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Author Topic: Expectations: what is your approx. return per 100 images  (Read 23873 times)

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« on: March 11, 2011, 21:11 »
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I will be returning to USA (from Far East Russia) in June; no way I can live on the limited income I make from wildlife photography in USA ($300-500/month).  So, it looks like I need to do the isolated on white and other type of shots (business, food, et al...).

What is the approx. return on new uploads; for example, say I upload 100 images-what would be an approx average amount of money to make from each 100 uploads/month. I will upload to all sites, IS excluded as they will only allow limited uploads.

I have worked as a portrait photographer in the past, done some product and commercial photography and have the needed equipment.  I expect my images will be solid; not earth-shattering great but solid.


« Reply #1 on: March 11, 2011, 22:01 »
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25$ Dollar if your are real good. After some month.
Less than 10$ if you are averrage.
Less than 5$ if you don't have a clue how this business works ( that means not to know how a good foto should look like, it means not to know what customers at mircro buy. They didn't buy good fotos at all.)
« Last Edit: March 11, 2011, 22:11 by bad to the bone »

« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2011, 22:14 »
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25$ Dollar if your are real good.

It could be much more, but it could be much much less.    If I were starting today, I would have VERY LOW expectations.

« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2011, 22:17 »
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25$ Dollar if your are real good.

It could be much more, but it could be much much less.    If I were starting today, I would have VERY LOW expectations.

With all due respect, I am looking for some numbers from actual experience of members.  Hopefully, I can get some real work feedback of their experiences.  I know it will vary from port. to port.

« Reply #4 on: March 11, 2011, 22:37 »
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25$ Dollar if your are real good.
It could be much more, but it could be much much less.    If I were starting today, I would have VERY LOW expectations.

With all due respect, I am looking for some numbers from actual experience of members.  Hopefully, I can get some real work feedback of their experiences.  I know it will vary from port. to port.
And I gave you an approx amount of money you can make from each 100 uploads/month  ;D
« Last Edit: March 11, 2011, 22:39 by Digital66 »

« Reply #5 on: March 11, 2011, 22:49 »
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25$ Dollar if your are real good.
It could be much more, but it could be much much less.    If I were starting today, I would have VERY LOW expectations.

With all due respect, I am looking for some numbers from actual experience of members.  Hopefully, I can get some real work feedback of their experiences.  I know it will vary from port. to port.
And I gave you an approx amount of money you can make from each 100 uploads/month  ;D

I had always heard that regular type of images sold much more than wildlife.  At $25/100 is the same as approx. $250/1000; I am making more than that from wildlife images.  I am hoping some of the other experienced members will also add comments.

« Reply #6 on: March 11, 2011, 22:51 »
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100 uploads per month won't make you much money unless they're vectors. 

« Reply #7 on: March 11, 2011, 23:22 »
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100 uploads per month won't make you much money unless they're vectors. 

I just picked that number to have a frame of reference; I have been uploading a couple hundred wildlife images per month; I think I can take a few more studio images in a months time.

« Reply #8 on: March 12, 2011, 00:34 »
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Totaling all the sites, I'm doing close to $4 per image per month these days, but I expect that will dip to more like $3 from April to August or so, if the past few years are any indication, then come back to current levels in Sept.  So if you're doing what I'm doing, you should get $300-$400 per 100 images.

But this number is on the high side, from what I've read here.  I believe the average was more like $1 per image per month.  But of course, it all depends on what you're uploading.  Expect more for vectors (assuming you know what subjects sell).  And if you're doing photos, and don't know what sells, you could do more like $.50 per image per month... meaning most photos don't sell at all.

« Reply #9 on: March 12, 2011, 01:03 »
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Totaling all the sites, I'm doing close to $4 per image per month these days, but I expect that will dip to more like $3 from April to August or so, if the past few years are any indication, then come back to current levels in Sept.  So if you're doing what I'm doing, you should get $300-$400 per 100 images.

But this number is on the high side, from what I've read here.  I believe the average was more like $1 per image per month.  But of course, it all depends on what you're uploading.  Expect more for vectors (assuming you know what subjects sell).  And if you're doing photos, and don't know what sells, you could do more like $.50 per image per month... meaning most photos don't sell at all.

