pancakes

MicrostockGroup Sponsors


Author Topic: Is $1000/months a big amount?  (Read 10708 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: July 01, 2017, 01:31 »
0
Was just guessing what the average mstocker makes. By average, I'm referring to those who has like 5000 online files specially vectors. I always see lots of pessimistic trends from this forum and was wondering if there are 'new' successful mstockers out there. Of course, geography plays its role. May be someone making $1000 in the US is not considered rich while in India he is. But the question is, how many actual contributors make a minimum of this number per month? Are you in this group yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Bad Company

« Reply #1 on: July 01, 2017, 08:59 »
+1
Was just guessing what the average mstocker makes. By average, I'm referring to those who has like 5000 online files specially vectors. I always see lots of pessimistic trends from this forum and was wondering if there are 'new' successful mstockers out there. Of course, geography plays its role. May be someone making $1000 in the US is not considered rich while in India he is. But the question is, how many actual contributors make a minimum of this number per month? Are you in this group yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Way too many variable to correctly address your question.  I know some folks with only 1,500 images making from $5,000 to $7,000 a month and other with over 15,000 images barely making $2,000 a month.  I depends on what subject areas (Categories) you select (i.e., Business, Education, Medical) and if you are the best in those categories.   

« Reply #2 on: July 01, 2017, 09:20 »
0
Was just guessing what the average mstocker makes. By average, I'm referring to those who has like 5000 online files specially vectors. I always see lots of pessimistic trends from this forum and was wondering if there are 'new' successful mstockers out there. Of course, geography plays its role. May be someone making $1000 in the US is not considered rich while in India he is. But the question is, how many actual contributors make a minimum of this number per month? Are you in this group yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Way too many variable to correctly address your question.  I know some folks with only 1,500 images making from $5,000 to $7,000 a month and other with over 15,000 images barely making $2,000 a month.  I depends on what subject areas (Categories) you select (i.e., Business, Education, Medical) and if you are the best in those categories.

I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

niktol

« Reply #3 on: July 01, 2017, 09:48 »
0


I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not being a mid eastern customer, it's hard for me to relate or predict.  How much are you making now if you don't mind me asking?

« Reply #4 on: July 01, 2017, 09:52 »
0


I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not being a mid eastern customer, it's hard for me to relate or predict.  How much are you making now if you don't mind me asking?

I have 300
Vectors on Shutterstock. I'm making like $15\months.

What about you and with how many files ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

niktol

« Reply #5 on: July 01, 2017, 10:23 »
0


I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not being a mid eastern customer, it's hard for me to relate or predict.  How much are you making now if you don't mind me asking?

I have 300
Vectors on Shutterstock. I'm making like $15\months.

What about you and with how many files ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When did you start uploading?

Considerably more

« Reply #6 on: July 01, 2017, 10:23 »
0


I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not being a mid eastern customer, it's hard for me to relate or predict.  How much are you making now if you don't mind me asking?

I have 300
Vectors on Shutterstock. I'm making like $15\months.

What about you and with how many files ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

When did you start uploading?

One year now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

niktol

« Reply #7 on: July 01, 2017, 10:26 »
0


One year now


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Do you upload to other agencies too? If yes, is there any return from those?

niktol

« Reply #8 on: July 01, 2017, 10:44 »
+5
Anyhow, regardless... This may sound harsh, but this niche that you are in clearly has no commercial demand. If you were making 20-40 times more, there could be hope after some serious changes, but this is too low. You should drop it immediately and do something else.

« Reply #9 on: July 01, 2017, 10:50 »
0
Anyhow, regardless... This may sound harsh, but this niche that you are in clearly has no commercial demand. If you were making 20-40 times more, there could be hope after some serious changes, but this is too low. You should drop it immediately and do something else.

I upload only to shutter. Yea may be you are right. But again my portfolio is too little to consider changing direction. May if I had a port of 5000 quality vector files but no actual serious income, then I would surely drop everything. Don't you think stopping now is like someone who just placed the first brick and is quitting just because he is not seeing anything that looks like a house!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #10 on: July 01, 2017, 11:49 »
+2
Anyhow, regardless... This may sound harsh, but this niche that you are in clearly has no commercial demand. If you were making 20-40 times more, there could be hope after some serious changes, but this is too low. You should drop it immediately and do something else.

