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Author Topic: new here ~ just trying to figure out microstock  (Read 15537 times)

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« on: September 02, 2008, 10:01 »
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hi all,

i am stock photographer from carlsbad, ca just trying to learn a bit more about micro stock, i have never submitted anything for micro and just trying to learn.

jay reilly
http://www.mycameraisbiggerthanyours.com


« Reply #1 on: September 02, 2008, 10:10 »
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since you are Pro

in my opinion if you have a ready large portfolio go for Macro maybe and Midstock

micro will give you money fast but you will sell very cheap....




« Reply #2 on: September 02, 2008, 10:28 »
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Im not a pro but i think the big difference from macro stock and micro stock is in the payout!! All the other stuff like noise, composition artifacts, etc, you already are aware. And with your equipment (5D if im not wrong) you dont have any problem with the minimum size required :).
Great photos by the way.

Welcome to this forum.

« Reply #3 on: September 02, 2008, 10:46 »
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what is up with the term, marco and mid?  I have never heard these before.  does the micro stock world not use RM, RR, RF?  Are macro and mid refering to license models or what?

thanks
jay

« Reply #4 on: September 02, 2008, 10:48 »
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IAnd with your equipment (5D if im not wrong)

i have 2 5ds but they are both broken.  i am a little hard on cameras, i am shooting a 1ds m2 now

« Reply #5 on: September 02, 2008, 10:49 »
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One question! Do you sell your photos in any type of agency like corbis or jupiter?


jsnover

« Reply #6 on: September 02, 2008, 10:49 »
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i am stock photographer from carlsbad, ca just trying to learn a bit more about micro stock, i have never submitted anything for micro and just trying to learn.
macro, mid and micro are referring to prices, not licensing models. The traditional agencies get referred to as macro and micro's what you're asking about. I think mid-stock is a non-starter idea (Lucky Oliver was the most recent proponent of this pricing model and they're now defunct.

All the microstock agencies do RF licensing.

As you have outlets for selling your images already, why are you interested in microstock agencies? Is there some work that your existing agencies don't accept that you think the micros might be good for?


« Reply #7 on: September 02, 2008, 10:51 »
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by the looks of your site you seem to have the skills to do very well with microstock

are those your images on corbis?  

macrostock and microstock is just a term loosly used to give the approximate selling price of the photos.  A macrostock site (getty, corbis, alamy, myloupe etc) sells images from $50-$1000's

Microstock sells images between $1.00-$50 generally and a midstock site sells around $20.00 - $100
The terms all get a little vague when you start considering the $50 web license getty has, the $1.00 educational license alamy has, and the $250 extended license the micros have.

there are no microstock sites that sell images as RM, everything is sold RF

« Reply #8 on: September 02, 2008, 11:14 »
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One question! Do you sell your photos in any type of agency like corbis or jupiter?



i sell on getty, corbis and jupiter

« Reply #9 on: September 02, 2008, 11:17 »
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One question! Do you sell your photos in any type of agency like corbis or jupiter?



i sell on getty, corbis and jupiter

what made you interested in trying microstock?

« Reply #10 on: September 02, 2008, 11:18 »
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i am stock photographer from carlsbad, ca just trying to learn a bit more about micro stock, i have never submitted anything for micro and just trying to learn.
macro, mid and micro are referring to prices, not licensing models. The traditional agencies get referred to as macro and micro's what you're asking about. I think mid-stock is a non-starter idea (Lucky Oliver was the most recent proponent of this pricing model and they're now defunct.

All the microstock agencies do RF licensing.

As you have outlets for selling your images already, why are you interested in microstock agencies? Is there some work that your existing agencies don't accept that you think the micros might be good for?



i have always loved the stock world for the past 8 years, i was an art buyer for marketing departments and ad agencies before i started shooting, back when they actually distributed printed books.  i started shooting stock about 3 years ago and never considered microstock.  i just dont know anything about it so i am just trying to learn about this part of the industry.

i would not send my non-selects to aa microstock site just because i have too many rm options and if they are not picked up by any of them, then they must not be good stock and not worth the time.

« Reply #11 on: September 02, 2008, 11:20 »
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One question! Do you sell your photos in any type of agency like corbis or jupiter?



i sell on getty, corbis and jupiter

i am not interested in trying micro stock, i am just interested in what is happen here, if that makes sense. ;-)  I write about a lot of stock stuff on my blog and know nothing about micro so just trying to learn.

« Reply #12 on: September 02, 2008, 11:26 »
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Hi Jay wellcome here :)
If you want to know what happens in microstock world, I suggest trying out the top 5 microstock agencies to the right. I do not count in 123RF.
Send them 100 top stock images and see what happens. Firsthand experience is the best way to learn. You wouldn't be the first pro who comes from macro to try out microstock.

« Reply #13 on: September 02, 2008, 11:36 »
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Hi Jay wellcome here :)
If you want to know what happens in microstock world, I suggest trying out the top 5 microstock agencies to the right. I do not count in 123RF.
Send them 100 top stock images and see what happens. Firsthand experience is the best way to learn. You wouldn't be the first pro who comes from macro to try out microstock.

Hi Jan!

Well, so far what i am learning is 100 images might not be enough! ;-)  I am just learning about micro.  dont really have the time to test out stock agencies! 

« Reply #14 on: September 02, 2008, 11:46 »
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I think you can learn alot by submitting 100 images. I just want to add that contrary to macro I believe submission processes are much much faster, with much faster results. If you have 100 images ready it might take 6-8 weeks for istock to get them through, but on the other microstock agencies as soon as you are accepted as a photographer you can have them selling within a week or less.
However I do not want convince you :)

lisafx

« Reply #15 on: September 02, 2008, 11:55 »
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Hi Jay,

Welcome to the board.  This is a great resource for anyone wanting to learn about microstock. 

Looks like you are very successful selling through major agencies that sell images for high prices.  Since many micro photographers joined the micros because they couldn't get in to those agencies, you appear to be ahead of the game. 

A number of top microstock photographers have expressed interest in segueying out of microstock and focusing their efforts on mid and macro stock agencies (more traditional agencies) where their efforts are better rewarded.  So to me the micros often end up being a proving ground to help photographers develop the skills to get accepted at the higher paying agencies.

Then there are others that are just interested in shooting for the micros and have no particular desire to upgrade to the top RM agencies. 

Other than general interest, I am not sure what you are asking.  Maybe if you asked specific questions or gave us an idea what exactly you want to know then we could better address your questions...

« Reply #16 on: September 02, 2008, 11:59 »
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Other than general interest, I am not sure what you are asking.  Maybe if you asked specific questions or gave us an idea what exactly you want to know then we could better address your questions...


thanks lisa!  just reading the boards is insight enough.  i dont really have questions, just soaking it in ;-)


« Reply #17 on: September 02, 2008, 12:11 »
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well

as i mention in the first post "stay with macro"

but

if you have spair time try upload to micro staff that you don't mind selling it for 30 cents.

About your question what's up with micro

Micro is like China... extra large production with very low cost "for clients"

It's like working in a fabric compaired to Macro

We are just workers for this guys.

All of us willing to be able to sell only to macros but most doesn't have the  ....

to do that. Since we are not pros many of us, it's a way that we may become one.

