Author Topic: Would your lifestyle change if......? (Read 10944 times)

rjmiz · « **on:** June 19, 2008, 11:25 »

Would your lifestyle change if you suddenly lost ALL the income from microstock?
My retirement pension is still adequate to allow me to live comfortable, and so most
of what I make is just found money "Mad Money" "Crazy Cash".

I am interested on how others would fair if all of a sudden the income stopped dead.
Those who work full time in the field are obviously making a living and so they don't count.

But if your like me and this is just a hobby, I would like to know how your lifestyle would change.
Rather than talk about myself, I am genuinely interested in hearing from others.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

nativelight · « **Reply #1 on:** June 19, 2008, 11:59 »

Quote from: rjmiz on June 19, 2008, 11:25

Would your lifestyle change if you suddenly lost ALL the income from microstock?
My retirement pension is still adequate to allow me to live comfortable, and so most
of what I make is just found money "Mad Money" "Crazy Cash".

I am interested on how others would fair if all of a sudden the income stopped dead.
Those who work full time in the field are obviously making a living and so they don't count.

But if your like me and this is just a hobby, I would like to know how your lifestyle would change.
Rather than talk about myself, I am genuinely interested in hearing from others.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

My life would change drastically, but not financially. I would just have tons more free time!!!

The financial loss would not even be noticed. I wouldn't, however, be able to justify buying new photography toys as often.

riffmax · « **Reply #2 on:** June 19, 2008, 12:20 »

While I certainly don't generate enough to make a significant difference in our income, it is still a little bit every month - and every little bit helps.

The impact it would have would be that it would require my husband, who has his own business and is the only one who works there, to work even harder to make up the difference- which is not physically possible....

So, yes, it would impact me strongly.

melastmohican · « **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2008, 12:24 »

After 3 months of doing it my income is less than 1% of what my day job gives and I spend way too much time going thru my old photos so it's not even paying for my work :-) Once I am done with my old photos it should be more acceptable.

gbcimages · « **Reply #4 on:** June 19, 2008, 14:07 »

I don't make much at all with photography,few bucks. I'm not a pro at this. I'm retired from my job so this gives me something to do pass time and enjoyment. If I depended on photography for a living I wouldn't be here writing this.I would be gone... gone... gone

fotografer · « **Reply #5 on:** June 19, 2008, 14:32 »

I now make more from this than from my 'proper' job, so yes my lifestyle would change quite drastically.

dullegg · « **Reply #6 on:** June 19, 2008, 16:24 »

UNLESS your annual income from microstock (or macrostock) is significant enough to be considered a living, i don't think anybody's life is going to be affected if microstock disappears into the crevice.

To be more exact, calculate the time you spent with the income microstock earns you. if you make more than minimum wage hourly, then i think it's something to consider. still, minimum wage does not make or break anyone's bank account

nativelight · « **Reply #7 on:** June 19, 2008, 17:40 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 19, 2008, 16:24

UNLESS your annual income from microstock (or macrostock) is significant enough to be considered a living, i don't think anybody's life is going to be affected if microstock disappears into the crevice.

To be more exact, calculate the time you spent with the income microstock earns you. if you make more than minimum wage hourly, then i think it's something to consider. still, minimum wage does not make or break anyone's bank account

hahahahahahaha....tell that to all the people who have to live on minimum wage! My youngest Son would definitely disagree with you.

chumley · « **Reply #8 on:** June 19, 2008, 18:07 »

mantonino · « **Reply #9 on:** June 19, 2008, 18:53 »

If micro died, my lifestyle would not be affected at all. One less piece of gear this month.

helix7 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 19, 2008, 20:16 »

I'd be screwed. Microstock represents about 45% of my income right now, and losing that would dramatically alter my near-future plans of buying a house.

rjmiz · « **Reply #11 on:** June 19, 2008, 20:34 »

Quote from: helix7 on June 19, 2008, 20:16

.....that would dramatically alter my near-future plans of buying a house.

