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Author Topic: What are your goals for 2013?  (Read 20373 times)

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« on: November 30, 2012, 06:39 »
+2
Microstock or otherwise, what are your goals for 2013?

Are you going to shoot more or less than 2012?  Invest in something else, invest more in micro, spend time on something completely different?

For me, 2012 was a good year for stock and I'm going to continue investing in it.  I think investing 50% of my stock income back into shooting  / production is a realistic goal to shoot for.  This year was closer to only 40%.  Stock is still my #1 income source by far so I feel it is really worthwhile nurturing and trying to keeping growing it while it still seems like a viable income. 

Another important goal for 2013 which I'd like to aim for is to shoot every week.  If I don't have a stock shoot set up then I'd be forced to simply go out shooting on the street walking around or in nature or something.  I find that my job is more and more at the computer / sedentary and that isn't what I really want, even if it is enjoyable and comfortable.   I like being 'out in the world' a lot and simply want to do that more.

I also have a couple other shooting projects I'd like to pursue - which I haven't yet as they have a reasonably large financial barrier to entry ($15,000 or so)  Not a huge amount but enough that other investments have been coming first all 2012.  Hopefully in early 2013 I can put that investment first and get started.  I don't want to be too secret-like, but I'm not about to give away my idea in case someone beats me to my own idea (not that it is original mind you).  I'll plan to upload images from the project as stock as well as hopefully getting a few private clients.   I'm sure I'll post about the project on here once I get it started.  This will also hopefully serve as a bit of a solution to diversifying my income to be less dependent on stock.


PaulieWalnuts

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« Reply #1 on: November 30, 2012, 07:51 »
0
Good stuff Leaf!

2012 was excellent for me but I need to make some changes.

- Do more shoots and step up production to grow my portfolio by 50% this year
- Spend less time being a perfectionist processing images to cut processing time in half
- Major focus on personal website
- Create higher value unique images
- Pick a specialty and submit more RM
- Add more revenue streams to diversify from stock and get the most revenue I can from existing work
- Finish my studio

My personal website will be a big priority. I really haven't done much with it and it's slowly growing in traffic and sales. So I'm going to redesign it and work heavily on SEO and Social media. Just from doing a few basic things I've doubled my traffic in the past month so there's a huge amount of potential.

« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2012, 07:54 »
0
My main goal isn't volume anymore.  It's differentiation.  My opinion in order to survive in this industry is to have uniqueness in your port.  When I say uniqueness I don't mean a different angle of an isolated tomato ;D  I did a bit of completely different shots this year and they already have flames on them at IS.  Sometimes less is more. ;)

« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2012, 08:00 »
0
My main goal isn't volume anymore.  It's differentiation.  My opinion in order to survive in this industry is to have uniqueness in your port.  When I say uniqueness I don't mean a different angle of an isolated tomato ;D  I did a bit of completely different shots this year and they already have flames on them at IS.  Sometimes less is more. ;)
Yeah, I think shooting niches can be really successful.  If you have a niche that you are totally dominating then even if the searches get shuffled you'll still be showing in the results.. because as the case may be, your images may be the only images in a given search.

Veneratio

« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2012, 08:16 »
0
Probably get a lot of similars in this thread Leaf - reject as you see fit!!!

Increase RM portfolio quite drastically.
Publish books of projects currently working on  - even if self published.
Diversify portfolio in RM and RF.
Learn Illustrator!!!
Replace/update equipment - body, laptop, desktop.

I imagine a lot of people will be looking to expand into/increase their RM portfolio. My gut feel is that RM is making a bit of a comeback and it my prove a good time to take advantacge of it.

« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2012, 08:19 »
0
Probably get a lot of similars in this thread Leaf - reject as you see fit!!!

Increase RM portfolio quite drastically.
Publish books of projects currently working on  - even if self published.
Diversify portfolio in RM and RF.
Learn Illustrator!!!
Replace/update equipment - body, laptop, desktop.

I imagine a lot of people will be looking to expand into/increase their RM portfolio. My gut feel is that RM is making a bit of a comeback and it my prove a good time to take advantacge of it.

Yeah, I've always thought I'd submit more content to RM and have come close a few times but every time I have a good shoot I could submit as RM I end up submitting it as microstock because I KNOW what the return is going to be and know that it will be good.  Submitting as RM with low (but high) sales always seems like more of a risk, as backwards as that sounds.

Veneratio

« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2012, 08:49 »
0
Probably get a lot of similars in this thread Leaf - reject as you see fit!!!

Increase RM portfolio quite drastically.
Publish books of projects currently working on  - even if self published.
Diversify portfolio in RM and RF.
Learn Illustrator!!!
Replace/update equipment - body, laptop, desktop.