I upload only to shutter. Yea may be you are right. But again my portfolio is too little to consider changing direction. May if I had a port of 5000 quality vector files but no actual serious income, then I would surely drop everything. Don't you think stopping now is like someone who just placed the first brick and is quitting just because he is not seeing anything that looks like a house!


You've certainly got lots of patience. I was earning more than that in my first full month on iStock, but that was photos and that was Jan 2007 (started in mid-Dec 2006) - things are VERY different now. I wouldn't have stuck it if I'd been earning $15 a month, even with probably < 50 pics uploaded then (you could only upload so many a week and the standards were really strict back then. Still, good vector artists  seemed to be doing even better back then.

As you're learning, there's no value in having a niche if there aren't any buyers for that niche. (Or maybe there are other, better, people in that niche, maybe on other more relevant sites for that market? I haven't a clue, but you should check.)

niktol

« Reply #11 on: July 01, 2017, 12:58 »
+1
Anyhow, regardless... This may sound harsh, but this niche that you are in clearly has no commercial demand. If you were making 20-40 times more, there could be hope after some serious changes, but this is too low. You should drop it immediately and do something else.

I upload only to shutter. Yea may be you are right. But again my portfolio is too little to consider changing direction. May if I had a port of 5000 quality vector files but no actual serious income, then I would surely drop everything. Don't you think stopping now is like someone who just placed the first brick and is quitting just because he is not seeing anything that looks like a house!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am not suggesting to quit. I am suggesting using bricks that have the required specs rather than turning into dust when touched.

BTW, knowing when to quit is also a valuable quality.

niktol

« Reply #12 on: July 01, 2017, 13:15 »
+3
But again my portfolio is too little to consider changing direction. May if I had a port of 5000 quality vector files but no actual serious income,

It maybe too small to lead a decent life in the West, but it's not too small to assess its performance. And quickly changing directions is something small entrepreneurs have the luxury to do. Unlike large corporations. Use it to your advantage.
« Last Edit: July 01, 2017, 13:22 by niktol »

« Reply #13 on: July 01, 2017, 13:27 »
+2
I have 850+- photos, mostly local area, some travel and some textures which I've uploaded over the past year. I make around 15$ a month with a few exceptions (an image sold for 42$ or so last month out of the blue).

I'm also selling in Adobe / iStock but making < 5$ a month there. Alamy made nothing in the past 6 months and then sold an image for 115$ so who knows.

Goal is consistent 100$ a month  I'm not even close

« Reply #14 on: July 01, 2017, 13:31 »
0
I have 850+- photos, mostly local area, some travel and some textures which I've uploaded over the past year. I make around 15$ a month with a few exceptions (an image sold for 42$ or so last month out of the blue).

I'm also selling in Adobe / iStock but making < 5$ a month there. Alamy made nothing in the past 6 months and then sold an image for 115$ so who knows.

Goal is consistent 100$ a month  I'm not even close


I have 300 files only on shutter and make between 15 to 20 per months. You should consider uploading more and increase the quality of you think there are some lackness. Although i make amount for this tiny portfolio which I think is a positive thing, I am afraid to use my time uploading more and more and at the end I see no real prospects.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

« Reply #15 on: July 01, 2017, 13:42 »
+2
Why dońt you just widen your niche?

Make the next 300 files a mix of different subjects or themes.

Then you can compare if they sell better or worse than the niche you have chosen.

I would try to reach 1000 files but with a large variety of themes. Then you can see what sells best and make more of that.

Let the customer show you what they like and listen to them.

And yes, I would upload to more agencies. Fotolia/adobe, dreamstime. Maybe istock too.

« Reply #16 on: July 01, 2017, 13:44 »
0
Why dońt you just widen your niche?

Make the next 300 files a mix of different subjects or themes.

Then you can compare if they sell better or worse than the niche you have chosen.

I would try to reach 1000 files but with a large variety of themes. Then you can see what sells best and make more of that.

Let the customer show you what they like and listen to them.

And yes, I would upload to more agencies. Fotolia/adobe, dreamstime. Maybe istock too.