Civilized people live in houses....did you mean a cave?

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

helix7 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 19, 2008, 21:59 »

Quote from: rjmiz on June 19, 2008, 20:34

Civilized people live in houses....did you mean a cave?

Yep.. a nice 4-bedroom cave with a pool. Not sure I'm going for the optional cave paintings and extra fire pits, though. I sort of feel like it's a waste to go for those pre-furnished places.

Seren · « **Reply #13 on:** June 20, 2008, 01:36 »

Quote from: dullegg on June 19, 2008, 16:24

minimum wage does not make or break anyone's bank account

Don't assume things. I'm on minimum wage in my day job and stock makes up about 30% of my earnings on top of what I get from "work".

If all my photography earnings disappeared I would have to get a second job in a pub or something.

Phil · « **Reply #14 on:** June 20, 2008, 02:25 »

My kids would have to change from their very nice private school.

but then in january macro earnings were 20% of my stock income it has risen to 45% this month (with todays sales

so every month that goes by losing the micro becomes less of an issue.

Phil

Peter · « **Reply #15 on:** June 20, 2008, 03:16 »

Yes it would. My non-stock income is 300$ per month. Stock is about 1000-1500$ per month. So I make a living out of it.

CofkoCof · « **Reply #16 on:** June 20, 2008, 03:52 »

Quote from: nativelight on June 19, 2008, 11:59

My life would change drastically, but not financially. I would just have tons more free time!!! The financial loss would not even be noticed. I wouldn't, however, be able to justify buying new photography toys as often.

Same here. I'm a lot more with my job and will get eve more in about 3 years. So stock is just my hobby.

Microbius · « **Reply #17 on:** June 20, 2008, 05:42 »

MS makes up the majority of my income, upwards of $5000 per month.
I'd have to get a proper job or accept more freelance work.

lisafx · « **Reply #18 on:** June 21, 2008, 08:50 »

Yes, it would change my lifestyle drastically too. Or I should say since I have been doing microstock it has drastically improved our lifestyle.

The idea of no longer having this income has always been something I had to consider. It's one of the main reasons we have held off buying a larger house, even though we could afford one right now with our combined incomes.

I guess we could go back to living off my husband's income, but we would have to give up all the extras we have been able to buy with the microstock money. Decent medical care and maid service being the top of the list, along with some home remodeling projects.

Not to mention that it would put more pressure on my daughter to have to get a scholarship to college.

But mostly, I really don't want to go back to cleaning my own house!

fotoKmyst · « **Reply #19 on:** June 21, 2008, 12:15 »

Quote from: chumley on June 19, 2008, 18:07

If Micro dried up I would be in fat city. I would retire off all the money I would be making off my RF Macro.

Cheers,
Chumley

and i'll just have to trade in my 2nd porsche

oh, and i will miss all of you on this forum

Adeptris · « **Reply #20 on:** June 21, 2008, 13:27 »

I earn about $500 a day in my IT job, and have earned about $300 with stock photography in six months, and I have spent some $$'s on kit, and I use it as an "excuse" to rent a small studio.

It would not affect me from a finance point, but I would find it hard to justify to myself renting the studio space, which is there for "Later when I start doing stock photography properly", so I keep saying

And then there is the groups and forums, that would be missed

David

rjmiz · « **Reply #21 on:** June 21, 2008, 15:06 »

"And then there is the groups and forums, that would be missed"

Well Adeptris I think I speak for everyone here that you would be severely missed if it ever came to that.
I want you to know that if it ever did, that you could always come by once in a while and visit with us.
We would be very interested in knowing how you're doing.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

Adeptris · « **Reply #22 on:** June 21, 2008, 15:10 »

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #23 on:** June 21, 2008, 17:16 »

If I lost my micro income not a single thing would happen as I've yet to cash out the money in PayPal for the small amount I've made. If however my regular stock income disappeared, well, I'd best stay off high buildings and bridges.

rjmiz · « **Reply #24 on:** June 21, 2008, 17:23 »

"I'd best stay off high buildings and bridges."