I imagine a lot of people will be looking to expand into/increase their RM portfolio. My gut feel is that RM is making a bit of a comeback and it my prove a good time to take advantacge of it.

Yeah, I've always thought I'd submit more content to RM and have come close a few times but every time I have a good shoot I could submit as RM I end up submitting it as microstock because I KNOW what the return is going to be and know that it will be good.  Submitting as RM with low (but high) sales always seems like more of a risk, as backwards as that sounds.

Depends on length of time prepared to wait for return I guess. RM may take a year or two for $500 sale but in that time RF may generate same amount (be a good seller though!)

« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2012, 08:56 »
0
2012 was the year where the income from stock reached around 65% of my total revenue ( including my regular job)....

For 2013 my goals are:

1. finish my studio
2. change the photo gear manufacturer ( switch from Canon to Nikon)
3. Become a full timer
4. Increase my port. on stock agencies and RM sites with at least 60%

« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2012, 09:39 »
0
Plenty of commissions already lined up for 2013 but really only suitable for RM and macroRF. So thats where I will put my concentration as I pretty much have done during 2012 anyway.

Quit FT and the middle tier agencies, taking my port with me, I somehow dont believe in spreading them around anymore.

As far as supplying micro?  I will be uploading much more to DT, very, very steady agency, good prices and stay clear of all the petty-cash problems other agencies are suffering.
SS? oly God knows.
IS. at the moment selling very, very well for me and I will cary on uploading during 2013.

OTOH.  we might all die during 2013?

Poncke

« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2012, 10:05 »
0
I am new to the business, in your terms an amateur, but basically what Paulie said goes for me too.

« Reply #10 on: November 30, 2012, 10:19 »
0
I feel much more positive about microstock nowadays so I want to significantly increase my output in 2013 and take advantage of the opportunity to increase earnings that I believe now exists. When previously iStock was dominant I never felt particularly in control of my earnings as a change to the best match could wipe out months if not years of work overnight.

Shutterstock, together with BigStock, now generates over 50% of my microstock earnings and, as a result, I am more confident that the effort to produce good images will be rewarded. It seems to me that SS's default sort-order is a true meritocracy and the money is there to be earned if your images are good enough. I don't anticipate the situation at SS changing much anytime soon either, irrespective of the IPO. What they've been doing up to know has served them extremely well and I think they'll will continue doing much the same for the foreseeable future. All my data suggests that customers will continue to migrate to SS from other agencies and SS is likely to become even more dominant in 2013.

My main concern for 2013 is that the trickle of exclusives that have been giving up their crowns recently could turn in to a flood next year. A couple of bad months at IS might be enough to burst the dam. Not sure what the effect of all those new images appearing at other agencies would have on independents' income but it's unlikely to help.

« Reply #11 on: November 30, 2012, 10:25 »
0
- explore video
- plan some complex shoots for the challenge and knowledge gain
- push my creative and technical limits (I know what they are)
- research better
- improve my work
- upload more

« Reply #12 on: November 30, 2012, 10:26 »
0
I feel much more positive about microstock nowadays so I want to significantly increase my output in 2013 and take advantage of the opportunity to increase earnings that I believe now exists. When previously iStock was dominant I never felt particularly in control of my earnings as a change to the best match could wipe out months if not years of work overnight.

Shutterstock, together with BigStock, now generates over 50% of my microstock earnings and, as a result, I am more confident that the effort to produce good images will be rewarded. It seems to me that SS's default sort-order is a true meritocracy and the money is there to be earned if your images are good enough. I don't anticipate the situation at SS changing much anytime soon either, irrespective of the IPO. What they've been doing up to know has served them extremely well and I think they'll will continue doing much the same for the foreseeable future. All my data suggests that customers will continue to migrate to SS from other agencies and SS is likely to become even more dominant in 2013.

My main concern for 2013 is that the trickle of exclusives that have been giving up their crowns recently could turn in to a flood next year. A couple of bad months at IS might be enough to burst the dam. Not sure what the effect of all those new images appearing at other agencies would have on independents' income but it's unlikely to help.

That dam already has some pretty big holes in it.

lisafx

« Reply #13 on: November 30, 2012, 10:26 »
+2
My goals for past years have been money oriented.  I think the focus on money has dampened my creativity and enjoyment of photography.  This coming year I would like to focus more on shooting what I enjoy and what brings me personal fulfillment. 

That said, I would like to at least maintain my stock income.  :)

« Reply #14 on: November 30, 2012, 10:45 »
0
I haven't firmed it all up, but I'm thinking...

