Author Topic: Mid October - Still no post summer, pre-holiday bump? (Read 28684 times)

hjalmeida · « **Reply #25 on:** October 14, 2013, 11:14 »

Quote from: luissantos84 on October 14, 2013, 11:04

Quote from: hjalmeida on October 14, 2013, 11:01
Quote from: luissantos84 on October 14, 2013, 10:55
Quote from: hjalmeida on October 14, 2013, 10:48
Quote from: luissantos84 on October 14, 2013, 10:39
Quote from: hjalmeida on October 14, 2013, 10:36
As I said before is easy to do well if you earn less than, lets say, $1000/month ... more than that I guess it is rare the contributor that are doing well.

But if is someone out there, keep your secret ;-)

is that a joke? nobody doing over 1k $ is doing well? that is the dumbest statement I have ever heard, I understand what you mean but you haven't said it properly
Luis,

Maybe you are not trying to understand my sentence properly ... but I can explain to you.

Always have been easy to grow when the photographer is starting and the income is low, and it's hard to keep making more and more money when you already earn a lot.
Now I believe that almost all photographers that earn, lets say, more than $1000 are earning less than the year before (or even the month before).
Of course I am not sure, but it's what I think is happen.

Why do you think Yuri are trying the exclusive thing at istock? ;-)

that is not correct, if you check the monthly earnings topic here at MSG you will see that many are still growing and are certainly doing more than 1k $, you can add me on that statistic as well, your logic may be right for a big chunk of contributors but not for everybody

regarding Yuri I rather not talk about him because I am just tired of it, it won't take us anywhere

Believe what you want ... you will get there some day.

I believe in my own numbers, may I?

guess you are missing something, I haven't said I don't understand your logic but 1k $ is relatively low, I believe you should say 3-5k

You are too picky! $1000, $1500, $2000 ... I think is not hard to understand what I mean.

But, as you said you have your own numbers, and you are growing. Lucky you.

Shelma1 · « **Reply #26 on:** October 14, 2013, 11:18 »

Same here. Sales for me are fairly steady since the big plunge with the SS site "update" in mid-July, which depressed my sales. I'm selling Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas files, but somehow sales of my other files are dropping, so there's no overall bump. Today is particularly slow, but it's a holiday in the U.S.

leaf · « **Reply #27 on:** October 14, 2013, 11:33 »

My September wasn't horrible but wasn't that hot either. Usually it is a best month of the year but this year it was below August. I'm still hoping for a better Oct. With 31 days and only 4 weekends that certainly helps. The usual fall blast sure doesn't seem to be present though

loop · « **Reply #28 on:** October 14, 2013, 12:11 »

After a better September (specially first half) things are going South in my IS exclusive portfolio.

tickstock · « **Reply #29 on:** October 14, 2013, 12:19 »

Tror · « **Reply #30 on:** October 14, 2013, 12:27 »

Quote from: tickstock on October 14, 2013, 12:19

Sales are pretty good up at least 25% compared to last year.

Congrats! I hope you continue like that ;-) May I ask you if you had been uploading a lot in relative numbers to your portfolio size?

ShadySue · « **Reply #31 on:** October 14, 2013, 12:29 »

Quote from: ShadySue on October 14, 2013, 11:04

... watching CreativeLIVE, and seeing the reported sales on FAA, it seems that there's still a lot of discretionary money around in parts of the US.

But not if you're Banksy, apparently:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24518315

pancaketom · « **Reply #32 on:** October 14, 2013, 12:38 »

Quote from: ShadySue on October 14, 2013, 12:29

Quote from: ShadySue on October 14, 2013, 11:04
... watching CreativeLIVE, and seeing the reported sales on FAA, it seems that there's still a lot of discretionary money around in parts of the US.

But not if you're Banksy, apparently:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-24518315

I'd be ok with $420 for less than a day of selling one color stencil spraypainted canvasses. Maybe I should go to NY and sell some "banksy's" myself...

