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Author Topic: Microstocker Burnout Syndrom  (Read 12546 times)

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« on: November 27, 2016, 08:16 »
+1
How many years does it take for a microstocker to run into a burn-out syndrom?
 
And how to overcome it? To take a break? For how long?

How to overcome a creativity block?

Any experience?


« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2016, 09:32 »
+9
It took me about 7 years, shooting only parttime. I didnt burn out because i was tired of shooting stock, i burned out because i was tired of being taken advantage of by the stock agencies. It lasted 7 years because i started early in microstock history. Today, i am sure it would take less time, and not even sure i would bother. It costs money to buy equipment, props, hire models, pay for travel, etc. At anywhere from .33 per image down to .02 cents per image now at some places, it just isnt worth it.

The only exception to that is if you are shooting other things like weddings, or shooting macrostock, and you use micro as just one more marketing tool. In other words, if you are a fulltime photographer and support yourself with income from work besides micro, i cant imagine burnout.

If you are only shooting microstock, my guess would be a couple of years now. When you start spending money then realize it will take you years for ROI, well...

« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2016, 09:46 »
+21
It took me about 7 years, shooting only parttime. I didnt burn out because i was tired of shooting stock, i burned out because i was tired of being taken advantage of by the stock agencies. It lasted 7 years because i started early in microstock history. Today, i am sure it would take less time, and not even sure i would bother. It costs money to buy equipment, props, hire models, pay for travel, etc. At anywhere from .33 per image down to .02 cents per image now at some places, it just isnt worth it.

The only exception to that is if you are shooting other things like weddings, or shooting macrostock, and you use micro as just one more marketing tool. In other words, if you are a fulltime photographer and support yourself with income from work besides micro, i cant imagine burnout.

If you are only shooting microstock, my guess would be a couple of years now. When you start spending money then realize it will take you years for ROI, well...

Same for me.  I haven't shot any planned studio work in well over a year.  A few video shots to test equipment, but other than that it's been shooting what I enjoy and just uploading that non-stocky stuff.  I have zip motivation to produce good, usable content for micro stock. The agencies have become so greedy and gutter bent on subs that I, like many, have given up the chase.  I will start shooting again after the first of the year but more to start building a site.  I am also going to get more serious about video where the pay is better than stills. 

Someone posted one key truth about the content of micros and that is the quality of the content will be, more or less, sustained by people in third world countries where $800 a month is a nice living.  Much of their work is very well done, both images and illustrations.  They will own micros and micros will keep cutting to tenth of pennies and they will be fine with it.  I'm not. My cost of living is greater than theirs and that forces me into looking for new revenue streams that pay more. It's happening now. No longer a guess as to where micros are going.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2016, 13:12 by Mantis »

« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2016, 09:55 »
+2
For me just the opposite. I love ever minute of stock photography.  I keep making money photographing what i want to shoot. Yes maybe the money is less now but i am doing what i want to do. The 33 cents to even 2 cents add up. Everyone in this industry seems to only complain about how the sites do them wrong.  I say please just quit stock photography and work at Walmart or something.  I will keep getting the 33 cents which add up for me. Do the math and see how much money each sellable  image has made you . Some of your images will sell and some might not. The ones that do sell will add up , even 33 cents. For the rest of your just retire and go to work at Walmart. For me i love making money and knowing that my images are used and published all over the world.   

« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2016, 10:03 »
+12
For me just the opposite. I love ever minute of stock photography.  I keep making money photographing what i want to shoot. Yes maybe the money is less now but i am doing what i want to do. The 33 cents to even 2 cents add up. Everyone in this industry seems to only complain about how the sites do them wrong.  I say please just quit stock photography and work at Walmart or something.  I will keep getting the 33 cents which add up for me. Do the math and see how much money each sellable  image has made you . Some of your images will sell and some might not. The ones that do sell will add up , even 33 cents. For the rest of your just retire and go to work at Walmart. For me i love making money and knowing that my images are used and published all over the world.
Sounds like you are a perfect example of what Mantis mentioned above.

« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2016, 10:18 »
+5
I love doing stock.

It feels very rewarding that strangers that I will never meet use my images in projects I will never see. Even when I am long gone my files will keep circling the globe being used somewhere.

