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Poll

 Professionally(i.e. full time), is it worth it now?

Yes, definitely
27 (31.4%)
So-so, if it get worse than this I'll stop
37 (43%)
No, I should have stopped/stopped uploading already
22 (25.6%)

Total Members Voted: 78

Author Topic: Professionally(i.e. full time), is it worth it now?  (Read 6267 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

« on: June 22, 2014, 09:07 »
0
I used to earn a lot few years ago with little images. Now, I started pumping images in but income doesn't seem to directly follow my portfolio size. Images takes money to produce and selling them for pennies is kind of laughable. Now with SS inspector issues it is ever more discouraging.

For people with other main source of income or wanderlust people micro stock is always worth it in my opinion. But what about doing it professionally?
« Last Edit: June 26, 2014, 09:05 by Epsilonth »


« Reply #1 on: June 22, 2014, 09:47 »
+2
SS reviews are really discouraging.
« Last Edit: June 22, 2014, 11:31 by Nikovsk »

« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2014, 11:13 »
-1
thats called crowdsourcing, and the crowd is big and the source is limited.

Valo

« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2014, 11:19 »
+4
The crowd is the source

« Reply #4 on: June 24, 2014, 08:53 »
+2
Limited choices and mine isn't one of them. Are you trying to control the results by 1 yes and 2 negative?

 Yes, definitely
 So-so, if it get worse than this I'll stop
 No, I should have stopped/stopped uploading already

So-so but I'll keep going or So-so, I'll stop uploading but leave photos on some agencies.

Goofy

« Reply #5 on: June 24, 2014, 09:11 »
0
I used to earn a lot few years ago with little images. Now, I started pumping images in but income doesn't seem to directly follow my portfolio size. Images takes money to produce and selling them for pennies is kind of laughable. Now with SS inspector issues it is ever more discouraging.

For people with other main source of income or wanderlust people micro stock is always worth it in my opinion. But what about doing it professionally?

So, are you saying that the part timers are not professional? Maybe you should say - folks doing MS full time? I put in about 20 to 30 hours a week as a part timer and spend $$ on training in both photo taking and processing (photoshop) thus consider myself at least semi-professional...

« Reply #6 on: June 26, 2014, 07:11 »
0
I used to earn a lot few years ago with little images. Now, I started pumping images in but income doesn't seem to directly follow my portfolio size. Images takes money to produce and selling them for pennies is kind of laughable. Now with SS inspector issues it is ever more discouraging.

For people with other main source of income or wanderlust people micro stock is always worth it in my opinion. But what about doing it professionally?

So, are you saying that the part timers are not professional? Maybe you should say - folks doing MS full time? I put in about 20 to 30 hours a week as a part timer and spend $$ on training in both photo taking and processing (photoshop) thus consider myself at least semi-professional...

Professional means main source of income is from stock photography. So yes, part timers are not professional. It has nothing to do with skills as you seem to imply.

Limited choices and mine isn't one of them. Are you trying to control the results by 1 yes and 2 negative?

 Yes, definitely
 So-so, if it get worse than this I'll stop
 No, I should have stopped/stopped uploading already

So-so but I'll keep going or So-so, I'll stop uploading but leave photos on some agencies.

Doesn't the middle choice also imply if it get better I'll put more effort in it? It's an if clause. It does sound negative though. May be I wasn't clear.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #7 on: June 26, 2014, 07:27 »
+1
Professional means main source of income is from stock photography. So yes, part timers are not professional. It has nothing to do with skills as you seem to imply.
That's your definition. There are others, and certainly no one accepted definition of 'professional'. Your OP should have said 'full-time' rather than 'professionally'.

By your definition
Last year Tom had a full-time job and supplied stock on the side. Not professional.
He became redundant, but still supplied stock. Professional.
Last month, he got another full-time job, and continues to supply stock on the side. Not professional.

Hmmmm.

« Reply #8 on: June 26, 2014, 07:53 »
+2
Professional means main source of income is from stock photography. So yes, part timers are not professional. It has nothing to do with skills as you seem to imply.
That's your definition. There are others, and certainly no one accepted definition of 'professional'. Your OP should have said 'full-time' rather than 'professionally'.

By your definition
Last year Tom had a full-time job and supplied stock on the side. Not professional.
He became redundant, but still supplied stock. Professional.
Last month, he got another full-time job, and continues to supply stock on the side. Not professional.

Hmmmm.

Yes, but let's not escalate this into an English class and stick to the topic? The implication is clear. Then again, I'm not a native speaker.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #9 on: June 26, 2014, 08:40 »
-1
^^  Not an English lesson, as English speakers can't agree on a definition.
But if we don't understand your terms of reference, we can't engage in the discussion.
Repeat my suggestion to amend your OP to 'full time'.

Goofy

« Reply #10 on: June 26, 2014, 09:19 »
0
I kind of understand your logic. I read one post where a 'Full Timer/professional' submits 200 images a month into the MS companies. Typically I submit from 50 to 100 images a month thus part time compared to him. 

My sales have increased each month for over three years so I feel that if I did do full time work it would be worth the effort- lot's of other variable to to consider- quality of work, type of images etc.

As long as you don't call me a Non-Professional I am okay with that  ;D


« Reply #11 on: June 26, 2014, 10:51 »
0
I think some types of images are not worth producing aa full timer anymore. Right now I'm in Japan. It would cost at least 1000円 in transportation to make some nice images which may sometimes randomly get rejected for focus even though shot on tripod/manually focused(I used in-camera DoF scale!).

I kind of understand your logic. I read one post where a 'Full Timer/professional' submits 200 images a month into the MS companies. Typically I submit from 50 to 100 images a month thus part time compared to him. 

My sales have increased each month for over three years so I feel that if I did do full time work it would be worth the effort- lot's of other variable to to consider- quality of work, type of images etc.

As long as you don't call me a Non-Professional I am okay with that  ;D

Then you'd be an amateur!  ;D jk
If you can produce that much keep your job. You'll have fun playing with new gears many times a year with some cash left over.


 

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