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Author Topic: When does common sense say quit ??  (Read 15234 times)

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Uncle Pete

« Reply #25 on: January 14, 2014, 11:31 »
+5
1) When it's not fun or profitable anymore
2) For Microstock that would be 2012  ???

"When does common sense say quit ?? "


« Reply #26 on: January 14, 2014, 12:16 »
+2
i think there is a saying like the best day to start something is today.. i think it is true..

if you never start u never know what u end up as..

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #27 on: January 14, 2014, 12:37 »
+1
i think there is a saying like the best day to start something is today.. i think it is true..
OTOH, having started, knowing when to quit is also valuable

"You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
Know when to run ..."
(from The Gambler by Don Schlitz sung by Kenny Rogers)

« Reply #28 on: January 14, 2014, 12:40 »
+1
As a good friend of my says: "You have to know when to be a good ender" Not quite there yet, but unless things change in the next year or two I could be really done with it...

« Reply #29 on: January 14, 2014, 13:37 »
+2
Microstock isn't microstock anymore, it's just 'stock'.   The only rational basis for getting in today would be if you think you can become a high-volume producer of extremely commercial images at extremely low cost.  And even then, you're likely to get massive rejections for content unless you somehow find a niche or a spin that hasn't been totally exploited.   The future will only be lower prices and more rejections. 


The only other reason to get in is as a hobby, to learn about photography and get the reinforcement of having your images approved of, and even bought, by other people.  But that will only carry you for a while.


« Reply #30 on: January 14, 2014, 15:55 »
0
They aren't rejecting much these days at IS and over at SS they are adding 200,000 images a week. I remember when IS stop accepting sunsets, kittens and flowers for a while. Maybe it's time to go back to that?

Goofy

« Reply #31 on: January 14, 2014, 15:58 »
+6
"When does common sense say quit ??"


When your expenses exceed your income   :-[




« Reply #32 on: January 14, 2014, 16:00 »
+1
I think the rejections will ebb and flow, but prices will only continue to decline, and a typical contributor will be a needle in a bigger and bigger haystack.


« Reply #33 on: January 14, 2014, 17:16 »
+1

Common marketing sense tells that the big ones and the small ones( in a niche) will survive. The middle of the road has to find something else or continue for the samurai feeling.

Post production PS is already done in the far east for a few dollarcents a picture.

I go for niche

This is true - possibly better longevity and acceptance ratios BUT when push come to shove people produce the same old stuff cos the same old stuff is what sells.

« Reply #34 on: January 15, 2014, 08:42 »
0
I doubt there is much now that will still sell in 15 years think back to 1999 whats changed since then?

« Reply #35 on: January 15, 2014, 10:40 »
0
2004 is not very far after 1999 and I am still selling quite a few of my early IS photos. They are generic and of timeless subjects. I'm not a photographer that shoots models. I do landscape, food, backgrounds and scan in some doodles. Doubtful you could look at them in 15 years and tell me when they were shot. YMMV.

« Reply #36 on: January 15, 2014, 12:03 »
0
Thats good to know as I probably have some similarly "time shots". However 15 years is longer than this industry has existed so we could be looking at something very different.

lisafx

« Reply #37 on: January 15, 2014, 12:38 »
+1
"When does common sense say quit ??"


When your expenses exceed your income   :-[

I agree, and plus 1'd you, but I would also add that you need to factor in your time too.  So I would be more likely to say "When your expenses + time exceed your income". 

lisafx

« Reply #38 on: January 15, 2014, 12:44 »
+2
2004 is not very far after 1999 and I am still selling quite a few of my early IS photos. They are generic and of timeless subjects. I'm not a photographer that shoots models. I do landscape, food, backgrounds and scan in some doodles. Doubtful you could look at them in 15 years and tell me when they were shot. YMMV.

A lot of my people shots from 2005-2006 still sell well too.  There's a lot of talk about "fashions changing", but if you shoot people in fairly generic clothes they don't change all that much.  How much have polo shirts, t-shirts, jeans, slacks, skirts, blouses, etc. really changed in the last 10 years - or 20 years for that matter - if they are generic and not "trendy"?  Most people I know still have 10 year old clothes in their closets. 

Professionals have dressed the same for a number of decades - nurses, doctors, construction workers, maids, repairmen, etc. Even business suits haven't changed a lot.  Ties and lapels get narrower or wider, but differences withing the mid range and not extreme aren't too noticeable. 

Same deal with hairstyles.  Unless they are "cutting edge" (pardon the pun ;) ) they haven't changed that much over the last decade or so.   

The only photos that are unusable from my early days are the ones depicting technology.  That does change noticeably and fast.  Each year or so I include some newer tech photos, but not a lot, and only as a part of a larger shoot that includes more timeless concepts. 
« Last Edit: January 15, 2014, 12:48 by lisafx »

Rinderart

« Reply #39 on: January 15, 2014, 15:52 »
+1
2004 is not very far after 1999 and I am still selling quite a few of my early IS photos. They are generic and of timeless subjects. I'm not a photographer that shoots models. I do landscape, food, backgrounds and scan in some doodles. Doubtful you could look at them in 15 years and tell me when they were shot. YMMV.

A lot of my people shots from 2005-2006 still sell well too.  There's a lot of talk about "fashions changing", but if you shoot people in fairly generic clothes they don't change all that much.  How much have polo shirts, t-shirts, jeans, slacks, skirts, blouses, etc. really changed in the last 10 years - or 20 years for that matter - if they are generic and not "trendy"?  Most people I know still have 10 year old clothes in their closets. 