I am focussing more on macrostock or specialized agencies for photos, but have some themes that continue to do well on microstock.

I have also fallen in love with video and at the moment the average download is higher than for photos. But processing and uploading 4k takes a lot of time.

To prevent burnout, I turn to editorial video and photos.

Look at events going on in my city or drive to a new place and try to capture that.

But for me stock is the best thing ever and now we have so many different agencies and styles, you can sell anything.

« Reply #6 on: November 27, 2016, 10:24 »
0
It took me about 7 years, shooting only parttime. I didnt burn out because i was tired of shooting stock, i burned out because i was tired of being taken advantage of by the stock agencies. It lasted 7 years because i started early in microstock history. Today, i am sure it would take less time, and not even sure i would bother. It costs money to buy equipment, props, hire models, pay for travel, etc. At anywhere from .33 per image down to .02 cents per image now at some places, it just isnt worth it.

The only exception to that is if you are shooting other things like weddings, or shooting macrostock, and you use micro as just one more marketing tool. In other words, if you are a fulltime photographer and support yourself with income from work besides micro, i cant imagine burnout.

If you are only shooting microstock, my guess would be a couple of years now. When you start spending money then realize it will take you years for ROI, well...

Same for me.  I haven't shot any planned studio work in well over a year.  A few video shots to test equipment, but other than that it's been shooting what I enjoy and just uploading that non-stocky stuff.  I have zip motivation to produce good, usable content for micro stock. The agencies have become so greedy and gutter bent on subs that I, like many, have given up the chase.  I will start shooting again after the first of the year but more to start building a site.  I am also going to get more serious about video where the pay is better than stills. 

Someone posted one key truth about the content of micros and that is the quality of the content will be, more or less, sustained by people in third world countries where $800 a month is a nice living.  Such of their work is very well done, images and illustrations.  They will own micros and micros will keep cutting to tenth of pennies and they will be fine with it.  I'm not. My cost of living is greater than theirs and that forces me into looking for new revenue streams that pay more. It's happening now. No longer a guess as to where micros are going.

Actually for $800 a month being OK earning you don't have to go to "third world countries". Even in the eastern parts of the EU there are countries with millions of people who would do almost anything for that kind of income.

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #7 on: November 27, 2016, 10:47 »
+5
How many years does it take for a microstocker to run into a burn-out syndrom?
 
And how to overcome it? To take a break? For how long?

How to overcome a creativity block?

Any experience?

If I was still making money and seeing growth from my efforts I may not have burnt out. I quit about three years ago after five years of submitting. When I first started, I got really motivated when I saw revenue increasing consistently when I added new images. It was awesome for a few years until the plateau hit and then the drop. The hamster wheel. I still experiment with stuff like mobile to see if there's anything new that makes it worth my time but haven't found it yet. I spend my time producing stuff outside of micro where I still find profits and growth. I also license my own stuff through my site.

Like Mantis said, things are shifting. Up until a few years ago equipment and quality requirements were so high it prevented a lot of people from entering micro. Now the requirements are so low that anyone with a cellphone can join micro which opened up the competition floodgates to just about anyone anywhere in the world. And micros will continue squeezing people until they find that fine line where taking away too much negatively affects their financials. Hasn't happened yet and there's no bottom in sight.

Wish it wasn't this way because in the beginning I was so excited. I actually thought I could live off of this with just a few thousand images. Now I'd need tens of thousands and it's not viable.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #8 on: November 27, 2016, 10:59 »
+5
I burn out now and then, so I give myself a break and just stop creating images. Last year I took the whole summer off. The great thing about Microstock is that you keep making money even when you take a break, which is impossible in my "real" jobno breaks there.

The bad thing is that earnings are stagnating and decreasing, so I've gotta put on my thinking cap and figure out other ways to make money with my work...and upping the quality and getting a "real" rep is a goal for sure.

