Author Topic: Do we just need to talk? (Read 35714 times)

marthamarks · « **Reply #25 on:** July 18, 2015, 13:50 »

Quote from: Hongover on July 18, 2015, 12:05

I just double checked. I became a contributor on Jan 22, 2015. My "new contributor bump" expired on June 22, 2015 if people are right about the 6 month thing.

Six months from Jan 22 is July 22, not June 22.

YadaYadaYada · « **Reply #26 on:** July 20, 2015, 13:29 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on July 17, 2015, 14:18

Here is one of the threads on the subject that was easily found (just search on "union" or "fair", etc.):
http://www.microstockgroup.com/ranting-general-stock/stock-artists-collective-anyone/msg383812/#msg383812

Every so often someone comes in with the radical idea of banding together to tell the agencies what's what. In the end, nothing really happens.

Nothing can happen and nothing will. Everybody here and all the top people can leave all the micro agencies and nothing will change. They have 30,000 more people who will take the minimum wages. The time when this demand should have been made was when micro was new and some people started using paid models, in professional studios, and were taking 25c a download for subs. Those people caused this to be what we live with now. Now the same pros make money teaching more new people how to use expensive professional quality to make 25 cents and compete with us.

Too late now. It's never going to change.

Mantis · « **Reply #27 on:** July 20, 2015, 15:56 »

Agree. there are far too many current and up-n-coming contributors who will produce an overshadow of content when compared to who might actually leave. The goal in my mind is for agencies to get to a penny commission, and even if that happens people will still upload.

Zero Talent · « **Reply #28 on:** July 20, 2015, 16:46 »

Quote from: Robin@Symbiostock on July 18, 2015, 01:39

I have had a Brazilian agriculture company purchase a food image from me, buyout license, for $150.

I have only superficially counted, but I have at least 20% of my photos that sold, so far, for more or much more than $150.
And probably ~10% broke the $150 threshold in less than 1 year.

I once asked $5k, for a photo which made me ~2K in 1.5 years, but I never heard back from the requester...

LesPalenik · « **Reply #29 on:** July 20, 2015, 19:16 »

Perhaps, if it is done in small steps, it would be possible to establish an organization who would stand up for the artists.

The first function of an organization representing interests of artists would be protection of their copyrights, special licensing advice, and going after copycats. A lean copyright enforcement organization wouldn't cost much to run and could potentially earn it upkeep from the proceeds of their activities.

Once you have a successful organization/union working on behalf of artists in one area, other mandates could be added on.

etudiante_rapide · « **Reply #30 on:** July 22, 2015, 12:58 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on July 20, 2015, 16:46

Quote from: Robin@Symbiostock on July 18, 2015, 01:39
I have had a Brazilian agriculture company purchase a food image from me, buyout license, for $150.

I have only superficially counted, but I have at least 20% of my photos that sold, so far, for more or much more than $150.
And probably ~10% broke the $150 threshold in less than 1 year.

I once asked $5k, for a photo which made me ~2K in 1.5 years, but I never heard back from the requester...

from what i understand , i think we all have the odd images that earn us a large cumulative sum.
it may sound wonderful, eg. ooh ooh, 5 images, each made me $200 to $600 to date.
and we go flag waving ya ya!
but if you ask the accounting student , she will say, what you talking about?
divide that from your total 10,000 images, or whatver number, and you still did not breakeven on your internet monthly fees. never mind pay for your equipment etc.

iow, the squeegee kids makes more money you do, because they have no expenses.

meanwhile, some newbies are going round on the forum cheering because he made $50 today
each download paying pennies. suddenly he is a winner after reading one of those anthony robbins or whatver positive thinking guru books. the only ppl who made positive thinking big time money is anthony robbins from his book sales, not from his positive thinking LMAO

how many of us remember our first book "how to be a millionaire taking photographs"

Zero Talent · « **Reply #31 on:** July 22, 2015, 13:22 »

Quote from: etudiante_rapide on July 22, 2015, 12:58

Quote from: Zero Talent on July 20, 2015, 16:46
Quote from: Robin@Symbiostock on July 18, 2015, 01:39
I have had a Brazilian agriculture company purchase a food image from me, buyout license, for $150.

I have only superficially counted, but I have at least 20% of my photos that sold, so far, for more or much more than $150.
And probably ~10% broke the $150 threshold in less than 1 year.

I once asked $5k, for a photo which made me ~2K in 1.5 years, but I never heard back from the requester...

from what i understand , i think we all have the odd images that earn us a large cumulative sum.
it may sound wonderful, eg. ooh ooh, 5 images, each made me $200 to $600 to date.
and we go flag waving ya ya!
but if you ask the accounting student , she will say, what you talking about?
divide that from your total 10,000 images, or whatver number, and you still did not breakeven on your internet monthly fees. never mind pay for your equipment etc.

iow, the squeegee kids makes more money you do, because they have no expenses.

meanwhile, some newbies are going round on the forum cheering because he made $50 today
each download paying pennies. suddenly he is a winner after reading one of those anthony robbins or whatver positive thinking guru books. the only ppl who made positive thinking big time money is anthony robbins from his book sales, not from his positive thinking LMAO

how many of us remember our first book "how to be a millionaire taking photographs"

I have no plans to become a full time stock photographer, let alone a millionaire from photography, in general.

I have only argued against selling the rights for only $150, when you can make much more than this/photo, from microstock, provided you offer quality photos.

From a hobby, microstock became a weekend "job" which brings me a nicely above the minimum wage, net monthly bonus. All my photography related expenses are covered (transportation, parking, gear, software and computer upgrades and maintenance). I pay taxes on my profit.
I suppose I make more than a squeegee kid from microstock alone and I don't risk falling from a tall ladder!

Not bad for about 1-2 days of work/week!

Licensed taxi drivers must have a similar forum somewhere, full of moaning and bitching against Uber.

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Author Topic: Do we just need to talk? (Read 35714 times)

marthamarks

YadaYadaYada

Mantis

Zero Talent

LesPalenik

etudiante_rapide

Zero Talent

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