If in the event you did slip or fall off a building or a bridge, and fall to your your unwelcome demise;
I assure you we in the community would dedicate a memorial page to you and your work.

I for one find you a pillar of inspiration, and and an example to us all.
You would be sorely missed.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2008, 10:14 »

Quote from: rjmiz on June 21, 2008, 17:23

"I'd best stay off high buildings and bridges."

If in the event you did slip or fall off a building or a bridge, and fall to your your unwelcome demise;
I assure you we in the community would dedicate a memorial page to you and your work.

I for one find you a pillar of inspiration, and and an example to us all.
You would be sorely missed.

Cranky MIZ
The voice of reason

Cranky,

That's awfully nice of you; a trait, I was sure you were trying to eschew on this forum. Or perhaps one where the opportunity so rarely elicits itself as to be nearly invisible. Whatever the reason I appreciate the gesture.

HermanM · « **Reply #26 on:** June 25, 2008, 22:22 »

Not at all... well, I would have to settle for an APS camera instead of a full frame, and no more L glass...

rinderart · « **Reply #27 on:** June 26, 2008, 23:17 »

Been a pro for Many, many years and I say everyday that this business is a launching pad. NOTHING more, And if you base your income on it and must "Feed the Beast" Your gonna lose. It's a numbers game and those numbers are getting Bigger every minute of every day. If You can keep up, Your gonna do OK. If not. I suggest you get out now. This is a great game for those with talent and an extreme work ethic and Can promote themselves. If you don't have these skills. You will be very dissapointed and we will read about you posting on these and other forums for years to come. This business is getting very specialized and if you can't or don't see it with research. Your History. All the sites are Upping there submit process now, Either get in or get out. Theres 106,000 submitters at SS alone. In a year there will be 150,000. How many are serious??? I would say 8%. There in Lies the problem. This Is in My book. If this business never existed I would being doing Exactly the same as before. Think about it Like that. be a photographer. This business Cannot be the Be all if you want this for a living. Face it, Your not Yuri , Wizdata or Andres and you probably won't ever be. Make this "PART" of what you do is My best advise.Not All of what you do. If you do, God Bless and you better get Buzy........Real buzy.

Microbius · « **Reply #28 on:** June 27, 2008, 04:21 »

Quote from: rinderart on June 26, 2008, 23:17

Been a pro for Many, many years and I say everyday that this business is a launching pad. NOTHING more, And if you base your income on it and must "Feed the Beast" Your gonna lose. It's a numbers game and those numbers are getting Bigger every minute of every day. If You can keep up, Your gonna do OK. If not. I suggest you get out now. This is a great game for those with talent and an extreme work ethic and Can promote themselves. If you don't have these skills. You will be very dissapointed and we will read about you posting on these and other forums for years to come. This business is getting very specialized and if you can't or don't see it with research. Your History. All the sites are Upping there submit process now, Either get in or get out. Theres 106,000 submitters at SS alone. In a year there will be 150,000. How many are serious??? I would say 8%. There in Lies the problem. This Is in My book. If this business never existed I would being doing Exactly the same as before. Think about it Like that. be a photographer. This business Cannot be the Be all if you want this for a living. Face it, Your not Yuri , Wizdata or Andres and you probably won't ever be. Make this "PART" of what you do is My best advise.Not All of what you do. If you do, God Bless and you better get Buzy........Real buzy.

Yawn, same doomsaying that has been going round for years.
If I had faith in your predictive talents I would have uploaded my whole folio to LO and now MP (yes I know you turned against LO when that ship started sinking, and yes MP may have agreed to promote your book but that means nothing to me)
This business is not about self promotion, if you want to make money out of it you have to have talent and find a niche or niches.
This is something that the ego obsessed dinosaurs will never understand.
This game, unlike the old RM sites is largely an anonymous one.
The contributers know who Yuri etc. are because they are great personal success stories. The buyers couldn't care less, or even be bothered to check who is responsible for the image they buy.

fotografer · « **Reply #29 on:** June 27, 2008, 04:36 »

Yes I agree with everything you say. The fact that somebody has been in this business a long time makes them no more an authority on an unknown future than anybody else. I think that knowing the ins and outs of each site is much more important than self promotion and talent will always come out on top whatever their name is.