As for my photo sales - It seems that after the first few months my sales dropped this year and have been under last years numbers since then. No real noticeable summer drop or fall boost this year.

tickstock · « **Reply #33 on:** October 14, 2013, 13:16 »

Monkeyman · « **Reply #34 on:** October 14, 2013, 14:18 »

I'm iStock exclusive and have had a really bad year even though I've uploaded regularly, and my vectors are a lot better now than when I joined this business. But I guess it's not just iStock that is on its way down then.

Can't it just be that the golden days are over? There must be a hundred times as many contributors now compared to a few years ago, and millions of similar images. So less and less to each of us.

I guess it's time to get back to a real job soon...

Tror · « **Reply #35 on:** October 14, 2013, 14:28 »

Quote from: Monkeyman on October 14, 2013, 14:18

I'm iStock exclusive and have had a really bad year even though I've uploaded regularly, and my vectors are a lot better now than when I joined this business. But I guess it's not just iStock that is on its way down then.

Can't it just be that the golden days are over? There must be a hundred times as many contributors now compared to a few years ago, and millions of similar images. So less and less to each of us.

I guess it's time to get back to a real job soon...

...what I observe too is the amazing quality nowadays found on the sites. A level of professionalism which is not easily to be achieved if you are a one man show. Companies formed like mushrooms in the past years and most likely will leave not much space for individuals.

cthoman · « **Reply #36 on:** October 14, 2013, 14:53 »

Quote from: Tror on October 14, 2013, 14:28

...what I observe too is the amazing quality nowadays found on the sites. A level of professionalism which is not easily to be achieved if you are a one man show. Companies formed like mushrooms in the past years and most likely will leave not much space for individuals.

I find it a little hard to believe that you'd make much money as a company these days. I'd think they'd be seeking out special deals and higher prices or they'd downsize.

marthamarks · « **Reply #37 on:** October 14, 2013, 14:55 »

Quote from: lisafx on October 14, 2013, 10:24

Oh, and apologies to anyone not in the US for the complete incompetence of our elected government, if that is part of what's going on.

+1 on that!

I pulled out of IS 3 years ago so can't say what's happening there. But my other agencies are producing almost nothing for me.

Makes it easy to spend time building my own SYS site. I'm now uploading new images exclusively there. That feels good.

sharpshot · « **Reply #38 on:** October 14, 2013, 17:23 »

September was worse than August and October is worse than September. I hope this isn't a long term trend.

ShadySue · « **Reply #39 on:** October 14, 2013, 17:36 »

Again thinking about the 'world economy' factor. Wouldn't people already have credits and subs to be using up, even if they didn't buy new ones? Especially on the 25 a day subs plan at SS, where if you don't use them you lose them?

Mantis · « **Reply #40 on:** October 14, 2013, 17:54 »

It is getting worse for me, too, Lisa. Interestingly, it is Shutterstock and Dreamstime that are yielding eroding commissions, mostly SS. But I think with them I was on the sh*t end of a search change. I have been having some Mondays and Fridays as if they were Saturdays and Sundays. I've not had this kind of commission behavior from them before. FT is 1/2 of what I used to get, but that is from $100 to $50, beer money.

Comparing last year to this year:

DP seems to be growing
PD is flat
Bigstock is down by 20%
Alamy down 50%
SS down 18%
IS flat due to PP pick up

The last few months have had the biggest negative influence of the entire year.

lisafx · « **Reply #41 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:24 »

Quote from: Tror on October 14, 2013, 14:28

...what I observe too is the amazing quality nowadays found on the sites. A level of professionalism which is not easily to be achieved if you are a one man show. Companies formed like mushrooms in the past years and most likely will leave not much space for individuals.

I think this is a very relevant factor in the overall decline in sales, for sure. Used to be that I'd browse new uploads and think my stuff compared favorably to most of it. Now, when I happen to glance at new uploads, I am thinking more along the lines of "how am I supposed to compete with THAT?" It is tougher as a one person show.

Even so, I would have expected some seasonal bump. Maybe not up to previous best years, but at least up relative to the lousy summer numbers.

lisafx · « **Reply #42 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:25 »

Quote from: sharpshot on October 14, 2013, 17:23

September was worse than August and October is worse than September. I hope this isn't a long term trend.

