If you're not on any other stock sites, can you list images as "exclusive" with Alamy and still sell them as art prints on PODs? 

Quote from: stockastic on August 30, 2019, 17:55
If you're not on any other stock sites, can you list images as "exclusive" with Alamy and still sell them as art prints on PODs?

Yes.

What I'd like to know is if there's anyone with vector graphics that sells well on alamy, is it worth uploading vector graphics at all?

I had not considered Almay for video contribution until I read this post. Does anyone know if the company is on track to accept 4K videos in the near future? Thanks -

Quote from: MegM on August 31, 2019, 01:08
I had not considered Almay for video contribution until I read this post. Does anyone know if the company is on track to accept 4K videos in the near future? Thanks -

As far as I know Alamy don't accept any video at all these days.  They did dabble in it some years back then decided to concentrate on still images.

Though no doubt they could boost revenue by selling clips and reduce the need to take 20% off none exclusive images in the future (like they did earlier this year)

I just did the math for my Alamy account. It was must better than I would have thought. I have been on Alamy for eight years. The average sale for eight years was 43 dollars per sale. So yes, Alamy is OK.....

Quote from: mj007 on September 01, 2019, 13:35
I just did the math for my Alamy account. It was must better than I would have thought. I have been on Alamy for eight years. The average sale for eight years was 43 dollars per sale. So yes, Alamy is OK.....

Gross or net?

gross

@OP, why not check out the Alamy reporting threads? There's one every month and the thread for August sales is here:
https://discussion.alamy.com/topic/11948-how-was-your-august-2019
Of course, only a very tiny proportion of Alamy contributors post in that thread, but you can get an idea.
From reading these threads, Live News can do well, and NA sales average higher values than UK sales (which isn't suprising for RM at least as they can have much larger print runs).

When I went non-exclusive four years ago I decided I'd upload my entire microstock portfolio to Alamy (including some editorial work) as a potential source of extra income.  I did this 'knowing' that for the best success on Alamy one really needs to be a UK editorial photographer (which I am not).  Frankly Alamy has been a disappointment (although not entirely unexpected).  I make about $1,000 a year from my portfolio of about 5,000 images.  Hardly worth the effort, but I suppose in these times of much more difficult trading conditions for stock photographers every extra dollar helps.

I got into Alamy in 1917 which was still a golden era for traditional stock. With only 200 photos I started selling normally at $250 a photo.

Now? I'm not sure. 

I guess with so many online job market sites many photographers are turning to shoot for commercial jobs instead of shooting stock. At least you'll get to see money faster and more consistent.

Quote from: Sion on September 04, 2019, 05:04
I got into Alamy in 1917 which was still a golden era for traditional stock. With only 200 photos I started selling normally at $250 a photo.

Now? I'm not sure. 

I guess with so many online job market sites many photographers are turning to shoot for commercial jobs instead of shooting stock. At least you'll get to see money faster and more consistent.

1917 you say  Welcome to the new millenium

Quote from: hatman12 on September 02, 2019, 04:14
When I went non-exclusive four years ago I decided I'd upload my entire microstock portfolio to Alamy (including some editorial work) as a potential source of extra income.  I did this 'knowing' that for the best success on Alamy one really needs to be a UK editorial photographer (which I am not).  Frankly Alamy has been a disappointment (although not entirely unexpected).  I make about $1,000 a year from my portfolio of about 5,000 images.  Hardly worth the effort, but I suppose in these times of much more difficult trading conditions for stock photographers every extra dollar helps.

Seems $1,000 per year seems to be standard income I get round $1,000 per year too on 5,000 images ~ then again it always seems to be about $1,000 no matter how much I put up.

1 million dollars paid out per month divided by 170,000,000 photos = 0.00588 cents per photo per month.

Or more simply you need 170 photos to make $1 per month. Or 1700 photos to make $10. Or 17,000 to make $100. That's just an approximate average but on those stats only someone who has more time than sense would upload to Alamy.

Quote from: pkphotos on September 04, 2019, 08:35
1 million dollars paid out per month divided by 170,000,000 photos = 0.00588 cents per photo per month.

Or more simply you need 170 photos to make $1 per month. Or 1700 photos to make $10. Or 17,000 to make $100. That's just an approximate average but on those stats only someone who has more time than sense would upload to Alamy.

Not all contributors are equal. Some people are very succesful on Alamy as they focus on the content that sells there. So someone with sense and ability can make money there but not those who throw random stuff at them.