« Reply #9 on: November 27, 2016, 11:15 »
+3
Never had burn out syndrom. We are shooting stock video full time. Me and my girlfriend are doing it on daily basis and live just fine from it. It was easier to buy better equipment when we had full-time jobs and doing stocks part-time, but you forgot about relationship. So we dropped jobs and doing stock full-time. We enjoy it, because we work whenever we si it fit. When we have an idea to shoot, we shoot. We have a lot of stuff still waiting to be edited, and even much more to be tagged (still tagging some last year stuff). We perfected the flow of work, it's just the matter of what you feel to work each day. Our part-time work is finding some new niches to grow some new funds. :)

« Reply #10 on: November 27, 2016, 11:18 »
+2
I make a living on micros since 5 years. In my country there is unemployment all over and the chances for decent employment dropped to zero in some areas, which means I am entirely dependent on my creativity. I am happy with every single cent in any hard currency.
I am doing illustrations only, I dont need expensive equipment, models, studio and so on. A simple notebook and some open source software is all what I need. Going through the images I started with years ago, I am getting self-doubts, gosh, what kind of crap. And the crap made money, what kind of a miracle. Micros and a piece of land around the house for vegetables are feeding me and my family pretty well.
What I am only worried is: will I run short of creativity one day?

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #11 on: November 27, 2016, 12:02 »
+2
I make a living on micros since 5 years. In my country there is unemployment all over and the chances for decent employment dropped to zero in some areas, which means I am entirely dependent on my creativity. I am happy with every single cent in any hard currency.
I am doing illustrations only, I dont need expensive equipment, models, studio and so on. A simple notebook and some open source software is all what I need. Going through the images I started with years ago, I am getting self-doubts, gosh, what kind of crap. And the crap made money, what kind of a miracle. Micros and a piece of land around the house for vegetables are feeding me and my family pretty well.
What I am only worried is: will I run short of creativity one day?

You may or may not run out of creativity. But one thing is certain that applies to everybody. Micro sites will continue to squeeze contributors by dropping commissions, removing benefits, or coming up with vague new licensing schemes that are a disadvantage to contributors until it financially hurts them. Which means contributors are leaving in waves every time there's a squeeze. Eventually things may drop to a point where it's no longer worth your time. That's been the trend. At some point image factories may take over where people are getting paid $1 a day to crank out hundreds of images per person and the market will be so flooded that few independent contributors will be making enough money to be profitable regardless of where you live. This is the nature of business. Walmartstock.

« Reply #12 on: November 27, 2016, 12:04 »
+2
On the contrary Josephine, i think you will never run out of creativity, because making stock gets in to your veins. If you have any sort of creativity blocks, go out, enjoy nature.

« Reply #13 on: November 27, 2016, 12:04 »
+5
I quit shooting micro over a year ago, because of declining returns, but also because the future - subs, 'packages', giveaways - was obvious.  No offense guys, but in my math, 33 cents never adds up to anything.    Let's not even talk about 2.

Obviously there are people who would do this for nothing, at least for some period in their lives; and I think they'll get the chance. 


« Last Edit: November 27, 2016, 12:24 by stockastic »

« Reply #14 on: November 27, 2016, 12:34 »
+9
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

« Reply #15 on: November 27, 2016, 12:50 »
+4
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

I still have photos on sale at a couple of agencies, so I watch developments.  You never stop hoping for a miracle, some new agency that does things really different but actually makes some sales.  It's not likely anytime soon.  Many former posters here are gone.   There's also discussion here about POD sites and I'm active in that.

Really, the OP's question was about burnout, right? So, I'm a burnout and gave my response.

« Reply #16 on: November 27, 2016, 12:52 »
+6
There was a time when it was extremly easy to make money with stock. Especially with microstock, where we got 20 cents a download, but the images were bought in very, very high volume.

Cloudy sky, a patch of grass, a nice sunset could earn you thousands of dollars.

It also brought in enough money to pay for models, equipment and location in places like London or New York.

In those days the agencies had 5 million files and accepted 30 000 a week.

Now they have 100 million images and take 1 million a week.

I dont mind selling for 20 cents, if the volume is there.

But I dont see a lot of high volume sales on SS. With equal size portfolios, the number of downloads from macrostock are very similar to microstock.

So I have scaled down investing into my productions and try to create for macrostock or niche agencies.

For microstock only if it has potential to sell in very high volume.


« Reply #17 on: November 27, 2016, 13:14 »
0
It took me about 7 years, shooting only parttime. I didnt burn out because i was tired of shooting stock, i burned out because i was tired of being taken advantage of by the stock agencies. It lasted 7 years because i started early in microstock history. Today, i am sure it would take less time, and not even sure i would bother. It costs money to buy equipment, props, hire models, pay for travel, etc. At anywhere from .33 per image down to .02 cents per image now at some places, it just isnt worth it.

