Author Topic: How much has your best selling image made you? (Read 24090 times)

blvdone · « **Reply #50 on:** August 05, 2022, 13:34 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on August 05, 2022, 10:02

Below are my Top 5 photo and Top 5 video best sellers

I think you actually have some talent with that kind of sales.

Wilm · « **Reply #51 on:** August 05, 2022, 13:38 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 05, 2022, 11:40

Quote from: Wilm on August 03, 2022, 03:47

But this and other images have brought in significantly more, because some of the images run very well at several agencies. But I have no idea how to determine the right numbers, because you can't get the necessary information from some agencies.

However, it must be said quite clearly: today, this will be far from possible. This was only possible with images that were uploaded many years ago.

So true, those dimes just don't add up as fast as the 38¢ did. Then there were ODs and ELs and others which have vanished.

Quote from: ribtoks on August 03, 2022, 07:42
Mine has brought me over $6,000 and I did the analysis how fast the sales dry up: https://xpiksapp.com/blog/earn-6314-usd-single-photo-shutterstock/

Basically the estimate is that sales will reach zero in approximately 10 years after the start. And they have clear seasonal peaks, at least for me.

Fantastic Photo, it deserves to sell and something that you aren't going to have a bunch of copycats. There's one big positive to unique and interesting images. Less competition.

EL???

What is this Pete? I do not know that! Nobody buys an EL...

Zero Talent · « **Reply #52 on:** August 05, 2022, 14:39 »

Quote from: blvdone on August 05, 2022, 13:34

Quote from: Zero Talent on August 05, 2022, 10:02
Below are my Top 5 photo and Top 5 video best sellers

I think you actually have some talent with that kind of sales.

Lol, I'll take this as a compliment. Thanks!

But for me, being "talented" is not really a compliment, because it assumes being lucky at birth.

These sales are based on acquired knowledge applied in practice, i.e. engineering and physical work, not talent.

Wilm · « **Reply #53 on:** August 05, 2022, 16:00 »

Quote from: Zero Talent on August 05, 2022, 14:39

Quote from: blvdone on August 05, 2022, 13:34
Quote from: Zero Talent on August 05, 2022, 10:02
Below are my Top 5 photo and Top 5 video best sellers

I think you actually have some talent with that kind of sales.

Lol, I'll take this as a compliment. Thanks!

But for me, being "talented" is not really a compliment, because it assumes being lucky at birth.

These sales are based on acquired knowledge applied in practice, i.e. engineering and physical work, not talent.

Even though the term "talent" is hard to categorize, you definitely have a very good feel for microstock! Your images are exceptionally good. And your numbers reflect that very well.

Uncle Pete · « **Reply #54 on:** August 06, 2022, 11:36 »

Quote from: Wilm on August 05, 2022, 13:38

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 05, 2022, 11:40
Quote from: Wilm on August 03, 2022, 03:47

But this and other images have brought in significantly more, because some of the images run very well at several agencies. But I have no idea how to determine the right numbers, because you can't get the necessary information from some agencies.

However, it must be said quite clearly: today, this will be far from possible. This was only possible with images that were uploaded many years ago.

So true, those dimes just don't add up as fast as the 38¢ did. Then there were ODs and ELs and others which have vanished.

Quote from: ribtoks on August 03, 2022, 07:42
Mine has brought me over $6,000 and I did the analysis how fast the sales dry up: https://xpiksapp.com/blog/earn-6314-usd-single-photo-shutterstock/

Basically the estimate is that sales will reach zero in approximately 10 years after the start. And they have clear seasonal peaks, at least for me.

Fantastic Photo, it deserves to sell and something that you aren't going to have a bunch of copycats. There's one big positive to unique and interesting images. Less competition.

EL???

What is this Pete? I do not know that! Nobody buys an EL...

Exactly the point. Not only aren't we getting 38¢ we are also getting less for the rare other licenses that we used to get. Dimes just don't add up to anything close to what was paid before. 15% across the board, isn't anything like commissions used to be. The weaker sites aren't just paying lower, their volume is dropping.

I consider Talent as acquired, not given at birth, but OK, if there's some sort of definition quibble. People who make better money have better learned abilities and use them. Knowing how to create is easier in this business than knowing what to create. 👍

I could be a fantastic photographer or artist (and I'm not) and still not make money at Microstock, because it's the content or the subject that make the sales, much of the time, over just technical skills. I'm very good at creating low demand and unusual niche images. Not going to make much from that. But I do know how to have fun.

Brasilnut · « **Reply #55 on:** August 06, 2022, 12:09 »

Earned $1,450 for this book cover (Paris background only) - various RM licenses

Nikontandolo · « **Reply #56 on:** August 06, 2022, 15:23 »

I have half a dozen of images with more than $2000 only in Shutter and Adobe. There was better times.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #57 on:** August 06, 2022, 22:47 »

I started uploading in February 2019. I figured pretty early on that images weren't going to be too profitable with little history in photography or a collection of photos for that matter. Thus I only take photos now as an incidental while capturing video content. My best-selling image as far as earnings are concerned (combined Shutterstock and Adobe Stock) is $126.12. Probably would of made more if I had uploaded to Getty / iStock which this exercise has just revealed to me that I haven't.

ETA for correction. I do have the image on G/istock but no idea how to find it or the submission batch on this platform.

TonyD · « **Reply #58 on:** February 25, 2023, 06:40 »

$19.95 for 1 DL on Alamy but that's the actual price not sure what I got after their commission because they reduced the royalty for some of us last year.
$15.47 on SS for 1 DL even counting multiple DLs. I've had 23 DLs for one photo on SS but sadly added since the 10-cent DLs came in and have only earned $4.57, pretty dire as the photo was pretty unique - nothing anywhere near as good on the site for the subject.

Hannafate · « **Reply #59 on:** February 25, 2023, 09:06 »

It's everywhere...

DiscreetDuck · « **Reply #60 on:** February 25, 2023, 09:10 »

Quote from: Uncle Pete on August 05, 2022, 11:40

Fantastic Photo...

cobalt · « **Reply #61 on:** February 25, 2023, 09:40 »

Old thread but still useful. My bestselling file from the old istock days has earned over 9000 dollars.

And if I upload it to a new site, even now, it still sells. Not in the same volume, but apparently it is useful enough.

I have a few more with several thousand dollars, but that one file was really popular at the time.

StockPhoto · « **Reply #62 on:** February 25, 2023, 16:23 »

Shutterstock: 932 $ AdobeStock: 362€

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Author Topic: How much has your best selling image made you? (Read 24090 times)

blvdone

Wilm

Zero Talent

Wilm

Uncle Pete

Brasilnut

Nikontandolo

Pacesetter

TonyD

Hannafate

DiscreetDuck

cobalt

StockPhoto

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