50 cents then you need 16,000 images.

jm · « **Reply #45 on:** November 12, 2012, 08:16 »

I'm happy that this forum doesn't support sound. I don't want to hear mass chanting "Show us your portfolio, show us your portfolio." It's obvious that OP made right decision not to show his portfolio.

Year ago I considered quitting my day job. Not only because of microstock income but I needed more time for commissioned work.. Fortunately I agreed with my employer on halftime job. Except some security of livelihood I was also considering if I would not become sociopath. I usually don't photograph people, landscapes only on vacation. I'm afraid that all my daily routines would be totally broken. I can see clearly myself in front of monitor with tablet pen in hand thinking "Oops - it's already Friday - I didn't clean my teeth since Sunday and spent whole week in underwear eating canned food"

StayFocused · « **Reply #46 on:** November 12, 2012, 09:17 »

He wants to get an idea of if he can make a living off of his port, but doesn't share it.
$8k is obviously enough for anyone that is sensible, as long as the port is good enough to sustain that. The port which he hasn't shared so it is difficult to judge.
*shrug*

jjneff · « **Reply #47 on:** November 12, 2012, 09:19 »

Forget the nay sayers!!! I am full-time on the video side. I am a registered Cat Scan Technologist and could make an income doing that. I was cut 2.5 years ago and at that time I was earning what my day job did. Well 2.5 years later I have increased that by 30%. When I lost my job and told people I was just going to do stock they said I was crazy! some people were down right mean. I have to little boys 2 and 4 and my wife stays home as well. I wouldn't trade my life now with anyone. I work hard everyday and love it. I use Samaritain Ministries for my health coverage and have found great ways to save on prescription cost. If you want to do it then just do it. You only live once! I knew if I never gave myself the chance I would regret it the rest of my life!

Miguel Calo · « **Reply #48 on:** November 12, 2012, 09:29 »

hey, I really don't believe it!

let's be serious! 8000 per month and working full-time in the same time! and you probably shoot only in week-ends, right?

you're lying!

p.s.: who does agree with me? Hands up!

cidepix · « **Reply #49 on:** November 12, 2012, 09:35 »

Quote from: Miguel Calo on November 12, 2012, 09:29

hey, I really don't believe it!

let's be serious! 8000 per month and working full-time in the same time! and you probably shoot only in week-ends, right?

you're lying!

p.s.: who does agree with me? Hands up!

because he doesn't shoot

he probably creates his illustrations in the evenings..

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Author Topic: become a full timer? (Read 21930 times)

nicku

leaf

luissantos84

mtkang

EmberMike

click_click

cidepix

noodle

lisafx

Sion

ClaridgeJ

Anyka

ClaridgeJ

Anyka

ClaridgeJ

Anyka

ClaridgeJ

leaf

StayFocused

PaulieWalnuts

jm

StayFocused

jjneff

Miguel Calo

cidepix

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