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Author Topic: what's with all the frustration !  (Read 21755 times)

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« on: September 04, 2017, 07:51 »
+4
I am new here and this is only my second post but I have read most of the recent topics and I can't help but notice the huge amount of frustration and disappointment and even discouragement sometimes ! I guess all newbies know that it's not a huge business, doesn't make u rich or even close but I think many of the friends who post and comment here are really discouraging. I know they are being realistic, I totally understand that, but you can be realistic and at the same time keep some optimistic views for those who are eager to try and go through this. I think one can be realistic but in the meantime supportive and optimistic.

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« Reply #1 on: September 04, 2017, 07:57 »
+34
It isn't our job to keep optimistic views for you.  Better to know what you're getting into.

Semmick Photo

« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2017, 08:05 »
+8
Look Wael, go ahead, the future is bright. Just spend hours taking photos, then hours processing and tagging photos, then spend hours uploading photos, and watch the 20-25 cents roll in. Submit to the top 6 agencies and I am sure you will make about 25 euro per month. If its just a hobby, go for it.


« Reply #3 on: September 04, 2017, 08:28 »
+9
If you put so much time and money into stock and it doesn't give you the income you are planning, it kills your will slowly.

« Reply #4 on: September 04, 2017, 08:45 »
+6
There's not much point in making new images for a lot of us and that was the fun part, so that doesn't help with optimism.

ShadySue

  • There is a crack in everything
« Reply #5 on: September 04, 2017, 08:50 »
+7
As you are a doctor, may I suggest you find a less stressful outlet for your creativity?
Stock absolutely is a huge business, so huge that the worker ants count for nothing at all.

And remember, a cynic is just a disappointed optimist.

« Reply #6 on: September 04, 2017, 09:03 »
+27
I am new here and this is only my second post but I have read most of the recent topics and I can't help but notice the huge amount of frustration and disappointment and even discouragement sometimes ! I guess all newbies know that it's not a huge business, doesn't make u rich or even close but I think many of the friends who post and comment here are really discouraging. I know they are being realistic, I totally understand that, but you can be realistic and at the same time keep some optimistic views for those who are eager to try and go through this. I think one can be realistic but in the meantime supportive and optimistic.

Sent from my SM-G928C using Tapatalk

There is nothing to be optimistic about when your royalties keep getting cut, when you keep producing commercially viable content yet your income keeps going down, when another agency comes along and gives everyone hope then either tanks, cuts royalties or both, when one agency learned of another agency's sneaky ways to cut commissions then copies it, when your work is copied by others and you are in essence competing against yourself, when someone steals your content and you have to fight tooth and nail to get it taken down, when you make 28 cents and your images is used out of terms when you should have received $28 and the agencies do nothing, when your content is mirrored on another site without your permission and sold for $1 and you make next to nothing, when your work sells for $300 and you make 30 cents, when a distributor makes more than you and the agency and when management tells you that money isn't what makes contributors happy, you will too will not be optimistic for all of the right reasons. 

« Reply #7 on: September 04, 2017, 09:24 »
+8
Wow, Mantis pretty well summed it up.  Unfortunately, I think the negativity is realistic.  If you had been here eight or ten years ago you would have seen lots of optimism and help for newbies but as competition has become tougher and agencies have tightened the screws on commissions all the optimists have moved on to better pastures, drunk themselves to death or become the hardened, negative realists you see today for all the reasons Mantis so elegantly provided.  More and harder work for less money will do that.  Welcome to the club!

Semmick Photo

« Reply #8 on: September 04, 2017, 09:27 »
+10
3% royalty on DP, doesnt get more optimistic than that, or 0.01c royalty on Istock. Or have royalty slashed from 70% to 30% because it is better for sales, is also quite optimistic. Or have ELs go from 28$ fixed to 30% of sales price. All very optimistic.

The only optimistic thing that happened was the closure of the Dollar Photo Club. Unfortunately not so optimistically was that I got kicked off Fotolia for fighting for our rights.