YES, EXACTLY! It's crazy, isn't it?

fritz · « **Reply #43 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:28 »

Can't complain! SS and IS are doing fine and rest of the agencies are:

lisafx · « **Reply #44 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:31 »

I just want to say, thanks very much for all the informative and thoughtful posts. I find myself nodding in agreement with nearly all of them. A picture is definitely emerging.

To the folks who are doing well, Cory and Tickstock, honest congratulations to both of you. Tick, since you are anonymous, I don't know what your secret to success is, but if your numbers are improving, I can see why you are still so positive on Istock.

Cory, I think you are the best case study for the benefits of building and promoting your own sales channels. Between your talent for illustration and your marketing skills, you seem to have found the sweet spot.

Interesting that those of us relying most heavily on the micros are the ones taking the worst beating.

Also thanks, Tyler, for letting this mid month sales talk happen. I know some folks don't want to hear about sales until the end of month thread, butd when things are this bad it's hard to keep quiet and wait it out.

lisafx · « **Reply #45 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:38 »

Quote from: hjalmeida on October 14, 2013, 10:36

As I said before is easy to do well if you earn less than, lets say, $1000/month ... more than that I guess it is rare the contributor that are doing well.

But if is someone out there, keep your secret ;-)

I definitely get what you are saying. Once you have reached a certain level of income and portfolio size, it's hard to keep going up. The dreaded "wall", or "law of diminishing returns" in action.

I still keep hoping that a lot of businesses are sitting on their money waiting to see if the US defaults on its debts, and if that gets resolved, hopefully this month, maybe we will see good sales in November and the first half of December.

If this situation is a factor, they are going to screw, not just us, but retail merchants all over the place if this drags on into the holiday season...

Sedge · « **Reply #46 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:53 »

Definitely seeing a bump UP on SS and 123. The rest are about average for the year.

Mantis · « **Reply #47 on:** October 14, 2013, 18:57 »

Quote from: fritz on October 14, 2013, 18:28

Can't complain! SS and IS are doing fine and rest of the agencies are:

AWESOME!!

cthoman · « **Reply #48 on:** October 14, 2013, 20:47 »

Quote from: lisafx on October 14, 2013, 18:31

I just want to say, thanks very much for all the informative and thoughtful posts. I find myself nodding in agreement with nearly all of them. A picture is definitely emerging.

To the folks who are doing well, Cory and Tickstock, honest congratulations to both of you. Tick, since you are anonymous, I don't know what your secret to success is, but if your numbers are improving, I can see why you are still so positive on Istock.

Cory, I think you are the best case study for the benefits of building and promoting your own sales channels. Between your talent for illustration and your marketing skills, you seem to have found the sweet spot.

Interesting that those of us relying most heavily on the micros are the ones taking the worst beating.

Also thanks, Tyler, for letting this mid month sales talk happen. I know some folks don't want to hear about sales until the end of month thread, butd when things are this bad it's hard to keep quiet and wait it out.

I think I'm more stubborn than savvy. I really can't say if it was the right decision to pull away from the market and focus on higher RPD sites. The summer was brutal for me. I'm still pretty irked about all of it. I think it all still has potential, but it isn't growing like I want. Also, there is always some new obstacle in the way.

ceeker · « **Reply #49 on:** October 14, 2013, 23:05 »

Definitely appears to be a falling trend. July was my best month this year.
August and September were both consecutively lower, and October is not looking great.
Fingers crossed it the US economic problems and we will all bounce back!!.

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Author Topic: Mid October - Still no post summer, pre-holiday bump? (Read 28684 times)

hjalmeida

Shelma1

leaf

loop

tickstock

Tror

ShadySue

pancaketom

tickstock

Monkeyman

Tror

cthoman

marthamarks

sharpshot

ShadySue

Mantis

lisafx

lisafx

fritz

lisafx

lisafx

Sedge

Mantis

cthoman

ceeker

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