Author Topic: I BADLY NEED $11000 and i'm quite new to the microstock industry... (Read 25391 times)

salaahkhayr · « **on:** December 20, 2014, 17:30 »

...I'M MORE A VECTOR ARTIST. I'M REAL SERIOUSLY INTO THIS BUSINESS AND CAN AFFORD TO WORK HARD, REAL HARD INTO IT TO HAVE A COOL AND QUALITY PORTFOLIO(MAY BE 2500 IMAGES BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR). YOU EXPERIENCED MICROSTOCKERS HERE, ADVICE ME PLEASE. AFTER HOW MANY MONTHS(BASED ON GENERAL CASES YOU KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME FOR ALL) WHAT IT TAKES(MONTH, PORTFOLIO SIZE, ETC....) TO ATTAIN $11000? I REALLY NEED ADVICES NOW. I WANNA DO IT, BUT NEED MORE MOTIVATIONS....AND ADVICE ME ALSO ON THE BEST OF AGENCIES...THANKS A LOT TO EVERYONE WHO CONSIDER THIS AND REPLY ME..

Maximilian · « **Reply #1 on:** December 20, 2014, 17:33 »

Monthly or only once?
This is not a problem. I would say 1 month and 1,000 images.

stockmarketer · « **Reply #2 on:** December 20, 2014, 19:02 »

Quote from: Maximilian on December 20, 2014, 17:33

Monthly or only once?
This is not a problem. I would say 1 month and 1,000 images.

Um... No. Maybe if you set your time machine to 2008 and upload them back then. Fact is there's a bias toward older files or at least best sellers at most agencies.

The real answer is you could probably earn $1-2K a month with 1000 vectors assuming they are topics and styles in high demand. Since you're just starting it may take a little while to develop a sixth sense for what will sell.

fritz · « **Reply #3 on:** December 20, 2014, 19:24 »

So, can we see your cool and quality port and than we can discuss how many years will take to earn 11k? No kidding!

Difydave · « **Reply #4 on:** December 21, 2014, 07:19 »

Your caps lock seems to be on.
Nobody can tell you how much you will make without seeing your portfolio. Even then it would be an "educated guess" at best, as nobody really knows exactly what will sell.
If you have the portfolio and you need the money then just start uploading, you'll soon find out for yourself. Look at the poll results on the right of the page here, and have a look at the individual site's forums here to see what is good and bad about them.

sgoodwin4813 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 21, 2014, 09:44 »

Quote from: Difydave on December 21, 2014, 07:19

Your caps lock seems to be on.
Nobody can tell you how much you will make without seeing your portfolio. Even then it would be an "educated guess" at best, as nobody really knows exactly what will sell.
If you have the portfolio and you need the money then just start uploading, you'll soon find out for yourself. Look at the poll results on the right of the page here, and have a look at the individual site's forums here to see what is good and bad about them.

This sums it up perfectly - nobody can tell you. Upload a few hundred images to see how well they sell and then do the math to extrapolate out to your target amount. Even that won't be accurate because images don't sell at the same rate over time. If you're thinking that ms is an easy way to make $11 K then I think you're going to be disappointed - that boat sailed a long time ago - although if you have 2500 images online it should not be a problem. Good luck.

ShadySue · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2014, 10:05 »

Quote from: sgoodwin4813 on December 21, 2014, 09:44

If you're thinking that ms is an easy way to make $11 K then I think you're going to be disappointed - that boat sailed a long time ago - although if you have 2500 images online it should not be a problem.

It depends on the 2500 images and how they land in the best match / equivalent sort of the agencies.

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:01 »

did you mean what i understood: you can make a good sum with 2500 images online???

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:04 »

Quote from: fritz on December 20, 2014, 19:24

So, can we see your cool and quality port and than we can discuss how many years will take to earn 11k? No kidding!

as i said my im a newbie so my port is small..
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=1787417

cobalt · « **Reply #9 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:11 »

If you have top level quality you will get excellent returns. But is what you are producing top level?

You are competing internationally against artist with 10 year experience who keep uploading superb work every day.

are you ready to work very,very hard for your success? It's a business, you get out of it what you put in.

Red Dove · « **Reply #10 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:14 »

Personally, I've got nothing for you or for anyone else coming into this business (or any other business in fact) with no clue whatsoever and hoping someone will provide them with a short cut to success. The competition is too fierce these days to mitigate such generosity. Harsh but there it is.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #11 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:15 »

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 11:04

Quote from: fritz on December 20, 2014, 19:24
So, can we see your cool and quality port and than we can discuss how many years will take to earn 11k? No kidding!

as i said my im a newbie so my port is small..
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=1787417

You're going to have to do work a lot better and more complex than that to have any level of success.

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:26 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on December 21, 2014, 11:15

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 11:04
Quote from: fritz on December 20, 2014, 19:24
So, can we see your cool and quality port and than we can discuss how many years will take to earn 11k? No kidding!

as i said my im a newbie so my port is small..
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=1787417

You're going to have to do work a lot better and more complex than that to have any level of success.

obviously im aware of what awaits me as a newbie...but i really in giving everythng i can into it...but my biggest fear is giving my life to it and gain nothing in return or gain nothing sort of what im putting into it.

