MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: saptak on March 16, 2014, 10:33
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Hi,
I am a Stocksy contributor http://www.stocksy.com/saptakganguly?type=showcase&page=1 (http://www.stocksy.com/saptakganguly?type=showcase&page=1) ,previously I was with Getty (flickr collection) but terminated my account there so now I am solely with Stocksy but they have a certain standard,look and feel to the collection so I have got many photos rejected (more stocky) that sold earlier in the flickr collection,now I am thinking to sell my stocksy rejects and more stocky content through other agencies,I have signed up with DT,Canstock & had account with istock but haven't uploaded much there,so please suggest me some agencies with fair pricing and good sales,I like the pricing and commission of canstock but how is sale there? also do they need image exclusivity?
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Hello Saptak,
If it were me, I would focus on:
1. Shutterstock
2. Istock
3. Dreamstime
These are the biggest revenue creators for me. Canstock is not very good for me, maybe $20 a month with 3,000 images. Some do well with Fotolia, I don't, so I wouldn't discount them as the 4th priority. The three above make up 75% of my micro stock income.
Shutterstock has some pretty good sales. Yes, they have subscriptions (usually a lot) but you also get other downloads for $1.24, $2.85. $28, and another category that can range from .28 cents to over $100. I just had a sale on SS for $100 last week, and a $22 that week too. So of the subscription sites, and essentially all are subscription, SS is the best paying, and I believe the fairest. Dreamstime currently gives you tiered subscriptions, meaning the more the image is downloaded the more you make on a sub sale because it moves up in levels.
Istock, while very shady lately, still makes me $500 a month with 2800 images. But rarely is there a nice sale there, mostly claw backs. SS hasn't yet clawed back any money in the 8 years I have been with them. DT has, IS has, Bigstock has, Alamy has and Graphic leftovers has.
Hope that helps.
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Mantis got it pretty much summed up :)
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I'd throw a long-shot in there. I think it's important for everyone to try supporting a possible up-and-comer. I wouldn't make current earnings potential the only criteria for who to sign up with. Support some good companies with fair pay rates, even if they are small. We're never going to improve things in this business if we only ever support the same few big companies.
In the long-shot category I like Stockfresh (50% royalties).
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LOL. Subscriptions and low royalty rates, both apply to Istock. Says it all.
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Depending on your work - have you considered talking to the smaller macro/production houses? agefotostock, tetra images, plain pictures, blend...
Did you apply to Offset?
I do wish there was a stocksy for the masses, but I guess if the collection is not edited to a very specific, recognizable style it will be difficult to market.
Otherwise, shutterstock, istock, fotolia, dreamstime. For the micros you need mass production, depending on how you work, you might need to adjust your work flow.
Good luck!