MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => General Stock Discussion => Topic started by: VB inc on May 11, 2010, 21:58
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Very general question, but if you were consistently pulling in over $150 to $250 a day (weekday) from microstock and revenues actually were going up from month to month as u put more time in it, would you do this fulltime? Im just curious on the ones that jumped on the fulltime boat if this was roughly the amount of income they started with...
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Close, but no. I'd need at least $300 per day to even consider it.
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that question will vary based on everyones current income level. somebody working at McDonalds or going to school and only working part-time will say hell yeah !!!! others would look at $200 a day as an insult .. some just wouldn't care either way. a lot of lifestyle comes into play too .. how high-maintenance are you? $200 a day might not cut it.
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Can anyone actually generate a minimum of $200.00 a weekday ($4330.00 a month only from weekdays) without being working on this fulltime?
:o ??? ::) :-[
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That is significantly less that I currently make at my day job.... but if I had to, I could live on it (as long as my wife keeps on working). :D
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In Stockholm and London where Im active, a gallon of petrol is about 8 bucks, a pint of lager in a pub about 9 bucks! need I say more?
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Can anyone actually generate a minimum of $200.00 a weekday ($4330.00 a month only from weekdays) without being working on this fulltime?
:o ??? ::) :-[
I guess you have a point... sort of. Since im more of an illustrator, vectors generate more than 80% of the sales for me as an istock exclusive. ive been a member there for a long time slowly growing my portfolio every year. These days, with the increase in prices, money is pretty good and tempting (not 200 minimum a day but not far off). I'm just trying to see at which point did contributors with jobs quit their jobs to go at this fulltime. I tend to think that vectors doesn't have as much competition in micro as photos. But i also see very talented vector artists joining recently at istock and i know in microstock getting in early is better than being late. I still dont think it is too late for vectors... photos maybe.
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I agree. When/if I get to 300$ consistently on weekdays I will seriously consider it.
Close, but no. I'd need at least $300 per day to even consider it.
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Very general question, but if you were consistently pulling in over $150 to $250 a day (weekday) from microstock and revenues actually were going up from month to month as u put more time in it, would you do this fulltime? Im just curious on the ones that jumped on the fulltime boat if this was roughly the amount of income they started with...
Too general by far. I would (but I'm nowhere near that amount!), but only because I'm almost at the age I can apply for early retirement and that would make up the difference. My pension is in place, but will be reduced if I go 'early'. Certainly not if I had to live on that with no other income. A lot would depend on where you lived - in some countries, that would be a phenomenally good salary.
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I also agree with this and I think it's true for all the sites that I contribute to except maybe SS. People starting with photos nowadays have to be the best to anywhere near catch up with the old timers as far as placement in searches goes. Vector contributors seem to have a better chance.
at istock and i know in microstock getting in early is better than being late. I still dont think it is too late for vectors... photos maybe.
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I also agree with this and I think it's true for all the sites that I contribute to except maybe SS. People starting with photos nowadays have to be the best to anywhere near catch up with the old timers as far as placement in searches goes. Vector contributors seem to have a better chance.
at istock and i know in microstock getting in early is better than being late. I still dont think it is too late for vectors... photos maybe.
which is only fair enough I would say.
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Exactly, I am so grateful that I started when I did instead of trying to get into it now.
which is only fair enough I would say.
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The question should be, how much more can I make full time?
Yes I know, how longs a piece of string and all that, but you should have an idea how much you can increase your output with the extra hours.
I cut my hours down in my proper job bit by bit so I could grow my own library of pics and see how much I would make. Eventually, I gave up the security, and went full time on my own.
Ten years later it's coming full circle children are older, life is more expensive. I could do with some regular hours to supplement my photography income.
It's something that need a lot of thinking about.
Oldhand
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I don't know if you'll get much useful info here on this forum. The question you need to ask yourself is are your monthly expenses more or less then you make. If the answer is more then your expenses go for it! If not then...
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Exactly, I am so grateful that I started when I did instead of trying to get into it now.
which is only fair enough I would say.
I think starting fresh today would just turn into such an uphill struggle that youd get fed up with it, changes of search engines, etc, I think it would be very difficult.
We probably started just in time.
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I would certainly go full time. Not because it is a lot of money-- what we are forgetting is that money isn't everything.
For me there is no better way to make a living, no boss, no awkward clients and flexible hours, need I say more
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Very general question, but if you were consistently pulling in over $150 to $250 a day (weekday) from microstock and revenues actually were going up from month to month as u put more time in it, would you do this fulltime? Im just curious on the ones that jumped on the fulltime boat if this was roughly the amount of income they started with...
Heck no. After taxes, that would be $100 a day, plus all the expenses of insurance, equipment, etc. That's not nearly enough cushion in case of unexpected drops or anything else. You need to figure out what you need to live on, add in all the costs associated, and then double it. (and that still wasn't enough for me to quit my job yet)
Unless you're single and living in your mom's basement or something where you have absolutely no risk at all.
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Depends on where you live. Here, with $200 a day, you would be awfully rich.
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Heck no. After taxes, that would be $100 a day, plus all the expenses of insurance, equipment, etc.
Sean - Bit off topic but are you telling me in the US you can't offset your business running costs against tax?
@ the OP, it's circumstantial and can't be answered correctly without knowing your individual case in detail, for example if you can earn $150-$250 a day on microstock only spending eight hours a week doing it whilst working in full time employment then it stands to reason you'd make a lot more if you committed to it full time, whether the amount you forecast to make is enough for you to live on is something only you can judge.
What I can tell you is that the desire to make money and work hard enough in order to do so is a fundamental necessity once you're self employed, you also need to consider there will be a lead in period before your income changes from the amount you're getting part time to the amount you've predicted you'll make full time, it doesn't suddenly rise overnight. One thing's for sure, with the state the microstock industry is in at the moment I wouldn't want to be considering the leap.
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Many people look at their paychecks and think that dollar amount you see is what you make. You have to add in your benefits like health care, paid vacation time, 401K match or a pension (if such things exist anymore). Your actual compensation could be worth twice what you're actually seeing in your paycheck. Could you cover those added forms of compensation with your microstock income even at $200 or $300 a day?
I look at my microstock revenue as my second income, and even if it gets to $300 a day, I'll still keep the day job. I'm putting in about 2 hours a day on microstock, and I'll keep it that way. When you have kids to put through college and retirement to plan for, there's no such thing as "enough money."
But it's nice to know that if I lost the day job, I could coast on the side income for a while, maybe even take a low-pressure, relatively low-paying job that gives me benefits like health care.
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Sean - Bit off topic but are you telling me in the US you can't offset your business running costs against tax?
Oh, you can. You can write off health insurance, equipment, etc. But basically, it just comes off your income before the income is taxed, so it's like you're getting it for %30 off. But some things like life insurance and disability that I pay are after tax - ie., I pay them after I "pay myself". That way, the benefits that might come from them aren't taxed on payment, since they were paid for with after tax money. That's how I understand it. If my business paid for those benefits, and I deducted them, I would have to pay taxes on the payments if I ever needed them.