If you are productive you can make good money with micro's

Just look at the most succesfull stock photographer "yury arcous" in my opinion he should make about +100 K a month, the concept is "shouting suits"

cheers



digiology

« Reply #18 on: September 02, 2008, 12:20 »
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Hi Jay,

You have some really nice work. Welcome. :)

For some info on microstock I would recommend fintastiques guide. A bit of a one-stop shop with handy comparison charts.
http://www.fintastique.com/guide.htm


« Reply #19 on: September 02, 2008, 13:56 »
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One question! Do you sell your photos in any type of agency like corbis or jupiter?



i sell on getty, corbis and jupiter

what made you interested in trying microstock?
It is not unusual these days to see on microstock some long-time-professional photographers already experienced with traditional stock photography. DNDavis and Ron Chapple are two most-wellknown examples. They both are doing well at micro; and they both said at different time that microstock already generates approximately 1/3 of their stock photography income (and I suppose the portion of micro in their income will grow).

So it may be as worth for you to try it. Although the amount paid per one photo sale is low, the number of sales is much higher comparing with traditional stock.

grp_photo

« Reply #20 on: September 02, 2008, 19:30 »
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Jay you are right to learn about microstock. But sorry to say don't believe what they guys here saying they have no idea about RM-Getty and RM-Corbis with your shooting style you certainly wouldn't do better with micro actually quite the opposite.
Be smart and study the topsellers picturewise and contributorwise at the micros.
Microstock is about an easy picture-language  and cliches. You can see exceptional good portfolios at micros with depressing download-stats.
Actually a lot of your current work would get rejected at the micros. The reviewers (they don't have Artdirectors) at the micros are often housewifes which are well educated about technical issues (like noise etc.) but have no idea about a modern picture language.
Of course you can do very well on microstock check out the portfolios of Top-contributors like Yuri Arcurs, sjlocke, lise gagne, nruboc, andresr, Phil Date etc. If you study ports like that and are willing to produce stuff in this direction you can do exceptional good. But don't start without research and don't believe everything about the hype.

« Reply #21 on: September 04, 2008, 02:34 »
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Don't pay Jay any mind guys. ;)  Jay is quoted as saying "i would not submit to someone like istock...i think that is just asking for trouble." 

Haha - I'm mostly kidding with Jay.  He's a good commercial photographer I know from another site. 

Welcome to MSG Jay - I hope your learning experience is a positive one.   (And if I make more than you within the year, maybe you'll rethink the micro macro thing. haha)

« Reply #22 on: September 04, 2008, 11:09 »
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Hi Jay, I've had your blog in my RSS feeds for a while now.  Nice to see you here.

Micro sales vary hugely from person to person.  Stock oriented concepts sell.  Well executed people photos sell.  Random, common subjects go largely unnoticed.  Nature photos are usually low earners, but the lifecycle of a good nature photo will go on and on and on.  One of my first nature photos is very consistent and sells just about every day, and several times a year sells larger licenses - so it will definitely be on my lifetime best seller list.

The longtail effect becomes more evident as portfolios grow.  Say you have 1000 photos.  150 sell regularily and make 80% of your earnings.  The remaining 850 photos bring down your average but do sell occassionally, say .5 times per month.    It looks like the bulk of the portfolio is underperforming - but it is still 425 sales.  I think I read that Amazon's longtail sales are about 80% of their business.  Millions of titles, and many of them selling just a couple times each year.

Micro buyers are different as well. 
-They seem to want "ready made" shots - copy space - just add their
own brand and text. 
- They don't seem to want art.  They want boring wrap-around lighting with non-distracting backgrounds. 
- They buy a lot of tiny little files for blogs and websites and change them frequently.
- They do pay more for large circulations and use on products. 
- I think macro buyers are exclusively professional.  Micro is a mixture of pros and everyday people.  Bloggers, design houses, freelancers, mom'n'pops. One RM photo would bust the budget of a small busness.  With micro they can do their marketing in-house.

« Reply #23 on: September 04, 2008, 12:53 »
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Don't pay Jay any mind guys. ;)  Jay is quoted as saying "i would not submit to someone like istock...i think that is just asking for trouble." 


ha!  i did say that!  i need to put it into context...we were talking about people getting upset to see their image used in unfavorable ways... and someone flamed me as a stock photographer and how that would happen, and i thought, well if i need to sell 1 image 400 plus times to make it worth shooting, then that image is out there 400 more times than me getting paid fat cash for a 1 time use.  I do think about it all the time, i want o be sensitive to my models and subjects and it would sorry me that an image could cost so little and be used so much,  remember i am just learning here!!



