Author Topic: How to go bankrupt as a photographer (Read 6726 times)

Bateleur · « **on:** July 29, 2007, 10:28 »

Today's 'best image' at Crestock has the following information with it ...

27 Models with model releases, three make-up artists, two backup photographers, two producers, one runner, one very friendly discotheque owner, bartenders, free drinks, 35 burgers with fries, 6 hours of work and a $7000 budget. Say hallo to the biggest model released shoot in microstock!

Hallo

at 25c a pop that's going to need 28000 downloads to break even. Nice one.

bryan_luckyoliver · « **Reply #1 on:** July 29, 2007, 11:17 »

Yuri is a special character and a pretty savvy marketer- if anyone can turn a hefty profit from those images it's him.

His average royalty across the sites for this image is over $.70 (including EL's), which means he needs 10000 downloads to break even. Considering that there are probably 100 images in the set, they each need about 100 downloads. Given that he is putting them on multiple sites, he won't be uploading 27 model releases, and he's got a 3-5 year outlook, those images will net him some $$$.

Do a search on rock concert across all the sites- good images, but not as marketable as the ones he has created. He's a pretty smart fellow.

hatman12 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 29, 2007, 13:40 »

With over 400,000 downloads per annum I doubt very much that Yuri is going to go bust.

If he achieves just the same as my own $0.67 per image per month, that's $22,000 per month.

If an image life is five years, that's a rather nice $1.32 million even if he never takes another picture.....

chellyar · « **Reply #3 on:** July 29, 2007, 14:19 »

That's cool...

Now, where was that paper napkin I was going to shoot?

sharply_done · « **Reply #4 on:** July 29, 2007, 16:54 »

I find it interesting that Yuri turned down a contract with one of the big stock agencies - where concept shoots like this are more the norm - to do the whole thing on spec and launching it in microstock. We may begin to see more shoots like this if he scores well with it.

On the flip side - if he doesn't do as well as he thinks he should - we may begin to see Yuri's microstock days coming to an end - this is firmly in the realm of the advertising photographer, and he may begin to do shoots solely on a contract basis.

iofoto · « **Reply #5 on:** July 29, 2007, 21:58 »

Quote from: bryan_luckyoliver on July 29, 2007, 11:17

He's a pretty smart fellow...

Risk = reward. Investing in unique shoots that are hard and/or expensive to produce wll almost always guarantee a top slot in search results and the subsequent sales success. Good strategy Yuri!

Bateleur · « **Reply #6 on:** July 30, 2007, 02:00 »

Quote from: bryan_luckyoliver on July 29, 2007, 11:17

His average royalty across the sites for this image is over $.70 (including EL's), which means he needs 10000 downloads to break even. Considering that there are probably 100 images in the set, they each need about 100 downloads. Given that he is putting them on multiple sites, he won't be uploading 27 model releases, and he's got a 3-5 year outlook, those images will net him some $$$.

Do a search on rock concert across all the sites- good images, but not as marketable as the ones he has created. He's a pretty smart fellow.

Okay ... thanks for the explanation Bryan.

I assumed that this was something special as your average microstocker doesn't go to quite those lengths to get an image.

And I assumed that, with that budget, he didn't take just one picture. But the economics of it still didn't make sense to me.

Elenathewise · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2007, 10:52 »

went to crestock and looked at that image - wow AWESOME SHOT!!!:)
as to spending money - microstock market is still growing, I bet this is a sound investment for the future. Maybe he won't be able to recover that in a month, but in a year - sure why not. Several top sellers from that photoshoot on several popular agencies would do it.
I never worked with traditional stock agencies like Getty and such and once in a while I am wondering if it's worth my time trying them out. When I see shots like this on microstock it makes me think - probably not...

Pixart · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2007, 14:43 »

I'm not familar with the Crestock site and can't find the photo.... would anyone mind putting up a link?

Freezingpictures · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2007, 15:06 »

Here it is: http://www.crestock.com/todays-best-image.aspx?id=405
That image is impressive..

While checking out that image I checked also Yuris most downloaded image at Crestockphoto. Just 14 dls... That is really dissapointing...
With all my images it would take for ever to get a payout on Crestockphoto I suppose..
Good to know I do not miss anything out by staying away from Crestockphoto.
But I like the Judge Ross thing

Good idea!

Pixart · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2007, 16:18 »

Thanks for the link!

Oh, my. If I ever submit there may my photos end up in the Judge Ross worst of the day? I take it they are rejected submissions.... Oh, wouldn't that be embarrasing!

madelaide · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2007, 18:10 »

I think they ask you permission to have your image there. Or should... I don't think we sign in any place that we allow such use of our submissions.

Regards,
Adelaide

Lee Torrens · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2007, 18:38 »

Freezing, Yuri makes more at Crestock than he does at LuckyOliver. (Sorry Bryan, but it's true)

I have had an EL the last two months at LO, but if I didn't they'd be earning around the same for me - my portfolio is *substantially* smaller than Yuri's, especially at those two sites.

bryan_luckyoliver · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2007, 19:07 »

Haha, Lee. I'm not at liberty to say his sales, but he's doing pretty good for only being on our site 6 months. Our royalty per image is much higher.

Crestock has fewer images, a lower royalty per image, and a different business strategy. I have no idea what he makes there.

He's a great photographer.

sharply_done · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2007, 21:12 »

Quote from: Freezingpictures on July 31, 2007, 15:06

But I like the Judge Ross thing Good idea!

Four of my images (1, 2, 3 & 4)were selected as "Today's Best Image". It's a nice idea, but one that I found doesn't really pay off with sales. Getting a DT "Editor's Choice" image is much better.

MicrostockGroup Sponsors

Author Topic: How to go bankrupt as a photographer (Read 6726 times)

Bateleur

bryan_luckyoliver

hatman12

chellyar

sharply_done

iofoto

Bateleur

Elenathewise

Pixart

Freezingpictures

Pixart

madelaide

Lee Torrens

bryan_luckyoliver

sharply_done

Related Topics

Sponsors

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors