pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Poll

How much do you make per month from microstock?

0-100 ($)
48 (27.1%)
100-200 ($)
20 (11.3%)
200-400 ($)
24 (13.6%)
400-600 ($)
16 (9%)
600-1000($)
19 (10.7%)
>1000 ($)
21 (11.9%)
>2000($) ?
29 (16.4%)

Total Members Voted: 161

Author Topic: How much do you earn per month really????  (Read 65214 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« Reply #50 on: February 28, 2010, 14:34 »
0
.for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it

Are you sure you went to business school?  I'll stick with number 1 (where I wouldn't go "bankrupted" as the only seller).

ROFL  :D  :D   :D

Seriously deyu16, you should ask for a refund from your business school.   Sorry!

you are such an... god! always bashing everyone! why is that? what do you gain with this attitude over and over??


PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #51 on: February 28, 2010, 14:39 »
0
Ok I see that you are thinking inside the box ...Lets see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can? Don't get me wrong but thats business....you can't change anything...what ever you do there will always be competition ....and besides denying it you might as well look at the best part of competition

Lets say there are now thousands of apple sellers all selling the same perfect apples. And while buyer demand has increased it's only a fraction of the supply of apples that have flooded the market. What does your business class suggest in this scenario?

« Reply #52 on: February 28, 2010, 14:41 »
0
Ok I see that you are thinking inside the box ...Lets see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can? Don't get me wrong but thats business....you can't change anything...what ever you do there will always be competition ....and besides denying it you might as well look at the best part of competition

Lets say there are now thousands of apple sellers all selling the same perfect apples. And while buyer demand has increased it's only a fraction of the supply of apples that have flooded the market. What does your business class suggest in this scenario?

it is simple, go and get a new business! :) if you don't want to have competition then leave!

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #53 on: February 28, 2010, 14:41 »
0
Let's see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can?
This of course in both cases (apples and microstock) is far better for the buyer but not for the supplier.
I'm not necessarily wanting to ban new members or refusing to help new members; even Sean was very helpful to me when I started, and he still is helpful to newbies, despite the sometimes-gruff exterior [1]. I was just questioning your bizarre allegation that competition is good for the supplier.
Please explain how I will go bankrupt with my apple business if there is no competition? The competition won't necessarily be apples, it might be pears or oranges. This isn't the case with stock images. E.g, Sean sells gazillions of people and 'product' shots and isn't going to lose even one sale to my elephant shots, and vice versa. Each of us only has to bother about competitors in our own area of interest.
[1] Actually given that competition exists, it's in his interest to do so, to make sure that the whole site supplies a quality product.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2010, 15:21 by ShadySue »

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #54 on: February 28, 2010, 14:43 »
0
Ok I see that you are thinking inside the box ...Lets see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can? Don't get me wrong but thats business....you can't change anything...what ever you do there will always be competition ....and besides denying it you might as well look at the best part of competition

Lets say there are now thousands of apple sellers all selling the same perfect apples. And while buyer demand has increased it's only a fraction of the supply of apples that have flooded the market. What does your business class suggest in this scenario?

it is simple, go and get a new business! :) if you don't want to have competition then leave!
The new business won't have competition?

« Reply #55 on: February 28, 2010, 14:47 »
0
Ok I see that you are thinking inside the box ...Lets see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can? Don't get me wrong but thats business....you can't change anything...what ever you do there will always be competition ....and besides denying it you might as well look at the best part of competition

Lets say there are now thousands of apple sellers all selling the same perfect apples. And while buyer demand has increased it's only a fraction of the supply of apples that have flooded the market. What does your business class suggest in this scenario?

it is simple, go and get a new business! :) if you don't want to have competition then leave!
The new business won't have competition?

EXACTLY!!! so you will have to deal with competitors, doesn't matter if it is stock, apples or monkeys! Why are you all trying to eliminate competitors? You could do that but they won't go away simple, so accept them, help or not, but respect at least!