Anyways, I plan, in the end, on only having about 60% of what I make in my pocket.
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I assume we are talking about roughly 50k a year. That seems like enough to make the jump, but Sean is right. Taxes and expenses really take a bite out of things when you are self employed. As for me, I'm not sure if I'd want to do stock full time. I kind of like having breaks from stock to keep my mind fresh. Whether you do that with a full time job, part time job or freelance or contract work, it's nice to have something else to do to keep you interested and focused on stock. Otherwise, it just becomes another full time job. :)
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I couldn't do it for that amount but it would be a good starting point for many I am sure as long as you had a solid plan in place to utilize your time as a legitimate full time job creating new and sellable images as well as uploading and keywording consistently.
I would assume that if you are competent (and you should be at a couple hundred bucks a day part time) that with the increase in productivity your work will also improve and your income should rise pretty steadily. I would be very wary and determined to ensure that I did put the work in however. Seems like it would be pretty easy to become complacent and relax with steady income flowing in on the work you have already completed.
Mat
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Not enough to go full time but would be great residual income!
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life. From his grammar, I'm guessing that the OP doesn't live in the USA, which may make $50k USD even more significant. As whitechild said, if he was making that much he'd "be awfully rich".
To answer the question, I started doing this full time in Jan 2007 - with zero images and zero microstock income - and haven't ever looked back or regretted it. I'm fortunate to live in Canada, where healthcare is taken care of. For what it's worth, I agree with Microbius:
I would certainly go full time. Not because it is a lot of money-- what we are forgetting is that money isn't everything.
For me there is no better way to make a living, no boss, no awkward clients and flexible hours, need I say more
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I would look at the option of leave of absence if it is an option that is available too you 3 months unpaid would allow you to start & give you a backout plan if you aren't happy with the results.
@ Sean - look at hiring your wife and paying for her
healthcare - then it is a business expense rather than a personal one
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I'm fortunate to live in Canada, where healthcare is taken care of.
... and donuts and bacon rain from the sky! ;)
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life. From his grammar, I'm guessing that the OP doesn't live in the USA, which may make $50k USD even more significant. As whitechild said, if he was making that much he'd "be awfully rich".
To answer the question, I started doing this full time in Jan 2007 - with zero images and zero microstock income - and haven't ever looked back or regretted it. I'm fortunate to live in Canada, where healthcare and pension are taken care of. For what it's worth, I agree with Microbius:
I would certainly go full time. Not because it is a lot of money-- what we are forgetting is that money isn't everything.
For me there is no better way to make a living, no boss, no awkward clients and flexible hours, need I say more
While I agree with the "money isn't everything" ideal, it also makes a difference if you're raising a family.
$50K is not sufficient for raising a large family, at least in the US. You might be able to 'get by' but you probably won't be saving for college or retirement.
Even if we're looking at $80K annually from microstock, that might be more comfortable for supporting a family, but there's too many uncertainties in this game. Will your sales start heading south? How long can you count on it? It's too big a gamble to just kiss the full-time job goodbye if you have others relying on you to support the whole family. (Believe me, these are all things I've spent a lot of time thinking about.)
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From his grammar, I'm guessing that the OP doesn't live in the USA, which may make $50k USD even more significant.
Interesting... I grew up in nyc and now live in Los Angeles. Maybe its my urban slang i speak that is confusing you. In both these cities, $50K isnt a whole lot. Other than that, i do agree with ur post.
I would certainly go full time. Not because it is a lot of money-- what we are forgetting is that money isn't everything.
For me there is no better way to make a living, no boss, no awkward clients and flexible hours, need I say more
I would agree that these are definately the main reason for me wanting to.
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life.
The voice of reason, agree!
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I'm fortunate to live in Canada, where healthcare is taken care of.
... and donuts and bacon rain from the sky! ;)
At least Canadian Bacon is edible (it's what we call 'Bacon'). ;D
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life.
^^ Seriously!! Folks on this forum must have some pretty lavish lifestyles to consider 50k/year pocket change :o
I considered myself FT at half that. Maybe because we had been living off my husband's income for over a decade while I raised my daughter, and also because his job provides health insurance.
50k seems like enough income for one person to me, and most Americans seem to make do on that or less.
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life.
The voice of reason, agree!
Actually the median income is $44,389, but with an added note: Today, 42% of all households have two income earners. Suddenly that $50,00 figure divided by two incomes, isn't so high?
That would mean there are a bunch of couples making $23,000 each to create a household income of $46,000. Average household appears to be 2.35 people. Per capita money income, (1999) = $21,587
I'm not judging what level of lifestyle that may support, or anything else, just pointing out that $200 a day would be over $50,000 a year and above the average household income in the USA.
Personally? I'd take it because I'm single and living a frugal lifestyle right now. "normal" people ;) would strive to make more.
Flipping burgers? You'll make $15,000 a year and an assistant manager will make $27,000 in the US. Which means someone pulling down $300 a week in micro is making more than someone working minimum wage, 40 hours a week, at something else. Not too shabby being your own boss, if that someone is motivated and a good self-starter.
To answer the original question? YES! And I'd quit the two jobs I work now.
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While I agree with the "money isn't everything" ideal, it also makes a difference if you're raising a family.
$50K is not sufficient for raising a large family, at least in the US. You might be able to 'get by' but you probably won't be saving for college or retirement.
^^I agree with that. You can't raise a family in the US on 50k, at least in a middle class lifestyle. We tried it and ended up getting into debt.
But as an income for one person alone, or half of a couple's income you can lead a very comfortable lifestyle.
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Come on! Isn't $45.000 the average household income in US? And here we are talking about one single person making that amount.
If someone is are already making that amount without working on this full time, just imagine what could be achieved doing it full time!
I don't mean to offend anyone but, some people will just never make the jump to be independent. They just don't have the spirit to go that way. They have been educated to have a boss and need to feel they are "safe".
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I don't mean to offend anyone but, some people will just never make the jump to be independent. They just don't have the spirit to go that way. They have been educated to have a boss and need to feel they are "safe".
On the contrary, I need to feel that my family is "safe."
I am driven and independent-spiritied. I intend to be in the $50,000/yr club soon. But even if I join the $100,000/yr club I will not give up my full time job. Not because I've "been educated to have a boss" but because my microstock income could decline at some point in the future, I would be a fool to give up a good-paying job that I enjoy. I can't just "follow my heart" and chart my own course if it means putting my family at financial risk. I prefer to have my cake and eat it too: make good money at a job that's fulfilling, AND spend some free time on a pursuit that is financially rewarding.
