Hey guys, 

I am in microstock for a couple of years now. About 12 months ago I decided to stop producing and uploading new images, since I have a new job which requires all my attention.  At the time I stopped uploading I was sure, that my earnings will start to decline over time. But I am happy to see, that this is not the case. My earnings are about the same level then 12 months ago.

I have some questions for those of you which stopped uploading a while ago: do you have similar experience? Have your earnings gone up, down or are your earnings on the same level since you stopped uploading? For how many months you have stopped uploading?
How does your microstock earnings have developed over time after stopping new uploads?

I am curious about your experiences �

Greetings�
Stock_Fox

I touched on this a bit in a blog post I did a year or so ago
http://blog.microstockgroup.com/6-years-of-microstock-income-graphed/

My earnings dropped a little (mostly on Shutterstock) as was expected but nothing drastic.

It's difficult to say because there's so many other factors that impact our sales but from what I've noticed, some sites like DT seem to do better when I stop uploading for a while.  I'd say that might be because my RPD goes up which might be a factor that's weighted heavily in the search algorithm?  Other sites plummet when I stop while others seem to have no effect. 

At SS, my earnings have about doubled in the past few months and I have only uploaded less than 20 images during the same time period. Like the OP, I was quite pleased about that.

I clicked "still uploading" in the poll, because I resumed uploading a few months ago, but I did take 7 months off uploading from mid 2011 through early 2012.  I did not experience a drastic drop in income.  Having previously hit "the wall", I did see the gradual decline in income I was already experiencing continue.  But honestly, I was surprised sales held up so well. 

However, resuming regular uploads in April has not seen my income increase at all.  The decline has continued, and even accelerated.  I am seeing others experience similar declines at 3 of the big 4,  so I don't know if my sales downturn is a result of those 7 months of inactivity catching up with me, or if I would be seeing them any way. 

I do suspect that the sales will hold for awhile after you stop uploading, because they are based on existing images.  Eventually, though, as those existing images age, if they aren't replaced by newer ones, you see the drops.  I believe that is part of what I am experiencing.  Hopefully in a few months, when the images I am currently uploading gain traction, sales may begin to improve again. 

Either way, I don't feel it would be in my interest to stop uploading again for such a long stretch. 

Great topic and great to read other people's experience on this.  To elaborate more on my previous post about the increase in sales when I stop uploading to DT, I've also noticed a sharp decline on sales the following month after uploading a large batch.  Does anyone else see a similar pattern or is it just a coincidence?

my images that sell have always been across the range of my portfolio - i've had pauses in uploading for a month or 2, but dont seeany change - it's been a continual upward trend averaging about 20% a year

it probably depends on the types of images you sell - mine are less time-sensitive, such as food, landsacapes, travel, etc

Same here. If I dont upload my income stays the same. Alternativly, if I upload the income stays the same, well, might increase a bit but not much. Kind of " hit the wall".
The only place where I see an immediate increase is at, SS.