MicrostockGroup
Microstock Photography Forum - General => Newbie Discussion => Topic started by: Mynameisnotearl on December 03, 2020, 11:59
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Hello.
In past 4 months I uploaded over 1850 images to dreamstime without any sells. Which made me wonder is it even good idea uploading photos there. Makes me wonder if there are better sites to sell nature photos.
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Hello.
In past 4 months I uploaded over 1850 images to dreamstime without any sells. Which made me wonder is it even good idea uploading photos there. Makes me wonder if there are better sites to sell nature photos.
Maybe Martha will see this or you can ask her, or Shady Sue. I'm not sure of any others who do concentrate on nature photos.
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“Nature” as in “stuff in my backyard” or as in “I made a ton of effort going to unique places and finding uncommon things”?
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I think nature in general hasn't sold well in microstock. Low demand and a large quantity of images. You may want to consider a different route like art POD.
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“Nature” as in “stuff in my backyard” or as in “I made a ton of effort going to unique places and finding uncommon things”?
Like going out for forests fields and lakes
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I've never submitted anywhere other than iS and Alamy, and IIRC Martha now is focussing on AdobeStock, so it would be hard to say where would be 'best'. I'm not really a landscape specialist anyway.
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“Nature” as in “stuff in my backyard” or as in “I made a ton of effort going to unique places and finding uncommon things”?
as usual, it all depends - my port is mostly travel & nature but the best selling images from my antarctica trip are of traffic jams in buenos aires; on another cruise the best sellers are of the casino. and some of my home garden ferns outsell more exotic locations. i dont try to predict.
as far as agencies, sales are different across agencies, so i wouldnt depend on just one. exotics locations may be a disadvantage compared to generic hills &dales when buyer wants an image that complements but doesnt overwhelm their message
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Travel/Nature sells ok on most sites if you can have good , different nature travel pictures that are well caption with good info for the user/reader.
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There are tons of variables, but in general, I sell a lot more at Adobe Stock than I do at Dreamstime (and when I still had a Shutterstock account, it sold more than or more recently about the same as Adobe Stock).
If you were uploading to Dreamstime because they accepted everything, figure out what the issues are and fix them.
Even though the Poll results at right aren't really precise, they give you the general idea of the relative sales strength of the agencies: 41.6 / 3.2 = You could make about 10 times the money at Adobe Stock as you do at Dreamstime (ignoring zeroes, obviously).
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I'm primarily a travel and editorial photographer but I shoot a fair amount of nature, both landscapes/seascapes, some weather related images, and detail images of plants and insects. I agree that good shots with precise and accurate captions and keywords sell across various sites.
More than half of my images licensed by Alamy this year were landscape or seascape shots; some of them were licensed for personal use for one-off prints. About one-third of the images that sold on Adobe Stock this year were nature images, including landscapes and flowers. At dreamstime, different images sold, but again nature accounted for about 1/3rd. (When I was with shutterstock, they also sold there).
Nature sells best for me on Fine Art America, a print on demand site that sells photo prints. All types of nature sold there - landscapes, seascapes, flowers/plants, animals, and seashells. 16 out of 30 sales there so far this year were nature, so just over half.
It is essential to caption and keyword accurately and to include the scientific (Latin) name for the trees, flowers, or other plants that are significant in the image, and to include the location if it is relevant. This is the only way your images show up in searches. "Pretty flower" won't cut it, but I'm assuming you know this.
While nature images are not a huge stock sellers, they are evergreen, that is, unlike lifestyle shots, they will keep selling for many years. If your nature images are well composed and interesting, not simply pretty snapshots, and if they are also keyworded well, they should sell.
Good luck!
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Having a roughly 50% nature driven portfolio myself, I can tell you from my experience that these images sell across all known platforms, taking into account that sales on low earning sites (where Dreamstime is one of them) are... well... slow. But! Very proper keywording including location and situations are absolutely key.
"Grass field in the mountains with trees under clear blue sky" will probably not get you any sales.
"Treelined agricultural field in Laruns, French Pyrenees with blue sky and mountain view during autumn" will do better.
Balance your first ten keywords with location, generic landscape description and situation. Enter the less important keywords or lesser uses synonyms after that.
You choose the wrong agency to start with and to put a lot of effort in. If you want sales, upload to Shutterstock (Yes I know, robbers), iStock/getty (Yes I know, robbers too) and Adobe Stock. A portfolio with 1800 decent quality images, properly keyworded, will probably get you regular sales spread out across these three agencies.
Edit: the above is valid for landscapes. If nature means plants and animals, I can't tell you much, except for the fact that this is not a good selling category for me. Nothing more than incidental sales. I have wildlife, but much better photographers than me with much better gear (zoom or macro lenses) compete my images down the drain. That said, it also makes sense to include locations here. e.g. Cheetah in %national park% or oak tree in %national park%
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Roscoe:
Thank you a lot for sharing your experiences in kind of landscape photography, agencies where it should get sell and for the GREAT short example for good title - it just SHOWS very well in short, how to creat a good title without many other words around.
