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Microstock Photography Forum - General => Newbie Discussion => Topic started by: alexandersr on February 11, 2017, 18:33

Title: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on February 11, 2017, 18:33
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Sean Locke Photography on February 11, 2017, 18:41
Cue the "what it costs to live in various parts of the world" discussion.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on February 11, 2017, 18:49
I live in Caracas Venezuela, some services (electricity,Internet,water,gasoline) are very cheap, but food,health,medicine and private services are expensives.
Please help me with your sugestions. Thanks!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: StanRohrer on February 11, 2017, 19:28
The industry rule-of-thumb for years has been $1 USD per image per year in a stock library. A beginner in the industry won't likely make that much - even if that beginner is pretty good at stock photos. A beginner at iStock only makes 15% of the sale (I think) so won't make $1 PIPY. iStock has low royatlies for beginners but other sites are not much higher. So you might make some back-of-napkin wild calculations at maybe $0.10 (10 cents) per image per year USD and see how many images it would take for you to live.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: cthoman on February 11, 2017, 19:55
I don't think you can absorb calories just from shooting photography. You will probably need normal nutritional sustenance as well.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: etudiante_rapide on February 11, 2017, 22:35
alexander,
ss expects to pay out $35 a month.
if you can live well with that, then yes, it is still possible to live only selling photos in microstock  8)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: outoftheblue on February 12, 2017, 03:05
Is it possible? Yes, it is. Everywhere in the world.

But expect to treat it as a real job, not as a hobby.

You'll need to work many many hours every day, earning next to nothing for the first months or years and slowly reaching that point when you'll have a few thousand good photos on every major site.

And then continue adding photos every day forever.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alno on February 12, 2017, 03:08
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?

The answer is yes I guess but the main problem is to build up some really good collection. This alone requires a lot of time and some money (gear, trips, props, models). Making up a good collection being a part-time microstock contributor would require far more time than doing this as a full time job. But the full time job is only possible when you have some considerable savings since your first months would probably only bring you several dollars and signs of despair. The main problem IMO is keep yourself motivated while looking at those pathetic figures of income for quite a long time.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 12, 2017, 03:23
Possible but very very hard I'm guessing youd need to be in say the top 1-2%. Even if you are good and dedicated it will take time
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 12, 2017, 03:30
alexander,
ss expects to pay out $35 a month.
if you can live well with that, then yes, it is still possible to live only selling photos in microstock  8)
No they dont
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on February 12, 2017, 04:19
I can live on what I'm making, but I make video. It helps that I'm in a cheap part of the world at the moment, but I could probably still live quite comfortably in most places... but not London, New York, LA, Paris etc.

Depends on how much work you put in, how good you are, and how much you need to live on. Even so, it's not exactly easy, but it is possible.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alno on February 12, 2017, 04:44
I can live on what I'm making, but I make video. It helps that I'm in a cheap part of the world at the moment, but I could probably still live quite comfortably in most places... but not London, New York, LA, Paris etc.

Depends on how much work you put in, how good you are, and how much you need to live on. Even so, it's not exactly easy, but it is possible.

It helps until you have to buy some camera or a new computer, then the cheap part of the world becomes usual expensive part :)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 12, 2017, 05:04
I can live on what I'm making, but I make video. It helps that I'm in a cheap part of the world at the moment, but I could probably still live quite comfortably in most places... but not London, New York, LA, Paris etc.

Depends on how much work you put in, how good you are, and how much you need to live on. Even so, it's not exactly easy, but it is possible.

It helps until you have to buy some camera or a new computer, then the cheap part of the world becomes usual expensive part :)
Yep very true a lot depends if you already have the equipment/software. I think these days its less necessary to "upgrade" regularly but say your camera suddenly blows up that could be a huge blow
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Argus on February 12, 2017, 05:11
It's quite possible, however it keeps getting harder every year in my opinion. You can still do it, but be prepared to put in a lot of hours. A lot also depends on your talent / workflow (automate whenever possible, use your time efficiently ...). Good luck!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on February 12, 2017, 05:37
Yes, it's possible, but like most jobs only if you put in hard work and time (8-10 hours per day like a normal job).

So many people start out by uploading 100 photos and then sit back and wait, wondering why they aren't rich yet...

How many microstockers here can honestly say they put in 40 quality hours of microstock work every week?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brightontl on February 12, 2017, 06:00
I think the ideal situation is for people who have another source of income that leaves them a lot of spare times (teachers for example).
Especially if shooting photo/video is your hobby and you enjoy it in your spare time, even better if you have already a few thousands of images sitting in your computer.
Microstock can give you a complementary income while having fun
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on February 12, 2017, 06:49
Yeah, branded electronics are rarely as cheap as they would be in the US, no matter where you are. You might be able to have a night out for $10 in wherever, compared to $100 in New York/London... but that doesn't mean you can get a decent computer for $100 compared to $1000.

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 12, 2017, 08:43
Yes, it's possible, but like most jobs only if you put in hard work and time (8-10 hours per day like a normal job).

So many people start out by uploading 100 photos and then sit back and wait, wondering why they aren't rich yet...

How many microstockers here can honestly say they put in 40 quality hours of microstock work every week?
Not me I reckon if I scaled up to that I might scrape a subsistence living but would probably have to focus more on stuff that sells rather than stuff I like doing.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: sharpshot on February 12, 2017, 10:32
Cameras, lenses and old computers can be very cheap on Ebay or a second hand shop.  My old Canon 300D photos still sell well and that camera goes for very little now.  No problem with 6mp if you stitch a few photos together.  The Gimp is free, that's all I used for image editing at one time.  If the camera is too expensive, just use Inkscape for free and make vectors.  I could probably do microstock with a $100 phone if that was all the money I had.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on February 13, 2017, 19:32
It's possible to reach  $ 1000 USD a year as a beginner like me?  Last Year i made $ 150 USD what do you suggest to me?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: ShadySue on February 13, 2017, 19:58
It's possible to reach  $ 1000 USD a year as a beginner like me?  Last Year i made $ 150 USD what do you suggest to me?

My first year was 2007; by the end of that year, I had <900 files, all not-very-commercial (no released images), and I earned $1460.
My best year was 2012, and it's been downhill for me since then.

It's much harder to start nowadays, unless you have access to some niche which most people couldn't access AND, crucially, that niche is in demand by buyers.
Otherwise, all you can do is study what others can do, and consider
   whether you can do it better,
   how much it would cost you to do it better,
   whether it's likely to be worth it.
And remember the most important thing: turnover is vanity; profit is sanity.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on February 13, 2017, 20:36
It's possible to reach  $ 1000 USD a year as a beginner like me?  Last Year i made $ 150 USD what do you suggest to me?

Make more stuff and make better stuff. There's a bit more to it than that, like where to upload, keywording, an efficient workflow for shooting and editing, but it pretty much boils down to that.

$1000 a month is achievable, but probably won't be easy.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: sarah2 on February 15, 2017, 12:13
I think the ideal situation is for people who have another source of income that leaves them a lot of spare times (teachers for example).
Especially if shooting photo/video is your hobby and you enjoy it in your spare time, even better if you have already a few thousands of images sitting in your computer.
Microstock can give you a complementary income while having fun

Please cut the dig at teachers. ;) I don't know where you are, but here it is a mega job with all the admin, meetings and trendy new ideas. Thanks.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brightontl on February 15, 2017, 12:22
I think the ideal situation is for people who have another source of income that leaves them a lot of spare times (teachers for example).
Especially if shooting photo/video is your hobby and you enjoy it in your spare time, even better if you have already a few thousands of images sitting in your computer.
Microstock can give you a complementary income while having fun

Please cut the dig at teachers. ;) I don't know where you are, but here it is a mega job with all the admin, meetings and trendy new ideas. Thanks.
There is a cue to my location in my name.
Sorry I didn't mean anything bad about teachers, maybe I did not use the right word, but I know a lot of people that teach music, or photography, or painting, or image post processing for a few hours a week and also submit photo, video, graphics or video to stock agencies.
Similar situation for myself: I do tutorials on the Internet and stock video, the two things complement very well.
Probably instead of teachers I should have said people who do a bit of teaching
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 15, 2017, 12:39
I can live on what I'm making, but I make video. It helps that I'm in a cheap part of the world at the moment, but I could probably still live quite comfortably in most places... but not London, New York, LA, Paris etc.

Depends on how much work you put in, how good you are, and how much you need to live on. Even so, it's not exactly easy, but it is possible.

It helps until you have to buy some camera or a new computer, then the cheap part of the world becomes usual expensive part :)
Yep very true a lot depends if you already have the equipment/software. I think these days its less necessary to "upgrade" regularly but say your camera suddenly blows up that could be a huge blow

i disagree...well electronic cost sure...it' s the same...but try living in paris or rome and then go to budapest belgrade kiev outside moscow for russia,. in addiction the pay is in dollar....fo euro country is a minus due to exchange rate, for other country is big plus, especially in the last years.
in my opinion you can live well in some countries in other no. production cost are very cheap in those countries also.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 15, 2017, 12:43
I think the ideal situation is for people who have another source of income that leaves them a lot of spare times (teachers for example).
Especially if shooting photo/video is your hobby and you enjoy it in your spare time, even better if you have already a few thousands of images sitting in your computer.
Microstock can give you a complementary income while having fun

yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: etudiante_rapide on February 15, 2017, 16:46

yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.

which may be so.. but first, stocksy is too artsy fatsy and not all buyers need that...
secondly, today it may reflect how bad stock shots are,
but ss still have a lot of very well-shot and well-produced shots before the 7/10 criterion was
removed to make way for bolstering the inventory with bad stuff.
then again, that is only a fraction of the whole inventory...

also, no one wants to pay stocksy prices either for a simple ad shot which are
a dime a dozen , mostly well done, at ss.

the bar was lifted so high at one time, i say ss micro stuffs were far superior to
getty or even stocksy today.
eg. you see a lots of clipped hlights and blocked shadows at stocksy or even offset
which would never get passed ss during the time ss was 90%
and when istock too was something else.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 16, 2017, 03:41
I think the ideal situation is for people who have another source of income that leaves them a lot of spare times (teachers for example).
Especially if shooting photo/video is your hobby and you enjoy it in your spare time, even better if you have already a few thousands of images sitting in your computer.
Microstock can give you a complementary income while having fun

yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.
That would depend on your budget I would think. Stocksy is great for some but a tiny market share compared with SS I would imagine.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: derek on February 16, 2017, 07:46
I think the ideal situation is for people who have another source of income that leaves them a lot of spare times (teachers for example).
Especially if shooting photo/video is your hobby and you enjoy it in your spare time, even better if you have already a few thousands of images sitting in your computer.
Microstock can give you a complementary income while having fun

yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.
That would depend on your budget I would think. Stocksy is great for some but a tiny market share compared with SS I would imagine.

Correct it all depends on the budget. Go buy at Trevillion and the price tag is three times that of stocky or offset. Besides I think the higher end of micro-stock can offer equal quality perhaps not as trendy or unique but many microstockers can equal in terms of quality.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: JPSDK on February 16, 2017, 08:42
Is it possible?

Yes, just like it is possible to earn a living as a painter.
Still I wouldnt recommend it, because it will only work for a short period of time and only if you are very good.

There are some qualifications you need to have.
You need to have some kind of unique visual talent.
You need to have above average computing and technical skills. (global parameter)
You need to have above average language skills. ( It helps if you are a native English speaker, but you are better off being bilinqual and have a good knowledge of other languages)
You need to have above average business skills.
You must have a knowledge about legal issues and terms.
You need to have excellent photoshopping skills.
You need to have excellent communication skills.
You need to know about trends in the global market of photographty, and you need to be able to produce state of the art Photos, or above.
I will not recommend it, because no matter how good you fare, when all your time and talents are at work, after a short time (five years) you are being outcompeted and you will loose your position and your sales.
The nature of microstock is predatory, and when the agencies have sucked all the blood out of you, there will only be a skeleton left.
Been there done that, we are a few.....
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: outoftheblue on February 16, 2017, 08:49
yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.
That would depend on your budget I would think. Stocksy is great for some but a tiny market share compared with SS I would imagine.

Furthermore, am I the only one who can't stand Stocksy? Their pictures look all the same and very fake - although in its own special way, different from the typical microstock fake. They are trying too hard to look "authentic" but the result is just the opposite.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 16, 2017, 09:30
yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.
That would depend on your budget I would think. Stocksy is great for some but a tiny market share compared with SS I would imagine.

Furthermore, am I the only one who can't stand Stocksy? Their pictures look all the same and very fake - although in its own special way, different from the typical microstock fake. They are trying too hard to look "authentic" but the result is just the opposite.
Whether you and I like it is not really an issue. I detest the Yuri "look" but it was/is in demand and sells but can recognize its success from a business perspective. Like sincerity if you can fake authentic youve cracked it  :P
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brightontl on February 16, 2017, 09:36
Personally I like the Stoksy look.
What I really cannot stand is the lifestyle high key look of microstock images with young people always smiling and looking extremely happy playing with electronic gadgets
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 11:29
yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.
That would depend on your budget I would think. Stocksy is great for some but a tiny market share compared with SS I would imagine.

Furthermore, am I the only one who can't stand Stocksy? Their pictures look all the same and very fake - although in its own special way, different from the typical microstock fake. They are trying too hard to look "authentic" but the result is just the opposite.

personally no. they look good, film like and most have a real feeling.microstock people photography is terrible in my opinion. all those super white teeth...it's not a case the best shooter nowadays in microstok use a stocksy approach.
yuri arcurs photography was so boring even in 2009.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 11:31
Personally I like the Stoksy look.
What I really cannot stand is the lifestyle high key look of microstock images with young people always smiling and looking extremely happy playing with electronic gadgets

bingo. terrible.
sotksyis mostly done by artist or creative people with a strong background..microsock is more made by amateur who take good photos.
personally i'm happy to not have given strong importance to micron in the first year...i would have developed a super boring approach to photography, who probably would have limited my career just to micro.
i remem,ber the time were flare or blown highlight were always a no no...where u had to light everything with soft 1:1 ratio so any shadow was there...where a slightly blown sky ws a rejection..shadow in face again rejection...
micostock is the discount supermarket of photography.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 11:33

yes and the quality of micro stock today reflects this...and will be worsecause nobody could live in long time and the quality will reflect this.
if i were a buyer i would never bother with micro stock, i will go directly to stocksy for example.

which may be so.. but first, stocksy is too artsy fatsy and not all buyers need that...
secondly, today it may reflect how bad stock shots are,
but ss still have a lot of very well-shot and well-produced shots before the 7/10 criterion was
removed to make way for bolstering the inventory with bad stuff.
then again, that is only a fraction of the whole inventory...

also, no one wants to pay stocksy prices either for a simple ad shot which are
a dime a dozen , mostly well done, at ss.

the bar was lifted so high at one time, i say ss micro stuffs were far superior to
getty or even stocksy today.
eg. you see a lots of clipped hlights and blocked shadows at stocksy or even offset
which would never get passed ss during the time ss was 90%
and when istock too was something else.


completely disagree.
microstock is not up to offset or stocks or most of getty stuff.
i like food photography. micro is totally unprofessional stuff mostly. stocksy is very good stock food the best.
and i can say this also for still life. there are some author in stocksy who could produce campaign for major brand with their portfolio...i struggle to see this in micro.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 16, 2017, 12:13
In that case they need to do something about their search engine as if I search for lettuce most images contain little or no lettuce....rather like my favourite burgers which there are far more pictures of.  I particularly like the picture of a CABBAGE on the first page very professional key wording
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 12:39
In that case they need to do something about their search engine as if I search for lettuce most images contain little or no lettuce....rather like my favourite burgers which there are far more pictures of.  I particularly like the picture of a CABBAGE on the first page very professional key wording

well is your view. for me micro stock has not great  quality,mostly boring stuff....and most of the good  stuff i like is oriented towards stocksy style.

but taste vary.
i'm pretty sure if money were no problem a buyer would like to browse 2000 image of lettuce than 600000....
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 12:44
In that case they need to do something about their search engine as if I search for lettuce most images contain little or no lettuce....rather like my favourite burgers which there are far more pictures of.  I particularly like the picture of a CABBAGE on the first page very professional key wording

sure they don't have 40ooo useless images from amateur. lettuce isolated on white : 40000 and more images.
i'm pretty sure serious food magazine rarely will look into micro for food.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on February 16, 2017, 12:46
In that case they need to do something about their search engine as if I search for lettuce most images contain little or no lettuce....rather like my favourite burgers which there are far more pictures of.  I particularly like the picture of a CABBAGE on the first page very professional key wording

well is your view. for me micro stock has not great  quality,mostly boring stuff....and most of the good  stuff i like is oriented towards stocksy style.

but taste vary.
i'm pretty sure if money were no problem a buyer would like to browse 2000 image of lettuce than 600000....
or 2000 cabbages....I'm not commenting on image quality as you say its a matter of taste and enough people seem to like Stocksy to pay their premium. But if they are marketing themselves as higher quality you shouldn't get a picture of a cabbage if you are looking for a lettuce.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 12:50
In that case they need to do something about their search engine as if I search for lettuce most images contain little or no lettuce....rather like my favourite burgers which there are far more pictures of.  I particularly like the picture of a CABBAGE on the first page very professional key wording

well is your view. for me micro stock has not great  quality,mostly boring stuff....and most of the good  stuff i like is oriented towards stocksy style.


but taste vary.
i'm pretty sure if money were no problem a buyer would like to browse 2000 image of lettuce than 600000....
or 2000 cabbages....I'm not commenting on image quality as you say its a matter of taste and enough people seem to like Stocksy to pay their premium. But if they are marketing themselves as higher quality you shouldn't get a picture of a cabbage if you are looking for a lettuce.

sure they have problem like any agency with keyword....microstock in this is champion. so they can have one error or any.
but i'm talking artistically. they are good enough to ask premium. i hope they open the apply to agency soon.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 15:06
In that case they need to do something about their search engine as if I search for lettuce most images contain little or no lettuce....rather like my favourite burgers which there are far more pictures of.  I particularly like the picture of a CABBAGE on the first page very professional key wording

well is your view. for me micro stock has not great  quality,mostly boring stuff....and most of the good  stuff i like is oriented towards stocksy style.

but taste vary.
i'm pretty sure if money were no problem a buyer would like to browse 2000 image of lettuce than 600000....
or 2000 cabbages....I'm not commenting on image quality as you say its a matter of taste and enough people seem to like Stocksy to pay their premium. But if they are marketing themselves as higher quality you shouldn't get a picture of a cabbage if you are looking for a lettuce.

by the way of food photography...how many people from eastern europe nowadays are flooding micro stock with food photography shot wooden table top view and something behind, mostly raw stuff cause they cannot even cook dishes....seems that everybody that needs some dollar or have a canon rebel in ex soviet union buy a wooden table and some vegetable and begins shooting like crazy.
i already come across 10 15 user from ukraine and russia with nearly 1 million images , i'd say 10000 could have been enough the rest are copy of copy of copy of copy.
so good welcome to agency like stocksy...even crestock but it not sell anything....but it's still what micro stockwas at beginning.

https://www.shutterstock.com/it/g/africa+studio?sort=newest&search_source=base_gallery&page=2 (https://www.shutterstock.com/it/g/africa+studio?sort=newest&search_source=base_gallery&page=2)

from ukraine 1 million images. we must be ready to much more company like this.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on February 16, 2017, 16:50
There are very good points of view,  a few more pessimistic than others. In short, I think the best thing about a job is to enjoy what you do. :)
I have hope in the microstock business.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alno on February 16, 2017, 16:57

i disagree...well electronic cost sure...it' s the same...but try living in paris or rome and then go to budapest belgrade kiev outside moscow for russia,. in addiction the pay is in dollar....fo euro country is a minus due to exchange rate, for other country is big plus, especially in the last years.
in my opinion you can live well in some countries in other no. production cost are very cheap in those countries also.

Price of electronics is not the same in Russia and the US. Sony A6300 camera costs about $1700 versus $900 in the United States. And good luck to you buying beautiful food, lab props or shooting some business or medical footage somewhere in Lubertsy, it's right "outside Moscow". 
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on February 16, 2017, 17:51

i disagree...well electronic cost sure...it' s the same...but try living in paris or rome and then go to budapest belgrade kiev outside moscow for russia,. in addiction the pay is in dollar....fo euro country is a minus due to exchange rate, for other country is big plus, especially in the last years.
in my opinion you can live well in some countries in other no. production cost are very cheap in those countries also.

