MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: SIFD on November 10, 2012, 16:03
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hi guys
two years ago i post one topic here: http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/am-i-doing-ok-with-micro-stock/ (http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/am-i-doing-ok-with-micro-stock/)
at that time i was seriously considering leaving my day job and become a full time microstocker, funny despite that i hate my day job to death i still didn't quit it yet. it's a lot of financial responsibilities on my shoulder as i'm the only one brings home the bacon, as a man i swallowed a lot of pain and unhappiness for the family. today i'm in a much better situation now, mortgage is paid off and bought one car for my wife and a new van for my photo business in cash, during the last two years i almost doubled my portfolio and my earning is now more than doubled. i know that a lot of guys will not believe this but as a part time microstocker i'm making more than $8000 a month, 3 times more than my full time job pay check!
technically and financially i think i'm ready to tell my boss to got to hell, however maybe due to my personality - being too cautious, mentally i somewhat still short of some confidence, mainly due to that i was never professionally trained and being the sole income provider for the family, the decision will have huge impact on the family as well.
am i being too ridiculous that with these figures i'm still worrying? your honest opinion needed, especially from the successful old timers.
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You're doing good!
Personally, I'll leave it that way unless you are planning going 'postal' on your boss anytime soon.
However, 8K should provide health coverage for the whole family which is one of my "must-haves". Probably you're getting that right now through your employer.
Unless you have a really crappy health insurance plan I'd stick to the job until the company goes under, they fire you OR you planned on becoming a full timer in the first place!
Having no "regular" day-time job will free up significant time to do your business.
Assuming you might start out from home, don't forget the "downsides" of working there being "accessible" all the time. You might get spoiled being able to do whatever you want/whenever you want. A watertight schedule should be in order to keep everything on track.
I do work from home so I basically work all the time, unless I hang out here or do the laundry, cook, eat, sleep and do whatever needs to be done to keep everything in one piece for the family.
It's a wonderful experience and if you're beyond fed up with your job then give it a shot - 8K a month will get you through for a start.
I don't think you are being ridiculous. Money worries are ALWAYS on my mind no matter how much money I make.
You are concerned for your family and you want to be responsible - that's a good thing. By letting your day job go, you do lose some reliable income but it's also quite unlikely that both IS, SS and others will close up shop the same day as well - so if sh!t hits the fan in the microworld you have to find new ways eventually to maintain your standard of living!
I'd say go for it if your heart is in it (has to be) - otherwise stick with the job, take advantage of the benefits (maybe even 401k etc.) and keep your portfolio growing along with your "passive income".
Well done!
P.S. Sorry for massive editing of my post, losing focus a bit here - have to work more to get it together again ::)
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If my house and child support were paid off I would leave my daytime job so fast that even that Bolt Guy from the Olympics couldn't catch me ;D
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Maybe a part time job (with insurance for your family) might be a solution.
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All I have to say is that if you are really making 8 grand a month doing this part time then you must have some excellent stuff. I do, however, find it hard to believe that two years ago you were making $3500 and today you are making 8 grand. Some of the best in the industry like Sean Locke and Lisa FX are uploading a lot of great quality images and it's all they can do to keep their incomes the same from month to month (I am basing this on previous posts by each of them). Just doesn't add up unless you have an extraordinary skill of combining photos/illustrations with cool special effects that don't compete with other work out there and are a missing link in terms of customer needs.
I am not saying it isn't true that you went from 3.5k to 8. k a month in 2 years but I am saying that this seems unlikely given what everyone else is reporting.
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where have you been in the last 2 years? looks like you show up to talk about your earnings and leave, anyway congratulations!
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If you're earning three times your day job income I'd say you should be worrying and should move on. That is, unless you now are spending three times as much money and are stuck at the day job.
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Microstock income is unstable, but then again so is any job. a business can go bankrupt or you can loose your job tomorrow. I suppose it really depends on what personality type you are. Some people really love the reliability of knowing how much they'll make each month so for them, a regular 9-5 job is really what they want, even if they despise the job. After being totally self employed for the last 5 years, I couldn't bring myself to work for someone else again. I like choosing my jobs, my day plan and getting the benefits (income) myself. I like to know that if I work really hard and do a good job I'll get rewarded for it with higher income (hopefully). Working 2x harder for a business might get noticed but you aren't going to affect your income the same way. You are going to make the company more money.
Working for yourself does have drawbacks of course. If you have a hard time managing finances, managing your time, staying on task etc. you'll find it quite hard - but if you've got a large portfolio online already you should have already proven to yourself that you are pretty determined.
If you are nervous about making the jump, I'd save up 1 year of income in a 'nest egg' .. then jump out and enjoy.
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if you are already making 8k/mth from part time effort, you my friend are probably both technically and creativly a very gifted photographer
at almost 100k/year salary I would definitley ditch my fulll time job that I had a loathing for. What could possibly be the incentive to stay? I f things went south, I'm sure you could easily pick up another job .
If however you were making quite a nice salary/benefits, then I could see the hesitation to quit
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8k are lot of money regardless in witch country you live...
I am in the same situation, still have a regular job but i earn twice as much compared with my salary.... I plan to go full time photographer when my studio is completed ( extending and combining stock with paid photo sessions), The reason is simple: no regular job= more time = more time spend shooting = more images at higher quality = more revenue.
Good luck in your decision.
Nik.
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If it were me, I would continue doing what you are doing. Keep the money you make in savings, spend another few years earning from both jobs and put yourself in a position where you and your wife are covered for retirement and your children are covered for their education...then look at retiring from both. Naturally, during retirement, you could add to your portfolio. Most importantly, you would be in a position where you wouldn't have to worry about income - whether it's from stock or otherwise.
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A guy making $8K a month - in his spare time - is posting here, asking if he can succeed in microstock? Am I the only one thinking this is a put-on?