Quote from: Microbius on June 27, 2008, 04:21

Yawn, same doomsaying that has been going round for years.
If I had faith in your predictive talents I would have uploaded my whole folio to LO and now MP (yes I know you turned against LO when that ship started sinking, and yes MP may have agreed to promote your book but that means nothing to me)
This business is not about self promotion, if you want to make money out of it you have to have talent and find a niche or niches.
This is something that the ego obsessed dinosaurs will never understand.
This game, unlike the old RM sites is largely an anonymous one.
The contributers know who Yuri etc. are because they are great personal success stories. The buyers couldn't care less, or even be bothered to check who is responsible for the image they buy.

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #30 on:** June 27, 2008, 09:50 »

Quote from: fotografer on June 27, 2008, 04:36

Yes I agree with everything you say. The fact that somebody has been in this business a long time makes them no more an authority on an unknown future than anybody else. I think that knowing the ins and outs of each site is much more important than self promotion and talent will always come out on top whatever their name is.

An image of a hammer hitting a nail on the head would fit nicely here but I don't have one. Self promotion is strictly ego driven and the only place I see a need for it is if you get talent streaming your way that is both good and reasonably priced. I'm not quite a dinosaur but lets just say I do have to scrape barnacles off the hull fairy frequently these days. I've never been contacted by a prospective buyer except to make sure the appropriate releases and clearances are in place. No one gives a * who I am in this business and it doesn't matter how much I contribute or how good those images are; I am replaceable over night.

epantha · « **Reply #31 on:** June 27, 2008, 11:15 »

Quote

Would your lifestyle change if you suddenly lost ALL the income from microstock?

I'm too new for this to have any impact on my income but I certainly know I would be sad and bored if microstock was lost. I would have to find some other creative endeavor to fill the vacuum, whether it be entering photo competitions, painting or making glass ornaments. The creative pursuits seem to be crucial for my overall happiness.

HermanM · « **Reply #32 on:** June 27, 2008, 15:52 »

I'm new in the game but for the three years into it I agree with many of Rinder's comment. This cannot be "THE" business, it is absurd to think that numbers will be the same in the future. This has to be a part of a photographic business, well diversified and well run.

I really love the way many dismiss older photographer's experience very quickly: they don´t adapt, some say... or are reluctant to change. The fact is that we are seeing a trend in wich anyone with a SLR, a couple of lights and a few hundred images on SS calls himself a photographer (even professional photographer). There is more to it than micros and even more beyond stock imaging. We can listen carefully (or read, in this case) and be open minded and learn from the lessons of the past or we can follow the "peanuts" trend that Fotolia and other sites are implementing. Think micro and you'll always be micro.

If you faithfully think that in two years you will be able to live a good life from micros, well... good luck. Hope that crystal ball of yours has a good reception. I certainly know that from what I've been reading the last few months from top earning shooters here and on other boards the feeling trends not in that direction to the point that many of them are (some in a public way and some in a not so public way) diversifying in other areas (midstock, traditional licensing, etc). Even a couple of hundred years ago Malthus established the model of aritmetic vs geometric growth of population and resources. It applies here very well.

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Author Topic: Would your lifestyle change if......? (Read 10944 times)

rjmiz

nativelight

riffmax

melastmohican

gbcimages

fotografer

dullegg

nativelight

chumley

mantonino

helix7

rjmiz

helix7

Seren

Phil

Peter

CofkoCof

Microbius

lisafx

fotoKmyst

Adeptris

rjmiz

Adeptris

PeterChigmaroff

rjmiz

PeterChigmaroff

HermanM

rinderart

Microbius

fotografer

PeterChigmaroff

epantha

HermanM

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