No matter what you upload, there are several factors that won't go away.

1. pricing/commissions will continue to be squeezed
2. Supply will be way higher than in 2013
3. demand will probably be similar to 2013

The way I see it is that the same number of buyers are going after a larger and larger pool of content, which spreads those sales to a broader range of contributors. You can take it from here.

Well, at least for the only microstock company that does publish such data (shutterstock) the situation does not look exactly like that.
While supply has been growing steeply in the recent years, demand has kept the pace. The number of downloads per image in the library has not changed too much although the library size has been growing rapidly.

Take a look at shutterstock's investor presentation, page 21 shows the comparison from 2009 to 2012 (to be found here).

What that means for each of us individually is a different question. I don't see the same pattern, my downloads are going down, but I have not uploaded really much in recent years. And if that would be the reason (old files lose search position and don't sell as well as they used to) then new files must get an over-proportional boost - somewhere these rising numbers of downloads must go.

It's not all doom and gloom, but maybe it is getting more difficult to be amongst those who are successful in this business...

Shutterstock: 73827837283 new images added per week

Istock: 0,0077% new independients comission 

Fotolia: Opening "Fotolia 1 cent club"

Quote from: Mantis on February 05, 2014, 21:11

No matter what you upload, there are several factors that won't go away.

1. pricing/commissions will continue to be squeezed
2. Supply will be way higher than in 2013
3. demand will probably be similar to 2013

The way I see it is that the same number of buyers are going after a larger and larger pool of content, which spreads those sales to a broader range of contributors. You can take it from here.

Well, at least for the only microstock company that does publish such data (shutterstock) the situation does not look exactly like that.
While supply has been growing steeply in the recent years, demand has kept the pace. The number of downloads per image in the library has not changed too much although the library size has been growing rapidly.

Take a look at shutterstock's investor presentation, page 21 shows the comparison from 2009 to 2012 (to be found here).

What that means for each of us individually is a different question. I don't see the same pattern, my downloads are going down, but I have not uploaded really much in recent years. And if that would be the reason (old files lose search position and don't sell as well as they used to) then new files must get an over-proportional boost - somewhere these rising numbers of downloads must go.

It's not all doom and gloom, but maybe it is getting more difficult to be amongst those who are successful in this business...

I am talking generalities, not specifically about SS. There are usually exceptions to every rule, one-offs, etc. But in general my post is accurate.

Well, it is not all agencies who squeeze commissions. SS keeps them steady and add higher paid licences as well.

Speak for yourself. I lost a quarter to a third of my revenue there when they changed the affiliate program. Not to mention that they actually run Bigstock.

Soon , the sites are gonna charge us a fee to Host our Images....LOL

Quote from: Mantis on February 05, 2014, 21:31

Quote from: Goofy on February 05, 2014, 21:24

"No matter what you upload, there are several factors that won't go away.

1. pricing/commissions will continue to be squeezed
2. Supply will be way higher than in 2013
3. demand will probably be similar to 2013"

Than you better produce better images than what is currently in the inventory. And find a niche as well that gives you the edge...

This is totally correct. Produce work that is needed, different and hard to recreate (copy).

Well, it is not all agencies who squeeze commissions. SS keeps them steady and add higher paid licences as well.

 

Please see my post:
Quote from: dirkr on Today at 04:30
Quote from: Mantis on Yesterday at 21:11
No matter what you upload, there are several factors that won't go away.

1. pricing/commissions will continue to be squeezed
2. Supply will be way higher than in 2013
3. demand will probably be similar to 2013

The way I see it is that the same number of buyers are going after a larger and larger pool of content, which spreads those sales to a broader range of contributors. You can take it from here.


Well, at least for the only microstock company that does publish such data (shutterstock) the situation does not look exactly like that.
While supply has been growing steeply in the recent years, demand has kept the pace. The number of downloads per image in the library has not changed too much although the library size has been growing rapidly.

Take a look at shutterstock's investor presentation, page 21 shows the comparison from 2009 to 2012 (to be found here).

What that means for each of us individually is a different question. I don't see the same pattern, my downloads are going down, but I have not uploaded really much in recent years. And if that would be the reason (old files lose search position and don't sell as well as they used to) then new files must get an over-proportional boost - somewhere these rising numbers of downloads must go.

It's not all doom and gloom, but maybe it is getting more difficult to be amongst those who are successful in this business...


I am talking generalities, not specifically about SS. There are usually exceptions to every rule, one-offs, etc. But in general my post is accurate.