Professionals have dressed the same for a number of decades - nurses, doctors, construction workers, maids, repairmen, etc. Even business suits haven't changed a lot.  Ties and lapels get narrower or wider, but differences withing the mid range and not extreme aren't too noticeable. 

Same deal with hairstyles.  Unless they are "cutting edge" (pardon the pun ;) ) they haven't changed that much over the last decade or so.   

The only photos that are unusable from my early days are the ones depicting technology.  That does change noticeably and fast.  Each year or so I include some newer tech photos, but not a lot, and only as a part of a larger shoot that includes more timeless concepts.

I agree.

Batman

« Reply #40 on: January 15, 2014, 17:47 »
-1
Welcome back Rinderart.

« Reply #41 on: January 24, 2014, 19:54 »
+1
at photographer/designer side things might look a bit depressed but

These stock agencies must have an idea what they are doing adding 200k new images a week...

totally agree on that. well plus things change fast;

5 years ago there wasnt a work defination which takes place on networking web sites. recent days brands spending affordable money on these sites and their agencies / PR departments are publishing daily posts and using images, videos to capture followers attention fast. its happening on web and not only on twitter facebook or foursquare, its more and more becoming like famous movie "minority report" kinda thing; news that you might read, ads you might click, updates you want to follow...

at this speed no one can use huge productions for daily, even hourly updates that you post for instance on your brand's facebook page :) neither you can use same "goooood morning dear customers!" message with some image over and over again...

i think stock agencies are trying to fill this gap with keeping things fresh. While doing that; the sense of circulation makes designers and photographers feel a bit depressed to follow up and create more and more in same time.

the next big thing is Asian stockers flooding the market and you can't compete with their cheap production costs in Vietnam/Indonesia/Philippines.

Well i don't think thats the case either.  An Indonesian won't take your portrait/local/regional/tradinational/daily photo. All effect that may cause is seeing more blackboards and hand gestures againist some invisible screen and that kind weird things. In short mostly low productions and great cliches...

So I see no reason to be afraid of taking steps.

edit: typo
« Last Edit: January 24, 2014, 20:12 by nullornotset »


Goofy

« Reply #42 on: January 24, 2014, 21:33 »
+4
Is there common sense in this business?  ???



Leo Blanchette

« Reply #43 on: January 24, 2014, 23:35 »
+15
The internet is exploding with images...

Early on I found contributing to Micros to be a lot like blowing up a balloon with a small hole in it. A hole that slowly got bigger.

At first you can fill the balloon, and it would stay full with small noticeable change. (2006-2009) for me.

During that time, it was easy to see the pattern, and it was obvious I would run out of breath.

2010-2014: You have to produce a HUGE amount initially and keep blowing up that balloon faster and faster, as the hole is bigger now than ever.

The Balloon represents success. The hole represents opportunities stolen and lost through various exploits carried out in the business and exponentially growing competition within the business, and the internet in general. Its far more extreme now.

I say without reservation that people are brainwashing eachother in microstock to keep the dream alive. Its time to adapt and move on. Upload to the micros as a supplementary action to how you really intend to profit on image production.

As they say "only a true friend would be that honest".


lisafx

« Reply #44 on: January 24, 2014, 23:53 »
+2
Excellent balloon metaphor, and very sound advice Leo :)

Leo Blanchette

« Reply #45 on: January 24, 2014, 23:55 »
0
Excellent balloon metaphor, and very sound advice Leo :)

Thanks. I was bracing myself to get slapped after posting that.

Rinderart

« Reply #46 on: January 25, 2014, 02:02 »
-4
Excellent balloon metaphor, and very sound advice Leo :)

Thanks. I was bracing myself to get slapped after posting that.



Been slapped a 1000 Times Leo. Said the same thing years ago. Holding on to what we have is the order of the day. Of course Im "The old mean guy that knows nothing....lol
« Last Edit: January 25, 2014, 02:04 by Rinderart »

« Reply #47 on: January 25, 2014, 07:51 »
+1
Is there common sense in this business?  ???

Well i didnt intend to write something aggressive. Everything should be taken in moderation. This business as well.

What i meant was; market share of stock images has no sign of going into a recession. In fact the way stock agencies work shows the expansion of system.

In my humble opinion; If someone (talented and smart enough) looking for a full-time investment, it possibly would work out in long term. In the other hand if someone looking for part-time, quick and easy money for short-time that would be a big fail indeed.

And those who already in this business shouldnt be depressed as well. One of the oldest profession of human kind was "writing" and yet its still a profession :) It wont vanish suddenly. Since it will require creativity and knowledge to do so it's going to evaluate only. People still do earn money by writing whether book, journal or blog. And I don't think they are afraid of rising populations ability to read and write :)
« Last Edit: January 25, 2014, 08:15 by nullornotset »

grey1

    This user is banned.
« Reply #48 on: January 25, 2014, 15:02 »
+2
I would not recommend anyone to get in to micrstock today. I have almost 4000 images online since 2008. The first four years were great, no question.
Nowadays its not a matter of how good you are or the size of your portfolio. The agencies dictate and it could all be ruined over a night.

Goofy

« Reply #49 on: January 25, 2014, 15:10 »
+1
"Thanks. I was bracing myself to get slapped after posting that."

I wont slap you Leo but I have a large pin to pop your balloon... :)





 

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