« Reply #9 on: September 04, 2017, 09:47 »
+5
Many of us here have concluded that microstock is a waste of time.  I'd say there are 2 big reasons:  enormous oversupply, and an online market pretty much controlled by a couple of companies that have become abusive middlemen.  At this point it's hard to see how that might change anytime soon.  Unless you can produce large numbers of photos that sell like crazy, it's not going to be worthwhile.

That said, there's something else that's true: in any endeavor, there are always new people coming along, with new ideas and fresh eyes, who do things better than 80% of the people already there, and find surprising new ways to succeed.

Shelma1

  • stockcoalition.org
« Reply #10 on: September 04, 2017, 09:51 »
+15
I wonder how optimistic the OP would remain if he worked longer and longer hours as a doctor for less and less pay every day.

Bad Company

« Reply #11 on: September 04, 2017, 10:20 »
+1
All the comments here are very true! A lot of folks use to make a decent living and no longer can- just a fact.

  As a newbie you truly want to understand the history of this business so you won't get a false sense of security. Basically, we are saving you time and effort from the pain and suffering we have gone through. Listen carefully and you can still have some fun while making a few $$

PS
I give everyone a plus including the OP to make this site more supportive and optimistic  8)
« Last Edit: September 04, 2017, 10:33 by Bad Company »

« Reply #12 on: September 04, 2017, 10:32 »
+3
I am new here and this is only my second post but I have read most of the recent topics and I can't help but notice the huge amount of frustration and disappointment and even discouragement sometimes ! I guess all newbies know that it's not a huge business, doesn't make u rich or even close but I think many of the friends who post and comment here are really discouraging. I know they are being realistic, I totally understand that, but you can be realistic and at the same time keep some optimistic views for those who are eager to try and go through this. I think one can be realistic but in the meantime supportive and optimistic.

Sent from my SM-G928C using Tapatalk
I'm optimistic about Alamy.  There's a few other sites that aren't awful but it would be too much of a push to be optimistic about them.  Why pretend?  I have no idea why anyone would want to join istock now and get 15% wile they take 85%, if you want to be optimistic about that, go ahead but don't ask me to be.

Chichikov

« Reply #13 on: September 04, 2017, 10:55 »
+9
By reading the continual complaints about microscock sites and microstock business I really wonder what we all do here ......
I nevertheless came to a conclusion: we are masochists

« Reply #14 on: September 04, 2017, 11:22 »
+1
By reading the continual complaints about microscock sites and microstock business I really wonder what we all do here ......
I nevertheless came to a conclusion: we are masochists
Thats the puzzle some people detest the industry it makes them unhappy and they STILL do it. Perhaps they are not so confident that their work or the demand for their skills  is really worth so much out in the big wide world?

niktol

« Reply #15 on: September 04, 2017, 11:40 »
+1
I am new here and this is only my second post but I have read most of the recent topics and I can't help but notice the huge amount of frustration and disappointment and even discouragement sometimes ! I guess all newbies know that it's not a huge business, doesn't make u rich or even close but I think many of the friends who post and comment here are really discouraging. I know they are being realistic, I totally understand that, but you can be realistic and at the same time keep some optimistic views for those who are eager to try and go through this. I think one can be realistic but in the meantime supportive and optimistic.

Sent from my SM-G928C using Tapatalk

I am not sure what kind of support you are looking for. It's a very competitive business, so more often than not you are on your own. Information that would really help is typically confidential. It's not a walk in the park, so if someone's approach does not work, they get discouraged and pessimistic. Survival of the fittest so to speak. Personally I am cautiously optimistic and enjoy it very much, but it started as a research project for me, I may not share the same goals as other people.

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #16 on: September 04, 2017, 11:54 »
+3
Come back in 5 years and we'll see how optimistic you are ...


« Reply #17 on: September 04, 2017, 11:59 »
+2
By reading the continual complaints about microscock sites and microstock business I really wonder what we all do here ......
I nevertheless came to a conclusion: we are masochists
Thats the puzzle some people detest the industry it makes them unhappy and they STILL do it. Perhaps they are not so confident that their work or the demand for their skills  is really worth so much out in the big wide world?