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Heck no. After taxes, that would be $100 a day, plus all the expenses of insurance, equipment, etc. That's not nearly enough cushion in case of unexpected drops or anything else. You need to figure out what you need to live on, add in all the costs associated, and then double it. (and that still wasn't enough for me to quit my job yet)
Unless you're single and living in your mom's basement or something where you have absolutely no risk at all.
if you're paying 50% taxes you need a better accountant -
the avg american pays 15-20% in TOTAL taxes -- and as a business, much of expenses become deductible, further lowering taxes. $200 per day is $52K per year, which is well above the median US income; not suitable for everyone but certainly livable
s
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if you're paying 50% taxes you need a better accountant -
the avg american pays 15-20% in TOTAL taxes -- and as a business, much of expenses become deductible, further lowering taxes. $200 per day is $52K per year, which is well above the median US income; not suitable for everyone but certainly livable
My deductions amounted to about 8% of my gross, and my taxes were effectively 31% of that. There's no "better accountant" - this year, we did all we could.
50% of Americans pay ZERO taxes. Apparently, I'm helping to cover for them.
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I don't mean to offend anyone but, some people will just never make the jump to be independent. They just don't have the spirit to go that way. They have been educated to have a boss and need to feel they are "safe".
On the contrary, I need to feel that my family is "safe."
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Or it may be that, like a few others here, you're risk averse; you value financial security more than a healthier family lifestyle. I'm at the opposite end of the scale: As a single father with a college-bound teenager, the freedom I have now when taken together with the time I've been able to spend with my son far outweigh the benefits I had when pursuing a traditional career. Like you, I truly enjoyed my well-paying job, but it's absurd to compare where I would still be to where I am now if I hadn't accepted the risk. And I'm not alone in this - there are many who tell a similar tale. Like they say: no pain, no gain.
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My deductions amounted to about 8% of my gross, and my taxes were effectively 31% of that. There's no "better accountant" - this year, we did all we could.
Exactly^^. Even taking every conceivable deduction you still get killed on Social Security self-employment taxes, over and above your income tax rate.
I incorporated to defray some of the costs, but even so I paid in roughly 35% of my gross income in taxes.
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"Radix malorum est cupiditas", as my old English teacher used to say. Love of money is the root of all evil.
It's been evil my whole life, unfortunately a necessary one. I never had a good job, nor did what I wanted to do. I drifted into photography and scrabble around to make it pay for my wonderful wife and four children. I'll probably end up dying a happy but poor man.
50,000$ is a good starting wage in any country in the world, it will keep you housed and clothed with food in your stomach. Anything extra is a bonus.
If I could do any job in the world, I'd play music for a living - as thing's are it's a luxury to find time to tune my guitar.
I'm overworked, stressed, graying and a shadow of my youth - all for the pursuit money. On the plus side I have no boss, and work from home where I can see my children grow up and hear them play in the garden after school when I'm at work.
If someone offered my good money for a job with benefits, sociable hours and holiday pay I might just take it, the alternative being held at the whim of people who may or may not buy my pictures.
If I was earning $200 a day doing what you are, I'd keep the other job and enjoy the extra cash. But, I'm no entrepreneur, just a working class English man with a chip on his sagging shoulders.
Good luck whatever you decide.
Oldhand (who's old before his time)
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I don't mean to offend anyone but, some people will just never make the jump to be independent. They just don't have the spirit to go that way. They have been educated to have a boss and need to feel they are "safe".
On the contrary, I need to feel that my family is "safe."
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Or it may be that, like a few others here, you're risk averse; you value financial security more than a healthier family lifestyle. I'm at the opposite end of the scale: As a single father with a college-bound teenager, the freedom I have now when taken together with the time I've been able to spend with my son far outweigh the benefits I had when pursuing a traditional career. Like you, I truly enjoyed my well-paying job, but it's absurd to compare where I would still be to where I am now if I hadn't accepted the risk. And I'm not alone in this - there are many who tell a similar tale. Like they say: no pain, no gain.
There's "risk averse," and there's "risk aware." I think anyone trained in financial planning would advise that microstock is not stable enough to place a significant bet on. And quitting a good-paying, secure job is about as big a bet as you can place. It's a market still in its infancy, companies are gobbling each other up and affecting our sales, and many of the top sellers are reporting declining income no matter how hard they work at it. So far I've managed to defy the "no pain, no gain" rule by putting in a few hours each night (not too painful) to acheive sales that could rival my full time salary in the next year or two if my trend lines hold. But who's to say if and when the microstock model blows up and we're all left with scraps? I don't expect it to happen soon, but I don't like the idea of telling my kids they won't be going to college because I threw away a sure thing on a shaky bet.
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I don't mean to offend anyone but, some people will just never make the jump to be independent. They just don't have the spirit to go that way. They have been educated to have a boss and need to feel they are "safe".
On the contrary, I need to feel that my family is "safe."
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Or it may be that, like a few others here, you're risk averse; you value financial security more than a healthier family lifestyle. I'm at the opposite end of the scale: As a single father with a college-bound teenager, the freedom I have now when taken together with the time I've been able to spend with my son far outweigh the benefits I had when pursuing a traditional career. Like you, I truly enjoyed my well-paying job, but it's absurd to compare where I would still be to where I am now if I hadn't accepted the risk. And I'm not alone in this - there are many who tell a similar tale. Like they say: no pain, no gain.
I agree: No pain, no gain.
My wife and I quitted our job many years ago. It's not been easy, there's been very hard times but we are happy we did it. The hard times have helped us grow stronger both as individuals and as a couple Working from home, and having lots of time to be with our kids has been the most wonderful experience.
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I say everyone should quit their jobs and just do what they love. You get more time with your kids and spouse. Times will be tough, but you'll be stronger, happier. Just don't get cancer because the doctors are all on the golf course. Be careful not to set your house on fire because the firemen are now fly fishermen. And learn how to hunt for your food and knit your clothing from pelts, because there will be no stores... why would clerks and shelf-stockers toil away in a soul-crushing store when they could be making jewelry or finger-painting?
But then... who will be left to buy your photos? Hmmm... maybe we need capitalism to still function after all.
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I say everyone should quit their jobs and just do what they love. You get more time with your kids and spouse. Times will be tough, but you'll be stronger, happier. Just don't get cancer because the doctors are all on the golf course. Be careful not to set your house on fire because the firemen are now fly fishermen. And learn how to hunt for your food and knit your clothing from pelts, because there will be no stores... why would clerks and shelf-stockers toil away in a soul-crushing store when they could be making jewelry or finger-painting?
But then... who will be left to buy your photos? Hmmm... maybe we need capitalism to still function after all.
I don't think thats what the other two posters are saying. If it was up to me all you people with good paying jobs would stick to them and stop sell your images cheap for pocket money. :) Then we Photographers who do this for a living could go back to making the big bucks, but thats not going to happen. ;)
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I don't think thats what the other two posters are saying. If it was up to me all you people with good paying jobs would stick to them and stop sell your images cheap for pocket money. :) Then we Photographers who do this for a living could go back to making the big bucks, but thats not going to happen. ;)
Which is probably why sjlocke characteristically answered how he did - I'm sure that he's privately saying "Go for it, buddy - you won't regret it!"