Price of electronics is not the same in Russia and the US. Sony A6300 camera costs about $1700 versus $900 in the United States. And good luck to you buying beautiful food, lab props or shooting some business or medical footage somewhere in Lubertsy, it's right "outside Moscow".

well u can easily buy from eBay...beautiful food can be bought..and i doubt in micro stock is so important...medical again it can be difficult in very small cities....but if you want move to paris or rome and try to lieve of your  footage...i will be happy to take back my mouth...how much you pay of taxes?
i pay near 52% all included....u?=
how much you py to rent a studio one day? i pay 300 500 euro for good studio...u?
how much you pay model? u are russian...u easily know what i'm talking about..russian girl have photogenic skill that are natural...practically even girl is nice and know how to behave in front of camera..and u not need professional model who can cost you 400 500 euro a day like in europe....i go often russian ukraine. so i know what i'm talking about.
it's not offensive..it's the reality.
or do you think russian and ukraine or belarussian produce one third or near 1/3 of content in shutter stock because they like work more than western people?
ruble has fallen down against dollar...also and u earn in dollar...so this is another WHY of the flooding of content.
most of producer don't need fancy medical center, even if you can easily shoot in medical company in russia.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: AlessandraRC on February 16, 2017, 20:55
NO
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on February 17, 2017, 01:54
Well some of these comments ignore that a lot of stocksy contributors also have portfolios on micro sites. So there's that.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brasilnut on February 18, 2017, 14:56
Quote
I live in Caracas Venezuela

I would imagine that due to the ongoing political and economic situation in Venezuela, you could make some good money from editorial shots (assuming you aren't already doing so). Simple and easy to do shots of people lining up to purchase what little food/supplies is left at supermarkets comes to mind. 

These would probably be much more in demand than the standard boring Microstock stuff.

If these editorials are rare/interesting enough it's probably better to license them as RM at Alamy, for example, rather than RF at Microstock.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on February 18, 2017, 15:22
Quote
I live in Caracas Venezuela

I would imagine that due to the ongoing political and economic situation in Venezuela, you could make some good money from editorial shots (assuming you aren't already doing so). Simple and easy to do shots of people lining up to purchase what little food/supplies is left at supermarkets comes to mind. 

These would probably be much more in demand than the standard boring Microstock stuff.

If these editorials are rare/interesting enough it's probably better to license them as RM at Alamy, for example, rather than RF at Microstock.
Well, it's not so easy. Goverment have some law that prohibit to shot photos to the lines of people. It's very risky.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brasilnut on February 18, 2017, 15:31
Quote
Well, it's not so easy. Goverment have some law that prohibit to shot photos to the lines of people. It's very risky.

Yes, I can imagine. Could you try to do it uncover with a point and shoot? Probably not worth going to jail for a few quarters though...
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rina21 on February 26, 2017, 16:55
I think that right would be if you have some incomes to live. If you want to get money here, your photos should be really good. But, on the other hand try, we are living once)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: oz@n on March 05, 2017, 03:19
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 05, 2017, 18:08
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..


5000 dollar month? good luck.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: oz@n on March 06, 2017, 05:15
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..


5000 dollar month? good luck.

Lol if you gonna do this as a full time job you have to earn that money otherwise its not more than a hobby.
I have some friends making 8-13 grand/mont.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: ShadySue on March 06, 2017, 05:30
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..


5000 dollar month? good luck.

Lol if you gonna do this as a full time job you have to earn that money otherwise its not more than a hobby.
I have some friends making 8-13 grand/mont.
You must live in Bermuda or Switzerland.
Still, gross and net are two different things.
Also, it's much more difficult now for newbies to get established and for oldies to maintain their earnings.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 08:52
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..


5000 dollar month? good luck.

Lol if you gonna do this as a full time job you have to earn that money otherwise its not more than a hobby.
I have some friends making 8-13 grand/mont.

8 13? yes big productuinb company with big portfolio like 20 30 k of super lifestyle maybe,,or video.
i bet everything you want the to earn more than 5000 a month are probably less than 50 micro stocker in the world.
i see my position in fotolia ranking and my earning per month...so i have an idea of this. maybe video is more lucrative, but again those who earn a loto spend also a lot to produce video.
and this will be even worst year after year with increasing contributor and millions of file every months added.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 08:57
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..


5000 dollar month? good luck.

Lol if you gonna do this as a full time job you have to earn that money otherwise its not more than a hobby.
I have some friends making 8-13 grand/mont.

to earn 5000 net you need at least 9000 gross( considering you have zero expenses)....108000 dollar year...leaving aside the SOD sale...only with sub you need near 400000 download...not even yuri in the first year with zero competition manage to do this....right now you need a 1000 download month. starting from scratches it'0s impossible. the search engine are so *removed coarse language* up you really need time to see files, there is 100 million file and growing..thousand of contributor at the door.
you can live off photography but in many field diversifying and with talents and creativity. but microsotck is really over. it can be a good side revenue as in my case. rely only in micro it's impossible apart living in some country like ukraine russia poland or thailand...with cheap cost of production and plenty of models available for penny. in western world forget.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 08:59
im also new to stock photography and looks like it will be a tough journey to my target of 5000usd/month. i dont know how long will it take but i'll try. i am trying to understand what is needed and what can i offer best and what my workflow should be to be effective etc..


5000 dollar month? good luck.

Lol if you gonna do this as a full time job you have to earn that money otherwise its not more than a hobby.
I have some friends making 8-13 grand/mont.

micro stock is a hobby. for some 100 contributor maybe a job but mostly is made of amateur or hobbyist. the quality reflects this and it will be always worst cause nobody pro will invest money in a losing game.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Ariene on March 06, 2017, 09:53
... it can be a good side revenue as in my case. rely only in micro it's impossible apart living in some country like ukraine russia poland or thailand...with cheap cost of production and plenty of models available for penny. in western world forget.

 ;D Lol... Tell me, please, what cost of living in Poland do you expect to make, I mean normal living? Base costs, not including models or travel tickets... How many $ would be enough for you, let's say in Warsaw?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 10:50
... it can be a good side revenue as in my case. rely only in micro it's impossible apart living in some country like ukraine russia poland or thailand...with cheap cost of production and plenty of models available for penny. in western world forget.

 ;D Lol... Tell me, please, what cost of living in Poland do you expect to make, I mean normal living? Base costs, not including models or travel tickets... How many $ would be enough for you, let's say in Warsaw?

cheap if you come from western world. or you think that polish photographer like to shoot much more than western....i travel as photographer...i slept in krakow one months in a modern apartment paying 22 euro day for example...food is dirty cheap...try to sleep in a modern apartment in paris...or rent a studio in warsaw and in paris.
i not even talk about ukraine and some part of russia.
you know the girl who clean my grandma apartment is from poland....and there are thousand...casue in poland they earn much much less. poland is not only warsaw, and many micro come from smaller cities.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 10:52
... it can be a good side revenue as in my case. rely only in micro it's impossible apart living in some country like ukraine russia poland or thailand...with cheap cost of production and plenty of models available for penny. in western world forget.

 ;D Lol... Tell me, please, what cost of living in Poland do you expect to make, I mean normal living? Base costs, not including models or travel tickets... How many $ would be enough for you, let's say in Warsaw?

in poland with 1000 euro you can live a good life...in france you don-t go out of home.
polish girl like 99% of eastern europe love being photographed so it-s pretty easy to find good people for lifestyle shot free or for cheap money. renting a studio in warsaw is cheap, in milan is 10 times more for example. i don-t even speak about cost of living. i go often in poland and i feel a king compared to where i live where a beefsteak cost 30 euro for example.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Ariene on March 06, 2017, 10:58

in poland with 1000 euro you can live a good life...

Good luck! Looks like you have no idea about the reality.
And to clarify - I come from a small town, now live in Warsaw for over 15 years... Please, don't tell me it's cheap and don't even compare with Ukraine. With full respect for my friends from that country.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 11:02

in poland with 1000 euro you can live a good life...

Good luck! Looks like you have no idea about the reality.
And to clarify - I come from a small town, now live in Warsaw for over 15 years... Please, don't tell me it's cheap and don't even compare with Ukraine. With full respect for my friends from that country.

is super cheap compared to europe...i don't know why u got upset...if you find expensive poland sweet don't go out your country you will starve...i travel poland many many times i know prices. is CHEAP.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&country2=Poland&city1=Ipswich&city2=Chrzanow (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&country2=Poland&city1=Ipswich&city2=Chrzanow)

here you can compare any price for different cities. poland is half the cost of living of middle town in uk.
ukraine i said is much much cheaper...but poland is much cheaper than any city in europe. in italy where i live there are thousand of people from poland assisting unhealthy people at home...do you think they come in italy cause they earn good money in poland_one work in my home. and what she earn here is much much more than what she earned in poland.
with 1000 euro you can live normal life. if you say no you are dreaming cause medium salary in poland is lower.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 11:07

in poland with 1000 euro you can live a good life...

Good luck! Looks like you have no idea about the reality.
And to clarify - I come from a small town, now live in Warsaw for over 15 years... Please, don't tell me it's cheap and don't even compare with Ukraine. With full respect for my friends from that country.

is super cheap compared to europe...i don't know why u got upset...if you find expensive poland sweet don't go out your country you will starve...i travel poland many many times i know prices. is CHEAP.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&country2=Poland&city1=Ipswich&city2=Chrzanow (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&country2=Poland&city1=Ipswich&city2=Chrzanow)

here you can compare any price for different cities. poland is half the cost of living of middle town in uk.
ukraine i said is much much cheaper...but poland is much cheaper than any city in europe. in italy where i live there are thousand of people from poland assisting unhealthy people at home...do you think they come in italy cause they earn good money in poland_one work in my home. and what she earn here is much much more than what she earned in poland.
with 1000 euro you can live normal life. if you say no you are dreaming cause medium salary in poland is lower.

https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&country2=Poland&city1=London&city2=Warsaw (https://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/compare_cities.jsp?country1=United+Kingdom&country2=Poland&city1=London&city2=Warsaw)

You would need around 1,782.09£ (8,884.99zł) in Warsaw to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 4,500.00£ in London (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.

and we are talking about a good style of life, going out often restaurant and all.

You would need around 1,233.11£ (40,814.27₴) in Kiev to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 4,500.00£ in London (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.

this is for kiev...consider that i spent a lot of time in kiev i tell you that with 1300 pound you live a very good life compared to london.