Thanks, encouraging numbers; even $1/image/month would be good for a start.

« Reply #10 on: March 12, 2011, 04:21 »
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Totaling all the sites, I'm doing close to $4 per image per month these days, but I expect that will dip to more like $3 from April to August or so, if the past few years are any indication, then come back to current levels in Sept.  So if you're doing what I'm doing, you should get $300-$400 per 100 images.

But this number is on the high side, from what I've read here.  I believe the average was more like $1 per image per month.  But of course, it all depends on what you're uploading.  Expect more for vectors (assuming you know what subjects sell).  And if you're doing photos, and don't know what sells, you could do more like $.50 per image per month... meaning most photos don't sell at all.

These are incrediable numbers I doubt many people can match. I think Yuri stated his RPI is 3$ and and can tell you that our RPI is ~40c, so you numbers are no less then fantastic.

Microbius

« Reply #11 on: March 12, 2011, 05:02 »
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@ Stockmarketer are you talking about illustrations or photos with those numbers?

« Reply #12 on: March 12, 2011, 05:15 »
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this kind of topics will never reach a great conclusion.. unless you are going to do some beautiful work, if you are going on the average with less preparation, less props, less "exciting models" 100 pictures wont be major.. it will about pulling more and more every month, getting pictures highly ranked and get downloads everyday to earn a few more $..

if you are going to do lets say 100 pictures (models, portraits, etc) I would say only at SS like 10 to 15 sales daily.. but again this is not "100% right" could have 5 or 6 or 20.. but I can tell you that if you upload 100 and more 100 and more 100 it will be up at least in terms of sales.. will they stay up like that? maybe not.. but if you keep pulling more stuff and trying to improve your work you will do better and better..

you are a great wildlife photographer, I am sure will do fine, again prepared pictures, all very nice will do better than tons..

try yourself, do it for 3 months and you will see how it goes

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2011, 06:38 »
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Maybe if you keep asking the same question you'll get the answers you want to hear http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/projected-revenue/

My answer is the same as before. And I'm experienced.

And I'm confused. A month ago you said

Quote
I am converting from exclusive at Dreamstime to multi-submissions.  I have 808 files on Dreamstime (hopefully will have that up to 1000 by months end), monthly income of roughly $70-100.


and then today

Quote
At $25/100 is the same as approx. $250/1000; I am making more than that from wildlife images.


How'd such a big change happen in a month?

« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2011, 08:20 »
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Maybe if you keep asking the same question you'll get the answers you want to hear http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/projected-revenue/

My answer is the same as before. And I'm experienced.

And I'm confused. A month ago you said

Quote
I am converting from exclusive at Dreamstime to multi-submissions.  I have 808 files on Dreamstime (hopefully will have that up to 1000 by months end), monthly income of roughly $70-100.


and then today

Quote
At $25/100 is the same as approx. $250/1000; I am making more than that from wildlife images.


How'd such a big change happen in a month?


Actually, last time I was asking the projected revenue of wildlife images.  This time I am requesting projected revenue of regular microstock type images.

Your response last time was
You have some nice wildlife images but I don't think wildlife sells as well as some of the more popular stock categories.

With your 800 images at the top four sites I would say $250 - $350 per month.


That was spot on; my current projected revenue for this month seems to be in line for approx. $300

My answer is the same as before. And I'm experienced. \


So you are saying the projected revenue for regular images would be the same as wildlife?

Nevertheless, you are correct, no need to ask the question; time will tell the outcome.  Just nervous about the projected relocation.
« Last Edit: March 12, 2011, 08:32 by visceralimage »

PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #15 on: March 12, 2011, 09:00 »
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Depends on what "regular" images means. $0 to $1,000 and anywhere in between. Leaf's survey showed .75 per image per month so using that, $75. But, the most common response I've seen here is. 50 per image per month. You would need to have some excellent stuff to be making $1 PIPM and the $4 PIPM I'd say is for the elite which there are a very small percentage of.