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I say everyone should quit their jobs and just do what they love. You get more time with your kids and spouse. Times will be tough, but you'll be stronger, happier. Just don't get cancer because the doctors are all on the golf course. Be careful not to set your house on fire because the firemen are now fly fishermen. And learn how to hunt for your food and knit your clothing from pelts, because there will be no stores... why would clerks and shelf-stockers toil away in a soul-crushing store when they could be making jewelry or finger-painting?
But then... who will be left to buy your photos? Hmmm... maybe we need capitalism to still function after all.
Would you advice that? Because I wouldn't.
Anyone wishing to quit a job, must have a good plan. And as I said before: Being independent is not for everyone.
Note: What an interesting thread. I am really enjoying it. :)
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I say everyone should quit their jobs and just do what they love. ...
I totally agree, PowerDroid. Everyone should do the job they love - the job they would do without getting paid to do it. You may not think so, but there would still be plenty of doctors, firefighters, clerks, and shelf-stockers to go around. Not *everyone* is trapped in a job they utterly dislike, you know. I think the problem is that a lot of people have too much fear to act on the things that truly matter to them. Speaking personally, I'm happy not to be part of that crowd; life is far more enjoyable when spent doing something intrinsically rewarding, whatever that may be.
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I say everyone should quit their jobs and just do what they love. You get more time with your kids and spouse. Times will be tough, but you'll be stronger, happier. Just don't get cancer because the doctors are all on the golf course. Be careful not to set your house on fire because the firemen are now fly fishermen. And learn how to hunt for your food and knit your clothing from pelts, because there will be no stores... why would clerks and shelf-stockers toil away in a soul-crushing store when they could be making jewelry or finger-painting?
you know, it may shock the microstock community, but being a fireman or a doctor is a dream job for some people. it may even be something they love or are passionate about. there is certainly more prestige and money. i mean, does anyone want a calendar full of microstocking boys and girls?
however, i agree that if you have full time professional job, to throw it away for microstock is risky if you're not pulling in at least 6 figures. it maybe hard to get back into the workplace later with a hole in your resume because you gave it up to pursue something you love to do.
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You may not think so, but there would still be plenty of doctors, firefighters, clerks, and shelf-stockers to go around. Not *everyone* is trapped in a job they utterly dislike, you know.
Plenty of shelf-stockers would do their job for free? Really?
The majority of us dislike our jobs, according to this study... http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3820 (http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3820)
QUOTE:
"Americans of all ages and income brackets continue to grow increasingly unhappy at work-a long-term trend that should be a red flag to employers, according to a report released today by The Conference Board. The report, based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by TNS, finds only 45 percent of those surveyed say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61.1 percent in 1987, the first year in which the survey was conducted."
I suggest that if those 55% quit their jobs to fly-fish, fingerpaint or microstock, society would fall apart.
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Plenty of shelf-stockers would do their job for free? Really?
I suggest that if those 55% quit their jobs to fly-fish, fingerpaint or microstock, society would fall apart.
i certainly wouldn't do any of the above for free, least of all microstock.
i think people will go bonkers from boredom if they pursued any of these activities and go back to their well paying jobs they disliked so much. isn't this why people hate retirement?
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I'll tell you this... When you are on your own, not 'working for the man', you start to get real creative and self-reliant in order to keep the income flowing. I much prefer to be self-employed, but you do what you have to in order to pay the bills and provide for your family. And unfortunately, sometimes that means working for someone else.
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I'll tell you this... When you are on your own, not 'working for the man', you start to get real creative and self-reliant in order to keep the income flowing. I much prefer to be self-employed, but you do what you have to in order to pay the bills and provide for your family. And unfortunately, sometimes that means working for someone else.
Good points David. I totally agree.
I am so lucky that my husband is willing to "work for the man", supporting us so I have the luxury to pursue photography.
When he was an electrician he had some periods of up to 6 months of unemployment and had to get real creative, literally knocking on doors and passing out business cards to drum up side jobs - installing ceiling fans and/or fixing switches, outlets, etc. He hated that and is MUCH happier having that steady paycheck every week.
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I think with $200 a day you can give it a go - but this depends on a lot of "if"s.
If you do not have debts to pay, if you do not have mortgage, if you do not have big family, etc. etc.
Microstock seems to be working for you - but it does not work for everyone, and in truth this is a slave's work (considering the cut the microstock sites take). Of course you will hear different from couple of people who like it and who are sufficiently talented and working hard enough to place themselves among those couple of % who can support themselves from microstock.
It is not a business or a job - it is a competition. I am sure that someone will point out immediately that business IS competition - but I am afraid that we would be talking about different things. There are tens of thousands of athletes - but very few of them make living out of sport. Simply - there are many competitors, but winners are few. If you are happy with this - go for it.
My point is that if 100% of people currently submitting to microstock work hard, shoot a lot and produce sellable images - still only a small percentage will succeed. In my books this is not business - but a cross between competition and lottery.
A plumber runs a business - he does a job, he charges you, he collects his money, and moves to another job. He does not perform work at any place which may be in need of his services - in the hope that someone maybe will pay him.
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While I agree with the "money isn't everything" ideal, it also makes a difference if you're raising a family.
$50K is not sufficient for raising a large family, at least in the US. You might be able to 'get by' but you probably won't be saving for college or retirement.
you're changing the goal posts - nobody claimed you could support a large family on $50K, but that's irrelevant - if you DECIDE to have a LARGE family, you've made certain lifedstyle decisions and choices.
s
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if you're paying 50% taxes you need a better accountant -
the avg american pays 15-20% in TOTAL taxes -- and as a business, much of expenses become deductible, further lowering taxes. $200 per day is $52K per year, which is well above the median US income; not suitable for everyone but certainly livable
My deductions amounted to about 8% of my gross, and my taxes were effectively 31% of that. There's no "better accountant" - this year, we did all we could.
50% of Americans pay ZERO taxes. Apparently, I'm helping to cover for them.
if your effective tax is 31% you're obviously earning more than $50K which is what the OP asked about
my response was to your earlier statement, not your personal finances --
you said Heck no. After taxes, that would be $100 a day, plus all the expenses of insurance, equipment, etc. That's not nearly enough cushion in case of unexpected drops or anything else. You need to figure out what you need to live on, add in all the costs associated, and then double it. (and that still wasn't enough for me to quit my job yet)
and taxes on $50K would not be 50%
steve
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I think with $200 a day you can give it a go - but this depends on a lot of "if"s.
If you do not have debts to pay, if you do not have mortgage, if you do not have big family, etc. etc.
Microstock seems to be working for you - but it does not work for everyone, and in truth this is a slave's work (considering the cut the microstock sites take). Of course you will hear different from couple of people who like it and who are sufficiently talented and working hard enough to place themselves among those couple of % who can support themselves from microstock.
