Comparing the number of my most popular images, and how that translates into earnings, to the top vector artist's, I'd say he/she is definitely making over a million a year�and since photography is even more popular, there are undoubtedly several photographers making more than that. Images factories as well.

Quote from: Minscer on February 28, 2016, 20:59

40K is quite achievable, even in 2016. 2015 was my first year in Microstock and I see that number as being very achievable in a year or 2.

Here's the problem... it may look achievable today based on your RPI, RPD or however you're measuring and projecting your output and expected revenue.

But tomorrow will be vastly different.  In a year or two, there may be two or three times as many competing images at the agencies as there are today.  Unless you're doubling or tripling your own port size every year, there's no hope at maintaining growth in revenue at the rate you're growing it today.

It's known as "the Wall" and it used to hit microstockers after several years, but at the current pace of growth of supply at the agencies, even rookies are seeing "the Wall" come down very quickly after starting their own ports. 

It's all a numbers game, and it's one we simply can't win.

I agree, so lets all stop making new content now.

I earned approximately - none of your business and what a stupid nosy invading question. Okay now that is out of the way and I have vented, I earned between $0 and $1,000,000. Now I will get all the doubters this forum thrives on and they will ask me to see my portfolio to prove it.

You've revealed too much. Now, we know you're not one of the ones over $1 million.

I notice no one has ticked the Billion  box yet only a matter of time........

Can you please add over 2 billion option

Quote from: Minscer on February 28, 2016, 20:59

40K is quite achievable, even in 2016. 2015 was my first year in Microstock and I see that number as being very achievable in a year or 2.

Here's the problem... it may look achievable today based on your RPI, RPD or however you're measuring and projecting your output and expected revenue.

But tomorrow will be vastly different.  In a year or two, there may be two or three times as many competing images at the agencies as there are today.  Unless you're doubling or tripling your own port size every year, there's no hope at maintaining growth in revenue at the rate you're growing it today.

It's known as "the Wall" and it used to hit microstockers after several years, but at the current pace of growth of supply at the agencies, even rookies are seeing "the Wall" come down very quickly after starting their own ports. 

It's all a numbers game, and it's one we simply can't win.

I'm not too concerned about it. I know my own numbers and my projections are fairly conservative.

I don't see a wall in front of me...just an open field. The only thing I see is the increasing difficulty to climb the ranks on FT as you get higher and higher in the rankings.

I'm also not too concerned about competition. It's a numbers game to some people, but I see it as a Game of Thrones. Let people upload their images. Without the right skillset and proper knowledge of the realm, it's as good as throwing images into the shivering sea and getting lost in it. In the end, only those who understand how to rise from the chaos will be the ones left standing.

"I don't see a wall in front of me...just an open field."

Ah, bliss.

Ah, memories. I remember saying nearly your exact words several years ago here.  I wasn't concerned about the wall. I was going to beat it, too.  I had figured out niches.  I figured I was better than most of the people coming in to microstock. 

And I probably was for a while.  But a perfect storm hit me: an influx of high-quality microstockers doing work on similar themes and styles to my own, as well as uninspired copycats who figured out how well my stuff sold and blatantly started ripping me off, plus the exponential growth of the agency collections that I had no hope of keeping up with.  Suddenly the smug "what wall?" grin was wiped from my face.

You can tell yourself it won't happen to you, just like I did.  But eventually reality catches up with us all.

I have plenty of competition. Anyone who say they don't is lying. I don't try to find a niche for myself constantly, because niches will shrink over time. When it shrinks, you're left with very little. I compete in popular categories and if I find my way to the 1st page in those categories, I'm set and those images will get downloads for years to come.

We don't think alike...not even the slightest. I don't mind competition. It's pointless to rip off my work off because I already have enough competitors. My competitors already know how well it sells, so what's left for them to rip off?

I was at the heart of 2 recessions, lost my job twice in industries that collapsed and you're going to tell me I don't know reality? There is nothing Microstock has that I haven't already seen.

Oh SNAP! Was this poll supposed to be in US dollars? I thought it was in Zimbabwe dollars.

I convert all of my transactions to that currency because it makes me feel rich and powerful.

Quote from: cathyslife on February 29, 2016, 20:26

You must be one of the two persons making over a million!

Yes, over 1 million Chilean pesos. 

Ok. Now that explains how you are gonna make 40K in a year or 2.  L L !!!

I don't mind competition. It's pointless to rip off my work off because I already have enough competitors. My competitors already know how well it sells, so what's left for them to rip off?

Then why not post a link to your work?

Quote from: Justanotherphotographer on March 01, 2016, 01:10

Quote from: Minscer on February 29, 2016, 20:22

I don't mind competition. It's pointless to rip off my work off because I already have enough competitors. My competitors already know how well it sells, so what's left for them to rip off?

Then why not post a link to your work?

It's one thing to have competition who can look at my work, but are totally oblivious to why my images are on the 1st page. It's another to create competition with direct knowledge of my work and techniques. No, I don't have any magical sauce, but one thing I'm not keen on sharing is my search engine optimization patterns.

How would you keep SEO patterns secret if you have relatively new images on the 1st page of popular searches?  People don't just make near copies of images on the 1st page, they also copy the keywords.  Then the sites or google can change everything.

I still think the best way to deal with the huge competition is to work on things most of them can't do.