- An image goal. I did 4k last year, but I may tone it back to 2k this year.
- A financial goal. I always have one of these and I don't think I met my one from last year, so that will probably get rolled over.
- I need to work on my SEO and marketing, so that definitely should be a priority. Is setting a goal to have some goals in this a goal?

« Reply #15 on: November 30, 2012, 10:54 »
0
My goals for past years have been money oriented.  I think the focus on money has dampened my creativity and enjoyment of photography.  This coming year I would like to focus more on shooting what I enjoy and what brings me personal fulfillment. 

That said, I would like to at least maintain my stock income.  :)

Best philosophy ever! first then you will produce stuff you wouldnt even dream you were capable of!  ( Irving Penn).

The danger with micro is. Once you become dependant on only ONE agency for say 50/60 percent of your total revenue, well, youre not much better of then an exclusive being dependant to 100%, are you?  because if that agency falls apart, which any of these micros can do at any given time,   its all over.
Judging an agency becase of its turnover and present balance-sheeth and present success,  is probably the biggest mistake one can do in the world of stock-agencies. Been like that ever since 1985.

Poncke

« Reply #16 on: November 30, 2012, 11:20 »
0
My goals for past years have been money oriented.  I think the focus on money has dampened my creativity and enjoyment of photography.  This coming year I would like to focus more on shooting what I enjoy and what brings me personal fulfillment. 

That said, I would like to at least maintain my stock income.  :)
Back to why you picked up the DSLR in the first place. I am still in that zone because I am new to photography. I hope it all works out for you, in terms of personal and monetary satisfaction.


fritz

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« Reply #17 on: November 30, 2012, 11:26 »
0
My goal for 2013 is to create at least 2k videos and hope to earn 20% more than 2012 and buy B&W Nautilus 804 diamond speakers.

« Reply #18 on: November 30, 2012, 15:11 »
0
It's still a bit early for this discussion.  Let's have another thread late on New Year's Eve when I'm sitting at the computer with a glass of bubbly.

« Reply #19 on: November 30, 2012, 15:24 »
0
pretty much work harder and better, will try to clean my HD that is quite full and of course keep on shooting, hope that my income will be enough to pay all bills and expenses, don't plan on buying any new equipment in 2013 like I haven't in 2012 ;)

velocicarpo

« Reply #20 on: November 30, 2012, 16:18 »
0
1. World domination
2. A huuuge Yakuzi in my bedroom
3. Learn to do the perfect Sushi california rolls
4. Eat the California rolls in the Yakuzi
5. Share the Yakuzi and the California rolls with some beautiful Models

« Reply #21 on: November 30, 2012, 16:27 »
0
My goals are still small as I'm just getting started.

As for me I'd like to get my goal of 100 Illustrations online by the end of December  I'm at about 75-80 at the moment.

For the new year  I'd like to get 500 or more illustrations online by 2014.

Another goal for me is to improve my illustration quality.

Getting out of the house a bit more often and staying healthy will also be part of my goals. 


I wish everyone luck with their goals!  Especially Veloci,  World domination seems to be expensive...  XD

« Reply #22 on: November 30, 2012, 16:29 »
0
This year I had a goal for making a certain amount of images. I didn't quite accomplish my goal, but I have thought that measuring the quantity of images makes no sense and might prevent me from creating more time-consuming imagery.

So next year I will have only a goal measured in earnings. Depending on how much I earn in december, the goal is somewhere in the +20%...+24% region for next year.

My goal is also to do less commissioned shoots this year, that leaves more time for stock and more freetime.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2012, 16:32 by Perry »

« Reply #23 on: November 30, 2012, 16:32 »
0
1. World domination
2. A huuuge Yakuzi in my bedroom
3. Learn to do the perfect Sushi california rolls
4. Eat the California rolls in the Yakuzi
5. Share the Yakuzi and the California rolls with some beautiful Models

Whaaat?
Do You read my minds?
  8)

microstockphoto.co.uk

« Reply #24 on: November 30, 2012, 16:56 »
+1
My goal is to have a goal. After years of microstock there's a risk of doing thinks automatically without a plan. I need to take a pause and analyse things.

Shooting a lot of pictures and uploading to every possible agency provide it's easy probably worked for a while, but it doesn't work anymore for me. I will concentrate on quality over quantity, and also weed out a number of useless sites - from 30 down to 20, losing less than 0.5% and saving a lot of time; I won't delete ports, just quit uploading.

I finally realised time is the most valuable commodity. And I don't mean just time=money. I mean time to do things I like, and to travel for the sake of travelling. And this could also result in new ideas, more shooting opportunities and eventually more money, although money alone is not at the top of my list at present.
« Last Edit: November 30, 2012, 17:09 by microstockphoto.co.uk »


 

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