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I think the old Saying applies to this thread- "If it sounds too good to be true than it it isn't true" ::)
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A guy making $8K a month - in his spare time - is posting here, asking if he can succeed in microstock? Am I the only one thinking this is a put-on?
No you are not.
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Heck, if I was making $800 a month I would be doing cartwheels let alone $9,000 a month! At that amount I would give my boss the 'Bird' and even have someone take a photo of me giving him the bird that I could use that pic for my new full time job as a mirco-stocker... ;D
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hi there Julien! ;D
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@click click, PaulieWalnuts, leaf, noodle, dan and nicku
thank you for your input, actually I have made my mind after post here, i'm 33 years old the only thing in my life so far can even consider a little successful is microstock, without it, i'm really just a nobody. i think now it's time to make it greater than just little successful. 6 years ago when i started microstock, the only goal i had was that hoping one day i can make money enough to take control my own life. if i dont do it now, then i have forgotten why i started microstock in the first place.
@luissantos84
i'm here all the time, but i dont post much, just read then leave. one reason is that i really have no time, the same reason i dont have facebook or twitter or any other social network account. i'd rather use the time to do microstock.
and to rest of the guys who has doubts about this thread, i can post a snapshot of my earning here, then what? i bet someone will then say that i'm full timer already. so i'm not going to make any more effort to explain myself rather than the following: have you ever re-visit a lie you made 2.5 years ago on the internet forum? or do you even remember a lie you post it 2.5 year ago on the net? just think about that.
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Brave words.
True enough.
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Any advice for the stock photo wannabe's?
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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.
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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 ...
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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?
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Exclusive or indy?
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It would depend on how easy it would be to get a new normal job if things went upsidedown.
If there 20% unemployment where you live I'd be less likely to trade in the insurance backup security of a paid job. If I knew I could get a job in a week if I had to then it would be a different decision.
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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
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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...
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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.
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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 ;)
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i am curious to see the 8k portfolio too.. is it photos or illustrations? and i am curious what country the thread starter is..
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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.
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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...
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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!
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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...
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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.
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Life is too short to do you job you hate.
No one ever starves doing stock full time.
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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.
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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?
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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
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And I thought I was the pessimist in the family ;D
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.
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And I thought I was the pessimist in the family ;D
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. :)
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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.
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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. :)
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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"
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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*
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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!
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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! :)
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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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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! :)
Yep, c'mon everybody, grab the torches and pitchforks.
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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..
"and a new van for my photo business in cash"
He is a photographer. I have no problem believing him, if you approach this as a business there's you get completely different results. Even if it is a part time business.
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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..
"and a new van for my photo business in cash"
He is a photographer. I have no problem believing him, if you approach this as a business there's you get completely different results. Even if it is a part time business.
then I was mislead by luissantos' message..
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I think it's really sad that we've gotten co cynical as a community that we 1.) Don't believe someone who claims success, and 2.) Don't encourage someone who has proven growth to continue pursuing this as a full-timer.
Microstock is volatile. It's risky. No one would dispute that. But so is everything else. My last full-time job was volatile. I came to work on a Monday morning ready to go for another week in a job I did well and enjoyed, and walked right back out the door 20 minutes later with my things in a box, not by choice of course. Is microstock more risky than that? I can't lose my microstock income in an instant.
And who cares if it's volatile? What's a little volatility if, in the slow months, you're still doing better than you would be in a regular job? SIFD makes triple in microstock what he makes in his day job.
So who should be a full-timer? I can't think of very many better candidates. SIFD earns 6-figures from microstock, on a part-time basis. He has no mortgage, no car loans, doubled his microstock portfolio and earnings in 2 years.
If that's not the definition of someone who should be doing this full-time, what is?
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I think it's really sad that we've gotten co cynical as a community that we 1.) Don't believe someone who claims success, and 2.) Don't encourage someone who has proven growth to continue pursuing this as a full-timer.
Microstock is volatile. It's risky. No one would dispute that. But so is everything else. My last full-time job was volatile. I came to work on a Monday morning ready to go for another week in a job I did well and enjoyed, and walked right back out the door 20 minutes later with my things in a box, not by choice of course. Is microstock more risky than that? I can't lose my microstock income in an instant.
And who cares if it's volatile? What's a little volatility if, in the slow months, you're still doing better than you would be in a regular job? SIFD makes triple in microstock what he makes in his day job.
So who should be a full-timer? I can't think of very many better candidates. SIFD earns 6-figures from microstock, on a part-time basis. He has no mortgage, no car loans, doubled his microstock portfolio and earnings in 2 years.
If that's not the definition of someone who should be doing this full-time, what is?
Agreed %100
No no! Agreed %1000
Felt like something I would post :)
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And I thought I was the pessimist in the family ;D
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.
Anyka, congratulations on your success. Glad it has worked out for you. I notice you said above you are not supporting anyone but yourself. When you are single and don't have kids, you have the advantage of making decisions that only affect you. You can take risks. When your spouse and kids are relying on you, you have to be more cautious.
If you reread the OP, you will note that he is the sole support of his family. Secondly, he was asking if it would be a good idea to quit a steady job for the microstock industry. I don't see where he asked if he should quit his job and look for another day job and continue to do micro on the side. We are just answering the questions HE ASKED. Not the ones you imagine.
And secondly, having been a part of a family who lived for over 10 years on my husband's one income, I think I am familiar with his situation. My husband didn't have the luxury to just quit any job he didn't like. He had to suck it up and support his family. I can guarantee you he is glad he did.
Now that our daughter is older, and I am able to work and bring in money, he is under less pressure. He was able to quit being an electrician and become a teacher. He did the responsible thing - delayed his gratification for the sake of his family. That's what a good parent and good provider does. When you are a parent you will do the same, I hope.