The only exception to that is if you are shooting other things like weddings, or shooting macrostock, and you use micro as just one more marketing tool. In other words, if you are a fulltime photographer and support yourself with income from work besides micro, i cant imagine burnout.

If you are only shooting microstock, my guess would be a couple of years now. When you start spending money then realize it will take you years for ROI, well...

Same for me.  I haven't shot any planned studio work in well over a year.  A few video shots to test equipment, but other than that it's been shooting what I enjoy and just uploading that non-stocky stuff.  I have zip motivation to produce good, usable content for micro stock. The agencies have become so greedy and gutter bent on subs that I, like many, have given up the chase.  I will start shooting again after the first of the year but more to start building a site.  I am also going to get more serious about video where the pay is better than stills. 

Someone posted one key truth about the content of micros and that is the quality of the content will be, more or less, sustained by people in third world countries where $800 a month is a nice living.  Such of their work is very well done, images and illustrations.  They will own micros and micros will keep cutting to tenth of pennies and they will be fine with it.  I'm not. My cost of living is greater than theirs and that forces me into looking for new revenue streams that pay more. It's happening now. No longer a guess as to where micros are going.

Actually for $800 a month being OK earning you don't have to go to "third world countries". Even in the eastern parts of the EU there are countries with millions of people who would do almost anything for that kind of income.

Thanks for the added insights.

« Reply #18 on: November 27, 2016, 13:45 »
+7
Through the 80s, 90s and 00s, I watched my software work being increasingly transferred to Indian companies bidding 1/3 the price.  They had the educational system, were getting the connectivity, and the cost of living was a fraction of ours.  I didn't resent those guys, it was just their turn and they deserved the opportunity.   Eventually things started to level out as their wage demands went up and some of their shortcomings became evident; but that took years.  Same thing will happen to stock photography.   

There are other trends harder to overcome: oversupply and coverage saturation.   

But the biggest obstacle is the distortion of the market by a handful of middlemen who control the market, competing only on price and paying token commissions.   Software developers can form new companies, or go independent, and have ways of reaching potential customers.   Photographers currently don't have those options.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2016, 14:16 by stockastic »

« Reply #19 on: November 27, 2016, 14:30 »
+1
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

You'll also see war veterans meet up long after the war is over... Some people just like to hang out together and talk about their glory days. Glory days, when they were younger and ELs at Shutterstock were as common as sunny days... And when you were getting instant downloads...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vQpW9XRiyM

« Reply #20 on: November 27, 2016, 15:27 »
+2
I`m sorry if I seemed suspicious but the thing is that all this forum reading about how tiered people are and about how sales are so bad its kind of discouraging for a noob :( ...I mean the thought of starting producing now its just frightening considering everybody is saying that the market will go down or the sales are bad and so on. I dont find to many optimistic treads an maybe that is why I felt the need to express my fear here.  :(

« Reply #21 on: November 27, 2016, 15:33 »
+1
My sunny days are now!!!!!!!!

« Reply #22 on: November 27, 2016, 15:43 »
+2
if you see a sunny day in England its time for rejoicing

if you see a sunny day in California, its the same old, same old

« Reply #23 on: November 27, 2016, 15:51 »
+1
I've been doing this for 2 years now and it's normal to have some burn out every now and then. I haven't been discouraged, just pushed myself too hard and needing a break to get my senses together. I keep a long list of ideas and I'm constantly trying to go through it, but everywhere I go, everything I see gives me ideas. It's uphill battle to clear my plate.

The only time I really burned out was doing something else; making a game. That took me about 8 months and 1000 hours. Burned out multiple times. After going through that craziness, microstock is a walk in the park by comparison.

« Reply #24 on: November 27, 2016, 16:07 »
+1
How many years does it take for a microstocker to run into a burn-out syndrom?
 
And how to overcome it? To take a break? For how long?

How to overcome a creativity block?

Any experience?

If I was still making money and seeing growth from my efforts I may not have burnt out. I quit about three years ago after five years of submitting. When I first started, I got really motivated when I saw revenue increasing consistently when I added new images. It was awesome for a few years until the plateau hit and then the drop. The hamster wheel. I still experiment with stuff like mobile to see if there's anything new that makes it worth my time but haven't found it yet. I spend my time producing stuff outside of micro where I still find profits and growth. I also license my own stuff through my site.

