Author Topic: When did you branch out? (Read 4365 times)

pet_chia · « **on:** March 26, 2010, 12:11 »

Many of you (I suspect) started out selling stock at IS. Then at some point, if you're like me, you shoot enough to run into the 15 per week upload limit. Maybe some of you decide to stick with IS, nurture it, play along with their limits, to eventually go exclusive according to their schedule.

But this question is for the rest of you, who upload to several sites. When is a good time to stop cutting your teeth on your first micro agency and start applying to the rest of the top tier of sites - when you have a big library (1000+), as soon as you have a modest portfolio (100 or so), or sometime in the middle? Do you pound as many images as possible into the pipeline as quickly as possible, or do you stalk the agencies patiently, one by one, uploading only a few of your best images in order to get your feet wet?

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #1 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:28 »

I am exclusive at IS now, but from 2004 through August 2008 was independent. IS was my first agency and I branched out after I read an article talking about other new agencies about a month after I started uploading at IS

Things have changed in that time, but if you're going the independent route I can't see any reason not to upload to all the major sites and maximize your earnings. Although each site has its preferences and biases you won't learn about those by uploading elesewhere - i.e. you need to just get on with figuring out the likes and dislikes of each and upload what you shoot.

cathyslife · « **Reply #2 on:** March 26, 2010, 12:45 »

I started at IS, and somewhere after 100 images that I uploaded, I started getting downloads. When I started getting downloads, I started researching other sites and uploaded to them also.

My personal opinion is that one should upload to and gather results from at least 2-3 other companies to see where their portfolio might fit best. It could be that a person gets way more downloads at one site than another, because of their particular subject matter, vectors, etc.

melastmohican · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2010, 13:06 »

I actually started with IS, SS and FT from the beginning in late 2005. Did not try very hard at this time so my accounts were dormant till 2007. Then I started again but also added StockXpert, 123RF and DT. I guess it would be much easier if I put same effort first time, less rejections, less competition. Anyway I have been trying many new agencies to find more distribution channels for my images cause I do not feel like putting everything into one agency is safe in long run. Right now I actively submit to 4 agencies: SS, DT, 123RF and FT. IS is very problematic with low submission limits. I hardly was able to push 200 images in t years because of all the hassles. On SS I am close to 3000.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** March 26, 2010, 13:32 »

Who knew there were other sites?

Actually, I was on shutterpoint for a couple of months, until I figured out how I'd never sell much of anything there. But I certainly don't recall looking at DT or anything else, if they were even around in 04.

sharply_done · « **Reply #5 on:** March 26, 2010, 14:13 »

Looking at your question from another point of view, I think most iStock exclusives started out uploading to a bunch of sites and then switched to iStock exclusivity once they got fed up with feeding/dealing with so many different agencies. There's also the money: some people - not all - earn more as an exclusive than as an independent.

elvinstar · « **Reply #6 on:** March 26, 2010, 14:25 »

I started out at DT in 2004 as they were the first site that I found out about (on the forum at StockXchange). As I found others, I uploaded to them as well. I started out strong as far as upload volume goes, then slacked for a while. I've only been uploading regularly again for the past year or so.

PowerDroid · « **Reply #7 on:** March 26, 2010, 14:56 »

When I started, I applied and uploaded to every site that let me in. I didn't (and still don't) see the logic of just starting with one, gathering data, and doing all your homework before you decide where to sign up next... why not be selling everywhere you can during that time?

Sure, your particular port might sell 1X at site A, 2X at site B, and 3X at site C, but where's the logic in leaving out site A, unless your numbers are so low that it doesn't justify the effort in uploading (I recently made that decision on CRE and VEER).

So my advice: send to every agency (at least the 7 that matter, and to me those are SS, IS, DT, FT, BigStock, CAN, 123) and if you determine some aren't worth the effort, axe them.

disorderly · « **Reply #8 on:** March 26, 2010, 16:04 »

I joined iStock first but didn't do anything about it for a few months. Then I discovered Shutterstock, which is where I started uploading. I sent the same work to iStock, and then added Dreamstime, BigStock and a few others. This was early and mid 2005. It took me a while to figure out what I was doing. (Some might say I'm still trying to figure that out. They'd be right.)

lisafx · « **Reply #9 on:** March 26, 2010, 16:53 »

I started at IS, but after I got a few downloads I decided to try my luck at other sites too. I thought it would be forever before I got the 500 DL's necessary for exclusivity.

Those first 500 came a lot faster than I expected, but by that time I was already getting sales on SS, DT, and BigStock too, so I decided to stay independent and see what happened.

Though I keep being tempted by exclusivity something (mainly moves by IS) keeps holding me back.

a.k.a.-tom · « **Reply #10 on:** March 26, 2010, 16:54 »

I started out at USPhotoStock... went right into DT, SS & BigStock...
I was very nervous about IS... thought my stuff wasn't good enough... after about a year I got up the nerve and readied myself for rejection... surprised to see it all accepted on the first try. I then spread more and more... at the highest I was with 12 agencies..... .......now, looking back, a big fat waste of time and energy. Some just plain sucked... others had great potential but just couldnt survive the Great Micro War.

Today I'm primarily on IS & SS...the bulk of my sales... do very little with DT & BigStock.. and am starting to upload more and more to Alamy. However, I'm still open to trying something that may have potential.

=tom

PeterChigmaroff · « **Reply #11 on:** March 26, 2010, 17:56 »

Quote from: sharply_done on March 26, 2010, 14:13

Looking at your question from another point of view, I think most iStock exclusives started out uploading to a bunch of sites and then switched to iStock exclusivity once they got fed up with feeding/dealing with so many different agencies. There's also the money: some people - not all - earn more as an exclusive than as an independent.

Yeh the uploading to many sites is a real downer. Even if you make less going exclusive it may be worth it just so you can shoot more and upload less.

FD · « **Reply #12 on:** March 27, 2010, 11:08 »

Quote from: Zeus on March 26, 2010, 17:56

Yeh the uploading to many sites is a real downer. Even if you make less going exclusive it may be worth it just so you can shoot more and upload less.

You must be kidding. Since IS introduced the CV, it's the hardest microstock site to upload to.

madelaide · « **Reply #13 on:** March 27, 2010, 15:13 »

I started in many sites almost simultaneously.

Phil · « **Reply #14 on:** March 27, 2010, 16:25 »

started with DT & SS added FT & IS a month or two later, then the rest a little after that. Personally I recommend going for the 'top tier' on the right straight away and then add the 'middle tier' shortly after. I wouldnt bother adding low earners until you're earning enough to say that a 1-2% increase in income is signifcant.

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Author Topic: When did you branch out? (Read 4365 times)

pet_chia

Jo Ann Snover

cathyslife

melastmohican

Sean Locke Photography

sharply_done

elvinstar

PowerDroid

disorderly

lisafx

a.k.a.-tom

PeterChigmaroff

FD

madelaide

Phil

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