Author Topic: Do you have (microstock) secrets? (Read 16492 times)

Perry · « **on:** August 01, 2012, 06:44 »

I have a few. I upload to two sites "nobody" is talking about (they have been mentioned here, they aren't that exotic!) and I get decent returns (think "half of what Fotolia earns me").
I don't want to talk about them, all microstockers rushing to the sites might spoil it, I'll rather have my own money

I have some photo techniques I don't want to share/show to anyone, because I haven't seen any other doing them the same way as I do, I have even tried to google them but got no results. Some of them are DIY lighting mods that give interesting results and some other save time and makes life easier.

I don't showcase my portfolio here, especially my bestsellers. I don't want them to be copied to death (it's already happening....)

How about your secrets?

Druid · « **Reply #1 on:** August 01, 2012, 06:49 »

You've asked for us to give you our secrets but you haven't told us what yours are just that you have some? Tell us one of yours and I might consider giving you one of mine

ShadySue · « **Reply #2 on:** August 01, 2012, 06:53 »

If I told you, they wouldn't be secrets.
(But I don't have any, anyway.)

Perry · « **Reply #3 on:** August 01, 2012, 06:59 »

I didn't ask anyone to tell us their secrets, just to tell if they have any... Or is that a secret too?

etienjones · « **Reply #4 on:** August 01, 2012, 07:16 »

My secret is that I hate cameras . . . . . . . . if we could only do without.

Microbius · « **Reply #5 on:** August 01, 2012, 07:36 »

heywoody · « **Reply #6 on:** August 01, 2012, 07:43 »

Quote from: Perry on August 01, 2012, 06:44

I have a few. I upload to two sites "nobody" is talking about (they have been mentioned here, they aren't that exotic!) and I get decent returns (think "half of what Fotolia earns me").
I don't want to talk about them, all microstockers rushing to the sites might spoil it, I'll rather have my own money

I'm not sure that ALL that FT earns me would be worth the effort, never mind HALF

Perry · « **Reply #7 on:** August 01, 2012, 07:48 »

Quote from: heywoody on August 01, 2012, 07:43

I'm not sure that ALL that FT earns me would be worth the effort, never mind HALF

It's half the sales each, together they make as much as FT. The thing is that the sites in question has some of the easiest uploads ever, so to get the extra earnings I just need to click my mouse a couple of times.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #8 on:** August 01, 2012, 09:26 »

I've done searches on phrases like "microstock secrets" and the typical blogs come up, as well as some books on Amazon that may or may not have worthwhile info.

I think that if people want to share their "secrets" they want to see a financial return on that, like books by Rob Sylvan and Ellen Boughn. Anyone read any of those and get anything out of them? I've been thinking about getting them on my Kindle.

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #9 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:00 »

My wife doesn't know that I'm planning to buy a new camera.

steheap · « **Reply #10 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:02 »

Quote

I think that if people want to share their "secrets" they want to see a financial return on that, like books by Rob Sylvan and Ellen Boughn. Anyone read any of those and get anything out of them? I've been thinking about getting them on my Kindle.

I've bought and read them - from what I can recall thinking back, they are nicely produced books that have some good stock images that may give you ideas for a few shoots of your own, but there are no secrets! I enjoyed them - it is always good to sit back and look/read about what others are doing.

There seems to be two types of book around - those glossy ones that make it sound easy to make a lot of money from your camera (and they need to do that to get the sales), and the nitty gritty eBooks/websites that go through the details of how to manage your files, upload smoothly, use the capabilities of the various agency websites to maximise your placement and revenue. They don't tell you what to shoot, just how to get your shots available for sale.

No guessing about where my eBook stands...

Steve

cthoman · « **Reply #11 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:03 »

I'm Batman. Not the one on this forum, but the real one.

steheap · « **Reply #12 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:06 »

Quote

I'm Batman. Not the one on this forum, but the real one

I think Batman is copyrighted - you need a model release to be him

Steve

EmberMike · « **Reply #13 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:06 »

Quote

Do you have (microstock) secrets?

Of course. I've got a site that isn't even on the list here but earns me about as much as DT does. And I've heard a few rumors lately about some companies, some of those things I'd discuss openly, others not.

We're all generally cordial and helpful around here, but to an extent. We're also competitors, and it would be foolish to disclose every trick and secret we know to a group of people who could use those tricks and secrets against us. There are just a few people who I privately discuss some of my microstock secrets with, because they are people I'm more personally friendly with and they are of a similar opinion about not wanting to share every advantage with everyone in the forums.