It is not a business or a job - it is a competition. I am sure that someone will point out immediately that business IS competition - but I am afraid that we would be talking about different things. There are tens of thousands of athletes - but very few of them make living out of sport. Simply - there are many competitors, but winners are few. If you are happy with this - go for it.
My point is that if 100% of people currently submitting to microstock work hard, shoot a lot and produce sellable images - still only a small percentage will succeed. In my books this is not business - but a cross between competition and lottery.
A plumber runs a business - he does a job, he charges you, he collects his money, and moves to another job. He does not perform work at any place which may be in need of his services - in the hope that someone maybe will pay him.
There IS competition in ANY business. Do you think plumbers don't have to compete to get a client? There are many plumbers out there. The one with the best fees, service, speed, etc will get the client. Like a photographer in the microstock industry: the one with the right image will get the sale. Both have to compete.
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and taxes on $50K would not be 50%
steve
I see your confusion now. I never said anything about taxes being 50%. I said I would double it, so that when income drops by half for whatever reason (a site suddenly closes, sorting changes, someone starts copying you), you're still above your comfort level.
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I like what microbius and sharply_done have been saying, no pain, no gain. I jumped in and haven't looked back. the income comes, but you really have to fully commit to this, all aspects of it--learning, strategizing, networking etc. if you do, it generally pays off.
unless you can't take a good picture, lol
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Indeed, Dive in and Don't look back!
I only have experience of the UK and Australia on living costs and tax, but you can live quite comfortably in 100-150 per work day in both those countries (as an individual), in both of them if you have a low income sub 40k USD then you pay little tax on those low incomes (or in the case of australia up to about 26K you pay no tax with the various tax offset for entrepreneurs, plenty of scope for deductions from your business expenses, and that now includes you computer, cameras, internet, upkeep of your office space at home, fuel etc)
The lifestyle is so much better - you have to be 'motivated' and all that, but if you are already earning $200 per work day then I for one don't see the risk of going for it? unless you live somewhere incredibly expensive, run multiple cars, pay tv and have kids in private schools yadda yadda.
Yes I would go full time in $200, - I went full time on less than half that! - once you are full time there is so much scope to increase that level in so many different ways
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I'll tell you this... When you are on your own, not 'working for the man', you start to get real creative and self-reliant in order to keep the income flowing. I much prefer to be self-employed, but you do what you have to in order to pay the bills and provide for your family. And unfortunately, sometimes that means working for someone else.
Good points David. I totally agree.
I am so lucky that my husband is willing to "work for the man", supporting us so I have the luxury to pursue photography.
When he was an electrician he had some periods of up to 6 months of unemployment and had to get real creative, literally knocking on doors and passing out business cards to drum up side jobs - installing ceiling fans and/or fixing switches, outlets, etc. He hated that and is MUCH happier having that steady paycheck every week.
Yeah! well he is a top model now!! getting a day-rate of 250000 grand, pugh! with a hubby like that I would retire in the south pacific!
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In Stockholm and London where Im active, a gallon of petrol is about 8 bucks, a pint of lager in a pub about 9 bucks! need I say more?
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9 bucks in which currency? in London a pint is about £3 to £3.50 in a pub; maybe a little more in a club or in pubs in very touristic areas
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In Stockholm and London where Im active, a gallon of petrol is about 8 bucks, a pint of lager in a pub about 9 bucks! need I say more?
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9 bucks in which currency? in London a pint is about £3 to £3.50 in a pub; maybe a little more in a club or in pubs in very touristic areas
I think they used stockholm as the example for the price of beer.
http://www.pintprice.com/city.php?/Stockhlom/Sweden/usd.htm (http://www.pintprice.com/city.php?/Stockhlom/Sweden/usd.htm)
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9 bucks in which currency? in London a pint is about £3 to £3.50 in a pub; maybe a little more in a club or in pubs in very touristic areas
My local supermarket is currently selling 5% Stellar Artois for about 60p a pint ($0.90). If you so desire you can get quite drunk at home for $5.
The pub chain Wetherspoons sells Stella for about £2.30 a pint ($3.50).
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life. From his grammar, I'm guessing that the OP doesn't live in the USA, which may make $50k USD even more significant. As whitechild said, if he was making that much he'd "be awfully rich".
Well said indeed. Living in the UK, admittedly with the house, the car and a motorhome all paid for, I can very easily 'get by' on $200 a day.
Eight years ago, as an Engineering Manager, I used to earn twice what I do now but I wouldn't go back if they doubled my salary again. It all depends on what you really value __ the the status symbols of the biggest house and the flashiest car, etc you can afford __ or your time.
I simply had enough of having to go to the same office ... in the same factory ... on the same industrial estate ... even if the sun was shining ... everyday. As far as I'm concerned I am now rich beyond my wildest dreams in having all of my time to do with what I want, being able to go where I want and when I want. Of course I'd quite like to have a bigger house and a newer car but nothing like enough to give up my freedom and do what it would take to get them.
Along with "... sooner or later your possessions come to possess you" there were some memorable lines in the film 'Fight Club';
Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God * it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy sh!t we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very p!ssed off.
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The answer the OP's question is going to be as varied as the amount of folks posting! There is no right or wrong answer, just what fits a persons personal lifestyle and motivation. I personally would need to make more to trade in my current employment with benefits. I work as a graphic designer and do this type of work on the side as well. I actually include stock photography within my side business structure! Stock photography isn't stable enough for me at the moment (for a number of reasons that I can control and have no control over!) to rely on it as my main source of income. Maybe some time in the future! I would love for that to happen! I love the fact that being a stock contributor allows you to make residual income. Income were you only need to set up a structure one time to constantly generate sales.
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Yeah! well he is a top model now!! getting a day-rate of 250000 grand, pugh! with a hubby like that I would retire in the south pacific!
ROFL!!! Don't I wish!
Actually, he is still working for musical instruments - just got him a gorgeous Gibson Les Paul for his birthday :D
BTW, if he ever decides to switch teams I will let him know of your offer ;)
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The problem is that $200/day can quickly become $150 then $100 or less. It doesn't take much. If you are on a good growth curve and see room for an increase in sales then it may be okay but if you're reaching a plateau then caution is advised.
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The problem is that $200/day can quickly become $150 then $100 or less. It doesn't take much. If you are on a good growth curve and see room for an increase in sales then it may be okay but if you're reaching a plateau then caution is advised.
Thus my advice on doubling (at least) what you think you need.
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The problem is that $200/day can quickly become $150 then $100 or less. It doesn't take much. If you are on a good growth curve and see room for an increase in sales then it may be okay but if you're reaching a plateau then caution is advised.
Thus my advice on doubling (at least) what you think you need.
thus me asking this question
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dahhhhhhh.. I just had my post ready and it got deleted :( daaaahhhh..