3 4 times less cost of living...include that in poland and ukraine taxes are much lower...in kiev is 18% to 23 %....in italy much more than 50% sometimes for high income....and you see how microastock is sustainable only in less rich country.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 06, 2017, 11:25
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 12:03
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 06, 2017, 13:18
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 13:20
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 13:21
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.

strange i read you always complaining now you make more than 60k net..year. sure.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 06, 2017, 13:22
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.

strange i read you always complaining now you make more than 60k net..year. sure.
I make more than double that. Doesn't mean I have to like being shafted by the agencies.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 13:29
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.

strange i read you always complaining now you make more than 60k net..year. sure.
I make more than double that. Doesn't mean I have to like being shafted by the agencies.

number of files?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 13:30
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.

strange i read you always complaining now you make more than 60k net..year. sure.
I make more than double that. Doesn't mean I have to like being shafted by the agencies.

so u are making what,...200000 dollar year sales?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on March 06, 2017, 13:33
He makes $1 for every time you quote, double quote, and triple quote. So I guess he's a billionaire.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 13:36
He makes $1 for every time you quote, double quote, and triple quote. So I guess he's a billionaire.
hahaha yes...he makes 200000 in a decreasing industry and still complain...u imagine...even yuri arcurs is facing hard time...
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 06, 2017, 13:43
You need to work on your math skills.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Photodune Reject on March 06, 2017, 15:01
people tend to exaggerate, especially men, the size of their income and we know what the other one is but this is a PG rated site thus I cannot say ... ;)

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on March 06, 2017, 15:40
people tend to exaggerate, especially men, the size of their income and we know what the other one is but this is a PG rated site thus I cannot say ... ;)
I don't take anything anyone says here about their income seriously....no disrespect to anyone in particular but theres a log of trash being talked..
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on March 06, 2017, 15:42
What would be the purpose of lying about your income on an anonymous forum?

I think it's more likely that people who don't sell that much don't want to face the reality that other people are in fact doing much better in the same business. It's not as comforting as "oh well, everyone's having a hard time, so it's not my fault"...
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on March 06, 2017, 15:58
What would be the purpose of lying about your income on an anonymous forum?

I think it's more likely that people who don't sell that much don't want to face the reality that other people are in fact doing much better in the same business. It's not as comforting as "oh well, everyone's having a hard time, so it's not my fault"...
I don't know but I do know non-existent people have been taken off the site who claimed 1,000,000 sales on SS. Its usually the same people who talk about their income who complain of sales doing badly in recent times. What people say may well be true I'm neutral on the subject but as I have no idea who they are I don't take it as gospel.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 06, 2017, 15:59
I don't know why people lie about it but they do. I wouldn't necessarily believe me either. Doesn't really matter. I would certainly check someone's basic math and knowledge of how revenue and profit works before taking them too seriously. I would also compare what they are saying about the industry with my own figures to see if there is any possibility that it makes sense.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 16:08
I don't know why people lie about it but they do. I wouldn't necessarily believe me either. Doesn't really matter. I would certainly check someone's basic math and knowledge of how revenue and profit works before taking them too seriously. I would also compare what they are saying about the industry with my own figures to see if there is any possibility that it makes sense.

Math is easy...

U said double net income of 5000 dollar...is 5000*2=10000
Taxes: where i live and most of western country u pay for this kind of earning from 40% up...so to have a net of 10 u need a gross of at least 17-18... Maybe u live in subsaharian country and pay nothing of taxes.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on March 06, 2017, 16:23
I realize you're talking about living well off of little money in many posts, but in general, when it comes to talking about income here it makes little sense to compare figures after tax since everyone lives in different countries.

When numbers are thrown around, it's what we get from the stock sites into our payment provider accounts. I don't care what you paid your mom's friend to model or what the tax rates in your particular country are. I care about how big the payouts are.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 06, 2017, 16:32

Math is easy...

U said double net income of 5000 dollar...is 5000*2=10000
Taxes: where i live and most of western country u pay for this kind of earning from 40% up...so to have a net of 10 u need a gross of at least 17-18... Maybe u live in subsaharian country and pay nothing of taxes.
:-X nevermind. Keep doing what you're doing.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 16:41
I realize you're talking about living well off of little money in many posts, but in general, when it comes to talking about income here it makes little sense to compare figures after tax since everyone lives in different countries.

When numbers are thrown around, it's what we get from the stock sites into our payment provider accounts. I don't care what you paid your mom's friend to model or what the tax rates in your particular country are. I care about how big the payouts are.

u are right. i just answered this guy. but no problems everybody is right...happiness!!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jonbull on March 06, 2017, 16:42

Math is easy...

U said double net income of 5000 dollar...is 5000*2=10000
Taxes: where i live and most of western country u pay for this kind of earning from 40% up...so to have a net of 10 u need a gross of at least 17-18... Maybe u live in subsaharian country and pay nothing of taxes.
:-X nevermind. Keep doing what you're doing.

u to:) no problem. but my math was correct:))
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: ShadySue on March 06, 2017, 18:08
I realize you're talking about living well off of little money in many posts, but in general, when it comes to talking about income here it makes little sense to compare figures after tax since everyone lives in different countries.

When numbers are thrown around, it's what we get from the stock sites into our payment provider accounts. I don't care what you paid your mom's friend to model or what the tax rates in your particular country are. I care about how big the payouts are.

Payouts are pretty irrelevant if you don't consider expenses, at least in terms of particular expenses used in making the images.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: pkphotos on March 06, 2017, 18:32
If you're willing to live in a hut on the beach in a third world/ developing country eating just rice and a few veggies, then, yes there is a living to be made from microstock alone
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: trek on March 06, 2017, 18:57
If you're willing to live in a hut on the beach in a third world/ developing country eating just rice and a few veggies, then, yes there is a living to be made from microstock alone

I like beaches and I'm vegetarian.  Does the hut has fiber speed internet? 
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Photodune Reject on March 06, 2017, 19:14
If you're willing to live in a hut on the beach in a third world/ developing country eating just rice and a few veggies, then, yes there is a living to be made from microstock alone

Heck, even with my good paying day job (techie) and my microstock business I live like that on West coast of USA  :(

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on March 07, 2017, 03:14
Payouts are pretty irrelevant if you don't consider expenses, at least in terms of particular expenses used in making the images.

Not when I hear numbers from other contributors and want to see how much a particular portfolio brings in. It's all just being curious, not deciding whether it's worth copying their pictures and figuring out the cost to do so...

Cost will always be very different. Many of the best images in the world are made using natural light and a free model, while other people feel they need $20,000 worth of studio gear.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on March 07, 2017, 03:21
Payouts are pretty irrelevant if you don't consider expenses, at least in terms of particular expenses used in making the images.

Not when I hear numbers from other contributors and want to see how much a particular portfolio brings in. It's all just being curious, not deciding whether it's worth copying their pictures and figuring out the cost to do so...

Cost will always be very different. Many of the best images in the world are made using natural light and a free model, while other people feel they need $20,000 worth of studio gear.
Yes its one piece of the jigsaw if you can get a peek of the port that produced it.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Vadimgouida on March 08, 2017, 01:10
A dollar per image in one year is pretty close that I am getting with 403 files on the Shutterstock
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: EmberMike on March 09, 2017, 23:02

You can make a living doing pretty much anything, if you're willing to put the work in.

This business is the same as any other business. There's money, you can have some money, and how much money depends on how much effort you put into it.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Justanotherphotographer on March 10, 2017, 03:22

You can make a living doing pretty much anything, if you're willing to put the work in.

This business is the same as any other business. There's money, you can have some money, and how much money depends on how much effort you put into it.
Exactly. There's Pablo Escobar and there's most drug dealers living in their mother's basement.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on September 30, 2017, 22:28
Hope some day to live from MS.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Quasarphoto on October 01, 2017, 09:41
Depends where you live and how many files you have. I would say about 10,000 good quality and variety photos would yield some decent income to live in a developing country.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: jjneff on October 01, 2017, 11:19
I do this for a living in video for the past 7 years! I do video mostly and love it! That said you have to work your butt off!!!  https://www.pond5.com/artist/craftedshutter#1/2063 (https://www.pond5.com/artist/craftedshutter#1/2063)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Mantis on October 01, 2017, 11:38
I do this for a living in video for the past 7 years! I do video mostly and love it! That said you have to work your butt off!!!  https://www.pond5.com/artist/craftedshutter#1/2063 (https://www.pond5.com/artist/craftedshutter#1/2063)

I've always enjoyed your work. Very good stuff.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Morphart on October 01, 2017, 12:42
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.

strange i read you always complaining now you make more than 60k net..year. sure.
I make more than double that. Doesn't mean I have to like being shafted by the agencies.

Jonbull, continue complaining and blasting the ones who works hard and do a good liviing. Maybe if you'd spend half the time and energy I see you spending only in this post you would also get 6k+ per month. It does happen, took me 5 years to build but you can get there. Then you need to stay active and follow the market in order to maintain the revenue, but it's part of the job.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on October 01, 2017, 22:13
Depends where you live and how many files you have. I would say about 10,000 good quality and variety photos would yield some decent income to live in a developing country.
Thanks!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: derek on October 02, 2017, 01:16
During my 10 years in Micro I've come to know lots and lots of people and the very few I know that can actually live on micro-stock have got extremely specialized work not big portfolios but very niched content.

There are lots more living well off RM content but then again they have been in the business long before Micro-stock came about.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: alexandersr on October 02, 2017, 13:51
During my 10 years in Micro I've come to know lots and lots of people and the very few I know that can actually live on micro-stock have got extremely specialized work not big portfolios but very niched content.

There are lots more living well off RM content but then again they have been in the business long before Micro-stock came about.
Thanks! :)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 02, 2017, 15:09
The numbers in this thread with regards to earnings and number of people doing it full time are way off.

sure they are much more...a lot of people eran net 5000..i doubt.
Well I don't think I am in the top 200 and make more than that profit. So there's that.

you make more than 5000 dollar net profit every month.ok.

strange i read you always complaining now you make more than 60k net..year. sure.
I make more than double that. Doesn't mean I have to like being shafted by the agencies.

Jonbull, continue complaining and blasting the ones who works hard and do a good liviing. Maybe if you'd spend half the time and energy I see you spending only in this post you would also get 6k+ per month. It does happen, took me 5 years to build but you can get there. Then you need to stay active and follow the market in order to maintain the revenue, but it's part of the job.
But apparently he does  :o. One of oddities of this site is many of those who complain the most also claim large incomes if anyone dares to challenge their proficiency. Most of them seem to be Male....reckon theres a physical parallel scenario to be drawn ;-)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Sion on October 02, 2017, 23:35
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?

Yes you can if you're prepared to spend time, energy and expenses to shoot what is in demand and patient enough to wait a year for the money to coming rolling in.

For examples istock/getty regular shooting briefs in their sites and those emailed to the photographers are the gospels some successful shooters avidly follow.

Best of luck.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: niktol on October 03, 2017, 08:01
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?