Like Mantis said, things are shifting. Up until a few years ago equipment and quality requirements were so high it prevented a lot of people from entering micro. Now the requirements are so low that anyone with a cellphone can join micro which opened up the competition floodgates to just about anyone anywhere in the world. And micros will continue squeezing people until they find that fine line where taking away too much negatively affects their financials. Hasn't happened yet and there's no bottom in sight.

Wish it wasn't this way because in the beginning I was so excited. I actually thought I could live off of this with just a few thousand images. Now I'd need tens of thousands and it's not viable.

as a photographer from view camera media to 120 to 35mm to digital to mirrorless (no, will never go to mob)...we all go through that more than one phase of becoming old school .
i don't think of ever being burnt out. i just move on and off photography... going into other things to keep me advancing and never getting sick and tired of photography.

i remember Sting from his post Police days saying the same thing..
you play or do for yourself first, and you will never give it up. photography is that to me, like music is to Sting.

microstock is not a livelihood to me; it never was. i merely started microstock about 12 years ago only because it seemed like a good idea at that time when istock was kicking @$$ ... keeping ss on their toes.

like paulie and many of my peers who have more or less given up or died..

i just do microstock whenever i run out of football, beer , etc..
and come in here to leaf's MSG to whine and grunt

... because it's there !!! (to coin some mountain climber when asked why do you climb mountains???)

Giveme5

« Reply #25 on: November 27, 2016, 21:55 »
0
How many years does it take for a microstocker to run into a burn-out syndrom?
 
And how to overcome it? To take a break? For how long?

How to overcome a creativity block?

Any experience?

How many years to burn- depends on too many variables. If you are okay with working 18 hour days - 6 days a week with no time to take a shower or eat a good meal than burn out will never come  8)

alno

« Reply #26 on: November 28, 2016, 03:43 »
+3
I`m sorry if I seemed suspicious but the thing is that all this forum reading about how tiered people are and about how sales are so bad its kind of discouraging for a noob :( ...I mean the thought of starting producing now its just frightening considering everybody is saying that the market will go down or the sales are bad and so on. I dont find to many optimistic treads an maybe that is why I felt the need to express my fear here.  :(

Why those people should encourage you in any way? Competitor is a villain who is pursuing the same goal :)


« Reply #27 on: November 28, 2016, 03:54 »
+1

If I was still making money and seeing growth from my efforts I may not have burnt out. I quit about three years ago after five years of submitting. When I first started, I got really motivated when I saw revenue increasing consistently when I added new images. It was awesome for a few years until the plateau hit and then the drop. The hamster wheel. I still experiment with stuff like mobile to see if there's anything new that makes it worth my time but haven't found it yet. I spend my time producing stuff outside of micro where I still find profits and growth. I also license my own stuff through my site.

Like Mantis said, things are shifting. Up until a few years ago equipment and quality requirements were so high it prevented a lot of people from entering micro. Now the requirements are so low that anyone with a cellphone can join micro which opened up the competition floodgates to just about anyone anywhere in the world. And micros will continue squeezing people until they find that fine line where taking away too much negatively affects their financials. Hasn't happened yet and there's no bottom in sight.

Wish it wasn't this way because in the beginning I was so excited. I actually thought I could live off of this with just a few thousand images. Now I'd need tens of thousands and it's not viable.

Great analysis as usually, Paulie. Sums up my feelings and experiences, too.
I thought I was riding the gravy train. Then the train derailed.
« Last Edit: November 28, 2016, 04:00 by LDV81 »

« Reply #28 on: November 28, 2016, 04:51 »
+1
I`m sorry if I seemed suspicious but the thing is that all this forum reading about how tiered people are and about how sales are so bad its kind of discouraging for a noob :( ...I mean the thought of starting producing now its just frightening considering everybody is saying that the market will go down or the sales are bad and so on. I dont find to many optimistic treads an maybe that is why I felt the need to express my fear here.  :(

Why those people should encourage you in any way? Competitor is a villain who is pursuing the same goal :)

good point :)  I will just follow my path and see what happens. At least I am doing something I love and I hope I will never burn out !