For me, the forum changed depending on the stage of the industry. There was the golden age when there was a lot of positive news and talk (raises, new sites, etc.). Then, the industry shifted (not for the better), so there was a lot of discussion about how to make things better and supporting better paying sites, creating your own sites and fair commissions. A lot of that was positive, but it didn't quite make a dent. Now, I'm probably in the whatever mode. I pop in occasionally to see what's going on or get a funny jab in, but don't expect anything substantive to happen. Just waiting for the end or the next journey to occupy my attention... or maybe just football season. :D

Bad Company

« Reply #18 on: September 04, 2017, 13:37 »
+1
By reading the continual complaints about microscock sites and microstock business I really wonder what we all do here ......
I nevertheless came to a conclusion: we are masochists
Thats the puzzle some people detest the industry it makes them unhappy and they STILL do it. Perhaps they are not so confident that their work or the demand for their skills  is really worth so much out in the big wide world?

For me, the forum changed depending on the stage of the industry. There was the golden age when there was a lot of positive news and talk (raises, new sites, etc.). Then, the industry shifted (not for the better), so there was a lot of discussion about how to make things better and supporting better paying sites, creating your own sites and fair commissions. A lot of that was positive, but it didn't quite make a dent. Now, I'm probably in the whatever mode. I pop in occasionally to see what's going on or get a funny jab in, but don't expect anything substantive to happen. Just waiting for the end or the next journey to occupy my attention... or maybe just football season. :D

Very well said!  8)

PS
Go Seahawks!

« Reply #19 on: September 04, 2017, 13:40 »
+2
I pop in occasionally to see what's going on or get a funny jab in, but don't expect anything substantive to happen. Just waiting for the end or the next journey to occupy my attention...

Me too.   

Bad Company

« Reply #20 on: September 04, 2017, 13:44 »
+2
Come back in 5 years and we'll see how optimistic you are ...

That's pretty optimistic thinking that this business will last five more years  8)

angelawaye

  • Eat, Sleep, Keyword. Repeat

« Reply #21 on: September 04, 2017, 14:27 »
+1
True. I don't think I will be doing microstock in 5 years but I'm sure some will.

dpimborough

« Reply #22 on: September 04, 2017, 14:34 »
+4
A cardiologist most likely on a six figure salary in the UK selling photos for pennies?

What gives?

Anyway I quote your opening gambit on your thread of August 26th "Hello everyone. I have joined this amazing forum about a week ago"

Not amazing any more then I guess?

« Reply #23 on: September 04, 2017, 14:41 »
+4
i do appreciate all the comments on this post, i am not that kind of person who would willingly allow for a false hope or miscalculated judgments. what i am trying to say is that you people, for sure, love photography and maybe some started doing it as a hobby like me and then loved it and enjoyed doing it. also, from what i have read so far in the forum, the vast majority are doing microstock business as a side stream income. based on that, why not just enjoy it and be a bit more tolerant to whatever this strange market brings ?!

« Reply #24 on: September 04, 2017, 15:27 »
+8
i do appreciate all the comments on this post, i am not that kind of person who would willingly allow for a false hope or miscalculated judgments. what i am trying to say is that you people, for sure, love photography and maybe some started doing it as a hobby like me and then loved it and enjoyed doing it. also, from what i have read so far in the forum, the vast majority are doing microstock business as a side stream income. based on that, why not just enjoy it and be a bit more tolerant to whatever this strange market brings ?!

Tolerant to the point of self abuse at times, like when you spend weeks and months uploading hundreds of images and just when you get some traction and sales are increasing they delete the lot and tell you not quite what they are about anymore, Canva and Evanto. Like when 25% of your income comes from On Demand sales and the CEO proudly tells the speculators that he has changed pricing so now we only get a sub those sales, Shutterstock.  Read and understand the comments above for many more instances then read it again until it sinks in.
 
You may be one of those who is happy for someone to like your image enough to buy it at any price, you will not be disappointed.


 

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