1000 is my objective actually. But since a year I'v been asleep a bit. I'm stuck on 300 lol. The problem is I don't master other niche more than Arabic calligraphy. On Shutterstock I am medine art you can look me up. I have two vector on the first page when you search for the words Arab, Arabic and calligraphy.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


« Reply #17 on: July 01, 2017, 14:04 »
0

I have 300 files only on shutter and make between 15 to 20 per months. You should consider uploading more and increase the quality of you think there are some lackness. Although i make amount for this tiny portfolio which I think is a positive thing, I am afraid to use my time uploading more and more and at the end I see no real prospects.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is my portfolio, always happy to get feedback - https://www.shutterstock.com/g/guyn (I know there's a duplicate there, was a bad upload in the process of deletion). I can't shot models (cost money and I'm not making nearly enough to justify it) I'll try setting up a small home studio later this year, but I doubt there's much I can do there that haven't been done before. I've also started experimenting with some editorials, but I live in Israel and there's limited audiance

« Reply #18 on: July 01, 2017, 14:11 »
0

I have 300 files only on shutter and make between 15 to 20 per months. You should consider uploading more and increase the quality of you think there are some lackness. Although i make amount for this tiny portfolio which I think is a positive thing, I am afraid to use my time uploading more and more and at the end I see no real prospects.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This is my portfolio, always happy to get feedback - https://www.shutterstock.com/g/guyn (I know there's a duplicate there, was a bad upload in the process of deletion). I can't shot models (cost money and I'm not making nearly enough to justify it) I'll try setting up a small home studio later this year, but I doubt there's much I can do there that haven't been done before. I've also started experimenting with some editorials, but I live in Israel and there's limited audiance

Shoot broader topics.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

« Reply #19 on: July 01, 2017, 14:23 »
0

Shoot broader topics.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I'm still trying to figure out how to do that with my current gear (aka I'm sure there's some lovely macro / wildlife shots out there, but I don't have the gear) which leaves me with landscape / street photography and some product photography that I will try once I'm settled here (moving flats next month). If there are other suggestions I'm all ears

nazlisart

  • I create therefore I AM
« Reply #20 on: July 01, 2017, 14:38 »
+2


I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not being a mid eastern customer, it's hard for me to relate or predict.  How much are you making now if you don't mind me asking?

I have 300
Vectors on Shutterstock. I'm making like $15\months.

What about you and with how many files ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

15$/m is way too low for 300 vectors... Find an additional niche

« Reply #21 on: July 01, 2017, 15:03 »
0


I'm more into vectors specially calligraphy. I know Arabic calligraphy and I'm trying to attract mid eastern customers. Don't know what to expect in the future with this niche.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Not being a mid eastern customer, it's hard for me to relate or predict.  How much are you making now if you don't mind me asking?

I have 300
Vectors on Shutterstock. I'm making like $15\months.

What about you and with how many files ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

15$/m is way too low for 300 vectors... Find an additional niche

Actually it's 256. But it's still low I agree.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

AnS

« Reply #22 on: July 02, 2017, 01:57 »
+1
Your earning compared to your portofio size seems like you really need to change or broaden your subject and concept. It is a good idea to test some new vectors, after a while you will see which could work for you. I always have at least 3-4 different category and subjects covered, those that I have noticed that work for me the best.

It might be a good idea to try Fotolia/Adobe and iStock too. I am doing only vector illustrations and out of the three sites Shutterstock tends to be my lowest earner. Who knows, you might have better "luck" with other agencies. :)
« Last Edit: July 02, 2017, 02:00 by AnS »

SpaceStockFootage

  • Space, Sci-Fi and Astronomy Related Stock Footage

« Reply #23 on: July 02, 2017, 02:13 »
+2
I have about 400 items (mostly video, some After Effects... no stills) and make around $3250 a month. Give or take $500 or so.

« Reply #24 on: July 03, 2017, 02:16 »
0
I have about 400 items (mostly video, some After Effects... no stills) and make around $3250 a month. Give or take $500 or so.


Yup I heard videos and motion graphic do make better.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


 

Sponsors

Mega Bundle of 5,900+ Professional Lightroom Presets

Microstock Poll Results

Sponsors