« Reply #29 on: November 28, 2016, 06:14 »
+1
You must burn before you can burn out.

If you are part-time microstocker, you can only cool down a little bit.

« Reply #30 on: November 28, 2016, 07:14 »
+1
You must burn before you can burn out.

If you are part-time microstocker, you can only cool down a little bit.
I don't think I would last very long at all if I was full time...thats the beauty of it its totally up to you how much or how little you put in.

« Reply #31 on: November 28, 2016, 07:55 »
0
The agencies have become so greedy and gutter bent on subs that I, like many, have given up the chase.

Someone posted one key truth about the content of micros and that is the quality of the content will be, more or less, sustained by people in third world countries where $800 a month is a nice living.  Much of their work is very well done, both images and illustrations.

well said... both insightful truths!!!
i also remember at the beginning of my microstock here on leaf's msg, reading someone who said he left his country to settle in a 3rd world where the microstock earnings goes a longer way.
esp for us old crows (not the other one with the same monicker here), we can go that route too,
and make our earnings go a longer way with 35 bucks a month. but i will be crazy and old
if i say i will support greedy ss to let them rule my life with 35bucks as a wooo yayyy i got payout every month from ss, sooooo cool. !!!
no, won't be an ss coolie !!!

i got my equipment all paid up by micro, so like you mantis, next year will be a new project.
stay local doing my own thing, while getting in touch with all those who are using my micro work
..by finding their blog directly and make a deal with them.
they will pay less for my work without the middle man, and they won't have to rummage through
hundred pages of spammy sh*t .
this way, we both get the best of our relationship.

i doubt if ss will really improve contributors, or clients relations. that's way too old school for them.
the only thing to happen is Oringer cut out and go private again, but that too won't happen.
the taste of green is too much like opium to the masses... you don't go back ...

PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #32 on: November 28, 2016, 08:04 »
+7
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

I don't waste much time. I do way better in other areas outside of micro so I don't come here much anymore. I check in once in a while hoping micro will turn around but things still seem headed downward.

What's happening? A lot of people who used to make a living making thousands per month are now making hundreds per month even though they submitted thousands of images with the "shoot, upload, repeat" method. Dont care? Ok. For you new people or people who live in areas where the cost of living is lower and hundreds of dollars per months sounds great, what if you had the same situation happen to you? Like in a couple years you went from earning $500 per month and living well down to $50 per month? Or $5 per month? And micro no longer paid your bills? You'd probably quit or... come back here complaining about it.


alno

« Reply #33 on: November 28, 2016, 12:33 »
+2
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

I don't waste much time. I do way better in other areas outside of micro so I don't come here much anymore. I check in once in a while hoping micro will turn around but things still seem headed downward.

What's happening? A lot of people who used to make a living making thousands per month are now making hundreds per month even though they submitted thousands of images with the "shoot, upload, repeat" method. Dont care? Ok. For you new people or people who live in areas where the cost of living is lower and hundreds of dollars per months sounds great, what if you had the same situation happen to you? Like in a couple years you went from earning $500 per month and living well down to $50 per month? Or $5 per month? And micro no longer paid your bills? You'd probably quit or... come back here complaining about it.

You have a place to "quit" only in some wealthy country. There are not so many photography or video related options to quit microstock in Russia or some other third world country today.

« Reply #34 on: November 28, 2016, 12:40 »
0
only the wealthy people cry...

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #35 on: November 28, 2016, 12:44 »
+3
That's exactly what a lot of people have said.
The prices are going so low that it's unsustainable for many people to make stock images, particularly for micro.
Where photography expenses and living expenses aren't so great, the situation is different.

Giveme5

« Reply #36 on: November 28, 2016, 12:53 »
0
You must burn before you can burn out.



modern day Confucius on our site  8)


« Reply #37 on: November 28, 2016, 13:02 »
+1
I love doing stock.

It feels very rewarding that strangers that I will never meet use my images in projects I will never see. Even when I am long gone my files will keep circling the globe being used somewhere.

I am focussing more on macrostock or specialized agencies for photos, but have some themes that continue to do well on microstock.

I have also fallen in love with video and at the moment the average download is higher than for photos. But processing and uploading 4k takes a lot of time.

