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?

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

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

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 

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.

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

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

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.

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 ()...

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

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

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

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

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

All you need to know...

How to use Program Mode

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

My secret is that I love cameras. . . . . .. .and spend way too much money on it ( I have several systems from different brands but we all know one system is enough)

My second secret is that I make way too much pictures if I could ever upload them all I would earn several times more than I make now, I love shooting but hate all the rest :-)

I upload to two sites "nobody" is talking about

how about telling me your two and I will give you my two too

My secret is I do whatever I please... and still manage to make a living out of it. Actually, I should call it a wonder!

I haven't read Rob Sylvan's book, but I read Ellen Boughn's. Honestly I didn't get anything out of it. Douglas Freer wrote a book a few years back which I felt was very useful:

http://www.amazon.com/Microstock-Photography-Money-Digital-Images/dp/0240808967/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343883651&sr=8-1&keywords=douglas+freer

He has interviews/quotes from many of our own long time MSG members. He also combines sample stock images with photos of setups (especially still life, isolated objects, etc). If I had to recommend a book to someone starting out in microstock, Freer's would be it.

I'm sure Rob Sylvan's book is great too, as he is extremely creative and cogent. He was one of the main reasons I liked iStockphoto enough to go exclusive with them. That "community spirit" is long gone unfortunately.

I used to have secrets, but over time those secrets have been neutralized.  I was really good at keywording - now Yuri's tool has made that skill unnecessary.  

I came up with some good niche areas early on, but now they have been all been discovered and my images are just a drop in the bucket.  

I was better than average at isolations, but so many articles and blogs have demonstrated how to do it, that's no longer a unique skill either.  Not to mention that isolations have become so common that there's an oversupply and not much demand.

So no, I would not say I have any secrets anymore.  

Lisafx,

I would have kept all that information secret.  Its very revealing.

PS 

My secret is that I shoot all day and night for about 18 hours, never shave or shower and submit as much as possible to make about $50 per day...

Lisafx,

I would have kept all that information secret.  Its very revealing.

PS 

I did keep my secrets secret, but they got out anyway.  There's always some douch_bag or other who can't wait to print every trick or secret in this business.

Quote from: etienjones on August 02, 2012, 04:29

Lisafx,

I would have kept all that information secret.  Its very revealing.

PS 

I did keep my secrets secret, but they got out anyway.  There's always some douch_bag or other who can't wait to print every trick or secret in this business.

Sean Locke?

 

Quote from: lisafx on August 02, 2012, 14:49

I did keep my secrets secret, but they got out anyway.  There's always some douch_bag or other who can't wait to print every trick or secret in this business.

Sean Locke?

 

ROFL!  The most tight lipped guy in microstock?!  I think NOT!  

You would say that though wouldn't you?

Quote from: WarrenPrice on August 02, 2012, 19:34

Quote from: lisafx on August 02, 2012, 14:49

I did keep my secrets secret, but they got out anyway.  There's always some douch_bag or other who can't wait to print every trick or secret in this business.

Sean Locke?

 

ROFL!  The most tight lipped guy in microstock?!  I think NOT!  

That's just a facade. He's a lamb in wolf's clothing. 

Just did another search on microstock secrets on Amazon and came across this book... someone is selling a collection of Wikipedia articles on microstock.  Does Wikipedia allow this kind of thing?

http://www.amazon.com/Stock-Microstock-Photography-Characteristics-Companies/dp/1240961677/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344545242&sr=8-1&keywords=microstock+characteristics

  she has 127 books based on Wikipedia.. they must sell or she would quit and stop "doing them"

http://www.amazon.com/History-Post-Mortem-Photography-Contemporary-Photographers/product-reviews/1240999313/ref=sr_1_1_cm_cr_acr_txt?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

1) My #1 Microstock Secret - look for things that other people DO NOT shoot, that buyers might want. Copying best sellers is like getting to the dock after the boat left, or closing the gate after the horses have escaped. Sorry, copying and chasing isn't the answer.

2) Don't pay attention to the little man behind the curtain. Which means, don't search your searches, don't watch the pot, don't check your placement every day, it doesn't change anything and will make you crazy! How many views before something gets a sale is just as much a waste of time. How many photos before you get a sale or steady sales? All that matters is What is the image of! Someone with 200 really appropriate, good concept photos will outsell someone with 3000 uninspired, dupes of inch by inch, repeating themes. It's not how many, it's what's in them!

3) Don't give away your real secrets on an Internet forum. There are probably 80-90% lurkers here who hardly ever write anything and are just absorbing all the wisdom of the rest of the people. Just like the copiers, who re-shoot best sellers for their collection, they also thrive on fresh information. Everything you write here is helping eight other people, take away some of your sales.

Yes sometimes micro size shots cost much more on macro sites. Thank god some buyers don't look there.

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