It's very naive to imagine that we all have to love our jobs all the time. Satisfaction in life can come from your family, your hobbies, your social life, etc. And if you have to work a job you don't love to support that family, it is a trade off that people have made since the beginning of time.
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OP said "i hate my day job to death"
So, I really like Anyka's answer discussing some options. I doesn't need to be binary choice.
I would add one more hypothetical possibility:
involve your spouse and expand your stock business.
Anyway, I am doing my old job mostly part time these days for fun,
deriving living income from microstock,
and trying to diversify.
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Lisa, I absolutely understand that if you are responsible for a family, quitting is much more difficult. You say your husband did not like his job, but did not quit because he had a family to support. Good on him, but suppose he had a boss like mine, a really cruel one, who enjoyed breaking your husband mentally, day after day, wouldn't you as his wife have asked him to quit?
My advice to become a fulltime photographer was based on the fact that I take the word "hate to death" literally. If he just meant "I don't like it", asking for a part-time job would be my first choice.
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Lisa, I absolutely understand that if you are responsible for a family, quitting is much more difficult. You say your husband did not like his job, but did not quit because he had a family to support. Good on him, but suppose he had a boss like mine, a really cruel one, who enjoyed breaking your husband mentally, day after day, wouldn't you as his wife have asked him to quit?
My advice to become a fulltime photographer was based on the fact that I take the word "hate to death" literally. If he just meant "I don't like it", asking for a part-time job would be my first choice.
Fair enough Anyka. If you absolutely despise your job and your boss is abusive, it makes sense to have an exit strategy. Your suggestion to the OP of perhaps looking for another job while using microstock as a cushion makes sense. I was just warning him that in the current microstock climate, that 8k he's making might not be something he could continue to count on.
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This is a non-question. If the OP is earning 3x more from his part-time 'hobby' than his full-time day job then it is pretty obvious where his time is more profitably spent.
Microstock is not particularly 'volatile' as others have suggested, at least provided you remain independent. A decent portfolio actually represents $10K's, maybe several $100K's, worth of future earnings. It's residual income and provides far more security than any salaried job.
Just grow some, take the plunge and get on with it.
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I am happy I took the plunge and went full time four years ago. I hired an assistant and trebled my earnings in just over two years. It's still good money that enables me to support four people including an aged mom who needs 24hr care. The day job, and it wasn't a crap one, could not have paid for all this.
I do have money paranoia that I didn't have when I was an employee, but that's only because being in business opens your eyes to the risks.
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This is a non-question. If the OP is earning 3x more from his part-time 'hobby' than his full-time day job then it is pretty obvious where his time is more profitably spent.
Microstock is not particularly 'volatile' as others have suggested, at least provided you remain independent. A decent portfolio actually represents $10K's, maybe several $100K's, worth of future earnings. It's residual income and provides far more security than any salaried job.
Just grow some, take the plunge and get on with it.
Residual income, provides far more security? future earnings? microstock secure? beg you pardon sir but are we talking about the same business? microstock?
Have we all forgotten the IS shambles, changes, claw-backs, RCs, etc, etc, how thousands of contributors lost half their incomes over a period of time, FTs constant sort changes? this and that.
Can you guarantee the OP his security? that nothing drastic, no changes will take place that will lower his income.
I wont tell you who says it because it hasnt even been printed yet. Microstock have for the past two years been regarded as one of THE most untrustworthy, dodgy, shakey, edgy, businesses on this planet. There is absoloutely nothing, not even the remotest
security in this business. We could wake up tomorrow and its all gone.
This guy is trying to support his family. Its utter madness fooling him up the garden path. Almost every week I hear you talking about the IS greed this and that. How can any business based on this type of greed be secure.
I feel sorry for the OP. Frankly I really do.
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Life is life.
And there are no guarantees.
First there are no guarantees for financial security. No matter where you live and no matter how you plan you life.
It can all be destroyed in a hurricane.
Secondly there is no guarantee for happyness.
Its all up to you to choose what makes you happy.
There are risks to be taken. There are risks not to be taken.
When all is said and done we are all burried in the same cold grave and left to rot.
We cannot bring any lenses with us. Nor can we bring gold.
What remains is two: That we leave our children with the best chances in the competition, and that we say goodbye with a smile.
The smile comes when we have lead a decent and productive life that has not made us suffer, when we follow our inner urge and when the children say: Father did what he could to make us prosper.
So, go for it, be happy and do not regret.
Safety is not nearly as important as you being able to renew yourself.
Remember the children.
BTW... Maybe, just maybe, your very creativity, might be caused by you boring dayjob.
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Been there - done that. Best five years of my life while I was making good money (macro) - followed by worst three years as the money dried up to a point it would not sustain my family - amazing how fast residual income dries up when you are relying on it.
So it was back to work again away from the family, then I found micro of an evening. If my part time hobby (for which I put in full time hours I hasten to add) paid me enough, would I do it all again? Probably - although it would take some very serious family discussions.. Good luck either way.
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Been there - done that. Best five years of my life while I was making good money (macro) - followed by worst three years as the money dried up to a point it would not sustain my family - amazing how fast residual income dries up when you are relying on it.
So it was back to work again away from the family, then I found micro of an evening. If my part time hobby (for which I put in full time hours I hasten to add) paid me enough, would I do it all again? Probably - although it would take some very serious family discussions.. Good luck either way.
Funny you should say that. My Macro, RM/RF, has never been better then right now. OTOH, I have been concentrating on that far more then micro.
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That's for another topic - suffice to say the newspaper market I dealt in got hit with the recession cutting advertising revenue and hitting stock budgets - combined was the rise of Alamy and Microstock which undercut me. Point I'm making is the "glory" years of Macro were just that - we made money hand over fist. To watch that whittle away was soul destroying when I was self employed and working from home. A 40 hour week ended up a 70 hour one for less and less money.
