Author Topic: Brutally Honest January 2023 Earnings Report - Special Rio Edition (Read 4682 times)

Brasilnut · « **on:** February 01, 2023, 09:39 »

Greetings from Rio and happy to share my first detailed monthly report of the year where, as usual, I’ll be focusing on my overall earnings for the month and other industry-related news, including news on uploading a portion of my images for free as an experiment, a legal complaint via Alamy and another nasty street photography episode (illustrated by AI). Let’s get started!

https://brutallyhonestmicrostock.com/2023/01/31/january-2023-brutally-honest-earnings-report/

Hope you're having a great start to the year.

Alex

cobalt · « **Reply #1 on:** February 01, 2023, 11:25 »

Thank you!

RalfLiebhold · « **Reply #2 on:** February 01, 2023, 13:02 »

Thanks again Alexandre for your interesting insights.

About the Alamy Legal Complaint.

We had this discussion once in a German forum. On all affected pictures somewhere the logo/lettering of the German tabloid BILD could be seen. So the problem doesn't seem to be magazines in general and also only affects Alamy at the moment.

cascoly · « **Reply #3 on:** February 01, 2023, 13:04 »

what a great use of DALL-E to tell your story about the beach! i esp'ly like the prompt that contained "while a short ugly middle aged man stands a few metres away upset”

also liked the result of the prompt containing "wide angle, show more of the landscape than the people”. I've had problems to get DALL-E cropping out parts of main figure, and this may help. a bit (prompts including "no crop","no light crop" ,etc don't work

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #4 on:** February 01, 2023, 13:37 »

"...the paid-microstock model is broken"

About the five lenses? Good information for anyone who's asking that question.

Kit left / Prime right
Weight and Cost Heavier and More Expensive Lighter and Less Expensive

Primes vs Kit Zoom, in my experience, are not lighter and not less expensive? If his opinion is based on buying Sigma or Tamron, maybe, but if buying top of the line, camera Mfg. lenses, this is not true.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2023, 14:11 »

Quote from: cascoly on February 01, 2023, 13:04

what a great use of DALL-E to tell your story about the beach! i esp'ly like the prompt that contained "while a short ugly middle aged man stands a few metres away upset”

also liked the result of the prompt containing "wide angle, show more of the landscape than the people”. I've had problems to get DALL-E cropping out parts of main figure, and this may help. a bit (prompts including "no crop","no light crop" ,etc don't work

Thanks!

Takes a feel prompts and running out of credits but I find the more information the better when it comes to AI, then looking for the best variations. Plus I don't like the photos they have when it come to people as some weird disfigured body parts don't look great (yet). I like the painting type presets, illusionist or impressionist works well. Classical too. Probably worth a blog post soon on my experiences!

pancaketom · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2023, 19:18 »

Interesting to see your results as always.

Wow, SS really is jumping the shark. You do seem to mix return per download (RPD) and return per image (RPI) at times, but the only number that really matters - total $ is down - especially when you take inflation into account.

For a while we had similar sized ports and stats at various sites - you have a lot more now than I do. I usually do 2-3x what you do at DT with a similar sized port and usually do at least a bit better at Alamy. I've given up on SS and iS though.

I hope things pick up after Jan, but I don't have a lot of reason to think they will.

tätarätä · « **Reply #7 on:** February 02, 2023, 04:55 »

@Alex
I think you have some great drone travel images and footage.
There are lots of costumers willing to pay good money for those images and footage at macrostock.
And there is demand for travel content again.
quote Stock Photography Direct
"Business travel images from outstanding collection robertharding.com. Now that many countries are open to tourists and business travellers, publications and media will need fresh content. "
https://stockphotographydirect.com/index.php?q=Sellers&id_new=1645

cascoly · « **Reply #8 on:** February 02, 2023, 13:32 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 01, 2023, 14:11

Quote from: cascoly on February 01, 2023, 13:04
what a great use of DALL-E to tell your story about the beach! i esp'ly like the prompt that contained "while a short ugly middle aged man stands a few metres away upset”

also liked the result of the prompt containing "wide angle, show more of the landscape than the people”. I've had problems to get DALL-E cropping out parts of main figure, and this may help. a bit (prompts including "no crop","no light crop" ,etc don't work

Thanks!