Yes. But not for everyone.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Stickystock on October 03, 2017, 09:37
During my 10 years in Micro I've come to know lots and lots of people and the very few I know that can actually live on micro-stock have got extremely specialized work not big portfolios but very niched content.

There are lots more living well off RM content but then again they have been in the business long before Micro-stock came about.

I don't believe this to be true. Many new comers that never touched a camera before they started doing stock do very well and make a good living out of this. My experience is that it does not matter if you are in photography for 20 or 2 years. You get it or you don't. The photographers that do this for 20 years are not better just because they are in this business longer.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 03, 2017, 09:43
The photographers that do this for 20 years are not better just because they are in this business longer.

But they sure like to think so.  ;D
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brightontl on October 03, 2017, 16:18
During my 10 years in Micro I've come to know lots and lots of people and the very few I know that can actually live on micro-stock have got extremely specialized work not big portfolios but very niched content.

There are lots more living well off RM content but then again they have been in the business long before Micro-stock came about.

I don't believe this to be true. Many new comers that never touched a camera before they started doing stock do very well and make a good living out of this. My experience is that it does not matter if you are in photography for 20 or 2 years. You get it or you don't. The photographers that do this for 20 years are not better just because they are in this business longer.
Yes, you have several good points here.
Photography is certainly not rocket science. A good grasp of it can be picked up with a few weeks following videos on YT and a few months of practice on the field.
And newcomers can tackle microstock with a fresh prospective.
Video is totally another kettle of fish, much, much more complex
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Stickystock on October 04, 2017, 05:33
Video is totally another kettle of fish, much, much more complex

No I think it's the same with video. It's composition and light and correct style of video's and not crappy dull light video's. You can learn technique on Youtube and shoot with modern DLSR. But the same goes here. Composition, subject and correct light and editing.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: DavidArts on October 10, 2017, 11:41
it definitelely WAS POSSIBLEif you've started years ago... but today? Really really hard...

I live only with microstock... since 2011 I think... but today this world is in the middle of a very big Chrisis... we're in downtrend since 2 year and at this point I cannot see how things could possible turn in better any time soon...
Millions of new images... easy approval process.... hudreds of thousands of new contributors...
Things are discouraging today for a beginner....
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Quasarphoto on October 10, 2017, 17:10
Hope some day to live from MS.
Spend as little time as possible on this forum, it's a whiners club. Concentrate on the task, would you like to do it or you really want to do it? There's a 90% fallout, even with 100 gazillion photos out there of contributors. Photography is a dead business since the 80's when SLR's became popular. Since then it's all 'downhill' yet there are always a couple of new kids on the block who will push through and make it. Nobody says it's easy, but what is easy these days?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: chess1master on October 10, 2017, 18:48
- Try smaller portfolio, more quality less quantity
- Do a business plan (short, mid, long) and find a good accountant.
- Focus on story telling, hard to copy own style, forecasting future trends - so dont shoot "stop-motion" style
- Take care on small amount of precise keywords
- Avoid low earner agencies (mostly under 3% of total earning)
- Stock photography is NOT art of selling (don't listen the "successful" people who telleing its just about selling, or selling zillion pictures, its just LIE and PSYCHOLOGY. The high earners are always hidden and quiet, and LOVE what they do) - so do it with passion, as every good thing in your life.
- Be prepare working hard on yourself  (learn, shoot, sell, feedback)
- Photography is not dead, as painting, or sclupting... dont listen naysayers
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Clair Voyant on October 10, 2017, 19:31
Yes!!! It is totally possible. Easy? No. Possible? Yes.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 10, 2017, 23:14
so dont shoot "stop-motion" style

Does anybody do that though? That would actually be a pretty good niche to sell in, now I think about it.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 11, 2017, 00:51
"The high earners are always hidden and quiet," H'mmmm any one that tell that Yuri guy...he could have done so much better.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 11, 2017, 06:05
And as for it not being about the art of selling.... surely titles, keywords, descriptions and any kind of social media marketing, would be classed as the art of selling. And they're all going to have a positive impact on sales if done correctly.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: cobalt on October 11, 2017, 08:39
Yes, if you work very hard and pay close attention to what customers really need and what is missing in the industry.

But it will take several years and thousands of files with interesting, timeless content before you can do it full time.

Might be easier if you live in a country with low costs, if you you can survive on 1000 dollars or less, then this is pretty easy to achieve.

But if you need 6000 and more, also to pay for production costs, then you have a very different challenge.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brasilnut on October 11, 2017, 09:51
Quote
Might be easier if you live in a country with low costs, if you you can survive on 1000 dollars or less, then this is pretty easy to achieve.

Great point.

Thailand sounds nice  8)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 11, 2017, 10:31
A few months of constant sweating and you'll be on a flight back to Europe.  ;) ;D
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 11, 2017, 23:06
$1000 a  month should be achievable, but it'll take a great portfolio. Hard to get if you are in some third world country with little that people want to buy

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 12, 2017, 01:21
Hard to get if you are in some third world country with little that people want to buy

Although thankfully, due to the wonders of the internet, you have the ability to sell your stock to people from countries other than the one you live in. 
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 12, 2017, 01:42
And as for it not being about the art of selling.... surely titles, keywords, descriptions and any kind of social media marketing, would be classed as the art of selling. And they're all going to have a positive impact on sales if done correctly.
We largely contract out the "art of selling" to the Agencies who spend $$$$ on it its largely what differentiates them. If you can add to that surely thats a good thing. Personally I couldn't sell ice creams in the desert ;-).
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 12, 2017, 02:00
Hard to get if you are in some third world country with little that people want to buy

Although thankfully, due to the wonders of the internet, you have the ability to sell your stock to people from countries other than the one you live in.

Ah, hold on... are you on about the content that people can make in these countries? That it might not be appealing to those buyers from the US/Europe? Well, there's always tropical beaches, temples, exotic landscapes, places the US likes to bomb etc.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 12, 2017, 07:12
Hard to get if you are in some third world country with little that people want to buy

Although thankfully, due to the wonders of the internet, you have the ability to sell your stock to people from countries other than the one you live in.

Ah, hold on... are you on about the content that people can make in these countries? That it might not be appealing to those buyers from the US/Europe? Well, there's always tropical beaches, temples, exotic landscapes, places the US likes to bomb etc.
This is what i meant. Hard to shoot the sort of stock that you see in the top sellers list in a place like pakistan, india or sri lanka.

The niche stuff from here sells well though but there are hardly any buyers.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: cobalt on October 12, 2017, 15:21
These countries have human beings, don´t they?

Taking pictures of elderly people moving around, being helped or cared for by family, young people repairing cars or working in construction, families cooking together.

And you can do it in local clothes, or get a T-shirt and old jeans (not very expensive in these countries)...and voila...many scenes can be created in a generic way for the world market.

Sports, yoga, body weight exercises...looking after pets,taking care of the farm...environmental issues, global warming, pollution in cities...

Women starting a small business and families working together with their business. All kinds of images of children in learning situations.

And of course there are probably a million recipes waiting, travel locations, young people working on computers...I mean you need to have a computer and an internet connection, so there is already a certain selection going on.

There is a strong demand for localised content from all parts of the world.

There are thousands of artists from these countries already uploading really excellent stock.

the biggest barrier is internet access, but with mobile phones going everywhere, I am sure there will soon be hundreds of thousands joining the stock race.

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 13, 2017, 05:19
These countries have human beings, don´t they?

Taking pictures of elderly people moving around, being helped or cared for by family, young people repairing cars or working in construction, families cooking together.

And you can do it in local clothes, or get a T-shirt and old jeans (not very expensive in these countries)...and voila...many scenes can be created in a generic way for the world market.

Sports, yoga, body weight exercises...looking after pets,taking care of the farm...environmental issues, global warming, pollution in cities...

Women starting a small business and families working together with their business. All kinds of images of children in learning situations.

And of course there are probably a million recipes waiting, travel locations, young people working on computers...I mean you need to have a computer and an internet connection, so there is already a certain selection going on.

There is a strong demand for localised content from all parts of the world.

There are thousands of artists from these countries already uploading really excellent stock.

the biggest barrier is internet access, but with mobile phones going everywhere, I am sure there will soon be hundreds of thousands joining the stock race.
Which is what I've been trying. However people here are very camera shy or hostile. Even normal street photography focusing on some people is met with anger. Heaven forbid if you look like you are trying to shoot a girl

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 13, 2017, 06:51
I sell mostly wildlife and nature clips/images. There should be plenty of that around, right?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 13, 2017, 06:51
The niche stuff from here sells well though but there are hardly any buyers.

What does this mean? How can it sell well without buyers?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: trek on October 13, 2017, 07:11
These countries have human beings, don´t they?

Taking pictures of elderly people moving around, being helped or cared for by family, young people repairing cars or working in construction, families cooking together.

And you can do it in local clothes, or get a T-shirt and old jeans (not very expensive in these countries)...and voila...many scenes can be created in a generic way for the world market.

Sports, yoga, body weight exercises...looking after pets,taking care of the farm...environmental issues, global warming, pollution in cities...

Women starting a small business and families working together with their business. All kinds of images of children in learning situations.

And of course there are probably a million recipes waiting, travel locations, young people working on computers...I mean you need to have a computer and an internet connection, so there is already a certain selection going on.

There is a strong demand for localised content from all parts of the world.

There are thousands of artists from these countries already uploading really excellent stock.

the biggest barrier is internet access, but with mobile phones going everywhere, I am sure there will soon be hundreds of thousands joining the stock race.
Which is what I've been trying. However people here are very camera shy or hostile. Even normal street photography focusing on some people is met with anger. Heaven forbid if you look like you are trying to shoot a girl

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

I think the suggestions refer to working with paid models in staged set ups.  Street photography of people can only be used as editorial. 

Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 14, 2017, 23:03
Yet to venture into the paid models and proper setup shots territory. Have been trying editorial for a year now. My local shots do well compared to the rest of my portfolio (which is a very low benchmark itself). Definitely does better than the typical on white type pics I've managed to create. The idea is that its nowhere close to the $500-$1000 a month that you would need to live only off stock photography in a place like india.

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Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 03:16
Somethings never change. In twenty years people will still be asking can you make a living from full-time microstock. I did for 10 years but I regret it now. Friends of mine, spent their last ten years building real businesses and they making good money, as in millions. All I have to show for 10 years is a few dollars per day which pays for my adobe subscription. Build a real business that people around you want/need.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 03:22
Build a real business that people around you want/need.

And how many "real" businesses do you think succeed?

How many failed clothing brands do you think there are for each GAP?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 18, 2017, 03:26
Build a real business that people around you want/need.

And how many "real" businesses do you think succeed?

