Quote from: MatHayward on October 09, 2009, 02:15

I'm impressed to see the ratio of photographers in the top two categories.

It would be worth pointing out that to be in the top two categories takes a lot of hard work, skill and long hours, otherwise anybody seeing this poll is just going to be suckered into the 'make money from shots sitting on your hard drive' nonsense, add to that fact that the competition is growing and the majority of agencies are doing their level best to pay out as little as possible from the license fees.
I also think that some might confuse the poll for how much their dollar sales total is rather than how much they actually make - big difference!

No, nobody is suckered. After all, we were all driven to microstock by some kind of "advertisement" from stock agencies or their contributors. Everybody has the right to give it a try. I started microstock the same way. I was not aware of hard work etc., but thanks to confusing pools I started doing it. And now I am a regular contributor, at least. One of ten will succeed, and that is a god number.

But then here in the 3rd world any equipment - from cameras to lenses to computers - is much more expensive (at least when compared to the USA).  But yes, you need to put cost in that account - would you be making more money if you were using that man-hour in another activity?

I could be making a lot more with technical translations - this is something is always high in demand - but it would be less more fun.

Hmm, I wonder if there is a discussion group for technical translators?  Would there be a wilddingo there too?

On the other hand, licensing terms in micros should not need to be so flexible - like you buy one image and may use it for several different projects, if complying with some restrictions. That is, to me RF is not what microstock should be about, but single-use licensing for that very small fee. Of course, this is almost impossible to enforce and therefore useless, I'm just talking about the theory.  

I was thinking about single-use licensing earlier.

How did it go from the complex usage-based pricing system of RM to the one-price-unlimited-use model of RF?

And about being enforceable, I think technology has advanced enough for somebody to come up with a way of tracking a pay-per-use limited license. And you're right, the reduced cost of micro should have had a corresponding reduction in usage.

With prices dropping I think at some point someone like Getty may try a new model like this to stabilize pricing.

It only takes sales into consideration. $5000/month in 3rd world country would be extremely good but in my developed countries it would be enough to live descent life. Also how about cost, which leads us to profit. If I spent $4999 a month to get $5000 I will not be very successful :-)

Thats true, I don't make a ton but I can travel around the world breaking even (mostly because my travels are all in the developing world, for instance my hostel tonight costs less than 4 bucks and a meal is 2).  Back home it's a lot less money than here.

Quote from: gostwyck on October 09, 2009, 19:21

If Brazil is supposedly '3rd World' and yet they're in the G20 ... where the bloody hell is the '2nd World'?

It referred to the Communist Bloc, when there was such a thing.

I think developing world and industrialized nations are more the norm now, correct me if I'm wrong.

I am really surprised at the number of people making good money in micros.  This group must be self-selected for serious microstockers

Have to agree. After looking back at other surveys, how many images and some sales numbers, the forum is, in general, the top 15% of Microstock, and considering some recognizable names and people, probably even a higher ranking for many of the regulars here. That's based on responses to surveys like this one, where you can see the dollar amounts don't match with the general site statistics.

So I'm in good company, but I'm not one of those with the big numbers.  

Over 60% of the IS members have never made $1000 total from their account. Make that two years and you are seeing that people making $500 a year are the top 30%. No I didn't get that backwards, 70% of the people with Micro accounts make less than $500 a year, but here, 43% make over $500 a month!

Take it from here. 27% of the people answering the poll, are making over $1000 a month on Microstock. Now that's pretty darn good.

No complaints. Just pointing out that any survey here is going to be fairly skewed towards the positive side.

Interestingly enough, I just noticed that "iofoto" hasn't uploaded to iStock in a year or so.

Interestingly enough, I just noticed that "iofoto" hasn't uploaded to iStock in a year or so.

Or anywhere else. Seems to have pretty much given up on microstock for the time being. Total contrast with Monkey Business though who is still going balls-out __ 300-odd images already this month on DT and averaging nearly 900 per month for 20 months consecutively. Phew!

Boy, talk about churning them out!

There's a ton of similars in there though. 
http://www.dreamstime.com/Monkeybusinessimages_portfolio_pg6

But 64,000 sales at DT in a year and a half is pretty impressive, must be doing something right.

I answered the poll.  The only problem I see with it is that honestly if you're making the lower figures you're not spending your time on micro forums because it's not a HUGE part of your life.  If you're here you're more likely to be making money.

I answered the poll.  The only problem I see with it is that honestly if you're making the lower figures you're not spending your time on micro forums because it's not a HUGE part of your life.  If you're here you're more likely to be making money.

Totally agree - there are thousands of contributors at low end who never show up here. Though some of high end too Yuri is here very seldom, Andres or Kathy are never coming here, as well as other top microstockers. So it's probably more like middle class people gathering here

same here, I'm also retired and make just enough to buy my hunting licenses and few other things. I'm far short of making a living at it . I like to brows the form and see how everyone else is doing.