« Reply #24 on: September 04, 2008, 13:19 »
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It's a different mindset I guess. The majority of micro images end up on websites, so having lots of 300x200's out there isn't really so offensive. the web's a big place.

People shots sell best. Upload 100 good people shots and you'll definitely get results. If you know your stuff and you have a good eye (and you obviously do) then 400+ downloads is quite possible.

As an old boss of mine once said, "you either sell a little for a lot or a lot for a little". Microstock is the latter.
« Last Edit: September 04, 2008, 13:21 by Jimi King »

« Reply #25 on: September 06, 2008, 01:17 »
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Hey Jay, Welcome to MSG!
No, not THAT MSG that just for chinese food.

I'm in North County, same as you.
If you ever need someone to show you how to shoot a portfolio of images that don't sell well on Micro, just give me a holler...  ;D

Joseph

« Reply #26 on: September 11, 2008, 06:58 »
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jayreilly, I sent you a personal message


helix7

« Reply #27 on: September 11, 2008, 10:27 »
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...i want o be sensitive to my models and subjects and it would sorry me that an image could cost so little and be used so much...

Hi Jay. I don't know how much help I'll be since I'm not a photog (illustrator only), but I can say that in my limited experience in stock, it definitely takes a somewhat lower expectation of usage control to stomach microstock. Images are sold hundreds (sometimes thousands) of times, and at prices that open up the customer base to everyone from savvy image buyers to ruthless scammers looking to exploit artists. It's bad enough that images are sold far too many times in microstock to realistically track and enforce license terms, and on top of that there is the issue of image theft and misuse. Just a couple of weeks ago i was alerted to someone who purchased 10 of my images and was reselling them on another microstock site. It's a daily occurance in microstock, and while the community is pretty good about policing and spotting theft like that, it still goes on. My point is that I think to be a microstock contributor, you need to be willing to let go of much of the protection and rights found in traditional stock business models. My images get misused, stolen, are used for purposes outside of the license, etc., and while I wish that didn't happen, I can live with it.

FYI, I started out in microstock, and never sold images any other way prior. So maybe my expectations are naturally lower since I don't have a point of reference prior to microstock.

suwanneeredhead

  • O.I.D. Sufferer (Obsessive Illustration Disorder)
« Reply #28 on: August 14, 2016, 13:09 »
+1
 >:(

« Reply #29 on: August 14, 2016, 16:29 »
+2

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #30 on: August 14, 2016, 17:19 »
+3
>:(

What was the point of that?

I took it as a comment on the ubiquitous Russian, who had posted several times on many threads before being removed, including in this one.

« Reply #31 on: August 14, 2016, 17:39 »
0
>:(

What was the point of that?

He just wanted everyone to know he's constipated, Can't you tell? >:( >:( >:( >:(

« Reply #32 on: August 14, 2016, 18:09 »
+1
"including in this one"

Ah, yes.

« Reply #33 on: August 14, 2016, 19:23 »
0
>:(

What was the point of that?

I took it as a comment on the ubiquitous Russian, who had posted several times on many threads before being removed, including in this one.


Yes, everything was spammed, including really old threads that were resurrected, only to be spammed multiple times.  >:(  for sure.

« Reply #34 on: August 18, 2016, 06:32 »
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Hi guys! I'm a newbie. Seems like I registered to a good forum.  Looking forward to learning new things here. :)

« Reply #35 on: August 20, 2016, 08:00 »
+5
Hi guys! I'm a newbie. Seems like I registered to a good forum.  Looking forward to learning new things here. :)

Run away!  Save yourself!  It's too late for the rest of us, but YOU may be able to save your sanity.



 

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