Hi every one

I began to upload file to SS few days ago, But I wonder is this a real job or it's just an extra income

mean how much can I get from SS ? and finally am I good enough to work in this field?


here is my poor gallery ^^  I'm glad to hear your advices guys
http://www.shutterstock.com/gallery.mhtml?id=125638

Like leaf said, is possible but that depends on you and the quality of your work!
And if you only make illustration you must try IS. Don�t have the number of downloads that you have in SS but they pay much better. A normal illustration like the ones you have in SS is 10 credits that means about 2,5$ each. In the long run you will make more money at IS that in SS.

Welcome to this forum

I love your illustrations! I'm sure you're going to do well. Just make sure you upload new stuff always especially in SS. That is the key there. As for making a living.. it depends on where you live but it usually takes a while. But if you are passionate about what you do, then it's better for this to be just part time income and then just re-evaluate if the money per month is already high enough. Don't just submit to SS, submit to IS also as pauloresende said. Pay is definitely better there. Just depends on how much downloads you can get.

I wouldn't be so sure of making a full time living from this.

Microstock for contributors gets more competitive every day and many forum posts report declining sales.
However if your work is good you're well on the way.

Good luck to you!

I've been making quite some money on the side, especially considering my rather small portfolio. SS had been the #1 income since I started and it still is.

Right now (after about a year of micro) I would not be able to make it my fulltime job but who knows what it is gonna be like after 2 or 3 years..

That is really exciting WOow ...
not just for the money but guys are you imagining how fantastic is to work that way !

photographers, digital artists and even illustrators we do share the same "AMOUR"
and yet we are limited to our : managers,  directors, bosses' ideas, requests and visions. 
this job may gives us our freedom so... to Freedom, to Sparta 

Thank you all 

This stock game isn't for everyone.  I've personally decided to go full time about 4 months ago, after losing my full time job in the corporate world.  Since then it's been no turning back. 

As its been said, stock is no get rich quick scheme.  It's not for everyone.  Yes, it's getting more and more competitive.  Half the people that are whining and complaining are people that upload 5 or 10 images a month.  Or, they are photographer's/designers that just plain suck.  Get off your butt and do some work, and you will see much different results.  Read, learn, and share as much as you can.  You will get out of it, what you put in.  It's not always instant gratification, either.  You just have to keep on planting seeds here and there...eventually the harvest becomes great.

Illustrations sell way better than most photos, so you have an advantage.  Just remember this also - the simpler, the better.  Simple concepts almost always sell better than more specific ones.

You will have your $20 days, your $100 days, and sometimes even your $500 days.  The main thing is that you keep on working, and moving forward.  It's going to get even more and more competitive - only the strongest are going to be able to survive in this in the near future.  Am I one of those that will be able to continue making a living off of stock?  Who knows - all I can do is keep on trying and see what happens.  You have to always have a plan B, or even C.

You get as much as you put in. Like any career, you will find that the successful ones have done their homework, and have built their portfolio over time.
They don't try to look at the bad side of the business too much. But when they do, they will be here to bitch and rant , and then they're gone . Why ?
because they're too busy making more images to upload to IStock,SS,etc..

They (the successful ones) are not invisible. You see them here whenever you ask for advice. But one thing is for certain. They are not just good photographers, they are good "stock" contributors. They read the market well.
That's how you have to behave, if you want to be as successful as they are.

..........

...You will have your $20 days, your $100 days, and sometimes even your $500 days.  The main thing is that you keep on working, and moving forward.  It's going to get even more and more competitive - only the strongest are going to be able to survive in this in the near future.  Am I one of those that will be able to continue making a living off of stock?  Who knows - all I can do is keep on trying and see what happens.  You have to always have a plan B, or even C.

Good advice, Todd. I've only been in this business for a year and a half and in that time I have already seen it becoming much more difficult to say competitive. You have to work at it every day, uploading new stuff, looking for trends, researching, learning, improving your skills, etc. And definitely have a plan B and C. I'm a firm believer in the theory that there is a shift in the mentality modern workforce, and multiple incomes per person are becoming the norm rather than the exception. I really can't foresee the day when I only have one income. It will probably never happen, and I like always having a few things going on at one time.

Off-topic note: Nice work with your latest stuff, Todd. Your model work has definitely been improving. Keep it up.