Author Topic: Any room left in the shallow end? (Read 2612 times)

smetz02 · « **on:** May 02, 2013, 11:25 »

Greetings. I'm new to microstock. I'm not trying to change the world, get rich, or quit my day job. I just want to earn a little extra dough doing what I love to do.

I've been shooting images for stock and uploading them for only about a month at this point, so I don't know much about the current market. I'll just say that it's a bit overwhelming seeing page after page after page images similar to those you've just uploaded, and realizing that you're at the end of the line waiting to get on the ride.

I'm just wondering if there's any space left for even a modicum of success.

Thanks for your thoughts and knowledge.
Steve

ShadySue · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2013, 11:30 »

Very similar question last week:
http://www.microstockgroup.com/general-stock-discussion/do-new-stock-photographers-still-have-a-chance-to-earn

Poncke v2 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2013, 11:38 »

I started a year ago and it was the same situation back then. I have now 750 images on Shutterstock, and over 800 on other agencies. Shutterstock is now earning me 300 dollar a month, FAA about 200 dollar, Fotolia 50 dollar a month and all the other agencies 10-15 dollar a month. My portfolio is very average but its a nice mix of everything. So within a year I went from 0 dollar to about 600 dollar a month. Some people do worse, some people do a lot better.

Yes there is room to make money, you just need to find your niche, find a sweet spot, create the best images you can create, and try to find subject that isnt covered to oblivion.

My best sellers are remarkably simple images, one image in fact has horrible colors, but its selling 1-3 times per day. You never know what is going to be the next hit in your portfolio. Some images I think are really good never sell. Its always the ones you like the least.

Its hard to tell what is the key to success but a good start is creating technically perfect images and images that address current day issues or stories. Conceptual images can do well. Competition is fierce, its your job to find your place in the ranking.

smetz02 · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2013, 11:44 »

Thanks for the reply. Those numbers are exactly where I'd like to eventually be.

Quote from: Poncke v2 on May 02, 2013, 11:38

I started a year ago and it was the same situation back then. I have now 750 images on Shutterstock, and over 800 on other agencies. Shutterstock is now earning me 300 dollar a month, FAA about 200 dollar, Fotolia 50 dollar a month and all the other agencies 10-15 dollar a month. My portfolio is very average but its a nice mix of everything. So within a year I went from 0 dollar to about 600 dollar a month. Some people do worse, some people do a lot better.

Yes there is room to make money, you just need to find your niche, find a sweet spot, create the best images you can create, and try to find subject that isnt covered to oblivion.

My best sellers are remarkably simple images, one image in fact has horrible colors, but its selling 1-3 times per day. You never know what is going to be the next hit in your portfolio. Some images I think are really good never sell. Its always the ones you like the least.

Its hard to tell what is the key to success but a good start is creating technically perfect images and images that address current day issues or stories. Conceptual images can do well. Competition is fierce, its your job to find your place in the ranking.

gillian vann · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2013, 19:46 »

Quote from: Poncke v2 on May 02, 2013, 11:38

You never know what is going to be the next hit in your portfolio. Some images I think are really good never sell. Its always the ones you like the least.

ain't that the truth! and the ones you painstakingly crafted go nowhere.
and then there are the few you shot randomly whilst out and about that sell all the time, but you only got the one good shot.

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Author Topic: Any room left in the shallow end? (Read 2612 times)

smetz02

ShadySue

Poncke v2

smetz02

gillian vann

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