Got to take the good and bad in business; go into self employment with confidence but your eyes open. I learned the hard way. A cautionary note for a Monday evening....
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Life is life.
It can all be destroyed in a hurricane.
+1
there are no guarantees in life..
I just wouldn't be able to do a day job that I hate..
It's like a slow death!
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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..
"and a new van for my photo business in cash"
He is a photographer. I have no problem believing him, if you approach this as a business there's you get completely different results. Even if it is a part time business.
then I was mislead by luissantos' message..
its not the Julien you are thinking
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Point I'm making is the "glory" years of Macro were just that - we made money hand over fist. To watch that whittle away was soul destroying when I was self employed and working from home. A 40 hour week ended up a 70 hour one for less and less money.
Got to take the good and bad in business; go into self employment with confidence but your eyes open. I learned the hard way. A cautionary note for a Monday evening....
Seems microstock is following a similar trajectory for some of us. As recently as 2010 I still felt like I had won the lottery. Now it is so disheartening to see the income dwindling, despite efforts to keep it up.
Seems there are those of us on each side of the fence. Bottom line is that the OP has been told of the benefits and warned of the pitfalls. The ball is in his court now. There's really only one person (maybe two including wife) who can make this decision. Wishing you the best of luck, SIFD, whatever you decide. :)
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its not the Julien you are thinking
If it's the Julien I'm thinking of, living in Paris, then he definitely needs to grow a pair and go for it. Could enable him to move somewhere cheaper than Paris for starters.
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It seems w/ the microstock cushion you have you could fairly safely explore a more gratifying life path, even if it isn't micro, it seems unlikely that it will cut down to the level of your day job over a few years. It is a bit riskier, especially for example if you were in the US you would want to get good healthcare etc. Still, it seems like you should be able to put away a pretty good next egg w/ 10K a month or whatever you are making between your day job and micro - especially as the micro isn't going to drop to 0 overnight - even if it cut in half, that is still more than your day job.
I lost my job quite a while back (not so stable after all) and went on a roadtrip financed by renting out my place and savings - I ended up not tapping into my savings at all - but I am single and most would consider me insanely stingy - I think my cheapest year I lived on less than you make in a good microstock month. Still, if you have to you could probably do without a lot of the things you consider essential - I guess it really boils down to how is your day job effecting you - if it is as bad as you suggest, you owe it to yourself and everyone around you to explore other possibilities and your micro income gives you some financial freedom to do that.
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Seems microstock is following a similar trajectory for some of us. As recently as 2010 I still felt like I had won the lottery. Now it is so disheartening to see the income dwindling, despite efforts to keep it up.
Exactly how I feel. I used to feel that I was having money thrown at me and was always amazed how much I earnt compared to how much effort I put into it but now that it has gone down and I'm working a bit harder it seems more as it should be but still disheartening after going through the golden years.
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its not the Julien you are thinking
If it's the Julien I'm thinking of, living in Paris, then he definitely needs to grow a pair and go for it. Could enable him to move somewhere cheaper than Paris for starters.
That was the Julien I am thinking and luis says it isn't him..
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What seems to be very , very odd is the fact that somebody came on the forum claiming that is making 8k/month and no portfolio visible on any agency for us to see... I don't say that the topic is a joke or impossible to grow that much in a short period of time... but no portfolio visible let me think that all this topic is ''fake''...
No offense SIFD but I'm little skeptical..... ;)
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What seems to be very , very odd is the fact that somebody came on the forum claiming that is making 8k/month and no portfolio visible on any agency for us to see... I don't say that the topic is a joke or impossible to grow that much in a short period of time... but no portfolio visible let me think that all this topic is ''fake''...
No offense SIFD but I'm little skeptical..... ;)
Maybe he has the best, most crazy and unbelievable niche and doesn't want to show everybody.
Of course non of us here would copy anything after knowing that he earns 8k ;)
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What seems to be very , very odd is the fact that somebody came on the forum claiming that is making 8k/month and no portfolio visible on any agency for us to see... I don't say that the topic is a joke or impossible to grow that much in a short period of time... but no portfolio visible let me think that all this topic is ''fake''...
No offense SIFD but I'm little skeptical..... ;)
Maybe he has the best, most crazy and unbelievable niche and doesn't want to show everybody.
Of course non of us here would copy anything after knowing that he earns 8k ;)
First of all why copying somebody's work??? And if is afraid he my be copied .... why copying somebody that make 8k/month when we have the top 10 microstokers and others with very high volume sales ... Don't mention Leaf , Lisa and other successful contributors active on this forum with visible portfolios... ???
I personally believe this theory doesn't stand up.
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What seems to be very , very odd is the fact that somebody came on the forum claiming that is making 8k/month and no portfolio visible on any agency for us to see... I don't say that the topic is a joke or impossible to grow that much in a short period of time... but no portfolio visible let me think that all this topic is ''fake''...
No offense SIFD but I'm little skeptical..... ;)
Maybe he has the best, most crazy and unbelievable niche and doesn't want to show everybody.
Of course non of us here would copy anything after knowing that he earns 8k ;)
First of all why copying somebody's work??? And if is afraid he my be copied .... why copying somebody that make 8k/month when we have the top 10 microstokers and others with very high volume sales ... Don't mention Leaf , Lisa and other successful contributors active on this forum with visible portfolios... ???
I personally believe this theory doesn't stand up.
And haven't quite a few of those successful contributors complained about copycats?
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its not the Julien you are thinking
If it's the Julien I'm thinking of, living in Paris, then he definitely needs to grow a pair and go for it. Could enable him to move somewhere cheaper than Paris for starters.