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:27 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 21, 2014, 11:11

If you have top level quality you will get excellent returns. But is what you are producing top level?

You are competing internationally against artist with 10 year experience who keep uploading superb work every day.

are you ready to work very,very hard for your success? It's a business, you get out of it what you put in.

so true what you said...sometimes when i look at others works, its just dissapointing and depressing....lol
but my motto is if they could do it, i can do it as long as im gaining...

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:30 »

another issue i would like to know: do 'everything' of good quality sells?? or is there only a particular demands on the market??? i mean some sort of specific topics??? i know lastly infographics, backgrounds were doing well....is there best demands in these topics or is it me who is seeing through blinkers???

cobalt · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:39 »

Well, creating stock media files is something that takes years to learn. there is a reason why in some countries commercial stock photography is a six year university degree. Obviously you can also do it by yourself, but from what I see it takes many,many years.

The first thing to learn is to become an excellent illustrator artist and the best way to do that is to work for real live clients or be employed by a design firm. When you see in your day job how graphic art is used,what is it that people will pay money for etc...plus your boss will make sure your quality is good or you simply won´t get paid.

And then you can build your stock portfolio on the side.

Obviously,unless you try you won´t know if it is the right thing for you.

In my experience though,many people are attracted to stock because they want to get out of their day job and think it will be an easier life. But the reality is that for most people it will be hard to achieve a decent living wage,because it is such a complex industry and changes very,very quickly.

You need to be a great artist, you need to find a niche you can either dominate or become one of the top 100 to really make it work,you have to constantly invest in equipment,software and be ready to learn new techiques,you have to watch overall trends - color schemes,fashion,trends in how society is changing, follow a lot of advertising trends and somehow still be able to create your own style of work that people will recognize.

You need your heart,your gut and a very business devoted mindset to actually make money. And be very, very honest with yourself.

It is the right thing for me, but I usually don´t recommend it. Everytime I mentor someone I realize how many things I have learned over the years that I just take for granted, but then you see how long it takes people to actually learn it.

It´s like dancing, some people can do a few basic steps, others dance with Alvin Ailey and others just do silly clips for youtube and become millionaires...

ETA: I doubt anyone will recommend a well selling niche to you. It took them years to identify it, you´ll have to find your own path...

ShadySue · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:40 »

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 11:30

another issue i would like to know: do 'everything' of good quality sells?? or is there only a particular demands on the market??? i mean some sort of specific topics??? i know lastly infographics, backgrounds were doing well....is there best demands in these topics or is it me who is seeing through blinkers???

I'm not sure that your strategy of asking your direct competitors for this sort of information is sound. (I'm not one of them: I don't do vectors and don't know the answers). Why would they help you to erode their earnings?

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:49 »

Quote from: ShadySue on December 21, 2014, 11:40

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 11:30
another issue i would like to know: do 'everything' of good quality sells?? or is there only a particular demands on the market??? i mean some sort of specific topics??? i know lastly infographics, backgrounds were doing well....is there best demands in these topics or is it me who is seeing through blinkers???
I'm not sure that your strategy of asking your direct competitors for this sort of information is sound. (I'm not one of them: I don't do vectors and don't know the answers). Why would they help you to erode their earnings?

sounds true though

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2014, 11:51 »

Quote from: cobalt on December 21, 2014, 11:39

Well, creating stock media files is something that takes years to learn. there is a reason why in some countries commercial stock photography is a six year university degree. Obviously you can also do it by yourself, but from what I see it takes many,many years.

The first thing to learn is to become an excellent illustrator artist and the best way to do that is to work for real live clients or be employed by a design firm. When you see in your day job how graphic art is used,what is it that people will pay money for etc...plus your boss will make sure your quality is good or you simply won´t get paid.

And then you can build your stock portfolio on the side.

Obviously,unless you try you won´t know if it is the right thing for you.

In my experience though,many people are attracted to stock because they want to get out of their day job and think it will be an easier life. But the reality is that for most people it will be hard to achieve a decent living wage,because it is such a complex industry and changes very,very quickly.

You need to be a great artist, you need to find a niche you can either dominate or become one of the top 100 to really make it work,you have to constantly invest in equipment,software and be ready to learn new techiques,you have to watch overall trends - color schemes,fashion,trends in how society is changing, follow a lot of advertising trends and somehow still be able to create your own style of work that people will recognize.

You need your heart,your gut and a very business devoted mindset to actually make money. And be very, very honest with yourself.

It is the right thing for me, but I usually don´t recommend it. Everytime I mentor someone I realize how many things I have learned over the years that I just take for granted, but then you see how long it takes people to actually learn it.

It´s like dancing, some people can do a few basic steps, others dance with Alvin Ailey and others just do silly clips for youtube and become millionaires...

ETA: I doubt anyone will recommend a well selling niche to you. It took them years to identify it, you´ll have to find your own path...

im yet to find my niche..still exploring....do you peeps have an specific way for your inspiration???

sketchyt · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:19 »

If you even have to ask these questions, you're in the wrong business. There are much easier ways to make a living!