Anyhow my point was that I wanted to agree with what Sharpley_Done said here
I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life. From his grammar, I'm guessing that the OP doesn't live in the USA, which may make $50k USD even more significant. As whitechild said, if he was making that much he'd "be awfully rich".
To answer the question, I started doing this full time in Jan 2007 - with zero images and zero microstock income - and haven't ever looked back or regretted it. I'm fortunate to live in Canada, where healthcare is taken care of. For what it's worth, I agree with Microbius:
I would certainly go full time. Not because it is a lot of money-- what we are forgetting is that money isn't everything.
For me there is no better way to make a living, no boss, no awkward clients and flexible hours, need I say more
and what was said here
I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life.
The voice of reason, agree!
Actually the median income is $44,389, but with an added note: Today, 42% of all households have two income earners. Suddenly that $50,00 figure divided by two incomes, isn't so high?
That would mean there are a bunch of couples making $23,000 each to create a household income of $46,000. Average household appears to be 2.35 people. Per capita money income, (1999) = $21,587
I'm not judging what level of lifestyle that may support, or anything else, just pointing out that $200 a day would be over $50,000 a year and above the average household income in the USA.
Personally? I'd take it because I'm single and living a frugal lifestyle right now. "normal" people ;) would strive to make more.
Flipping burgers? You'll make $15,000 a year and an assistant manager will make $27,000 in the US. Which means someone pulling down $300 a week in micro is making more than someone working minimum wage, 40 hours a week, at something else. Not too shabby being your own boss, if that someone is motivated and a good self-starter.
To answer the original question? YES! And I'd quit the two jobs I work now.
So if you and your partner are working and you are making over $24,000 in the USA you are doing better than the average and certainly should be able to make a living. It is all about priorities though. If you want to have the mansion with room for 10 guests and 2 cars, boat, cabin etc.etc. then you probably can't live from microstock. If you want to have a job you love and are willing to live somewhere you can afford you should be well off.
I set out as a full time microstock photographer a few years ago and haven't ever regretted it. It would take a 'regular grind job' with a VERY high income to lure me back to any sort of 'employed' type of job. Not because I am making so much, but because I enjoy being self employed and doing photography.
My wife and I are living in a very expensive country (Norway) but are still managing to make it work. Those who say they simply can't live on a total household income of less than 6 figures (USD) are living with their heads in the clouds.
That said, I KNOW for a fact that some people really do like working for someone and prefer the stability and security of a regular job - it is good we are different. So microstock certainly isn't for everyone, no matter what wage you manage to pull in. But if it IS what you want to be doing you should find a way to make it work.
I like the thoughts of this blog (http://monevator.com/2010/04/16/living-frugally/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Monevatorcom+%28Monevator.com%29&utm_content=Google+Reader) on living within your means and spending money on what you really want to spend it on.
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^ My sentiments exactly.
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You may not think so, but there would still be plenty of doctors, firefighters, clerks, and shelf-stockers to go around. Not *everyone* is trapped in a job they utterly dislike, you know.
Plenty of shelf-stockers would do their job for free? Really?
The majority of us dislike our jobs, according to this study... [url]http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3820[/url] ([url]http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3820[/url])
QUOTE:
"Americans of all ages and income brackets continue to grow increasingly unhappy at work-a long-term trend that should be a red flag to employers, according to a report released today by The Conference Board. The report, based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by TNS, finds only 45 percent of those surveyed say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61.1 percent in 1987, the first year in which the survey was conducted."
I suggest that if those 55% quit their jobs to fly-fish, fingerpaint or microstock, society would fall apart.
Well, the world is bigger than USA. In Norway 70% are happy with their current jobs. http://www.karrierelink.no/al.php?ar_id=977 (http://www.karrierelink.no/al.php?ar_id=977) I've tried being a WAHM, but prefer being amongst the 80 % who love teaching. At least part time. It is a bit to much hassle sometimes, having to work 6 hours every day. I think I would like to reduce it to 4. :P
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The other way to look at it might to be make a hard rule of investing all your microstock earnings and not using it to pay for luxuries. If you put $1000 a week away in investments in a couple of years you would have a good residual income stream to supplement photography earnings. Bit of an insurance policy before ditching the steady job.
I'm also assuming that you do get downloads on the weekend. :)
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that question will vary based on everyones current income level. somebody working at McDonalds or going to school and only working part-time will say hell yeah !!!! others would look at $200 a day as an insult .. some just wouldn't care either way. a lot of lifestyle comes into play too .. how high-maintenance are you? $200 a day might not cut it.
depends who you are "working at McDonald's"... ha ha ha ha... I passed $200 a day many many moons (years) ago, working at McDonald's. So I assume you meant... the average crew employee... LOL
Living in central NJ USA... I couldn't live on that. I'd lose the house in a matter of months.. taxes, insurance, utilities.. are outrageous around here. Prime reason my entire family is looking to move out of the area.. so that maybe I could live on an income from Microstock. The only thing that would stop me when I move... is health insurance... I'm 61 and have to go to 66 to get any kind of decent bennies.
Beyond that... I agree with Sharply Done and a few others. I love photography and think it is a hoot that I can make money hiking the wilderness with my wife... taking pictures. Wife & I and couple of my adult children are trying to build the business up to a point where it could support a couple of us in retirement.. I do 5 days a week at Mickey D's.... it sux... I live for the weekends, going camping, off roading, hiking...whatever... just out there with Mom Nature & taking pix. 8)=tom
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I agree with you. For many it is a very respectable income and as an employer of over 100 people, most of whom do not make $50K per year I know it is a lot of money. I've been very fortunate (the harder I work, the luckier I get) to make a good living to provide for my family. Unfortunately, that has come at a huge price...65-85 hour work weeks, high levels of stress that I sometimes can't help but take home, not to mention spending 75% of 2009 over a thousand miles away from my family. I was just on the cusp of making the move to become a full time wedding photographer as I was getting more and more calls. I chickened out and made a big career change that severely limited my availability for weddings and cut deep into that income I had grown accustomed to. It turned out I would have been in good shape had I stuck with the weddings as I wound up getting more inquiries for 2009 than for all other years combined! Couple that with the increase in my income at Fotolia and things would have been well.
The moral to my babbling you ask? It's going to be a risk regardless of where your comfort level is with income. It takes courage and some intestinal fortitude to go out on your own and make that decision. Even more when you are the sole provider for your family. My hat is off to those of you that have already done so and I am rooting for those of you considering it. I didn't have the stones to pull the trigger but maybe someday down the road. I'm beginning to believe I can do it long term even without weddings.
Good luck all,
Mat
I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life. From his grammar, I'm guessing that the OP doesn't live in the USA, which may make $50k USD even more significant. As whitechild said, if he was making that much he'd "be awfully rich".
To answer the question, I started doing this full time in Jan 2007 - with zero images and zero microstock income - and haven't ever looked back or regretted it. I'm fortunate to live in Canada, where healthcare is taken care of. For what it's worth, I agree with Microbius:
I would certainly go full time. Not because it is a lot of money-- what we are forgetting is that money isn't everything.
For me there is no better way to make a living, no boss, no awkward clients and flexible hours, need I say more
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Sharply-done is right about reality check, and I agree with Microbius. Even if you think it's not a very good starting point financially, then just look at other circumstances and you'll see it's worth trying.
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You may not think so, but there would still be plenty of doctors, firefighters, clerks, and shelf-stockers to go around. Not *everyone* is trapped in a job they utterly dislike, you know.
Plenty of shelf-stockers would do their job for free? Really?
The majority of us dislike our jobs, according to this study... [url]http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3820[/url] ([url]http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3820[/url])
QUOTE:
"Americans of all ages and income brackets continue to grow increasingly unhappy at work-a long-term trend that should be a red flag to employers, according to a report released today by The Conference Board. The report, based on a survey of 5,000 U.S. households conducted for The Conference Board by TNS, finds only 45 percent of those surveyed say they are satisfied with their jobs, down from 61.1 percent in 1987, the first year in which the survey was conducted."
I suggest that if those 55% quit their jobs to fly-fish, fingerpaint or microstock, society would fall apart.
Well, the world is bigger than USA. In Norway 70% are happy with their current jobs. [url]http://www.karrierelink.no/al.php?ar_id=977[/url] ([url]http://www.karrierelink.no/al.php?ar_id=977[/url]) I've tried being a WAHM, but prefer being amongst the 80 % who love teaching. At least part time. It is a bit to much hassle sometimes, having to work 6 hours every day. I think I would like to reduce it to 4. :P
well you aint gonna get very far on 200 bucks a day in Norway, probably the richest country in the world. Being a Swede I remember when we used to call Norway our little brother, boy oh boy, thats changed, today Sweden is the smaller guy and can in no way compete and our stupid politicians here have really acquired a sort of Norway complex. Serves them right.
best.
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I think most of you people need a reality check: 75% of working people in the USA earn less than $50k, and 88% earn less than $75k (USA Census Bureau, 2008). Referring to $50k as "residual income" or mentioning it in the same breath as a McDonald's or student wage is way, way, way, out of touch with reality, as is regarding it as an insufficient salary to provide a good quality of life.
^^ Seriously!! Folks on this forum must have some pretty lavish lifestyles to consider 50k/year pocket change :o
I considered myself FT at half that. Maybe because we had been living off my husband's income for over a decade while I raised my daughter, and also because his job provides health insurance.
50k seems like enough income for one person to me, and most Americans seem to make do on that or less.
I make about half of 50k in my day-time job (though I live in Europe and only work part-time). The photography income is a good supplement, even though it is is not a whole lot either. However, even if I were to earn 200$ a weekday with photography I would not do photography fulltime. I simply love my day-time job. Again - it's not just about money... . :)
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i am a full time microstock photographer (here and there... :) )... why do you ask? :)
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I have to jump in here. I got laid off my medical job which I held for 10 years with good pay and benefits. I look everyday for a job and can find nothing in Cat Scan and Radiology in the Greenville SC area. I mainly shoot video for stock and am accepted at Getty Images as well. Since no jobs are on the horizon I have been shooting fulltime and paying my bills. I have cobra medical for 15months. I have 1 kid and another due Aug. 27 2010. Lets talk about job security. If you think working for someone else is job security then I feel sorry for you. I am having the time of my life right now and if the train were to stop I can always jump back into the medical field. Life is short and nothing will last forever but if you can make a living doing what you love then why not go for it. The worst thing that can happen is you have to find a different job and to that I say so what. I work just as hard now as I did before but I am twice as happy now so who wants to put a price on that. Life is a risk and rewards come to those who take the challenge. I am loving it and have been full-time stock now for 2 months.
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yeep. -agreed some 100% :)
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I work just as hard now as I did before but I am twice as happy now so who wants to put a price on that. Life is a risk and rewards come to those who take the challenge. I am loving it and have been full-time stock now for 2 months.
Great story. I discovered stock while I was struggling as a freelancer after quitting my full time job. For me, it was like being hit by a lightning bolt. I immediately saw the potential.
P.S. That Cobra has to be costing you a fortune.
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Lucky for me I fell under the cobra help plan and pay $300.00 per month for my family. Same coverage as before and in 15 months I will switch plans which will cost me a little less actually. The good news is I can write off the cobra expense. Its filed under a different deduction but it helps none the less. I also have a very good accountant and I highly recommend anyone considering this to get a very good accountant!
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The photography income is a good supplement, even though it is is not a whole lot either. However, even if I were to earn 200$ a weekday with photography I would not do photography fulltime. I simply love my day-time job. Again - it's not just about money... . :)
Agree. I like my ordinary job (architect) even more now thanks to microstock. Because thanks to the additional revenue I can now afford to ditch my worst clients and concentrate only on more interesting projects. My suggestion to the OP is to turn the regular job into a "hobby" if the kind of occupations allows this
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my theory is that people should be employees of their hobbies (you got the point - when you do your hobby for a work - this is cool. and of course, i agree - not everything is in money.
hypothetically speaking: if i have choice :to have a job that i do not like for a "full meal" -or job that i really like, and i have a good fun while working - for "piece of dry bread, and glas of fresh water" -my choice is always "just bread and water".
to be honest, my current microstock income makes me a lot more closer to this :) - but i do not complain at all, and don't regret.
an option "did i made a mistake to do so?" -has never been an option in my mind.
*one very successful man - i think he is really cool either:
Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford Commencement Address (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UF8uR6Z6KLc#lq-lq2-hq)
all the best ;)
sasha
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hypothetically speaking: if i have choice :to have a job that i do not like for a "full meal" -or job that i really like, and i have a good fun while working - for "piece of dry bread, and glas of fresh water" -my choice is always "just bread and water".
bread and BEER, and I'm completely happy
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The downside of turning your hobby into your career is that you lose a hobby. While this might at first not be a concern, and might even sound trivial, you'll eventually have a need to fill in that great big hole you've created.
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^^ well, i am happy with ONLY beer. but did not want to mention this at the first place. -there might be some minors members -and i do not want to advertise alcoholic beverages.
"if the beer is an alcohol =>than i am an alcoholic" :)
(*thanks to d.a.maradona)
^ no. if you have deceision in your head: my hobby is going to become my occupation, and i want to earn as much as i can... than - you're right.
if you have option "i live my hobby" -things are slightly different ;) . what i am tryin' to say is that anything people do, must be done with love. if yo do not love something you do, whatever this is, than you better don't. off course - if you can.
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The downside of turning your hobby into your career is that you lose a hobby. While this might at first not be a concern, and might even sound trivial, you'll eventually have a need to fill in that great big hole you've created.