That was the Julien I am thinking and luis says it isn't him..
and its not because it is impossible to go from 800 files to 6800 in 2 years (talking about IS)
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What seems to be very , very odd is the fact that somebody came on the forum claiming that is making 8k/month and no portfolio visible on any agency for us to see... I don't say that the topic is a joke or impossible to grow that much in a short period of time... but no portfolio visible let me think that all this topic is ''fake''...
No offense SIFD but I'm little skeptical..... ;)
I have begun wondering the same thing. The OP made the one post, followed up a few minutes later the same day, and hasn't returned to the thread since.
I don't doubt it's possible to make 8k on a good vector portfolio. I am sure there are those doing that and better.
But here's the thing. If I really HATED my job, I would not ask the opinions of a bunch of relative strangers on a forum whether or not to quit. I would already know whether or not I could stand it another day. And the only people whose opinions would matter to me about my future would be my own, and my spouse's.
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What seems to be very , very odd is the fact that somebody came on the forum claiming that is making 8k/month and no portfolio visible on any agency for us to see... I don't say that the topic is a joke or impossible to grow that much in a short period of time... but no portfolio visible let me think that all this topic is ''fake''...
No offense SIFD but I'm little skeptical..... ;)
I have begun wondering the same thing. The OP made the one post, followed up a few minutes later the same day, and hasn't returned to the thread since.
I don't doubt it's possible to make 8k on a good vector portfolio. I am sure there are those doing that and better.
But here's the thing. If I really HATED my job, I would not ask the opinions of a bunch of relative strangers on a forum whether or not to quit. I would already know whether or not I could stand it another day. And the only people whose opinions would matter to me about my future would be my own, and my spouse's.
Yeah, there is a lot of truth in that. Why ask strangers? weird. ::)
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Why? We're the experts ... aren't we? :P
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Why? We're the experts ... aren't we? :P
Absolutely! I'm a photographer in real life but I play a lawyer in this forum. :)
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Why? We're the experts ... aren't we? :P
Absolutely! I'm a photographer in real life but I play a lawyer in this forum. :)
;D
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Why? We're the experts ... aren't we? :P
Absolutely! I'm a photographer in real life but I play a lawyer in this forum. :)
ROFL! Don't we all?!
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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..
"and a new van for my photo business in cash"
He is a photographer. I have no problem believing him, if you approach this as a business there's you get completely different results. Even if it is a part time business.
then I was mislead by luissantos' message..
its not the Julien you are thinking
Julien Assange ?
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I don't think he said he went from 800 to 6800 in 2 years. He's in microstock for 6 years now, and after 6 years, he has 6800 files in microstock (not particularly on Istock). I started in 2006 too, with a fulltime job as a secretary, and now I have between 3900 (Istock) and 6300 (Bigstock) on micro. So yes, it's super-possible. I'm fulltime since January, but my port did not grow more than usual the last 10 months. I thought it would, but it didn't because my commissioned work grew faster than expected.
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I don't think he said he went from 800 to 6800 in 2 years. He's in microstock for 6 years now, and after 6 years, he has 6800 files in microstock (not particularly on Istock). I started in 2006 too, with a fulltime job as a secretary, and now I have between 3900 (Istock) and 6300 (Bigstock) on micro. So yes, it's super-possible. I'm fulltime since January, but my port did not grow more than usual the last 10 months. I thought it would, but it didn't because my commissioned work grew faster than expected.
See... she can put a link to his port... Without worrying somebody will try to copy her.... Good job Anyka; i will ''follow'' you soon as a full timer.
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Hi again, all! Hi, Anika!
I don't think he said he went from 800 to 6800 in 2 years. He's in microstock for 6 years now, and after 6 years, he has 6800 files in microstock (not particularly on Istock). I started in 2006 too, with a fulltime job as a secretary, and now I have between 3900 (Istock) and 6300 (Bigstock) on micro. So yes, it's super-possible. I'm fulltime since January, but my port did not grow more than usual the last 10 months. I thought it would, but it didn't because my commissioned work grew faster than expected.
Good to know and thanks for the info! It's not a problem of bad or good intentions. I would be really interested to know how much do you earn now? Actually we have to see if this direction of microstock is a good one or a successful one, at least for some of us.
So, if you can please tell how much can you earn, it would be useful. I really don't think it's possible to earn 8000 and work full-time somewhere else in the same time. Maybe I am wrong. Am I?
Thanks and have a good day!
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Hi again, all! Hi, Anika!
I don't think he said he went from 800 to 6800 in 2 years. He's in microstock for 6 years now, and after 6 years, he has 6800 files in microstock (not particularly on Istock). I started in 2006 too, with a fulltime job as a secretary, and now I have between 3900 (Istock) and 6300 (Bigstock) on micro. So yes, it's super-possible. I'm fulltime since January, but my port did not grow more than usual the last 10 months. I thought it would, but it didn't because my commissioned work grew faster than expected.
Good to know and thanks for the info! It's not a problem of bad or good intentions. I would be really interested to know how much do you earn now? Actually we have to see if this direction of microstock is a good one or a successful one, at least for some of us.
So, if you can please tell how much can you earn, it would be useful. I really don't think it's possible to earn 8000 and work full-time somewhere else in the same time. Maybe I am wrong. Am I?
Thanks and have a good day!
I believe it is possible. I have never earnt 8000 in a month but with what I have earnt with my small port I think that is definitley possible to earn that with a large port.
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Well, I'm not going to publish my income here, but I can tell you that IMHO you need 3 things to earn $8000/month in microstock :
- large port
- port starting in the early years, like 2006, not 2012 or 2013
- excellent stock subjects or niche subjects (or excellent vectors)
As my port only has quality 1 and 2, my earnings are much lower than the OP's.
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Many of us were - or will be - in situation when we have to decide whether to become full timer or not. It's interesting to hear different opinions no matter if OP overstates his hatred to his job or misrepresents his earnings.
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Like majority of the full timers says... once you drop your regular job you will produce more photos/illustrations at better quality... this mean in many cases more revenue more quickly.