You have to do the work and You have to figure it out for yourself! Your art will be more meaningful when you do.

Now get to work!

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #20 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:29 »

Quote from: sketchyt on December 21, 2014, 12:19

If you even have to ask these questions, you're in the wrong business. There are much easier ways to make a living!

You have to do the work and You have to figure it out for yourself! Your art will be more meaningful when you do.

Now get to work!

WRONG BUSINESS YOU MEAN FOR WHAT?? MICROSTOCK???

EmberMike · « **Reply #21 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:39 »

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 11:26

obviously im aware of what awaits me as a newbie...but i really in giving everythng i can into it...but my biggest fear is giving my life to it and gain nothing in return or gain nothing sort of what im putting into it.

If the only marker for success for you is to make a lot of money in microstock, then don't waste your time here. You're going about it all wrong and will ultimately be disappointed. I'd almost guarantee that. I don't know of any person ever in the short history of microstock who came into this with the single goal of being financially successful at microstock specifically and achieved exactly that.

If, on the other hand, you aspire to be a good vector artist and/or designer, and microstock is going to be one of the avenues you go down to make some money from your work, then you've got a shot. The people who do really well at this are people who learn the craft, practice, study, try to get better at what they do without a specific goal of making money in a particular niche of the vector/design business.

Successful microstock people are good artists first and foremost. The rest comes naturally if you're good enough at what you do.

Tryingmybest · « **Reply #22 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:43 »

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 20, 2014, 17:30

...I'M MORE A VECTOR ARTIST. I'M REAL SERIOUSLY INTO THIS BUSINESS AND CAN AFFORD TO WORK HARD, REAL HARD INTO IT TO HAVE A COOL AND QUALITY PORTFOLIO(MAY BE 2500 IMAGES BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR). YOU EXPERIENCED MICROSTOCKERS HERE, ADVICE ME PLEASE. AFTER HOW MANY MONTHS(BASED ON GENERAL CASES YOU KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME FOR ALL) WHAT IT TAKES(MONTH, PORTFOLIO SIZE, ETC....) TO ATTAIN $11000? I REALLY NEED ADVICES NOW. I WANNA DO IT, BUT NEED MORE MOTIVATIONS....AND ADVICE ME ALSO ON THE BEST OF AGENCIES...THANKS A LOT TO EVERYONE WHO CONSIDER THIS AND REPLY ME..

You need a portfolio of at least 10,000 across multiple sites (see the Microstock group forum list to research the top earning sites) to make an easy $1,000 per month (submit 50-100 illustrations weekly). You need to find a niche and a unique style as well. It's a brutal industry that rewards creativity and ingenuity. As others have written, don't make money the sole motivating force. Expect to put in 5-7 years to reap the rewards you desire. Peace.

Difydave · « **Reply #23 on:** December 21, 2014, 12:48 »

First off "STOP ******* SHOUTING" people can read your posts fine without the caps lock!
I'd agree with what sketchyt says above, you are asking questions which show that you don't have the experience to make the money you are talking about in a short time.
If you actually read the posts above you will get the advice you need. There's no short cut to money in any of this, not in vector illustration, photography, 3D renders, or raster illustration. They all need a special set of skills, knowledge of art, technique, equipment, software, and what is actually commercial in the sense of what sells. No one can really give you all this knowledge. It's up to you to work at it, do what you enjoy doing and find out for yourself what sells for you. Always remember that the people who give answers here are your competition, and are giving up their time to help by replying.

DallasP · « **Reply #24 on:** December 21, 2014, 20:26 »

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 20, 2014, 17:30

...I'M MORE A VECTOR ARTIST. I'M REAL SERIOUSLY INTO THIS BUSINESS AND CAN AFFORD TO WORK HARD, REAL HARD INTO IT TO HAVE A COOL AND QUALITY PORTFOLIO(MAY BE 2500 IMAGES BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR). YOU EXPERIENCED MICROSTOCKERS HERE, ADVICE ME PLEASE. AFTER HOW MANY MONTHS(BASED ON GENERAL CASES YOU KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME FOR ALL) WHAT IT TAKES(MONTH, PORTFOLIO SIZE, ETC....) TO ATTAIN $11000? I REALLY NEED ADVICES NOW. I WANNA DO IT, BUT NEED MORE MOTIVATIONS....AND ADVICE ME ALSO ON THE BEST OF AGENCIES...THANKS A LOT TO EVERYONE WHO CONSIDER THIS AND REPLY ME..

Probably infinitely easier to go apply at McDonald's and work for a year.

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Author Topic: I BADLY NEED $11000 and i'm quite new to the microstock industry... (Read 25391 times)

salaahkhayr

Maximilian

stockmarketer

fritz

Difydave

sgoodwin4813

ShadySue

salaahkhayr

salaahkhayr

cobalt

Red Dove

Sean Locke Photography

salaahkhayr

salaahkhayr

salaahkhayr

cobalt

ShadySue

salaahkhayr

salaahkhayr

sketchyt

salaahkhayr

EmberMike

Tryingmybest

Difydave

DallasP

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