Takes a feel prompts and running out of credits but I find the more information the better when it comes to AI, then looking for the best variations. Plus I don't like the photos they have when it come to people as some weird disfigured body parts don't look great (yet). I like the painting type presets, illusionist or impressionist works well. Classical too. Probably worth a blog post soon on my experiences!

yes, i've found DALL-E's photos lacking in quality also - and often get that weird cropping, so i've been concentrating on illustration

https://cascoly.photography/search?q=aiart

just started playing with Midjourney & results there seem much better for photorealistic.

i try not to use people as i've found those silly results

fotoroad · « **Reply #9 on:** February 02, 2023, 15:53 »

I try both and I agree Midjourney looks better for me

oooo · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2023, 17:10 »

dont always agree on your editorial statements
(esp. with recognizable people + non matter of public concern (and data privacy concerns))

but in this case (unless shots were on non-public ground) i cant see the problem

did you ticked theres property and you dont have a release
+ sell for editorial only ?

would you like to provide some more information for readers here
to avoid a maybe unseen mistake?

thank you!

Brasilnut · « **Reply #11 on:** February 03, 2023, 11:46 »

Quote from: oooo on February 02, 2023, 17:10

dont always agree on your editorial statements
(esp. with recognizable people + non matter of public concern (and data privacy concerns))

but in this case (unless shots were on non-public ground) i cant see the problem

did you ticked theres property and you dont have a release
+ sell for editorial only ?

would you like to provide some more information for readers here
to avoid a maybe unseen mistake?

thank you!

Correct, unreleased editorial.

Similar to this, quite a popular sport in Brazil so it can be used for a story:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/coruripe-alagoas-brazil-01-25-2014-1972467716

ouatedeP · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2023, 15:08 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 03, 2023, 11:46

Quote from: oooo on February 02, 2023, 17:10
dont always agree on your editorial statements
(esp. with recognizable people + non matter of public concern (and data privacy concerns))

but in this case (unless shots were on non-public ground) i cant see the problem

did you ticked theres property and you dont have a release
+ sell for editorial only ?

would you like to provide some more information for readers here
to avoid a maybe unseen mistake?

thank you!

Correct, unreleased editorial.

Similar to this, quite a popular sport in Brazil so it can be used for a story:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/coruripe-alagoas-brazil-01-25-2014-1972467716

did you specifically mark them as "for editorial only", or use the acceptable Alamy process of not filling the "Optional data" which would rely of buyers?

Brasilnut · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2023, 20:20 »

Quote from: ouatedeP on February 03, 2023, 15:08

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 03, 2023, 11:46
Quote from: oooo on February 02, 2023, 17:10
dont always agree on your editorial statements
(esp. with recognizable people + non matter of public concern (and data privacy concerns))

but in this case (unless shots were on non-public ground) i cant see the problem

did you ticked theres property and you dont have a release
+ sell for editorial only ?

would you like to provide some more information for readers here
to avoid a maybe unseen mistake?

thank you!

Correct, unreleased editorial.

Similar to this, quite a popular sport in Brazil so it can be used for a story:

https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/coruripe-alagoas-brazil-01-25-2014-1972467716

did you specifically mark them as "for editorial only", or use the acceptable Alamy process of not filling the "Optional data" which would rely of buyers?

Had them not been deleted / managed to recover, I would have marked them as "editorial only" at Alamy. Nevertheless, I've had multiple occasions where Alamy has approached me to ask if I would be willing to license a unreleased image commercially.

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2023, 20:25 »

Quote from: Brasilnut on February 03, 2023, 20:20

Had them not been deleted / managed to recover, I would have marked them as "editorial only" at Alamy. Nevertheless, I've had multiple occasions where Alamy has approached me to ask if I would be willing to license a unreleased image commercially.

I say that I'll only do it if Alamy or the buyer will indemnify me in case of issues. Alamy won't do that. I had a buyer do it, but it was an image which was only very slightly risky for the use in question (calendar of scenic views, with some homes very small in the image).

oooo · « **Reply #15 on:** February 04, 2023, 17:35 »

i meant the news stand

"Had them not been deleted / managed to recover, I would have marked them as "editorial only"

you would had marked them, but have not because the images were deleted and recovered,
did i get this rhight?

oooo · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2023, 17:36 »

oooo · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2023, 17:46 »

image in the link is a nogo (imho)
people as main subject, no news content, father with minor in swimwear-
you are not allowed to even display this in the internet in europe.
No newspaper would dare to print this (and if, dont forget they have a legal department)

As for VIPs maybe, but arent their kids protected?

Mimi the Cat · « **Reply #18 on:** February 05, 2023, 00:40 »

Quote from: oooo on February 04, 2023, 17:46

image in the link is a nogo (imho)
people as main subject, no news content, father with minor in swimwear-
you are not allowed to even display this in the internet in europe.
No newspaper would dare to print this (and if, dont forget they have a legal department)

As for VIPs maybe, but arent their kids protected?