I personally save money ''as a backup'' for the time i will make the jump.
@Anyka ''port starting in the early years, like 2006, not 2012 or 2013''
Not necessarily, i started in 2010. Course the sum you need to make a decent living out of stock depends from people to people...
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I don't think he said he went from 800 to 6800 in 2 years. He's in microstock for 6 years now, and after 6 years, he has 6800 files in microstock (not particularly on Istock). I started in 2006 too, with a fulltime job as a secretary, and now I have between 3900 (Istock) and 6300 (Bigstock) on micro. So yes, it's super-possible. I'm fulltime since January, but my port did not grow more than usual the last 10 months. I thought it would, but it didn't because my commissioned work grew faster than expected.
I will repeat myself, it is impossible to go from 800 to 6800, he said HERE that had 800 files in July 2010 in IS and about 5k files around other agencies, I am not going to say who he is, do your research
thats why it is not that Julien
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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?
+1 yes please show portfolio, always good to have reference of portfolio size and quality vs income
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Awesome news! I have to say if my house was paid off I would be happy with 100k a year and only working half as hard. Life is to short to chase the illusive dollar over the cliff.
Congrats and leave that day job ;D
Cheers,
Jonathan
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I suppose it comes with years and experience. The question here isnt really MONEY, is it? 8K per month is good money and will carry you in most countries. The REAL question here is: for how long will he continue to earn 8K per month after leaving his regular job? and thats ofcourse in the hands of the agencies. Provided they are good guys and NEVER creates any hickups ::)
Its hard not to laugh actually. I mean micro today is very stable and sustainable, is is not?
Considering this:
Never any bugs
never any glitches.
never any search-changes.
never any lowering of commissions/ percentages.
never any selling out or take overs.
never any subs sales
never any problems at all
never any contributors / buyers leaving.
So we all are on a gigantic rollercoaster of easy life, fun and games and as microstockers we never, ever have to worry about money, lowered percentages or anytnhing.
Now go jack your job in and join this marvellously rich and wealthy organization. In fact all people here encouraging you to leave, will ofcourse gurantee you life on a silver spoon, money in the bank and that the micro agencies have selected only you to enjoy the ride without the sightest bit of problem. :)
:)
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the question really is what does your regular job gets you beside the 2k $ per month and how much you would need to spend if you left it
your 8k $ income from stock won't go to half or less tomorrow, it will go over a few years maybe decades, not to mention that you will have a lot more time to work on new pictures, for sure the double you are producing as part-time
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the question really is what does your regular job gets you beside the 2k $ per month and how much you would need to spend if you left it
your 8k $ income from stock won't go to half or less tomorrow, it will go over a few years maybe decades, not to mention that you will have a lot more time to work on new pictures, for sure the double you are producing as part-time
Youre right actually. If the guy was single and not a care in the world but then he tells us about wife, kids, this and that, well you know, Im not sure?
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the question really is what does your regular job gets you beside the 2k $ per month and how much you would need to spend if you left it
your 8k $ income from stock won't go to half or less tomorrow, it will go over a few years maybe decades, not to mention that you will have a lot more time to work on new pictures, for sure the double you are producing as part-time
Youre right actually. If the guy was single and not a care in the world but then he tells us about wife, kids, this and that, well you know, Im not sure?
totally but having a job he hates for 2 years now, maybe a lot more before, only Julien knows :)
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Never any bugs
never any glitches.
never any search-changes.
never any lowering of commissions/ percentages.
never any selling out or take overs.
never any subs sales
never any problems at all
never any contributors / buyers leaving.
I.m sure you talking about IS; not all the stock agencies( i meant the ones that matters).
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Never any bugs
never any glitches.
never any search-changes.
never any lowering of commissions/ percentages.
never any selling out or take overs.
never any subs sales
never any problems at all
never any contributors / buyers leaving.
I.m sure you talking about IS; not all the stock agencies( i meant the ones that matters).
Well you know. Look around. I am being a bit funny here but really you find a bit of these ingredients in most of them, some more some less.
Typical of short term business, strategies and profits.
OTOH. We havent heard a word from this OP? does he really exist? or a figment of our imagination?
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I'm still around and have been around all this time.
I would like to thank everyone who give their honest thoughts about this. even though now I have read from both sides, it doesn't make my decision any easier. but I've decide to go full time and will be approaching microstock on a business level.
thanks again and take care.
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LOL, what a funny thread. If someone raised his income during the last two years from 3.5K to 8k by sparetime image production i would say:
if the agencys continue to cut rates like in the last two years he will be the last man standing in 2020 and will serve all pictures for all agencys all around the world. What a joke.
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Exactly! and a very weird thread. See I am sure the OP is under the impression that only because he is earning 8K now, he will also do this in the future? not so. I strongly believe that he is not too aware of all these lowering of commissions, cut-rates, killer search-changes and all that or perhaps has had the fortune of not being effected by is, YET! but it will come.
Take Lisa! one of our most professional and prolific suppliers of the industry. Her earnings been cut in half! if that isnt a sign of the times, I dont know what is? and myself! two years back I was earning well above his 8K, today Im trailling by at least 30% less, however I am lucky in the sense that my 20 years of supplying the RM industry is ofcourse paying off a hell of a lot more.
Its not going forward, as the OP tends to think, its going backwards.
However whatever he decides, good luck to him and his decisions.
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Exactly! and a very weird thread. See I am sure the OP is under the impression that only because he is earning 8K now, he will also do this in the future? not so. I strongly believe that he is not too aware of all these lowering of commissions, cut-rates, killer search-changes and all that or perhaps has had the fortune of not being effected by is, YET! but it will come.
