Author Topic: How much time do you spend on microstock? (Read 7129 times)

ericds · « **on:** November 03, 2008, 16:04 »

Everyone talks about how much money they make and their RPI. But between finding models, shooting enough images per month to keep your income growing, running them all through Photoshop, figuring out keywords, dealing with iStock's disambiguation and then submitting to ten different sites, there's a lot of stuff for a microstocker to do. How much time do you spend doing it?

I'm also curious what keeps you going. That you love photography is probably a given

But instead of putting your stuff on Flickr, you're scanning model releases and thinking in keywords. Is it the monthly paycheck? Is it the thrill of someone liking your work enough to buy it? Or are you just addicted to watching the sales counter as it keeps climbing up...

Magnum · « **Reply #1 on:** November 03, 2008, 16:33 »

For me it´s a little bit of everything I guess. It´s pretty exciting to check the stats ( for topseller-spikes

) if you´v been gone a week or so...

rogermexico · « **Reply #2 on:** November 03, 2008, 16:44 »

Let me check my pay-stub...

leaf · « **Reply #3 on:** November 03, 2008, 17:32 »

to keep me going...

the excitment of checking my graphs in the morning and seeing how things are changing
the joy of being self employed and do exactly what i want every day.
the fun to take pictures and trying to take ones that sell
being creative
getting to travel and take photos and have it as part of the job

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** November 03, 2008, 18:00 »

Quote from: rogermexico on November 03, 2008, 16:44

Let me check my pay-stub...

Oh heck, the boss showed up...

graficallyminded · « **Reply #5 on:** November 03, 2008, 18:22 »

Only two full timers voted so far, I see - myself being one of them.

I do it for all the reasons leaf mentioned. Being able to work for myself is a dream come true. I also do it for the free cameras Hasselblad likes to hand out, hopefully one of them finds its way over to me in a couple of years. LOL! Yeah right

rinderart · « **Reply #6 on:** November 03, 2008, 19:50 »

Quote from: leaf on November 03, 2008, 17:32

to keep me going...

the excitment of checking my graphs in the morning and seeing how things are changing
the joy of being self employed and do exactly what i want every day.
the fun to take pictures and trying to take ones that sell
being creative
getting to travel and take photos and have it as part of the job

Ditto. It's just a part of overall Photo job. about 10/15%

Graffoto · « **Reply #7 on:** November 03, 2008, 21:29 »

Quote from: sjlocke on November 03, 2008, 18:00

Quote from: rogermexico on November 03, 2008, 16:44
Let me check my pay-stub...

Oh heck, the boss showed up...

Yeah and its not even the IS forum!

le_cyclope · « **Reply #8 on:** November 03, 2008, 21:35 »

Quote from: leaf on November 03, 2008, 17:32

to keep me going...

the excitment of checking my graphs in the morning and seeing how things are changing
the joy of being self employed and do exactly what i want every day.
the fun to take pictures and trying to take ones that sell
being creative
getting to travel and take photos and have it as part of the job

And I would add the fun of getting new photo gear with the money I make!

Claude

Peter · « **Reply #9 on:** November 04, 2008, 00:27 »

20-40 hrs/week

vikavalter · « **Reply #10 on:** November 04, 2008, 02:45 »

I do it full time, but not more than 3 hrs a day usually and I take often time off. I know I'm getting too lazy.

Microbius · « **Reply #11 on:** November 04, 2008, 04:23 »

I do this "full time" but now-a-days that's probably not more than 4-5 hours a day. I also like to take at least a couple of months off a year to go abroad, enjoy the summer etc.
When I started it was 16 hours a day, but that was the price to pay for the lifestyle I have now!

cascoly · « **Reply #12 on:** November 04, 2008, 14:42 »

same for me -- mine was a conscious decision 25 yrs ago to create more time for travel, and MS fits in well in my plans; lots of travel expensives become deductible, so overall tax rate really drops, while still showing the profit needed for the IRS to consider it a business.

when we're home my time varies -- sometimes it's 60 hr/wk on MS, other times much less if i'm developing new games on my website.

i never intended for this to replace my day job -- no way could i expect to make $60/hr at MS, but the lifestyle choices are much more important

steve

stockmdm · « **Reply #13 on:** November 04, 2008, 16:30 »

I spend about 10 hours a week since I have to do my studies.

yhbae01 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2009, 20:31 »

How long would one have to spend per week if you decide to update, say, 20 uploads every week to the top 7 sites? Please do not include time you spend on taking pictures and cleaning them up in Photoshop (or other programs).

alpy7 · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2009, 21:32 »

Have not been spending nearly enough time. But I have set a goal to put aside a couple hours a day for myself to work on MS.

avava · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2009, 22:44 »

Around 40 a week now. It seems like a retirement. I Love it.

Best,
AVAVA

Dreamframer · « **Reply #17 on:** January 06, 2009, 03:21 »

Quote from: leaf on November 03, 2008, 17:32

to keep me going...

the excitment of checking my graphs in the morning and seeing how things are changing
the joy of being self employed and do exactly what i want every day.
the fun to take pictures and trying to take ones that sell
being creative
getting to travel and take photos and have it as part of the job

Exactly

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Planning, shooting, Photoshopping, keywording, uploading, managing, and such -- on average, how much time per week do you spend on microstock? forum surfing doesn't count

Author Topic: How much time do you spend on microstock? (Read 7129 times)

ericds

Magnum

rogermexico

leaf

Sean Locke Photography

graficallyminded

rinderart

Graffoto

le_cyclope

Peter

vikavalter

Microbius

cascoly

stockmdm

yhbae01

alpy7

avava

Dreamframer

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