Add the advice from somone above about the POD sites and a landscape photograph, who just want to start selling his work, has a good start.
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I'm very late coming to this discussion because my husband has been in the hospital (not for Covid, thank God) almost since the thread started. He's not doing well, so obviously my attention is there, not here.
I'm about to head off to the ICU for another day, but I did just stop by and noticed this thread. Saw Pete mention me too, so I will chime in.
I began uploading to iStock in 2008, Shitterstock in 2009, and Dreamstime in 2010. (I abandoned iS in 2011 and SS in 2020.) I've only given DT my stills, and it's the last place I send them to, and the last place I bother keywording and submitting. My images often sit there unattended for half a year before I get around to taking the final steps for submission. That said, it's also the easiest place for me to submit to.
As of this morning, after a decade, my DT account shows 2,919 images, with a grand total of 964 sales. The upside is that those sales average higher royalties than the other sites, and the rate of sales is slow but steady. So I have kept uploading through all those years.
This is not a career for me. What I most enjoy is the photography itself, and microstock is just a way to share what I do with some degree of financial return. So I'm not a good one to model after. However, if you'd like to see the kind of images that sell best for me overall, click the Adobe Stock link below.
Martha
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I'm very late coming to this discussion because my husband has been in the hospital (not for Covid, thank God) almost since the thread started. He's not doing well, so obviously my attention is there, not here.
Best wishes to you both, Martha. Thinking about you.
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I'm very late coming to this discussion because my husband has been in the hospital (not for Covid, thank God) almost since the thread started. He's not doing well, so obviously my attention is there, not here.
Amazing similarities with stock photography, Martha! Wishing both you and your husband a successful passage into 2021....I've always enjoyed the distraction photography provides and submitting to agencies over the years especially when dealing with personal difficulties.
As far as nature photography goes, I'd encourage Mynameisnotearl to cruise the net. There's lots of forums specifically geared toward "nature photography"......
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Thank you. My husband of 53 years died Tuesday night, peacefully and painlessly with me at his side. It was a relief in many ways, because he had suffered through a long, difficult series of events. He is at peace now, and I am too.
This was not Covid or any normal disease. In 2011, he suffered through two rounds of viral encephalitis (an extremely rare inflammation of the brain). Although he survived that, it left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Managing the epilepsy has dominated our lives these last 9 years, but about 6 weeks ago the medications stopped working. He developed an end-stage condition called Status epilepticus, where the seizures just go on and on and on with stopping. His lasted 48 hours before they finally burned out.
If anyone is curious, Johns Hopkins University has a clear explanation on its website:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus)
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Thank you. My husband of 53 years died Tuesday night, peacefully and painlessly with me at his side. It was a relief in many ways, because he had suffered through a long, difficult series of events. He is at peace now, and I am too.
This was not Covid or any normal disease. In 2011, he suffered through two rounds of viral encephalitis (an extremely rare inflammation of the brain). Although he survived that, it left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Managing the epilepsy has dominated our lives these last 9 years, but about 6 weeks ago the medications stopped working. He developed an end-stage condition called Status epilepticus, where the seizures just go on and on and on with stopping. His lasted 48 hours before they finally burned out.
If anyone is curious, Johns Hopkins University has a clear explanation on its website:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus)
So sorry to hear your news, Martha, though I understand your feelings of peace for him and for you.
Look after yourself now. These are especially difficult times to be going through this experience.
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Thank you. My husband of 53 years died Tuesday night, peacefully and painlessly with me at his side. It was a relief in many ways, because he had suffered through a long, difficult series of events. He is at peace now, and I am too.
This was not Covid or any normal disease. In 2011, he suffered through two rounds of viral encephalitis (an extremely rare inflammation of the brain). Although he survived that, it left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Managing the epilepsy has dominated our lives these last 9 years, but about 6 weeks ago the medications stopped working. He developed an end-stage condition called Status epilepticus, where the seizures just go on and on and on with stopping. His lasted 48 hours before they finally burned out.
If anyone is curious, Johns Hopkins University has a clear explanation on its website:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus)
So sorry to hear your news, Martha, though I understand your feelings of peace for him and for you.
Look after yourself now. These are especially difficult times to be going through this experience.
Thank you for that. I'm surrounded by people whom I can't hug and who can't hug me. But the warmth of their support is real, and the peace I feel is real too.
Please take care of yourself and be well
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Note that "worthwhile" means, literally, that something will repay the time spent on it.