Take Lisa! one of our most professional and prolific suppliers of the industry. Her earnings been cut in half! if that isnt a sign of the times, I dont know what is? and myself! two years back I was earning well above his 8K, today Im trailling by at least 30% less, however I am lucky in the sense that my 20 years of supplying the RM industry is ofcourse paying off a hell of a lot more.
Its not going forward, as the OP tends to think, its going backwards.
However whatever he decides, good luck to him and his decisions.
I have to agree with you on this. I'm earning just over half of what I was at my peak and have gone from 5 sites to 11 since then.
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I think it's really sad that we've gotten co cynical as a community that we 1.) Don't believe someone who claims success, and 2.) Don't encourage someone who has proven growth to continue pursuing this as a full-timer.
Microstock is volatile. It's risky. No one would dispute that. But so is everything else. My last full-time job was volatile. I came to work on a Monday morning ready to go for another week in a job I did well and enjoyed, and walked right back out the door 20 minutes later with my things in a box, not by choice of course. Is microstock more risky than that? I can't lose my microstock income in an instant.
And who cares if it's volatile? What's a little volatility if, in the slow months, you're still doing better than you would be in a regular job? SIFD makes triple in microstock what he makes in his day job.
So who should be a full-timer? I can't think of very many better candidates. SIFD earns 6-figures from microstock, on a part-time basis. He has no mortgage, no car loans, doubled his microstock portfolio and earnings in 2 years.
If that's not the definition of someone who should be doing this full-time, what is?
Agreed %100
No no! Agreed %1000
Felt like something I would post :)
here ye here ye!
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Take Lisa! one of our most professional and prolific suppliers of the industry. Her earnings been cut in half! if that isnt a sign of the times, I dont know what is? and myself! two years back I was earning well above his 8K, today Im trailling by at least 30% less, however I am lucky in the sense that my 20 years of supplying the RM industry is ofcourse paying off a hell of a lot more.
Its not going forward, as the OP tends to think, its going backwards.
However whatever he decides, good luck to him and his decisions.
I have to agree with you on this. I'm earning just over half of what I was at my peak and have gone from 5 sites to 11 since then.
I haven't found that. My microstock earnings peaked in 2009 but only slipped back just over 2% in each of 2010 and 2011. This year however I'm up about 4% over last year so hopefully I should be almost back to my peak earnings. The only additional 'agency' I've added was when my portfolio was forced into the PP by IS.
Essentially earnings from IS and FT have plummetted, DT has remained static but fortunately the slack has been taken up by a massive increase at SS and the additional income from the PP. I've only been uploading about 500-600 images per year too. I'm quite sure if I'd have been treating microstock like a full-time job I could comfortably have doubled my output and my earnings would probably have risen.
I think one of the differences between me and some others is that I delayed joining FT for many months and, as a result, never 'caught the wave' that so many seemed to enjoy there. It also meant that I just missed out on getting to Emerald before they upped the requirements so again I missed out on the boost to income that that could have provided. It took me over 2 years longer to get to Emerald after that.
In my experience (eight years now) microstock has stabilised into a remarkably stable source of income, seasonal variations aside, and I just hope it can keep going for as long as possible.
Well done to the OP for taking the plunge and going full-time. Good luck and I'm sure you won't regret it. The biggest danger in my view is getting lazy (like me!) and not putting in the hours. If you're disciplined and work hard then you should do well __ unless there's a drastic game-changer around the corner but then that can happen to any job.
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Microstock stable or not?
It seems that there is a strong assumption in this thread that
those "other" jobs are stable and secure.
Really?
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Microstock stable or not?
It seems that there is a strong assumption in this thread that
those "other" jobs are stable and secure.
Really?
+ 1.000.000.000 ;D
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Microstock is "stable" to me in terms of keeping an income day to day. In a salaried job, you could get the boot tomorrow, for any reason at all, even if you're a phenomenal worker. In microstock, unless you're exclusive, you don't have that same risk. So one site shuts down or does something stupid to ruin their business. There are plenty more around.
Any unplanned departure from microstock for me would be a long process, not an overnight surprise. During which time I could look for other work or figure out my next move. I wouldn't get that luxury from any job where you work for someone else.
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Microstock is "stable" to me in terms of keeping an income day to day. In a salaried job, you could get the boot tomorrow, for any reason at all, even if you're a phenomenal worker. In microstock, unless you're exclusive, you don't have that same risk. So one site shuts down or does something stupid to ruin their business. There are plenty more around.
Any unplanned departure from microstock for me would be a long process, not an overnight surprise. During which time I could look for other work or figure out my next move. I wouldn't get that luxury from any job where you work for someone else.
Dang right. He could have been making Twinkies; but, who could hate that? ;D
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Microstock is "stable" to me in terms of keeping an income day to day. In a salaried job, you could get the boot tomorrow, for any reason at all, even if you're a phenomenal worker. In microstock, unless you're exclusive, you don't have that same risk. So one site shuts down or does something stupid to ruin their business. There are plenty more around.
Any unplanned departure from microstock for me would be a long process, not an overnight surprise. During which time I could look for other work or figure out my next move. I wouldn't get that luxury from any job where you work for someone else.
I tend to agree. Microstock is an evolving industry, but it doesn't change that rapidly. Unless the internet blows up, I don't see it as that risky or volatile.
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First of all ignore all the people asking for your port. That's the last thing you should be doing at the moment.
I did go full time and it took me only a year to make up for the loss of income from my 'day job'. Since you are already making much more from stock it's not that important I guess. The change in life's quality is so great that it's worth it even if you would be earning less.
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First of all ignore all the people asking for your port. That's the last thing you should be doing at the moment.
I did go full time and it took me only a year to make up for the loss of income from my 'day job'. Since you are already making much more from stock it's not that important I guess. The change in life's quality is so great that it's worth it even if you would be earning less.
Ofcourse its worth it! and as you say, should he be earning less for his keep, wife, kids, mortgages, etc, etc, you know after a few search changes and reduced percentages. You will make up the balance no doubt.