How many failed clothing brands do you think there are for each GAP?
A lot... I think Restaurants are the biggest category for failure....In the UK at the moment they are opening at an exponential rate....and most of them second rate chill cook chains with pretend "exotic" food. Making money at any business is hard.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 03:30
Exactly. Your friends could have been Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. That doesn't mean you would be a billionaire if you had started a similar company...

People still make good money selling stock. But of course not everyone, why do people expect that? If you want a job with equal pay go get a standard office job.

Doing your own thing means the upside is enormous, and the downside is 0 (or less).

It's reasonable to believe that working from home is something a lot of people would like, and photography is one of the top interests people in the world have. You don't have to be a nobel prize winner to figure out that the competition will be pretty significant, especially today when the barrier to entry is low.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 04:47
Build a real business that people around you want/need.

And how many "real" businesses do you think succeed?

How many failed clothing brands do you think there are for each GAP?

Lots of real business succeed every year.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 04:51
Build a real business that people around you want/need.

And how many "real" businesses do you think succeed?

How many failed clothing brands do you think there are for each GAP?

Lots of real business succeed every year.

Yes. But that's not an answer to my question. How many business do you think fail for each success?

I can give you the answer: Thousands and thousands.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 04:55
Exactly. Your friends could have been Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. That doesn't mean you would be a billionaire if you had started a similar company...

People still make good money selling stock. But of course not everyone, why do people expect that? If you want a job with equal pay go get a standard office job.

Doing your own thing means the upside is enormous, and the downside is 0 (or less).

It's reasonable to believe that working from home is something a lot of people would like, and photography is one of the top interests people in the world have. You don't have to be a nobel prize winner to figure out that the competition will be pretty significant, especially today when the barrier to entry is low.

I enjoyed working from home and producing stock images but now I have very little to show for it because of oversupply. I uploaded around 10K of images over 9 years and then one company from china uploaded 100K to IS in one year. Another upload 30K to IS and that's just the ones i know about. Whereas my friend who has over 20 year experience in building project management landed 5 mill of work in the first few months of this year. He's been running his own company for less than 10 years. Face it, stock art is very close to the bottom of the financial totem pole.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 04:58
Build a real business that people around you want/need.

And how many "real" businesses do you think succeed?

How many failed clothing brands do you think there are for each GAP?

Lots of real business succeed every year.

Yes. But that's not an answer to my question. How many business do you think fail for each success?

I can give you the answer: Thousands and thousands.

Man, you've talked me into staying with stock! Just got to work out how I'm going to invest the $8 I made today.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 04:58
Whereas my friend who has over 20 year experience in building project management landed 5 mill of work in the first few months of this year. He's been running his own company for less than 10 years. Face it, stock art is very close to the bottom of the financial totem pole.

Start your own building project management company then and see how easy it is.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 05:01
Man, you've talked me into staying with stock! Just got to work out how I'm going to invest the $8 I made today.

I didn't say you should stick with it. If you have 10,000 images and make $8 per day that might be a strong indication you might not be producing what people want to buy.

10,000 images could yield $0 per month.
10,000 images could also yield $10,000 per month.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 05:06
Man, you've talked me into staying with stock! Just got to work out how I'm going to invest the $8 I made today.

I didn't say you should stick with it. If you have 10,000 images and make $8 per day that might be a strong indication you might not be producing what people want to buy.

10,000 images could yield $0 per month.
10,000 images could also yield $10,000 per month.

I was on the first page of IS top contributors for many years. It's just that I now get 23 cents to $1 per sale. Whereas we used to get between $5 to $13 per sale and we had a lot more sales due to less competition.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 05:08
I was on the first page of IS top contributors for many years. It's just that I now get 23 cents to $1 per sale. Whereas we used to get between $5 to $13 per sale and we had a lot more sales due to less competition.

Yes, there is more competition. Surprised? That means you have to be better and work harder. Evidently, some people do just that and make good money.

Again, the barrier to entry is low. Start your own construction company and see how low the barrier to entry is.  ;)
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brasilnut on October 18, 2017, 05:16
Quote
Again, the barrier to entry is low. Start your own construction company and see how low the barrier to entry is.  ;)

I'll throw in my microstock 2 cents.

Indeed, this industry's barrier to entry is low and investments are relatively small (money-wise but time-wise can be substantial).

The way I look at it it's small investment and small reward. Other start-ups require substantial investment, which can have a big up-side but huge risks. What are the risks of putting 5,000 images on micros over 2 years and not meeting expectations? Surely they'll still earn a little bit and then can go off to do something else which pays better or is more rewarding.

We like to hear about success stories but as someone else mentioned above, for every success story there are 1000 failures. Look at the World Series of Poker final event...15,000 entries which means 14,000 of those are failures and will lose their initial investment of $10,000. Even within those 1,000 the big prizes are highly skewed towards the top 50.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 18, 2017, 05:30
Whereas my friend who has over 20 year experience in building project management landed 5 mill of work in the first few months of this year.

Deciding that you should have spent the last year building a successful business is a lot different from actually spending the last year building a successful business. There's a lot more to it than that.

Everyone knows they should have invented (insert popular product here) but they didn't, unfortunately. Having a friend that has set up a successful business makes you no more qualified to actually set up a successful business, than anyone else in this forum... with the exception of maybe having a bit of a mentor and maybe some connections. Just saying that you should have set up a business doesn't mean it would have worked. I should have set up Amazon, but I was busy doing not much.

There's no point regretting something that you didn't do which could have just as easily ended in heartache and financial ruin as it would success... and be happy in the knowledge that you at least managed to do something that provided you with a living for the last ten years. But if you want to head off and set up your successful business now... then go for it! I will wish you well and look forward to seeing your name in lights!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 18, 2017, 05:31
Quote
Again, the barrier to entry is low. Start your own construction company and see how low the barrier to entry is.  ;)

I'll throw in my microstock 2 cents.

Indeed, this industry's barrier to entry is low and investments are relatively small (money-wise but time-wise can be substantial).

The way I look at it it's small investment and small reward. Other start-ups require substantial investment, which can have a big up-side but huge risks. What are the risks of putting 5,000 images on micros over 2 years and not meeting expectations? Surely they'll still earn a little bit and then can go off to do something else which pays better or is more rewarding.

We like to hear about success stories but as someone else mentioned above, for every success story there are 1000 failures. Look at the World Series of Poker final event...15,000 entries which means 14,000 of those are failures and will lose their initial investment of $10,000. Even within those 1,000 the big prizes are highly skewed towards the top 50.
Correct ;-). Unless you start investing in studios paying lots of models flying to expensive locations etc. What I do now only costs my time as I'd have the equipment anyway.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Brasilnut on October 18, 2017, 05:37
Quote
Unless you start investing in studios paying lots of models flying to expensive locations etc.

Absolutely.

Pay models? No, I'll ask friends and family
Flying to expensive locations? Sure, I'll go because I love travelling for personal reasons.  I'll take advantage to take some shots, who knows maybe I'll pay for the holiday with the returns.
Investing in studios? There's some really affordable second-hand lighting equipment and inexpensive lightboxes. In my case it's 99% natural light.

Keeping costs low for low expected returns is the name of the game in this business. Look at the Shutterstock Custom...do they really expect us to invest a lot to get $15/image to give away our copyright  ???

Yuri Arcus saw the the writing on the wall in 2013 when he wrote this:

Quote
Sometimes it felt like having a michelin restaurant inside a burger joint and at the same time having to match the prices. At some point the professional gets tired of selling 12 course testing menues at 0300AM at burger prices.


Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 18, 2017, 05:47
Quote
Unless you start investing in studios paying lots of models flying to expensive locations etc.

Absolutely.

Pay models? No, I'll ask friends and family
Flying to expensive locations? Sure, I'll go because I love travelling for personal reasons.  I'll take advantage to take some shots, who knows maybe I'll pay for the holiday with the returns.
Investing in studios? There's some really affordable second-hand lighting equipment and inexpensive lightboxes. In my case it's 99% natural light.

Keeping costs low for low expected returns is the name of the game in this business. Look at the Shutterstock Custom...do they really expect us to invest a lot to get $15/image to give away our copyright  ???

Yuri Arcus saw the the writing on the wall in 2013 when he wrote this:

Quote
Sometimes it felt like having a michelin restaurant inside a burger joint and at the same time having to match the prices. At some point the professional gets tired of selling 12 course testing menues at 0300AM at burger prices.
I did shoot models for a while ...much cheaper to hire a studio with much better equipment.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 06:18
I was on the first page of IS top contributors for many years. It's just that I now get 23 cents to $1 per sale. Whereas we used to get between $5 to $13 per sale and we had a lot more sales due to less competition.

Yes, there is more competition. Surprised? That means you have to be better and work harder. Evidently, some people do just that and make good money.

Again, the barrier to entry is low. Start your own construction company and see how low the barrier to entry is.  ;)

My family are all in construction. I'm the only one who went into art. I'm working with them at the moment on a spec house.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 06:24
Whereas my friend who has over 20 year experience in building project management landed 5 mill of work in the first few months of this year.

Deciding that you should have spent the last year building a successful business is a lot different from actually spending the last year building a successful business. There's a lot more to it than that.

Everyone knows they should have invented (insert popular product here) but they didn't, unfortunately. Having a friend that has set up a successful business makes you no more qualified to actually set up a successful business, than anyone else in this forum... with the exception of maybe having a bit of a mentor and maybe some connections. Just saying that you should have set up a business doesn't mean it would have worked. I should have set up Amazon, but I was busy doing not much.

There's no point regretting something that you didn't do which could have just as easily ended in heartache and financial ruin as it would success... and be happy in the knowledge that you at least managed to do something that provided you with a living for the last ten years. But if you want to head off and set up your successful business now... then go for it! I will wish you well and look forward to seeing your name in lights!

Can you send me a link to your stock footage? Thanks.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 06:25
Can you send me a link to your stock footage? Thanks.

They're at the bottom of his posts.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 06:34
Can you send me a link to your stock footage? Thanks.

They're at the bottom of his posts.

First three didn't work.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 18, 2017, 06:38
Fotolia and all the rest work. Shutterstock has never worked... iStock is new though, used to work, will look into that.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 06:40
Fotolia and all the rest work. Shutterstock has never worked... iStock is new though, used to work, will look into that.
Yep, Last three work.

So you make a living off this small handful of video clips?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 07:00
The key is usability. Not number of clips.  :)

Too many contributors (not talking about you, just in general) upload way too much crap and way too many similars and they don't realize it actually hurts their sales.