ShadySue · « **Reply #14 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:09 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 01, 2012, 09:26

I think that if people want to share their "secrets" they want to see a financial return on that, like books by Rob Sylvan and Ellen Boughn. Anyone read any of those and get anything out of them? I've been thinking about getting them on my Kindle.

I believe the reaction here to both of these books was positive.
Be aware that one of these authors has all but severed connections with the agency he worked for and which represented him at the time he wrote the book, to the extent that he has not uploaded there since May 2010 and is no longer exclusive.
This must say something significant, but it's up to you to interpret what the significance is.

cthoman · « **Reply #15 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:15 »

How about... if you submit SVG files to Fotolia, they get priced at 8 credits... or at least they used to. I haven't submitted there in a while.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #16 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:18 »

Quote from: ShadySue on August 01, 2012, 10:09

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 01, 2012, 09:26
I think that if people want to share their "secrets" they want to see a financial return on that, like books by Rob Sylvan and Ellen Boughn. Anyone read any of those and get anything out of them? I've been thinking about getting them on my Kindle.
I believe the reaction here to both of these books was positive.
Be aware that one of these authors has all but severed connections with the agency he worked for and which represented him at the time he wrote the book, to the extent that he has not uploaded there since May 2010 and is no longer exclusive.
This must say something significant, but it's up to you to interpret what the significance is.

Even beyond Ellen and Rob there are newer books out there that seemingly offer new takes that appear to be more specific... a search on Amazon turns up more than 30 books including one on selling footage and one on flickr (

)...

ShadySue · « **Reply #17 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:33 »

Quote from: stockmarketer on August 01, 2012, 10:18

Quote from: ShadySue on August 01, 2012, 10:09
Quote from: stockmarketer on August 01, 2012, 09:26
I think that if people want to share their "secrets" they want to see a financial return on that, like books by Rob Sylvan and Ellen Boughn. Anyone read any of those and get anything out of them? I've been thinking about getting them on my Kindle.
I believe the reaction here to both of these books was positive.
Be aware that one of these authors has all but severed connections with the agency he worked for and which represented him at the time he wrote the book, to the extent that he has not uploaded there since May 2010 and is no longer exclusive.
This must say something significant, but it's up to you to interpret what the significance is.
Even beyond Ellen and Rob there are newer books out there that seemingly offer new takes that appear to be more specific... a search on Amazon turns up more than 30 books including one on selling footage and one on flickr ()...

Oh, I'm sure I could put together a book without much trouble.
Whether it would be worth reading is another question altogether.

sharpshot · « **Reply #18 on:** August 01, 2012, 10:36 »

Quote from: Perry on August 01, 2012, 06:44

...I upload to two sites "nobody" is talking about...

Only 2? You're missing out on the other 14

Tabimura · « **Reply #19 on:** August 01, 2012, 11:42 »

LSD72 · « **Reply #20 on:** August 01, 2012, 11:55 »

I shoot in "S" mode. That stands for Stock, Semi-Pro and Sales....lol. Thats my secret..oops... I did not say this.

noodle · « **Reply #21 on:** August 01, 2012, 12:56 »

this really is a thread about nothing...

getting traffic , some comments, but really... nothing

Perry · « **Reply #22 on:** August 01, 2012, 13:06 »

Quote from: noodle on August 01, 2012, 12:56

this really is a thread about nothing...

getting traffic , some comments, but really... nothing

Not really. I would like to know if people here are completely open about things or if they are holding back on some good things

Mactrunk · « **Reply #23 on:** August 01, 2012, 13:27 »

I like this topic and I totaly get what you mean! I think everyone has some succes with some kind of subjects or way of shooting. My portfolio is open to see but i never talk about my bestsellers and upcomming ideas. It gives me the feeling that people might steal it haha

MarkRyanDesigns · « **Reply #24 on:** August 01, 2012, 14:37 »

I desperately need basement shots every month for the magazine I design and there is never anything. You can use that for a secret.

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Author Topic: Do you have (microstock) secrets? (Read 16492 times)

Perry

Druid

ShadySue

Perry

etienjones

Microbius

heywoody

Perry

stockmarketer

WarrenPrice

steheap

cthoman

steheap

EmberMike

ShadySue

cthoman

stockmarketer

ShadySue

sharpshot

Tabimura

LSD72

noodle

Perry

Mactrunk

MarkRyanDesigns

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