« Reply #16 on: March 12, 2011, 10:12 »
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I can give you some stats regarding my experience, lets say January 2011 (only top 5 agencies)
- average portofolio 1970 files
- earnings 413.57$

which means RPI = 0.21$

check my portfolio:
http://www.shutterstock.com/g/luissantos84


« Reply #17 on: March 12, 2011, 10:49 »
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I'd suggest you do more then just isolated shots. Go to your local airport, harbor, industrial parc, etc,etc. And shoot as much as different subjects as you can. Than upload small batches a couple of times a week with 1 or 2 shots per subject. That's how I do it. I have almost no isolations and people shots (except editiorial events) and still make about $1 per image per month.

« Reply #18 on: March 12, 2011, 11:03 »
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Either do it, or don't.  Just don't come in doing isolated pears and apples and then complain it doesn't support your wildlife habit.

« Reply #19 on: March 12, 2011, 12:07 »
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$1 per image per month would be pretty good.. $4 is VERY exceptional.. Your wildlfe images are good, so it's obvious you know how to use a camera.. Can that translate into a studio setting? well that depends on your knowledge of lights, picking good subjects etc. Studio stuff is a lot different from wildlife outdoors.. I think average photographers are closer to $0.50 per image or maybe less, better photogs with more detail and attention to composition and props will be upwards from there.. Like was mentioned before Yuri mentioned he makes about $3 p/image and he also mentioned that those numbers are in decline as well, so take that into consideration..

« Reply #20 on: March 12, 2011, 12:20 »
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...don't forget that you start at the lowest percentage for each download at any agency. You can't expect to get the same RPD as someone who is uploading since years.

lisafx

« Reply #21 on: March 12, 2011, 12:43 »
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$1 per image per month would be pretty good.. $4 is VERY exceptional.. Your wildlfe images are good, so it's obvious you know how to use a camera.. Can that translate into a studio setting? well that depends on your knowledge of lights, picking good subjects etc. Studio stuff is a lot different from wildlife outdoors..

Well, he already said he is experienced at doing portraits and commercial work, so I'm going to assume he knows his way around studio lighting.  ;)

I think $1/image/month sounds accurate, on average.  Some make more, some make less.  

I think the problem you are going to have is that all the "stocky" stuff has been done, and done to death.  Your isolated objects and models on white will be competing with literally thousands of others almost exactly like them.  Finding a way to make your stock-oriented images stand out from the multitudes, or alternatively discovering an under-covered niche will be your best bet.

« Reply #22 on: March 12, 2011, 13:10 »
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Well, he already said he is experienced at doing portraits and commercial work, so I'm going to assume he knows his way around studio lighting.  ;)

 I expect your right.. Sorry, that is me reading to fast and the short term memory thing from my younger years ;)

RacePhoto

« Reply #23 on: March 12, 2011, 14:13 »
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Either do it, or don't.  Just don't come in doing isolated pears and apples and then complain it doesn't support your wildlife habit.


Tomatoes, sliced, diced, isolated, red, yellow and green. That's the ticket. Everyone needs more tomatoes. ;) I have two tomato shots in my gallery and they are on a pizza, that's my limit.

Here's a previous thread related to RPI which ends up pretty much the same as here. It depends on the people, agency and subjects. Some people make 21c some people make a dollar, and some people have found that uploading more, the average will go down, even though the income goes up. As in, RPI drops but bottom line increases.

http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/agencies-average-rpi/

My conclusion from reading the advise and helpful stats of others is, there is not a one to one relationship between the number of images and income. The more you upload, the lower the RPI will be. Also if it matters, someone can delete images that don't sell after a year and their RPI will go up. RPI is a measurement not and end result. Some people may want to look at time vs returns on the smaller sites. Others seem to think their time editing and uploading is free. Fair enough.

Income, after expenses, is the important number.

« Reply #24 on: March 12, 2011, 15:11 »
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Thanks all, great answers.  i don't plan to do any pears, apples, strawberry, et al isolated on white; i do have some ideas for some new stuff; as a former scientist i have some ideas in that arena also.


 

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