Especially when the bailiffs comes to the door. ::)
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I'm still around and have been around all this time.
I would like to thank everyone who give their honest thoughts about this. even though now I have read from both sides, it doesn't make my decision any easier. but I've decide to go full time and will be approaching microstock on a business level.
thanks again and take care.
Thanks for checking back in. I wish you all the best in your new job as a FT microstocker. :)
Hope you will keep us posted on how it works out for you.
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Yes, I surely will come back to this thread to let you guys know how do I do, let's say in 6 months or 1 year's time.
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Yes, I surely will come back to this thread to let you guys know how do I do, let's say in 6 months or 1 year's time.
Perfect, thanks. Make it 2 years just to be safe.
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I'm still around and have been around all this time.
I would like to thank everyone who give their honest thoughts about this. even though now I have read from both sides, it doesn't make my decision any easier. but I've decide to go full time and will be approaching microstock on a business level.
thanks again and take care.
congrats, and like others have said. Please check-in again in a year or so.
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Hi SIFD,
I don't know your business plan, but you said, you make $8000 a month as a part time microstocker. You didn't say wether it's the operating profit or the operating revenue. I think it's the revenue. So let's try to make a (very simplified) business plan by estemation:
Tax (-20%)
Health insurance (-15%)
Pension insurance (-20%)
Other insurances (-5%)
Investments (-5%)
Office, car and such things (-5%)
Reserves for bad months (-5%)
So you see: the running costs will be about 75%. Thus you will have $2000 for the private expenses of the family.
... as a part time microstocker i'm making more than $8000 a month, 3 times more than my full time job pay check!
You didn't say, how much your full time job pay check is:
- If $8000 is really 3 times more than your fulltime job pay check ($2000), you would have no more money for the private expenses, but you would have higher risks.
- But if $8000 is only 3 times of your fulltime job pay check ($2667), you would have less money for the private expenses.
That doesn't seem to be a big deal.
My experience is, that you need a revenue of about €8000 ($10000) as a full time independent.
My suggestions:
Stay part time in your job. Double your portfolio once more. Decide in one or two years.
Oh, I just saw, you decided already. I'm too late.
Good luck.
ingwio
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Oh, I just saw, you decided already. I'm too late.
Good luck.
ingwio
lol
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Back in the mid 80s when I embarked on freelance commercial photography, I had a Vet-surgeon degree, education and over 100K in my pocket. Was a lot of dosh in them days. It was a very easy transition.
What have you got? yes, wife and kids, a costly asset. Any savings? cause you gonna need it.
3 years ago in micro I would have encouraged your decision 100%. Today, its one hell of a gamble. There is not one single site that one can call secure.
anyway, best of luck and I really hope you make it. Seen too many broken homes and marriages I guess.
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lol
Thank you for your intelligent post.
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Hi SIFD,
I don't know your business plan, but you said, you make $8000 a month as a part time microstocker. You didn't say wether it's the operating profit or the operating revenue. I think it's the revenue. So let's try to make a (very simplified) business plan by estemation:
Tax (-20%)
Health insurance (-15%)
Pension insurance (-20%)
Other insurances (-5%)
Investments (-5%)
Office, car and such things (-5%)
Reserves for bad months (-5%)
ingwio,
Your comparison and conclusions are somewhat biased ...
Taxes, health insurance, retirement, investments need also be paid from a job salary even if employer covers something here, so you are not comparing the same incomes.
I think that "Office, car and such things" are already included in expenses, so you may count them twice.
OP can expect growth of earnings after switching to full time.
He is not limited to microstock. He can expand as a photographer or artist.
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lol
Thank you for your intelligent post.
I plussed your comment because I thought it was a good post and I had to giggle at your last line. I apologise for not being so intelligent as you today on this saturday with this massive hangover from yesterdays crazy party.
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lol
Thank you for your intelligent post.
I plussed your comment because I thought it was a good post and I had to giggle at your last line. I apologise for not being so intelligent as you today on this saturday with this massive hangover from yesterdays crazy party.
Hey! just lay off the booze will ya, its brginning to cloud your judgements, if you must drink, how about some Scotch instead of that moonshine your gulping.
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Heineken my friend. 8)
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maybe he put the pictures by his Iphone ... i don't belive anyway in this story.
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@PixelsAway:
Your comparison and conclusions are somewhat biased ...
Marek,
I tried to make a very simplified business plan, very simplified because I don't know the real data of the PO. I do not even know where he lives, in USA, China, Greece, Germany? No matter where he lives, he has to make his business plan based on his real data, even if the result does not look like he or you want it. Otherwise it would be self-deception.
Taxes, health insurance, retirement, investments need also be paid from a job salary even if employer covers something here, so you are not comparing the same incomes.
If the PO would live in Germany, he would have the money of his full time job pay check for his private expenses. Taxes, health insurance, retirement have been payed before he gets his check. Investments of the employer are not payed by the employees, I think so it is in USA too.
I think that "Office, car and such things" are already included in expenses, so you may count them twice.
These are the recurring costs for the business as a photographer, i. e. salaries for models or assistants, the fuel for the car he uses as a photographer, rental costs, electricity costs and heating costs for the studio. I didn't count them twice, these are no private expenses. (Let me tell you, my wife wouldn't like it, if I would pay costs of my business from the money, that is reserved for the private expenses.)
OP can expect growth of earnings after switching to full time.
He is not limited to microstock. He can expand as a photographer or artist.
Maybe, maybe not. Read the above posts, look at Greece, Italy or Spain and then assess the risk.
I have only given a framework in which the real facts, data and requests must be entered in order to calculate the risk in a business. It's the job of the PO to assess his risk in the international microstock business, not mine nor yours.
ingwio
@Poncke:
Beck's