Quote from: hatman12 on September 02, 2019, 04:14
When I went non-exclusive four years ago I decided I'd upload my entire microstock portfolio to Alamy (including some editorial work) as a potential source of extra income. 

The day I found out many contributors were uploading their microstock files into alamy especially the setup still life shots common in microstock I changed from a studio shooter into an outdoor editorial shooter. My income from Alamy has been better than those days of shooting studio tabletop setup shots.

A company in another city needed photos of a hospital in Sydney. They advertised online for someone to shoot the hospital by showing sample tumbnails of the hospital with Alamy and Getty watermarks. To get someone in Sydney to go to shoot the hospital was cheaper than buying 6 photos from Alamy or Getty.

Commercial shooters used to be expensive and stock has driven many of them out of business. Now with internet and free online job market sites, The companies get a commercial shooter to provide the most up-to-date photos in better weather conditions than those old photos in stock sites. I guess it's fight back time.

Quote from: Sion on September 04, 2019, 11:02
A company in another city needed photos of a hospital in Sydney. They advertised online for someone to shoot the hospital by showing sample tumbnails of the hospital with Alamy and Getty watermarks. To get someone in Sydney to go to shoot the hospital was cheaper than buying 6 photos from Alamy or Getty.

Wasn't that mis-use of the watermarked images?

Quote from: medveh on August 30, 2019, 21:04
What I'd like to know is if there's anyone with vector graphics that sells well on alamy, is it worth uploading vector graphics at all?

@medveh. I submit both photos and vectors to Alamy. About 50/50 in terms of content with more vector sales than photos. On average, my vectors sell consistently for about $20 each. My photo income is random to say the least. Anything from $0.83 to $310 per image. I don't get anywhere near the amount of sales as AS or SS but it's a pleasant surprise when I do get a sale. I'd say go for it!

Quote from: brianholm on August 27, 2019, 14:11
Hey guys

I dropped Alamy about three years ago, after I've been on the platform for maybe 2-3 years - without any sales. I remember the upload process and all the keywording etc to be such a hassle, that I just gave up on it.

I'm now doing a little research to see what other photographers do with their stock portfolio, and how they "make things happen". Many are talking about Alamy as a good source of income.

Has the upload process changed at Alamy, are you guys selling anything, is it worth it to create a new profile and try again? Please let me have your input.

I tried Alamy for a short time, less than a year, albeit with a very small portfolio as kind of a test.  Literally no action, not a one, so I dropped it. Six months after closing the account, I got a $150 d/l.  I questioned it, but they said there can be a delay in payment.  So I reopened it.  

I don't find their upload process terribly tedious. I was able to upload in bulk, but then of course, have to tag a lot of things that I didn't include metadata for to start with.  I'm not into stock very much anymore due to personal circumstances, admittedly I'm not putting much work into it anymore, but I'm fine with getting a surprise payment now and then.   

Yes the Alamy payout is a strange beast. I do believe they are a very honest company. Sometimes it can be three or more months for a payment to happen after a sale. I guess it is all about the Benjamin's, as long as they are coming life is good. 

Quote from: Five Thumbs on September 04, 2019, 18:13
@medveh. I submit both photos and vectors to Alamy. About 50/50 in terms of content with more vector sales than photos. On average, my vectors sell consistently for about $20 each.

I haven't uploaded any vectors on Alamy, because I saw that price is always 9.99$ (https://www.alamy.com/contributor/how-to-sell-vectors/how-alamy-sell-vectors/?section=6).

And you are selling for 20$... Am I missing something?

Quote from: Lina on September 06, 2019, 22:11

Quote from: Five Thumbs on September 04, 2019, 18:13
@medveh. I submit both photos and vectors to Alamy. About 50/50 in terms of content with more vector sales than photos. On average, my vectors sell consistently for about $20 each.

I haven't uploaded any vectors on Alamy, because I saw that price is always 9.99$ (https://www.alamy.com/contributor/how-to-sell-vectors/how-alamy-sell-vectors/?section=6).

And you are selling for 20$... Am I missing something?

You might be right there Lina. My overall average is $20+ but that's dropped in the last year or so. They might have changed it because before last year I was getting a lot more. I don't sell by the bucket load so probably missed the change!

It would be great to hear if people sell vectors and how much alamy pays us for them

Quote from: suz7 on September 07, 2019, 07:02
It would be great to hear if people sell vectors and how much alamy pays us for them

See I. Mediate Lynda previous posts