Very simple example: 1,000 buyers buy a picture of a roe deer from you, and you have 100 images, just slightly different. Head turned 45 degrees. Head turned 40 degrees. Head turned 35 degrees etc. That's 10 per image and they are likely to be spread out. If you only kept 5-10 of the very best, those 1,000 sales would go to those pictures, and your search ranking would go up, up, up. Diluting your own sales with too many similars is a very bad strategy.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on October 18, 2017, 07:05
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?

Possible yes. For you, it depends. Run some numbers.

I'd say 5 cents USD return per image per month (RPIPM) is a safe number to start with. It varies probably between $0 and $1 depending on the quality of your work but I'd say 5 cents is average. Here in the US most people would probably need at least 50,000-100,000 sellable and accepted images to replace their day job. Unless you're an image factory with a team of people processing images that's a big number to hit. If you live in an area where $600 per year is livable then 1,000 images may not be a bug hurdle.

This doesn't include figuring in additional business expenses, business taxes, equipment, or anything else related to the business. Meaning, you may need $60,000 income to replace your day job but your annual business expenses are $10,000 so you may need to earn more than $70,000 just to end up with $60,000.

200,000 images x .05 PIPM = $10,000 per month or $120,000 USD per year
100,000 images x .05 PIPM = $5,000 per month or $60,000 USD per year
10,000 images x .05 PIPM = $500 per month or $6,000 USD per year
1,000 images x .05 PIPM = $50 per month or $600 USD per year

You'd also probably need to produce at least 25-50% of your total portfolio every year to maintain that income. Meaning if your income breakeven portfolio is 10,000 images you'd need to produce 2,500 to 5,000 new images every day for income stay the same.

So possible? Yes. Depends on where you live, your income needs, and your ability to produce the required amount of images and keep producing all year every year.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 18, 2017, 07:11
Sure do! Those are my non-exclusive clips. I also have an exclusive account at VideoHive which contains some After Effects templates, which account for a reasonable portion of my income.

On a side note, I like how you wanted to check out my portfolio, in what I can only assume was some kind of attempt to invalidate my argument based on whether I do or do not manage to live only selling microstock... when whether I do or don't manage to live only selling microstock was never part of my argument. Classy move!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 07:33
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?

Possible yes. For you, it depends. Run some numbers.

I'd say 5 cents USD return per image per month (RPIPM) is a safe number to start with. It varies probably between $0 and $1 depending on the quality of your work but I'd say 5 cents is average. Here in the US most people would probably need at least 50,000-100,000 sellable and accepted images to replace their day job. Unless you're an image factory with a team of people processing images that's a big number to hit. If you live in an area where $600 per year is livable then 1,000 images may not be a bug hurdle.

This doesn't include figuring in additional business expenses, business taxes, equipment, or anything else related to the business. Meaning, you may need $60,000 income to replace your day job but your annual business expenses are $10,000 so you may need to earn more than $70,000 just to end up with $60,000.

200,000 images x .05 PIPM = $10,000 per month or $120,000 USD per year
100,000 images x .05 PIPM = $5,000 per month or $60,000 USD per year
10,000 images x .05 PIPM = $500 per month or $6,000 USD per year
1,000 images x .05 PIPM = $50 per month or $600 USD per year

You'd also probably need to produce at least 25-50% of your total portfolio every year to maintain that income. Meaning if your income breakeven portfolio is 10,000 images you'd need to produce 2,500 to 5,000 new images every day for income stay the same.

So possible? Yes. Depends on where you live, your income needs, and your ability to produce the required amount of images and keep producing all year every year.

Interpolating my current sales I would need about 40,000 images to get $10k per month, if I only sold at Shutterstock. If spread all over, I suppose that number would be 20-30,000.

I have 0 images of people (except a few anonymous hands). Only nature, wildlife, cities. If you throw quality people shots in the mix I would think the number of needed images would go way down, maybe to 10,000 for really usable images.

Seeing how some people keyword their 10,000 images I'm not surprised they're not seeing many sales.

City skylines without mentioning the city, or country, are my favorite. Do they think I want a picture of a random no-name city to go with my travel blog about Manchester?
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: PaulieWalnuts on October 18, 2017, 07:50
Hi, i'm new in this business, i wuold like to know if it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?

Possible yes. For you, it depends. Run some numbers.

I'd say 5 cents USD return per image per month (RPIPM) is a safe number to start with. It varies probably between $0 and $1 depending on the quality of your work but I'd say 5 cents is average. Here in the US most people would probably need at least 50,000-100,000 sellable and accepted images to replace their day job. Unless you're an image factory with a team of people processing images that's a big number to hit. If you live in an area where $600 per year is livable then 1,000 images may not be a bug hurdle.

This doesn't include figuring in additional business expenses, business taxes, equipment, or anything else related to the business. Meaning, you may need $60,000 income to replace your day job but your annual business expenses are $10,000 so you may need to earn more than $70,000 just to end up with $60,000.

200,000 images x .05 PIPM = $10,000 per month or $120,000 USD per year
100,000 images x .05 PIPM = $5,000 per month or $60,000 USD per year
10,000 images x .05 PIPM = $500 per month or $6,000 USD per year
1,000 images x .05 PIPM = $50 per month or $600 USD per year

You'd also probably need to produce at least 25-50% of your total portfolio every year to maintain that income. Meaning if your income breakeven portfolio is 10,000 images you'd need to produce 2,500 to 5,000 new images every day for income stay the same.

So possible? Yes. Depends on where you live, your income needs, and your ability to produce the required amount of images and keep producing all year every year.

Interpolating my current sales I would need about 40,000 images to get $10k per month, if I only sold at Shutterstock. If spread all over, I suppose that number would be 20-30,000.

I have 0 images of people (except a few anonymous hands). Only nature, wildlife, cities. If you throw quality people shots in the mix I would think the number of needed images would go way down, maybe to 10,000 for really usable images.

Seeing how some people keyword their 10,000 images I'm not surprised they're not seeing many sales.

City skylines without mentioning the city, or country, are my favorite. Do they think I want a picture of a random no-name city to go with my travel blog about Manchester?

You're at .25 cents RPIPM which these days I'd say seems decent. I'd guess that's better than most people are getting minus the top earners.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 18, 2017, 07:56
You're at .25 cents RPIPM which these days I'd say seems decent. I'd guess that's better than most people are getting minus the top earners.

Yes, that is the Shutterstock only average, and like I said, I don't have any people shots. Looking at other portfolios I would be very surprised if there aren't people/portfolios with averages 10x better than mine.

For example, Uber Images have 5-6,000 images and (based on their own reports) seem to be making quite a bit more than $10,000 per month. I would guess closer to $20,000.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: THP Creative on October 18, 2017, 10:25
Yes, it is possible. But everyones view on what it means to 'live' on microstock income will vary.

If you live cheap, and work hard it is possible. But it is becoming harder to do so.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 18, 2017, 19:50
Sure do! Those are my non-exclusive clips. I also have an exclusive account at VideoHive which contains some After Effects templates, which account for a reasonable portion of my income.

On a side note, I like how you wanted to check out my portfolio, in what I can only assume was some kind of attempt to invalidate my argument based on whether I do or do not manage to live only selling microstock... when whether I do or don't manage to live only selling microstock was never part of my argument. Classy move!

Your argument is that I might not have been successful if I had started a local business. Genius. Others here wanted me to be as successful as Bill Gates or compared running a small business to winning major poker tournaments which is idealistic crapola.
What I said originally is that in my opinion it's better to start a local business that supplies the needs of people around you. I know lots of people who have done this successfully.

I checked out your port to see if you're a newcomer and to see your quality and I see that your quality is quite high and you've found a niche. Congrats. I don't know where you live or what your cost of living is. I don't know how long you've been doing it. So this could all be a giant pissing comp.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 19, 2017, 00:30
But your argument is that you should have started a business... as that would have been more successful than selling stock. My argument is based on fact (that you might have been successful or you might have not), yours is based on conjecture that your business would have been more successful than selling stock. Non-genius.

I'm originally from the UK but I've been travelling the US, Australia and South East Asia for the last 18 months or so. Mainly SEA though, and I've spent most of my time in Siem Reap in Cambodia where I'm currently renting an apartment. Yes, the cost of living is very cheap here. In theory, you could survive with a small studio, food, bills and not much else for $250 a month. In reality, you're looking at $500 to $750 a month for a reasonable standard of living. Anything over $1000 and you're doing pretty well.

That's pretty irrelevant though, to whether I could or couldn't live on stock income, as I make considerably more than that (my rent in Siem Reap is $1000 a month), and as long as I steer clear of places like London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles etc... I could get by relatively easily in most countries, purely on my stock income. 

I uploaded my first stock item in 2009 and started doing stock full time in 2014. I now stick in a day or two a week. Sometimes more, sometimes considerably less.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: goober on October 19, 2017, 03:10
But your argument is that you should have started a business... as that would have been more successful than selling stock. My argument is based on fact (that you might have been successful or you might have not), yours is based on conjecture that your business would have been more successful than selling stock. Non-genius.

I'm originally from the UK but I've been travelling the US, Australia and South East Asia for the last 18 months or so. Mainly SEA though, and I've spent most of my time in Siem Reap in Cambodia where I'm currently renting an apartment. Yes, the cost of living is very cheap here. In theory, you could survive with a small studio, food, bills and not much else for $250 a month. In reality, you're looking at $500 to $750 a month for a reasonable standard of living. Anything over $1000 and you're doing pretty well.

That's pretty irrelevant though, to whether I could or couldn't live on stock income, as I make considerably more than that (my rent in Siem Reap is $1000 a month), and as long as I steer clear of places like London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles etc... I could get by relatively easily in most countries, purely on my stock income. 

I uploaded my first stock item in 2009 and started doing stock full time in 2014. I now stick in a day or two a week. Sometimes more, sometimes considerably less.

Well the video guys do seem to be fairing better than the rest. A few dollars per sale is better than a few cents.

After 20 plus years of pushing pixels I'm looking to do something different and I admire my friends who are reaping the rewards of creating solid small businesses. So long.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: cobalt on October 19, 2017, 04:06
You don't need expensive investments, especially for photos, nearly all my gear is several years old and used when I buy it.

Only 4k video has forced me to buy a better computer, but if you stick to hd a 3 year old computer should be fine.

And yes, of course, I would suggest working with people.

If you don't want to hire models and your family is camera shy, you talk to small businesses. Take pictures and videos for their business and agree on what you can use for your portfolio. It will give you authentic content.

Hiring a pro photographer is expensive, so make it a win win and you get good content.