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #56 on: February 28, 2010, 15:01 »
0
Ok I see that you are thinking inside the box ...Lets see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can? Don't get me wrong but thats business....you can't change anything...what ever you do there will always be competition ....and besides denying it you might as well look at the best part of competition

Lets say there are now thousands of apple sellers all selling the same perfect apples. And while buyer demand has increased it's only a fraction of the supply of apples that have flooded the market. What does your business class suggest in this scenario?

it is simple, go and get a new business! :) if you don't want to have competition then leave!
The new business won't have competition?

EXACTLY!!! so you will have to deal with competitors, doesn't matter if it is stock, apples or monkeys! Why are you all trying to eliminate competitors? You could do that but they won't go away simple, so accept them, help or not, but respect at least!
One method of dealing with competition is to eliminate them. In business I don't think there's any rule about needing to accept or respect a competitor.

And I never said I agree or disagree with the concept. Just adding info to fuel thought.

donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #57 on: February 28, 2010, 15:03 »
0
I think what deyu16 is trying to say is that if there was not competition....the product would not be as good. Like the apple stand for example...if you were the only vender...you could stick rotten apples in there as well as good ones if there is not competition. The other apple vender may have bought those rotten apples and decided he got tired of it and will sell better apples. The customer is going to go where the supply is better. Competition makes suppliers create better products which I will agree would be ""better for buyers"" unless you were one of those suppliers who strove to create the better product, therefore you would sell more because of this. It basically all boils down to reputation. There is competition in every business in one form or another.

« Reply #58 on: February 28, 2010, 15:06 »
0
it is true, there is no rule, it is just my way, I respect yours I can assure you that!

man I love this forum, thinked a lot of getting in it, now I am ignore from 4 guys, ok! I was going good once I arrive here, now I am a bad guy :P I am just doing what my parents told me, respect others but don't let them get to you!

deyu16

« Reply #59 on: February 28, 2010, 15:11 »
0
Ok I see that you are thinking inside the box ...Lets see if I got this right...so you are the only one who sells apples right?That means that you can sell any apples you like it doesn't matter if the client likes them or not...You are the only one and the client has to buy from you...furthermore you can charge whatever you want for that apples ...for example let's say you got an apple for $1 and you sell it for $10(because you are the only one selling there no competition) so you make 10 times profit...ok all good but when the other guy decides to open his own store the picture has change...Now you have competition and you can't do what you like because you will go out of business! So you have 2 options 1)continue living in the box with no competition and go bankrupted OR struggle to have the freshest apples and with a good price....the I guarante you that the demand will be much bigger......Competition is good either way you look at it...if a new microstocker comes in and submiting the most eye catching images this world has ever seen what do you do?????Don't you try to perfect your self as much as you can? Don't get me wrong but thats business....you can't change anything...what ever you do there will always be competition ....and besides denying it you might as well look at the best part of competition

Lets say there are now thousands of apple sellers all selling the same perfect apples. And while buyer demand has increased it's only a fraction of the supply of apples that have flooded the market. What does your business class suggest in this scenario?

it is simple, go and get a new business! :) if you don't want to have competition then leave!
The new business won't have competition?

EXACTLY!!! so you will have to deal with competitors, doesn't matter if it is stock, apples or monkeys! Why are you all trying to eliminate competitors? You could do that but they won't go away simple, so accept them, help or not, but respect at least!



I don't know but I like how this guy is thinking ....you are the only one that understands!Good for you....I don't know why everyone is so rude at my post.....for real now the basic idea of this post is this: "HOW MUCH DO YOU EARN PER MONTH?" I do not think that there is someone out there that didn't asked this question before!Because it's in your own interest to get motivated to do better!!!! But why should you answer a simple question when you can critique the basic laws of business(good luck with that by the way)I do not have anything with anybody you are all free to do business as you please....but don't make fun of my education or my way of doing business! I respect you (all of you) as a photographer and as a individual....Don't mess that up with a "competition debate"...Answer the simple question as nice as you can and that's all....I think that every one with apreciate a nice answer to a simple question

Regards

« Reply #60 on: February 28, 2010, 15:13 »
0
Generally speaking, it's only the amateurs/part-timers who have the "encourage and increase competition" mindset. Trust me, luissantos84 and deyu16, your attitude will change once or if your earnings increase enough to become your sole source of income - you'll be playing your cards much closer to your chest when that happens.

