Author Topic: New images vs Old images (Read 3323 times)

SME · « **on:** November 02, 2014, 00:41 »

I find that my new images don't sell any better compared to my old ones, and so, I kind of view every new image as a permanent addition to my residual income. Is this what you guys find to be the case too? Perhaps the new ones sell a bit better initially, but overall there is no real expiry on them and they don't seem to be completely buried.

gostwyck · « **Reply #1 on:** November 02, 2014, 05:49 »

It depends how long you've been uploading to microstock agencies. If it were less than 3 years for example then all your images are still 'new'. I reckon the average stock image to have a working life of about 5 years with peak earnings between years 2-3.

I've been doing microstock for exactly 10 years and, although my early stuff still sells (particularly niche subjects), I reckon 80%+ of my earnings is from images uploaded in the last 5 years. Of course your knowledge and skills improve with time so it is also the case that my newer images are generally much better than what I was producing several years ago. Just as well as there is literally 50x more competition, in terms of uploaded images, as there was say 8 years ago.

heywoody · « **Reply #2 on:** November 02, 2014, 06:59 »

Files newer than 6 months account for 11% of sales in the last 6 months but represent 9% of images so they seem to do slightly better. Tracking sales by file age shows a slight upward trend.

SME · « **Reply #3 on:** November 02, 2014, 16:58 »

Thanks for that statistic woody - awesome information.

Same for your gostwyk - great input. Thanks.

ShadySue · « **Reply #4 on:** November 02, 2014, 17:36 »

It's not scientific as I didn't upload the same number in each year since I started in Dec 2006; but on iS only, where many people have been reporting that new sales aren't doing as well as older files, my last 100 sales (not counting repeat sales) have been:
2006: 2
2007: 19
2008: 17
2009: 0
2010: 6
2011: 40
2012: 7
2013: 7
2014: 2

Clearly I need to avoid the sort of files I uploaded in 2009, and try to re-find my 2011 mojo.

Clearly, this will be different at different agencies as to some degree, you're at the mercy of their search algorithm.

Buffalo Bill · « **Reply #5 on:** November 02, 2014, 19:07 »

Quote from: ShadySue on November 02, 2014, 17:36

It's not scientific as I didn't upload the same number in each year since I started in Dec 2006; but on iS only, where many people have been reporting that new sales aren't doing as well as older files, my last 100 sales (not counting repeat sales) have been:
2006: 2
2007: 19
2008: 17
2009: 0
2010: 6
2011: 40
2012: 7
2013: 7
2014: 2

Clearly I need to avoid the sort of files I uploaded in 2009, and try to re-find my 2011 mojo.
Clearly, this will be different at different agencies as to some degree, you're at the mercy of their search algorithm.

You're lucky! at least you had the mojo where I still haven't found it...

ShadySue · « **Reply #6 on:** November 02, 2014, 19:20 »

Quote from: Buffalo Bill on November 02, 2014, 19:07

Quote from: ShadySue on November 02, 2014, 17:36
It's not scientific as I didn't upload the same number in each year since I started in Dec 2006; but on iS only, where many people have been reporting that new sales aren't doing as well as older files, my last 100 sales (not counting repeat sales) have been:
2006: 2
2007: 19
2008: 17
2009: 0
2010: 6
2011: 40
2012: 7
2013: 7
2014: 2

Clearly I need to avoid the sort of files I uploaded in 2009, and try to re-find my 2011 mojo.
Clearly, this will be different at different agencies as to some degree, you're at the mercy of their search algorithm.

You're lucky! at least you had the mojo where I still haven't found it...

With 400 downloads last month, and only uploading since Jan, you have far more mojo than I have!

Photominer · « **Reply #7 on:** November 02, 2014, 19:51 »

Quote from: gostwyck on November 02, 2014, 05:49

I've been doing microstock for exactly 10 years and, although my early stuff still sells (particularly niche subjects), I reckon 80%+ of my earnings is from images uploaded in the last 5 years. Of course your knowledge and skills improve with time so it is also the case that my newer images are generally much better than what I was producing several years ago. Just as well as there is literally 50x more competition, in terms of uploaded images, as there was say 8 years ago.

After almost 10 at various agencies myself, I have to agree. Niche stuff still sells but newer files tend to do better for me for the mainstream subjects. I think some photos have a shelf life, which is why I'm not averse to some of the lower sales offerings for some things that have stopped selling at other agencies.