But even just being very systematic even without people shots...every week you document how a local recipe is prepared, invite friends and family for a free meal and take pictures of just hands eating, if they are to camera shy.

Or working in te garden at different times of year, the greenhouse, building a boat, going fishing.

The main thing is to make it a planned shooting.

Do some research of what the agencies already have. Is anything missing?

Make a moodboard (some scetches) of all the images you need to tell the story of the process you are documenting.

How much copy space, which camera angle, shallow dof or all in focus, any special color theme...and what is the color of the year anyway? etc....

The more planning goes into a shoot, the better the pictures, even if it is a series about folding napkins.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: csm on October 19, 2017, 05:49
Sure do! Those are my non-exclusive clips. I also have an exclusive account at VideoHive which contains some After Effects templates, which account for a reasonable portion of my income.

On a side note, I like how you wanted to check out my portfolio, in what I can only assume was some kind of attempt to invalidate my argument based on whether I do or do not manage to live only selling microstock... when whether I do or don't manage to live only selling microstock was never part of my argument. Classy move!


In my eyes all of your handful of clips are winners, and that`s what counts :)
As mentioned before, it`s quality that counts.

Too many people still seem to think, 10 00 images online and they will be alright as far as sales go, 10 000 of what? I always think.
10 000 images of ducks on a pond or 10 000 lifestyle / people images for instance?

My philosophy has always been to take images that say something, not of something...

I look back 10 years ago and I was earning a good living from 300 images!
How times have changed!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 19, 2017, 08:02
Thanks! I try my best to figure out what people might need or want, and I try and put a bit of effort into making stuff reasonably scientifically accurate. Not too much, as accurate isn't exactly sexy... but I've seen clips where the Earth is spinning in the wrong direction or the moon looks like it's 1000 miles away from the Earth etc.

Sometimes my ideas of what will sell pay off.... sometimes they don't. I've done some where I've spent a day on a clip and it's never sold. Others where i've spent an hour and it's a best seller. I'll get there!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: csm on October 19, 2017, 08:16
Thanks! I try my best to figure out what people might need or want, and I try and put a bit of effort into making stuff reasonably scientifically accurate. Not too much, as accurate isn't exactly sexy... but I've seen clips where the Earth is spinning in the wrong direction or the moon looks like it's 1000 miles away from the Earth etc.

Sometimes my ideas of what will sell pay off.... sometimes they don't. I've done some where I've spent a day on a clip and it's never sold. Others where i've spent an hour and it's a best seller. I'll get there!


I know the feeling, in the past I did a lot of images that were composites, and some took many months to complete, but I was working on other ideas at the same time!

Some sold well and some didn`t.
And other ideas that didn`t take too long to complete sometimes sold better.
Just the nature of stock I suppose, you never know!

I love astronomy, so I really admire your work.

What software are you using to create your ideas in?
I always wanted to learn Cinema 5D, but never got round to it, now I spend most of my time working on videos in After Effects.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: csm on October 19, 2017, 08:46
Thanks! I try my best to figure out what people might need or want, and I try and put a bit of effort into making stuff reasonably scientifically accurate. Not too much, as accurate isn't exactly sexy... but I've seen clips where the Earth is spinning in the wrong direction or the moon looks like it's 1000 miles away from the Earth etc.

Sometimes my ideas of what will sell pay off.... sometimes they don't. I've done some where I've spent a day on a clip and it's never sold. Others where i've spent an hour and it's a best seller. I'll get there!

Have you done any clips yet of Tabby`s Star?
(Dyson Sphere maybe?)
That really intrigues me.
I`d love to know what`s going on there!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: DallasP on October 21, 2017, 11:17
I think I figured it out once with my RPI that somewhere around 4000 images would pay the bills ... assuming the relationship was linear. It's not but :/ meh
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 22, 2017, 00:28
Yeah I use Cinema 4D and After Effects. If there's no 3D models or its just motion graphics stuff then I just use After Effects. Use a lot of the Trapcode suite for stars and rocket smoke and the like.

No Dyson spheres yet but maybe one day!

Came up with the idea for this a while back and as you can see it's made me quite a bit. I'm now slowly working my way through as many countries and US states as I can...

https://videohive.net/item/world-map-kit/15743461
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 22, 2017, 01:41
I think I figured it out once with my RPI that somewhere around 4000 images would pay the bills ... assuming the relationship was linear. It's not but :/ meh
That number was almost the same for me. A mix of 4000 images and some 200-300 videos to get me by. Still in the phase of getting  a up, lets hope the math works

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Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: pancaketom on October 22, 2017, 23:50
I think I figured it out once with my RPI that somewhere around 4000 images would pay the bills ... assuming the relationship was linear. It's not but :/ meh
That number was almost the same for me. A mix of 4000 images and some 200-300 videos to get me by. Still in the phase of getting  a up, lets hope the math works

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

Well I figured I could get by with about 1000 images, by the time I got there it was up to about 3000, I've got over 3000 now, but make less than I did with about 2000.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 23, 2017, 14:10
I think I figured it out once with my RPI that somewhere around 4000 images would pay the bills ... assuming the relationship was linear. It's not but :/ meh
That number was almost the same for me. A mix of 4000 images and some 200-300 videos to get me by. Still in the phase of getting  a up, lets hope the math works

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Well I figured I could get by with about 1000 images, by the time I got there it was up to about 3000, I've got over 3000 now, but make less than I did with about 2000.
So i guess the smart idea is to give up? Or do we try harder?

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Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 23, 2017, 15:23
So i guess the smart idea is to give up? Or do we try harder?

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Yes, the most common answer by successful people on the question "What made you successful?" is:

 "I gave up".
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 24, 2017, 03:11
Love how you phrased that.

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Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: ShadySue on October 24, 2017, 03:39
So i guess the smart idea is to give up? Or do we try harder?

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Yes, the most common answer by successful people on the question "What made you successful?" is:

 "I gave up".

Indeed.
But the real secret is recognising early enough in the cycle (long before the horse is even moribund) that there's no point expending more energy on flogging it and moving on to something more profitable and/or satisfying.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 24, 2017, 03:47
So i guess the smart idea is to give up? Or do we try harder?

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Yes, the most common answer by successful people on the question "What made you successful?" is:

 "I gave up".

Indeed.
But the real secret is recognising early enough in the cycle (long before the horse is even moribund) that there's no point expending more energy on flogging it and moving on to something more profitable and/or satisfying.
If I wanted to make photography my "job" I think I would only consider stock as a back up to more lucrative work....If you have the people/network skills there's potentially much better things to be doing particularly in wealthy countries.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: increasingdifficulty on October 24, 2017, 05:27
If I wanted to make photography my "job" I think I would only consider stock as a back up to more lucrative work....

I would do this (and I do) with any job, online or not. Diversification is very important and can be a crucial safety net.

Most successful people do this too, like actors actually making more money from real estate investments or supporting startups.

The obvious first step is of course to not just sell at one site, since that makes you very vulnerable, but also doing micro, macro, print, real life work, instagram, YouTube, the stock market, real estate, etc. etc. Images, footage, illustrations, music, sound...

Of course, the drawback is dividing your time between all of these activities, but I believe finding a good balance is possible.

Personally, I have maybe around 50 different "jobs", if you count each place I sell something or do something that earns money (like YouTube). Of course, 1-3 sites are big earners, and losing one of those over night would not be great, but I would still make a living.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: ShadySue on October 24, 2017, 06:09
If I wanted to make photography my "job" I think I would only consider stock as a back up to more lucrative work....If you have the people/network skills there's potentially much better things to be doing particularly in wealthy countries.
In the US apparently so, based on some Creative Live videos I see!
I see you're in the UK, so the difference must be vast here too. Round about here, it seems to be impossible for social/industrial photographers to make a sustainable business; people can't, or choose not to, pay the money.
Three successive togs in my town went out of business as soon as their start up grants/allowances/tax breaks/whatever stopped. The third one in particular seemed to have watched a lot of these USian Creative Live tutorials I've seen and was trying out a lot of ideas I'd seen on there for growing a business, but as I'd guessed, these ideas don't cross borders.

The only 'tog in my area who has been in business more than five years (over 20) actually makes most of her money from framing other peoples pictures.
So, diversification!
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Pauws99 on October 24, 2017, 08:03
If I wanted to make photography my "job" I think I would only consider stock as a back up to more lucrative work....If you have the people/network skills there's potentially much better things to be doing particularly in wealthy countries.
In the US apparently so, based on some Creative Live videos I see!
I see you're in the UK, so the difference must be vast here too. Round about here, it seems to be impossible for social/industrial photographers to make a sustainable business; people can't, or choose not to, pay the money.
Three successive togs in my town went out of business as soon as their start up grants/allowances/tax breaks/whatever stopped. The third one in particular seemed to have watched a lot of these USian Creative Live tutorials I've seen and was trying out a lot of ideas I'd seen on there for growing a business, but as I'd guessed, these ideas don't cross borders.

The only 'tog in my area who has been in business more than five years (over 20) actually makes most of her money from framing other peoples pictures.
So, diversification!
I think the biggest area is in training/workshops and the like. I don't think the conventional photography business is going to cut it.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on October 24, 2017, 09:43
Agreed that this makes a ton of sense if its part of diversification. I remember a guy here who had some amazing rooftop cityscape images, turns out he was a night guard. Or the 30 day ship timelapse guy who works on a ship. Guess the 100-200 dollars from everywhere add up.

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Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: SpaceStockFootage on October 24, 2017, 10:34
So i guess the smart idea is to give up? Or do we try harder?

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Yes, the most common answer by successful people on the question "What made you successful?" is:

 "I gave up".

A valid point. But not every successful person is currently doing whatever it is they stopped doing, before starting to do the thing they became successful at... so sometimes you have to give something up if it's not working.

"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again... then give up if it's still not working." should be the correct saying.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: niktol on October 24, 2017, 12:37
I think I figured it out once with my RPI that somewhere around 4000 images would pay the bills ... assuming the relationship was linear. It's not but :/ meh
That number was almost the same for me. A mix of 4000 images and some 200-300 videos to get me by. Still in the phase of getting  a up, lets hope the math works

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Well I figured I could get by with about 1000 images, by the time I got there it was up to about 3000, I've got over 3000 now, but make less than I did with about 2000.
So i guess the smart idea is to give up? Or do we try harder?

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One more option - try smarter. Doesn't work for everyone though.
Title: Re: it's possible to live only selling photos in microstock site?
Post by: Rage on November 07, 2017, 10:24
One more question then, how long did it take you before you were able to earn what your photo gear (camera, first 2 lenses) is worth