To prevent burnout, I turn to editorial video and photos.

Look at events going on in my city or drive to a new place and try to capture that.

But for me stock is the best thing ever and now we have so many different agencies and styles, you can sell anything.

I enjoy editorial, too, and they can sell quite well.  I have a decent portfolio of the presidential candidates from 2015-2016 and it helps support my losers...I love to just jump in the car and go.   I am, however, working on a budget now instead of constantly investing in equipment.   I am also trying to build a traditional photography business.

« Reply #38 on: November 28, 2016, 13:21 »
+3
Everybody in this forum knows the theory of THE WALL.

I belief that The Wall is related to Burnout. Unhappiness, worries, anger, complaints suck the energy and creativity of your brain, which means that your performance will decrease. and you finally will hit The Wall.

« Reply #39 on: November 28, 2016, 13:59 »
+2
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

I don't waste much time. I do way better in other areas outside of micro so I don't come here much anymore. I check in once in a while hoping micro will turn around but things still seem headed downward.

What's happening? A lot of people who used to make a living making thousands per month are now making hundreds per month even though they submitted thousands of images with the "shoot, upload, repeat" method. Dont care? Ok. For you new people or people who live in areas where the cost of living is lower and hundreds of dollars per months sounds great, what if you had the same situation happen to you? Like in a couple years you went from earning $500 per month and living well down to $50 per month? Or $5 per month? And micro no longer paid your bills? You'd probably quit or... come back here complaining about it.

Same here... I only come here maybe once a week to see if there is anything new in this industry. It really was exciting times back then when you envisioned retiring early and living off micro royalties. Even tho I make substantially less than what I used to make, its still a pretty big monthly income that i pay attention to. It's been ages since i uploaded anything to the sites.

50%

« Reply #40 on: November 28, 2016, 14:05 »
0
only the wealthy people cry...
Where I live people with a house and a garden are considered rich because it cost at very least 500.000, living in a rich country doesn't make you rich on a personal basis, the daily life is actually just harder because everything is so expensive.
Having a house with a garden you should consider yourself wealthy!

« Reply #41 on: November 28, 2016, 14:23 »
+1
@50% I am living in a country which is not all that wealthy at the moment, you might check the todays newspaper of Zimbabwe to learn more about...

50%

« Reply #42 on: November 28, 2016, 14:44 »
+4
@50% I am living in a country which is not all that wealthy at the moment, you might check the todays newspaper of Zimbabwe to learn more about...
read my post again I didn't say you live in a wealthy country, I do and couldn't afford a house here...

« Reply #43 on: November 28, 2016, 17:19 »
+1
only the wealthy people cry...
Where I live people with a house and a garden are considered rich because it cost at very least 500.000, living in a rich country doesn't make you rich on a personal basis, the daily life is actually just harder because everything is so expensive.
Having a house with a garden you should consider yourself wealthy!
I doubt very much your life is harder than many of those living in countries like Zimbabwe where for many getting a decent meal is a priority.

Millionstock.com

  • Architecture; Arts; Historic buildings, Landscapes

« Reply #44 on: November 28, 2016, 18:17 »
+6
For me burn out arrived 3 years after the beginning. I've spent a lot of money in equiments, travelling, etc...and was not worth the money to continue for 0,20/0,25 cent per image.

I've stopped shooting for micro and now I'm just shooting for the pleasure to do it without the stress of uploading on agencies. I prefer now to upload to my personal site and enjoy the pleasure of photography.



PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #45 on: November 28, 2016, 19:13 »
+6
Everybody in this forum knows the theory of THE WALL.

I belief that The Wall is related to Burnout. Unhappiness, worries, anger, complaints suck the energy and creativity of your brain, which means that your performance will decrease. and you finally will hit The Wall.

LOL, maybe sometimes but I think you mostly have that backwards. Those things are what happen after you hit the wall.


PaulieWalnuts

  • We Have Exciting News For You
« Reply #46 on: November 28, 2016, 19:21 »
+2
I am a noob and i am trying to get into stock and I dont understand what its happening. I see people complain about revenue and that they stopped producing years ago and my question is why are they still here wasting time on this forums ? I dont mean to be rude but something does not sound right to me :)....

I don't waste much time. I do way better in other areas outside of micro so I don't come here much anymore. I check in once in a while hoping micro will turn around but things still seem headed downward.