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Thank you. My husband of 53 years died Tuesday night, peacefully and painlessly with me at his side. It was a relief in many ways, because he had suffered through a long, difficult series of events. He is at peace now, and I am too.
This was not Covid or any normal disease. In 2011, he suffered through two rounds of viral encephalitis (an extremely rare inflammation of the brain). Although he survived that, it left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Managing the epilepsy has dominated our lives these last 9 years, but about 6 weeks ago the medications stopped working. He developed an end-stage condition called Status epilepticus, where the seizures just go on and on and on with stopping. His lasted 48 hours before they finally burned out.
If anyone is curious, Johns Hopkins University has a clear explanation on its website:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus)
Sorry to read that.
Stay strong Martha.
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So sorry for your loss, Martha. I’m glad he was at peace when he passed. Take care. ♥️
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So sorry for your husband loss R.I.P
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Very sorry for your loss Martha.
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Sorry for your loss, Martha
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Deeply sorry for your loss Martha. I do understand that these times in life are hard, but i know you will treasure your memories together and overcome this.
Hope you stay safe and strong.
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Thank you all. It's almost odd to find such kindness and support on this forum, which often is exactly the opposite. But I'm an old-timer here now (literally and figuratively!) so I've seen a lot of warmth too, over all these years.
I like this MSG, to be honest. It occupies a hard-to-get spot in the bookmarks row of my browser, so somehow or other I must enjoy being part of the group.
Bless you all. Please stay safe.
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Martha, I am so very sorry for your loss. 53 years is a lot of memories ...
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Mes plus sincères condoléances, Martha
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Thank you, Martha for sharing your story. It's a valuable example for us
all that we are more than a collection of funny hashtags. We are real people
who all do a very honorable thing....We capture the fragility and beauty and
essence of life on this beautiful planet. Your deeply poignant story is a
reminder to me that life is a precious gift. A precious gift that I want to capture
and share with others. Thank you, Martha.
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Martha, I am so very sorry for your loss. 53 years is a lot of memories ...
Thank you, Jo Ann. Yes, it is a long time with many memories, almost all of them good.
I wish the same to you and others.
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Mes plus sincères condoléances, Martha
Thank you, friend.
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Thank you, Martha for sharing your story. It's a valuable example for us
all that we are more than a collection of funny hashtags. We are real people
who all do a very honorable thing....We capture the fragility and beauty and
essence of life on this beautiful planet. Your deeply poignant story is a
reminder to me that life is a precious gift. A precious gift that I want to capture
and share with others. Thank you, Martha.
Thanks for saying that. Your words touched me, made me cry actually. Of course, that happens often and easily these days. Please know that I'm glad my loss is a good reminder to others of what's really important.
Yes, we are all part of a beautiful and fragile world. Worth remembering as we move on through the rest of our lives.
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Really sorry about your loss. You have been always a very positive force on these forums. Your husband was very lucky to have you as a life companion.
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Thank you. My husband of 53 years died Tuesday night, peacefully and painlessly with me at his side. It was a relief in many ways, because he had suffered through a long, difficult series of events. He is at peace now, and I am too.
This was not Covid or any normal disease. In 2011, he suffered through two rounds of viral encephalitis (an extremely rare inflammation of the brain). Although he survived that, it left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Managing the epilepsy has dominated our lives these last 9 years, but about 6 weeks ago the medications stopped working. He developed an end-stage condition called Status epilepticus, where the seizures just go on and on and on with stopping. His lasted 48 hours before they finally burned out.
If anyone is curious, Johns Hopkins University has a clear explanation on its website:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus)
Sorry to hear Martha. May his soul rest in peace...
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Really sorry about your loss. You have been always a very positive force on these forums. Your husband was very lucky to have you as a life companion.
Thank you for that.
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Thank you. My husband of 53 years died Tuesday night, peacefully and painlessly with me at his side. It was a relief in many ways, because he had suffered through a long, difficult series of events. He is at peace now, and I am too.
This was not Covid or any normal disease. In 2011, he suffered through two rounds of viral encephalitis (an extremely rare inflammation of the brain). Although he survived that, it left him with brain damage and epilepsy. Managing the epilepsy has dominated our lives these last 9 years, but about 6 weeks ago the medications stopped working. He developed an end-stage condition called Status epilepticus, where the seizures just go on and on and on with stopping. His lasted 48 hours before they finally burned out.
If anyone is curious, Johns Hopkins University has a clear explanation on its website:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus (https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/status-epilepticus)
Sorry to hear Martha. May his soul rest in peace...
Thank you.
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Nature sells best for me on Fine Art America, a print on demand site that sells photo prints. All types of nature sold there - landscapes, seascapes, flowers/plants, animals, and seashells. 16 out of 30 sales there so far this year were nature, so just over half.
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Do you have to have a paid account to sell anything on FAA? because I only have a free accnt & haven't sold anything.