« Reply #61 on: February 28, 2010, 15:15 »
0
Generally speaking, it's only the amateurs/part-timers who have the "encourage and increase competition" mindset. Trust me, luissantos84 and deyu16, your attitude will change once or if your earnings increase enough to become your sole source of income - you'll be playing your cards much closer to your chest when that happens.
Ditto!  ;)

« Reply #62 on: February 28, 2010, 15:19 »
0
Generally speaking, it's only the amateurs/part-timers who have the "encourage and increase competition" mindset. Trust me, luissantos84 and deyu16, your attitude will change once or if your earnings increase enough to become your sole source of income - you'll be playing your cards much closer to your chest when that happens.

I respect what you are saying, I guess I won't act like that, instead I could use a language more similar to yours and show my opinion more gently without offending anyone like some have done here and other posts!

But again there will be always competition, what do you want?.. Agencies could be more strict ok, I agree on that, but if there are approving our pictures what is the problem?.. The problem is our, we shoot, we work, we upload then we sale... the problem isnt ours!

UPDATE: now I have 5 members ignoring me, god it is increasing, is there a bad list, like Gigli from Jennifer Lopez and Ben?...
« Last Edit: February 28, 2010, 15:22 by luissantos84 »

deyu16

« Reply #63 on: February 28, 2010, 15:21 »
0
I think what deyu16 is trying to say is that if there was not competition....the product would not be as good. Like the apple stand for example...if you were the only vender...you could stick rotten apples in there as well as good ones if there is not competition. The other apple vender may have bought those rotten apples and decided he got tired of it and will sell better apples. The customer is going to go where the supply is better. Competition makes suppliers create better products which I will agree would be ""better for buyers"" unless you were one of those suppliers who strove to create the better product, therefore you would sell more because of this. It basically all boils down to reputation. There is competition in every business in one form or another.

Another one who understand ...thanks a lot ...but I might add that the same law applies to contributors to,not just for buyers!An example so you can understand better lets say there are 10 photographer submiting photos each submit 10 new photos per week ....and there are 300 000 buyers so basicly the competition is very very small and for the moment you belive that you will make a fortune doing photos ...but in real life it's completly different because when the cleints will buy all the images there is nothing to do....I belive that is a good balance now on contribuitors and picture buyers because everyone gets a piece of cake

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #64 on: February 28, 2010, 15:26 »
0

Another one who understand ...thanks a lot ...but I might add that the same law applies to contributors to,not just for buyers!An example so you can understand better lets say there are 10 photographer submiting photos each submit 10 new photos per week ....and there are 300 000 buyers so basicly the competition is very very small and for the moment you belive that you will make a fortune doing photos ...but in real life it's completly different because when the cleints will buy all the images there is nothing to do....I belive that is a good balance now on contribuitors and picture buyers because everyone gets a piece of cake

The cake slices are getting ever thinner for all but the top contributers. My downloads are plummeting, but I'm rising (slowly, but steadily) on iStockcharts, which proves that most others around me are plummeting even faster. Of course, some are shooting up past me, but the overall average of downloads per contributor is decreasing as there is only so much cake (so many buyers) to divvy up.
« Last Edit: February 28, 2010, 15:39 by ShadySue »

« Reply #65 on: February 28, 2010, 15:38 »
0
Like the apple stand for example...if you were the only vender...you could stick rotten apples in there as well as good ones if there is not competition.

Great.  What's your point?

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #66 on: February 28, 2010, 15:43 »
0
I think what deyu16 is trying to say is that if there was not competition....the product would not be as good. Like the apple stand for example...if you were the only vender...you could stick rotten apples in there as well as good ones if there is not competition.
And now we have such over-supply that apples go to waste just because they're not a standard shape or size; nothing to do with their edibility or taste.
In our local Lidl, they sell 8 apples for 1. I can't imagine how that's good for the grower.