Absolutely true. My former hobby is my job now. Not nearly as much fun as it used to be :(
I avoid taking pictures unless absolutely necessary if it isn't for stock. I used to love taking pictures.
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My former hobby is my job now. Not nearly as much fun as it used to be :(
I avoid taking pictures unless absolutely necessary if it isn't for stock. I used to love taking pictures.
Hmm, same here. I still love taking pictures __ but only when I think they'll sell. The excitment is all about 'harvesting' something that most others wouldn't see the value in.
Having said that I much prefer doing my 'job' now than I used to when I worked in a factory. I've got a nasty feeling that we're all going to have to work much harder in the future attempting to maintain an ever dwindling income though.
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I avoid taking pictures unless absolutely necessary if it isn't for stock. I used to love taking pictures.
Yeah, I can say the same thing - taking pics is still fun, but it's no longer something I do in my off-time or spare time. Before I made the career jump, photography was a way for me to exercise my creative/artistic muscles and provided a regular and pleasant escape from the normal day-to-day stuff. I never saw it coming that I'd need an escape from photography, but like everything else, taking time off can pay handsomely. Finding a hobby as engaging as photography has proven to be a challenge.
Also, I've found that specializing in stock has the added downsides of working in relative isolation and a lack of camaraderie. If the feeling of being a part of a team is important to you, or if you enjoy interacting with clients, or you aren't strongly self-motivated, you will likely run into problems.
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... The excitment is all about 'harvesting' something that most others wouldn't see the value in.
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Yep, same here. I used to do a lot of studio work, but I find 'harvesting' to be much more of an engaging and interesting challenge.
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The excitment is all about 'harvesting' something that most others wouldn't see the value in.
I must agree with that - for me, that is really exciting. When the mental light bulb goes off with an original idea, it's such a great feeling. Must jot it down fast! ;)
Then, when you see your intention through the lens, get the lighting just right, and then play around with distance and focal length until that magical 'eureka' moment when you know you've captured something even more beautiful than you're original intention.
Wowwww.
When the mind runs dry - I can feel defeated - but then it's time to go through all my 'idea notebooks', lists and sketches I've built up, to try to find inspiration - and I love doing that too.
Best job ever :)
Maybe not the best wages (some of present company excepted) - but definitely the best job ;)
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Also, I've found that specializing in stock has the added downsides of working in relative isolation and a lack of camaraderie. If the feeling of being a part of a team is important to you, or if you enjoy interacting with clients, or you aren't strongly self-motivated, you will likely run into problems.
Yep. Thus hanging out here. :)
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hm...
http://media.bigoo.ws/content/gif/smiles/smiles_415.gif (http://media.bigoo.ws/content/gif/smiles/smiles_415.gif)
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Also, I've found that specializing in stock has the added downsides of working in relative isolation and a lack of camaraderie. If the feeling of being a part of a team is important to you, or if you enjoy interacting with clients, or you aren't strongly self-motivated, you will likely run into problems.
Good points. Of course for me it's perfect because I can't stand working with, and especially FOR other people. ;)
If I didn't sing in the choir at church I would probably go nuts from the isolation though. And as Sean points out, this group is great for getting in some social interaction...
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hm... virtual community is o.k. but, i think that human beings have to have real "live" friends, and social contacts/network e.t.c.
i'm drinking beer regularely with few my friends - also microstockers, and regarding the fact that i am a pro night club musician also for over 20 years, i have a lot of friends from that population also.
but, virtual community also has it's own benefits, that's for sure. (on example you can find a lot of help from other people on the forums regarding business).
*i'm speaking in generally, not pointing anyone specially.
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Very general question, but if you were consistently pulling in over $150 to $250 a day (weekday) from microstock and revenues actually were going up from month to month as u put more time in it, would you do this fulltime? Im just curious on the ones that jumped on the fulltime boat if this was roughly the amount of income they started with...
It depends on how much your full time job pays. If it pays waaaaay better than $200 a day, and makes you happy then keep it the way it is.
If you don't make more than $200 a day in your day job + hate your job why would you keep torturing yourself?
You don't really need my advice or other's opinions here as you are the one who should evaluate your specific case.
If you insist that you need more opinions here is mine: If your day job is nothing special then quit right away, because if you make $200 a day while doing another job, just imagine how much more you can do once you go full time.
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We decided to retire at 44, and are traveling the country adding to our portfolio. Stock will be one of the incomes we count on, it's been steady enough to know that if we start pushing our portfolio we should have better sales.
We traded in our concrete foundation for black rubber tires. We're young enough to enjoy camping, and being mobile will allow us to be in some important spots when things are going on.
The amount of income isn't important to us. What IS important is we now have freedom. Freedom to pursue what we love the most. Freedom to travel at will, and in comfort. Not to mention, it sure is nice, knowing we don't have to worry about rent or mortgage payments! I know it's not for everyone, but it IS right for us, so we're starting this adventure in a few days! We just have to finish selling off the furniture tomorrow, then we can roll out of here :)
We're going to be blogging on it, and we have a facebook fan page ;D Feel free to follow us there!
Robert & Lori Gebbie, RGebbiePhoto
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Happy travels, RGebbie!
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How wonderful, RGebbie. Good for you! I wish you so well.
What kind of vehicle are you going to be living in?
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I like the sound of that RGebbie. Nobody ever laid on their death bed and said "I wish I'd spent more time in the office". For my money nothing beats a loaded campervan/trailer, a free diary and the open road. Good luck!
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Robert & Lori Gebbie:
May the wind be always at your back
Smiling Jack
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Thank you all :)
We're traveling in a custom van and a 27' Prowler Travel Trailer with 2 cats and 2 parrots. LOL
Will keep everyone posted from the road :)
I attached a pic, just a snapshot, we'll get a better one soon!
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Sounds like paradise, Robert and Lori! Looking forward to hearing about your adventures :D
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We're traveling in a custom van and a 27' Prowler Travel Trailer with 2 cats and 2 parrots. LOL
Eventually, just 2 cats...
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I told myself that if I reached a certain level of monthly income - I would quit my day job and do istock full-time. I've since reached that level and exceeded it- but I keep my day job. I now work 4 days a week and take Fridays off... to be used for iStock or my personal business.
As tempting as it is to go full-time iStock, it's a great feeling to have the stability of my job (which I can go back to full-time with 30 days notice) and the benefits, in addition to iStock income. I also am giving wedding photography a serious go... this year has been great. With a new mortgage and still some student loans to pay for, it feels good to have 3 sources of income.
These days I tell myself again, if I add 50% to my current iStock income, I'll call it quits, but we'll see if I actually follow through when that happens. :)
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^^ hm... or just one (good one) dog... ...after the cats finish their .... well... after cats explan some things to the parrots :) :)
i'm kiddin' of course. ;)
well dear colleagues - i personally wish you all the good luck.
... there are many different roads on your voyage. always take the ones that are from your heart, and listen to your inner voice - you can't miss.
s.