What's happening? A lot of people who used to make a living making thousands per month are now making hundreds per month even though they submitted thousands of images with the "shoot, upload, repeat" method. Dont care? Ok. For you new people or people who live in areas where the cost of living is lower and hundreds of dollars per months sounds great, what if you had the same situation happen to you? Like in a couple years you went from earning $500 per month and living well down to $50 per month? Or $5 per month? And micro no longer paid your bills? You'd probably quit or... come back here complaining about it.

You have a place to "quit" only in some wealthy country. There are not so many photography or video related options to quit microstock in Russia or some other third world country today.
Well, if micro isn't paying enough aren't there other options for a different type of job? I've seen plenty stories of photographers having to "get a job" because they can't make it as a photographer anymore.


Brasilnut

  • Author Brutally Honest Guide to Microstock & Blog

« Reply #47 on: November 29, 2016, 08:07 »
+1
This all sounds a bit depressing to read, especially from a financial point of view as it's clear that earnings have dropped significantly for quality work.

I've been submitting to microstock sites for 3 years part-time . I do get frustrated, as from a business point of view, it doesn't make much sense that is unless you live in a country where $500 a month is a good salary. As for getting burnt out, I haven't yet because I love photography too much and I look at microstock as a means to an end which helps me to keep things in perspective.

Im grateful for my time submitting to Microstock sites, since Ive received an education in the technical aspects of photograph simply by participating in that market. Its like having a Bachelors in Photography without going to school. The money, which isn't much for the time spent, is a bonus and pays back for all the equipment i've purchased and gives me some revenue to upgrade regularly.

The photography industry is huge and Im constantly exploring other opportunities outside of Microstock, such as fine art where some of my work has gone on display and editorial / photojournalism. Thanks to the skills I picked up submitting to Microstock I've landed a few gigs photographing residential properties and events.

This type of work isn't for everybody and I urge that photographers starting out manage their expectations and think about the reasons why you want to go into this business. If it's just for the money, don't do it.

Brasilnut
www.arotenberg.photoshelter.com


« Reply #48 on: November 29, 2016, 10:33 »
+2
I mostly do photography/filming when I'm traveling, and selling the footage is a great way to pay for the trips and equipment that I would want to buy anyway since I love being out making time lapses, filming wildlife etc.

Also, $1,000 income effectively means $2,000 since I put all traveling and equipment as business expenses. If I hadn't sold the footage and had a business for it I would have to pay tax + employer fees before I could use the money for traveling and equipment.

« Reply #49 on: November 30, 2016, 18:26 »
+1
I'm completing microstock year #8.  Working hard to avoid the proverbial wall.  Not burned out at all.  Enthused to be building a supplemental retirement income (hope it lasts).  Enthused to have a place and purpose for my travel shots. 

gyllens

« Reply #50 on: December 01, 2016, 02:38 »
+2
I dont believe in this burnout syndrome!  what we see in micro-stock is exactly what happened in the traditional stock-agency world they've been going since the beginning of the 70's they got a good 15-20 years and then its sort of levels out. Someone pointed out at SS for example out of all the members some 95% had ports of less then 1000 files. I can believe that actually and Thats the people that keep the agencies going. Not quality but quantity.

I would go as far as to say that todays stock-industry may it be the big Getty or SS its all about quantity a boring numbers game thats all. So yes as far as quality its just slowly burning out.
The waxed faced and colgate smiling life-stylers models still reign supreme as far as selling power but how much fun is that to shoot?

In the Brittish large journal "campaign" which turns itself to every art director and ad-agency in the world in their June or July issue cant remember really the listed the three top stock-agencies they worked with for higher-end content was Blend, SPL, Trevellion, Rondaninni etc. None of the what I call quantity-agencies in our right column here was even mentioned. :)

« Reply #51 on: December 01, 2016, 11:15 »
+1
For me i love making money and knowing that my images are used and published all over the world.

That's one of the reason why I use microstock only as parking for second choice shoot: publish everywhere and you don't know where, and ever without signature

« Reply #52 on: December 01, 2016, 15:31 »
+3
Burnout is hardly unique to this pursuit if you spend 12 hrs a day 6 days a week on anything you will run out of steam.


 

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