Nope not correct it depends on which country. Most countries allow photos of people including children in public.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Commons:Country_specific_consent_requirements

Brazil is unusual
Taking a picture of a person in a public space: Requires consent (see explanation below)
Publishing pictures of a person in a public space: Requires consent (as per above)
Commercial use of a published picture of a person in a public space: Requires consent (as per above)

Article 5, sections V and X, of the Brazilian Constitution states that the privacy, private life, honour and image of persons are inviolable, and the right to compensation for property or moral damages to the image is ensured."

By the way instead of multiple posts put it in a single post.

You can go back and modify a post to add further comments to it.

oooo · « **Reply #19 on:** February 05, 2023, 14:38 »

-according to your wiki-list i dont wrote something wrong
-btw the pic is allready displayed nearly worldwide

but its not that simple like just the list - editorial rules (this is not a editorial shot anyway)
->as im not into editorial better ask a professional
also consider: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation

note: just really interested in the news stand case!
and wanted to leave something useful for exchange-
and not any lecturing

yes the multiple posts are unhappy, will edit if i have time.

ouatedeP · « **Reply #20 on:** February 05, 2023, 15:43 »

Quote from: oooo on February 05, 2023, 14:38

but its not that simple like just the list - editorial rules (this is not a editorial shot anyway)
->as im not into editorial better ask a professional
also consider: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Data_Protection_Regulation

actually image would easily fit within the choices of the weather news desk, so not sure how you think it is not editorial.

RalfLiebhold · « **Reply #21 on:** February 05, 2023, 16:49 »

Quote from: oooo on February 04, 2023, 17:46

image in the link is a nogo (imho)
people as main subject, no news content, father with minor in swimwear-
you are not allowed to even display this in the internet in europe.
No newspaper would dare to print this (and if, dont forget they have a legal department)

As for VIPs maybe, but arent their kids protected?

I don't really understand where the problem lies for you with this picture.

The people are not in the foreground and are hardly recognizable even in the enlargement. There is nothing really offensive about the picture either. If that was my son in the picture, I would have no problems with it.
An unasked secret close-up of an underage boy in swim trunks, on the other hand, would of course be completely unacceptable, editorial or not.

And I can think of numerous uses as editorial for this image.

By the way, editorial is not the same as news content.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #22 on:** February 06, 2023, 10:57 »

^^^^^

Just best to avoid shooting minors altogether in public, imo, it's something I've completely stopped shooting/uploading. Also not worth the hassle if the parent/guardian gets upset. Moral police are everywhere and will blame first and ask questions later. In many ways having a giant DSLR + lens screams professional so a person with at least average intelligence may make less assumptions.

As for less intelligent people, it's more frustrating. For instance, I was shooting a security perimeter fence (for book covers) in a rural town in Brazil and some guy came up to me to warn me not to try to invade as the wires might be electrified. Ok, how does one go from taking pics to think that I'm going to try to invade someone's property. Plus if I was I certainly wouldn't be out shooting during the day with professional gear. I suppose for the person questioning me it's unusual to find something so ugly artistic but each to their own...maybe they do have legitimate security concerns from past situations.

Street photography is a weird field, not for everybody. I tend to enjoy it but becoming increasingly less interesting from a financial point of view vs the hassle I'm receiving, as written. The fact that situations are extremely unlikely to turn physically violent is a big plus. At worst some yelling back and forth and threats. Then some stories to share.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #23 on:** February 06, 2023, 11:03 »

Quote from: tätarätä on February 02, 2023, 04:55

@Alex
I think you have some great drone travel images and footage.
There are lots of costumers willing to pay good money for those images and footage at macrostock.
And there is demand for travel content again.
quote Stock Photography Direct
"Business travel images from outstanding collection robertharding.com. Now that many countries are open to tourists and business travellers, publications and media will need fresh content. "
https://stockphotographydirect.com/index.php?q=Sellers&id_new=1645

Thanks, I also think they're pretty good...some angles aren't easy to get!

I've been with RH since 2017 and have had mixed experiences. I only managed to upload some 300 images or so and quit one quarter when I earned something like $15, but after a few decent quarters where I didn't upload anything and the results were OK I decided to give them another chance. They have some good placements over at Offset and Getty and also pics can sell as prints.

Here are my latest uploads on them from Rio.

https://www.robertharding.com/photographers/alexandrerotenberg/

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Author Topic: Brutally Honest January 2023 Earnings Report - Special Rio Edition (Read 4682 times)

Brasilnut

cobalt

RalfLiebhold

cascoly

Uncle Pete

Brasilnut

pancaketom

tätarätä

cascoly

fotoroad

oooo

Brasilnut

ouatedeP

Brasilnut

ShadySue

oooo

oooo

oooo

Mimi the Cat

oooo

ouatedeP

RalfLiebhold

Brasilnut

Brasilnut

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