« Reply #67 on: February 28, 2010, 16:03 »
0
I think what deyu16 is trying to say is that if there was not competition....the product would not be as good. Like the apple stand for example...if you were the only vender...you could stick rotten apples in there as well as good ones if there is not competition.
And now we have such over-supply that apples go to waste just because they're not a standard shape or size; nothing to do with their edibility or taste.
In our local Lidl, they sell 8 apples for 1. I can't imagine how that's good for the grower.

I agree, too many photos, but the problem isn't on the contributors, but on the agencies, if they are accepting them right? So why messing around with new contributors, mess with the agencies! :P

« Reply #68 on: February 28, 2010, 16:08 »
0
Corporate strategy 101: Porter's five forces , a good read:
http://www.quickmba.com/strategy/porter.shtml

The goal is to minimize the 5 forces to maximize profit.
This is the industry based view of strategy but are others.....

donding

  • Think before you speak
« Reply #69 on: February 28, 2010, 16:10 »
0
It basically all boils down to reputation. There is competition in every business in one form or another.

Like I said it boils down to reputation. If you have to many rotten apples then more than likely it is because you are overstocked because either 1) You aren't selling them because you are known to sell rotten apples and people just don't eat them anymore or 2) they are driving 100 or more miles to buy them from someone else...simply because of your reputation...therefore you have competition. If you already had a good reputation you wouldn't have the problem of people going somewhere else to begin with even if the apples were cheeper.

As for microstock...most quality buyers go to iStock...they have the better reputation and the better supply. The buyer pays more for the better quality and as many of you have always been said...iStock makes more photographers money than most other agencies on average, including myself. Now if you are losing sales it would be because better products are coming into the market and the buyers requirements for type and quality have changed.

« Reply #70 on: February 28, 2010, 16:22 »
0
If I see one more apple metaphor, I'm going to go bananas.  ???

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

« Reply #71 on: February 28, 2010, 16:23 »
0
If I see one more apple metaphor, I'm going to go bananas.  ???

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Amen.

« Reply #72 on: February 28, 2010, 16:24 »
0
If I see one more apple metaphor, I'm going to go bananas.  ???

Sorry, I couldn't resist.


ehehe good one :)

« Reply #73 on: February 28, 2010, 16:43 »
0
Quote
If I see one more apple metaphor, I'm going to go bananas.

 ::)  :D

lisafx

« Reply #74 on: February 28, 2010, 17:23 »
0
There are two competing business models in play here - those who make money from creating and selling images, and those who make money selling advertising and referral links from blogging about it.

Both are legitimate ways to earn income and neither is necessarily morally superior to the other.  However, for the blogging/referral folks to make money, they need to sign up as many people as possible to COMPETE with the image makers. 

Surely it is not that hard to understand that the people whose LIVELIHOOD depends on selling images would be less than enthusiastic about encouraging or sharing information with the bloggers. 

It has nothing to do with wanting to be helpful to newbies, BTW.   I get sitemails from newbies often asking for tips on lighting, photoshop editing, etc. and have always tried to be helpful and encouraging.  And I have seen other experienced people here do the same - including the ones in this thread. 

It is one thing to help out a person who is really trying to learn, vs. providing blanket info to someone who is going to use that information to line their own pockets while simultaneously draining yours.

Like I said, nothing inherently wrong with making your money blogging about micro, just don't expect those that stand to lose out from your efforts to help you do it :)


 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
35 Replies
39464 Views
Last post November 20, 2018, 10:27
by cthoman
14 Replies
7437 Views
Last post October 07, 2014, 22:26
by zstoimenov
7 Replies
4105 Views
Last post January 07, 2016, 03:26
by MxR
8 Replies
5055 Views
Last post January 07, 2017, 08:20
by Justanotherphotographer
26 Replies
15091 Views
Last post February 23, 2017, 12:18
by WindyTai

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors