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Author Topic: Feeling like a break! anybody?  (Read 18023 times)

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Lagereek

« on: May 31, 2012, 02:01 »
0
For those of us that have been doing this for many years now,  its becoming boring, isnt it?  same old sites, same old problems, same old searches. Although some of us are earning good lolly, still feels like a stand-still. Getting nowhere.
Now we have made the micro bosses so rich, they are going public and us, the, Plebs, well were forsakable.

Feel like a 6 months break, Hawaii or the Carribean. or popping over to Lisa, in sunny Florida :)


wut

« Reply #1 on: May 31, 2012, 02:55 »
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Don't you mostly shoot for stock during commissioned work anyway?

« Reply #2 on: May 31, 2012, 03:07 »
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same old problems

To me, they often surprise with new, almost unbelievable problems that leave us gasping for air.

But otherwise, yes. You are not alone. I'm feeling bored. I can't get my earnings higher without uploading a large amount of new images. I'm running out of "easy" and "cheap" shooting ideas, I have shot every object in my house and my friend's houses :)

A While a go I had fantasies about living on microstock alone, so I could (almost) stop doing commissioned shoots and get rid of all the annoying clients etc., but now it feels it's the microstock shoots and uploading that annoy me more :(

Sometimes I have had a months break from microstock, that has helped a bit (6 months in Hawaii would be better :))

But still, stock generates me half of my income, and I use only one week of the month doing it, so it's a very good income. But it's almost impossible to shoot more microstock because of the uploading limits. I have tried to do more elaborate images that require much more work, but I haven't yet been convinced by the sales.
« Last Edit: May 31, 2012, 03:11 by Perry »

« Reply #3 on: May 31, 2012, 03:14 »
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Frankly no, I don't a break. I'm very much doing what I like. And although I have my fair share of people grinning over white holding a laptop, I mostly shoot what I like, without thinking too much how great it will sell. Coincidentally, what I like to shoot also sells well so there you go. I just love this life ;D

wut

« Reply #4 on: May 31, 2012, 03:36 »
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Me too. I either like what I shoot or find it as a challenge (making a boring, cheesy concept a bit more interesting). At the very least, the thought of money comforts me and motivates me (when I either don't enjoy it or find it as a challenge and force myself a bit to do something).

But it's different with Lageerek, he started when camera obscura was invented :P

« Reply #5 on: May 31, 2012, 03:45 »
+1
I keep changing what I'm doing.  When the commission cuts started, I got in to video and timelapses, mostly concentrating on Pond5.  This year, I'm spending more time doing RM for alamy.  Perhaps next year I'll try Zazzle and Photocase.

There's no way I'm going back to the hours I used to put in to microstock until the big sites have given up on cutting commissions and other ways of making it harder to increase or even maintain earnings.  Hopefully the current dire outlook for my future in microstock will change.  I used to enjoy making microstock images that sold well but now I find it too tedious, as the main motivation for me was making money.

« Reply #6 on: May 31, 2012, 04:08 »
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But it's different with Lageerek, he started when camera obscura was invented :P

I always thought he's older than Yoda  :D

« Reply #7 on: May 31, 2012, 04:11 »
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took 6 months off uploading, started again about 2 months ago.

Lagereek

« Reply #8 on: May 31, 2012, 04:16 »
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Ofcourse one never gets tired of cameras and taking pics, thats not what I meant, never gets tired of commissioned work either or new ideas. I think the draining thingy here, almost exhausting, is the fact that nowdays in the micro world, nothing seems to work smoothly anymore, everything turns into a hassle.
photography isnt supposed to be that way.

btw, camera obscura is nothing, I was around when Daguerre tested his wet-plates and actually got real pics. Hows that  :D

« Reply #9 on: May 31, 2012, 05:10 »
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Ofcourse one never gets tired of cameras and taking pics, thats not what I meant, never gets tired of commissioned work either or new ideas. I think the draining thingy here, almost exhausting, is the fact that nowdays in the micro world, nothing seems to work smoothly anymore, everything turns into a hassle.
photography isnt supposed to be that way.

That's very true. We shouldn't be doing detective work to discover hidden deals that agencies do behind our backs, the discounts that cut into our commissions, and everything that makes this forum so... hm... alive.

Lagereek

« Reply #10 on: May 31, 2012, 05:36 »
0
Ofcourse one never gets tired of cameras and taking pics, thats not what I meant, never gets tired of commissioned work either or new ideas. I think the draining thingy here, almost exhausting, is the fact that nowdays in the micro world, nothing seems to work smoothly anymore, everything turns into a hassle.
photography isnt supposed to be that way.

That's very true. We shouldn't be doing detective work to discover hidden deals that agencies do behind our backs, the discounts that cut into our commissions, and everything that makes this forum so... hm... alive.

Exactly!  thats exactly what I mean! :)

wut

« Reply #11 on: May 31, 2012, 05:48 »
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When I was getting back from Morocco last week, a bottle of Glenfiddich in the duty free shop reminded me of you. I was kinda disappointed when I saw the 30 price tag ;D . Knowing you, I expected it to be at least a 100, something special and really sophisticated :D

Lagereek

« Reply #12 on: May 31, 2012, 08:30 »
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When I was getting back from Morocco last week, a bottle of Glenfiddich in the duty free shop reminded me of you. I was kinda disappointed when I saw the 30 price tag ;D . Knowing you, I expected it to be at least a 100, something special and really sophisticated :D

Thanks a bunch!  Im proud of being associated with Whiskey! :D, well, Glenfiddich is good but there are far better. Try MacAllens, good stuff, puts hairs on your chest.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #13 on: May 31, 2012, 08:48 »
0
When I was getting back from Morocco last week, a bottle of Glenfiddich in the duty free shop reminded me of you. I was kinda disappointed when I saw the 30 price tag ;D . Knowing you, I expected it to be at least a 100, something special and really sophisticated :D

Thanks a bunch!  Im proud of being associated with Whiskey! :D, well, Glenfiddich is good but there are far better. Try MacAllens, good stuff, puts hairs on your chest.
Glenfiddich and The Macallans are Whiskys. Just sayin'.
Whiskey is either Irish product or the paint strippers that they put out over the pond. (OK, that's maybe unfair. Jack is like paint stripper. I haven't tasted Jim Beam or any of the others.) Or various others from Japan etc.

Ed

« Reply #14 on: May 31, 2012, 08:56 »
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I'm taking a different strategy.  For every micro I dump for doing stupid stuff...I pick up another macro.  I dumped Veer last week...picked up a non-exclusive macro this week.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a macro agency that requires 5 year exclusivity on images and the topics are very editorial (lifestyle healthy living type images).  Of course, the first images I submitted were of a woman drinking a martini and smoking a cigarette - the response was it isn't what they normally deal in but they were willing to try to market the images anyway (IMAGINE THAT - AN AGENT THAT WORKS WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS!!!!)

Personally, I'm raising my glass and saying "Slainte".  To the future.

Lagereek

« Reply #15 on: May 31, 2012, 09:13 »
0
When I was getting back from Morocco last week, a bottle of Glenfiddich in the duty free shop reminded me of you. I was kinda disappointed when I saw the 30 price tag ;D . Knowing you, I expected it to be at least a 100, something special and really sophisticated :D

Thanks a bunch!  Im proud of being associated with Whiskey! :D, well, Glenfiddich is good but there are far better. Try MacAllens, good stuff, puts hairs on your chest.
Glenfiddich and The Macallans are Whiskys. Just sayin'.
Whiskey is either Irish product or the paint strippers that they put out over the pond. (OK, that's maybe unfair. Jack is like paint stripper. I haven't tasted Jim Beam or any of the others.) Or various others from Japan etc.

Well to be honest, Jack and Jim are ok, but its nothing like the real thing. Irish like Bushmills, etc, are superb. BUT!  if you really want to taste fire and hell and one of the best. Lagavulin!
all I can say is Lagavulin. :)

Lagereek

« Reply #16 on: May 31, 2012, 09:16 »
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I'm taking a different strategy.  For every micro I dump for doing stupid stuff...I pick up another macro.  I dumped Veer last week...picked up a non-exclusive macro this week.

A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a macro agency that requires 5 year exclusivity on images and the topics are very editorial (lifestyle healthy living type images).  Of course, the first images I submitted were of a woman drinking a martini and smoking a cigarette - the response was it isn't what they normally deal in but they were willing to try to market the images anyway (IMAGINE THAT - AN AGENT THAT WORKS WITH PHOTOGRAPHERS!!!!)

Personally, I'm raising my glass and saying "Slainte".  To the future.

Well in a sense you got a point. Im not dumping anybody but I find myself doing and uploading more and more work for RM and RF, especially RM. The macro industry is far more stable.


« Reply #17 on: May 31, 2012, 09:37 »
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btw, camera obscura is nothing, I was around when Daguerre tested his wet-plates and actually got real pics. Hows that  :D

I did cave drawings ;-)

Going on an extended road trip in late summer, don't know exactly where yet. I don't actively submit much any more. I have been cutting micro agencies rather that looking for new, so I don't suffer many of the woes here. I actually started to see the handwriting on the wall in 2009 and then when Stockxpert met its demise. The new opportunities I found have paid off.

« Reply #18 on: May 31, 2012, 09:51 »
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I actually feel like I'm making progress and feel pretty good about things right now. I'm on my way to at least my 2nd best month (maybe my best), and I'm excited about the future. Like others in this thread though, I have changed my plans and shifted my focus over the last couple of years.

grafix04

« Reply #19 on: May 31, 2012, 09:57 »
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Have a Kit Kat.

Lagereek

« Reply #20 on: May 31, 2012, 10:07 »
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Have a Kit Kat.

Yep!  one of the most successful slogans ever.

drugal

    This user is banned.
« Reply #21 on: May 31, 2012, 10:30 »
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I shoot a variety of pretty darn attractive gals, and it's getting really-really boring, monotonous (I'm male). Makes me wonder what ppl shooting cupcakes, flowers, ribbons.... or fluffy albino dogs in their backyard, feel like...

velocicarpo

« Reply #22 on: May 31, 2012, 10:50 »
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I have a rather positive outlook too. Meanwhile I am so spread out to RM, Video, Macro, Editorial, etc. that I am not soooo much affected by the BS of one or two companies. This too enables me to just dump a id``t Agency when I feel like it.
Furthermore, there are some pretty promising projects on the horizon - like Pictureengine e.g. - which very well may put a lot of power back into the hands of us creative folks instead of the "moral-is-worth-nothing-as-long-as-there-is-profit" business crowd.

Wim

« Reply #23 on: May 31, 2012, 10:52 »
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I shoot a variety of pretty darn attractive gals, and it's getting really-really boring, monotonous (I'm male). Makes me wonder what ppl shooting cupcakes, flowers, ribbons.... or fluffy albino dogs in their backyard, feel like...

lmao! hey, send some of those gals my way will ya!
Adapt drugal, combine subjects, shoot attractive gals with flowers and ribbons in their hair eating cupcakes while getting legf.cked by fluffy albino dogs :)

Later guys

lisafx

« Reply #24 on: May 31, 2012, 11:37 »
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Christian, I know exactly what you mean.  Sick and tired of the BS in the micro world.  unlike some of the smart folks here, I haven't branched into the macro RM world as much as I should.  Now I'm regretting.it.

I did take 6 months or so off recently to remodel or house.  Not relaxing though.  Just a different kind of frustration.  I think that hiatus did have a negative affect on income.  Been working hard lately to compensate.

You are most welcome to visit here in Florida anytime :)  I suggest waiting until September or later though.  It's hellishly hot here in summer.  Even the dog won't go outide!!


 

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