Author Topic: your top six microstock sites for a newbie? (Read 14200 times)

salaahkhayr · « **on:** June 10, 2014, 06:01 »

WHICH SITES WOULD YOU ADVICE A NEWBIE TO SUBMIT TO?

ChangPap · « **Reply #1 on:** June 10, 2014, 06:36 »

The poll results on the right are always a great indication of where it is worth uploading to. Start at the top and work your way down. Also depends whether you are concerned with getting a fair cut of each sale or not.

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2014, 06:44 »

in fact my question is also based on that poll results....iv heard so much about people declining fotolia and istock! and those two are on the top four, thing i dont understand much...what would you peeps advice??

ChangPap · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2014, 06:46 »

Quote from: salaahkhayr on June 10, 2014, 06:44

in fact my question is also based on that poll results....iv heard so much about people declining fotolia and istock! and those two are on the top four, thing i dont understand much...what would you peeps advice??

They still sell well compared to most other sites, but the stem of the complaints is how badly they treat contributors.

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2014, 07:03 »

"what would you peeps advice??"

Don't get into microstock.

ShadySue · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2014, 07:03 »

It depends what your individual portfolio is, and what particular way they treat contributors you find unacceptable.
Everyone's port is different; everyone's tolerance / point of unacceptability is different.
Easier to make the moral choice now, before you start (a LOT of reading to do); thereafter you just have to see how your portfolio fares on the agencies you choose. What works for others may not work for your port, and vice versa.

Epsilonth · « **Reply #6 on:** June 10, 2014, 07:33 »

If you're looking for extra cash to cure Gear Acquisition Syndrome just go for shutterstock and 123rd. If you're looking to make a living. Well.. good luck with that.

EmberMike · « **Reply #7 on:** June 10, 2014, 09:13 »

Since you're an illustrator, the poll on the right doesn't apply. For the most part, anyway. Shutterstock is a top site no matter what your portfolio looks like. For me, Fotolia was never a top-tier site. Middle tier at best, and low in that tier really. Given the current state of things there, I wouldn't bother with them. I actually deleted half of my portfolio.

Veer is surprisingly decent for illustrations. GL used to be, but not so much lately. Still worth a try, though. They pay a fair commission, so they're worth supporting.

Clipartof is a site that I can't get into myself but wish I could. I've heard it's a pretty good earner.

luissantos84 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 10, 2014, 09:20 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on June 10, 2014, 07:03

"what would you peeps advice??"

Don't get into microstock.

are you leaving?

cthoman · « **Reply #9 on:** June 10, 2014, 09:38 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on June 10, 2014, 07:03

"what would you peeps advice??"

Don't get into microstock.

That's the advice I was thinking.

Ariene · « **Reply #10 on:** June 10, 2014, 09:53 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on June 10, 2014, 07:03

Don't get into microstock.

Exactly, this train has gone long time ago.

Nikovsk · « **Reply #11 on:** June 10, 2014, 13:51 »

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on June 10, 2014, 07:03

"what would you peeps advice??"

Don't get into microstock.

Sad answer. If it's so bad, why are you still uploading?

Don't listen to these stupid advices.
I say focus on SS and IS which are the ones that really bring in the money.

And avoid DP, they are scammers.

salaahkhayr · « **Reply #12 on:** June 10, 2014, 14:05 »

don't get into micro, well i too don't agree much with this statement. what i do agree is every ms sites is not the same. some are meant to waste time( you all know it better) and some are good revenue sources. i know people making over $5ooo monthly only through MS. i thnk for each of us its not the same.

cthoman · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2014, 14:13 »

Quote from: Nikovsk on June 10, 2014, 13:51

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on June 10, 2014, 07:03
"what would you peeps advice??"

Don't get into microstock.

Sad answer. If it's so bad, why are you still uploading?

Don't listen to these stupid advices.
I say focus on SS and IS which are the ones that really bring in the money.

And avoid DP, they are scammers.

I know this wasn't directed at me, but for the most part I'm not. At least not at the major sites. I recently rejoined some sites I previously left and the results at most of them were poor in comparison to the old days. And that was with a large batch of already completed images. I can't even imagine starting entirely from scratch today. I'd probably lose interest quickly and find something else.

Unless you find some new hidden gem, you probably aren't going to have success. I'm sorry if that is a pessimistic view, but I think it is a reality that most new contributors will face. Normally, I'm a glass half full kind of guy, and I wish new contributors the best. That said, I think they should prepare for the worst.

Nikovsk · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2014, 14:34 »

I guess it all depends on where are your $$ expectations.
With U$ 500 / month people can live very well in most of the world.

I started 3 months ago, I set my goal and know I will reach it within one year.
After that is bonus because I have low expenses.

Well if you live in Norway or Australia, then yes don't get into microstock.
If you live in Eastern Europe, Latin America, Africa or Asia there's a good chance of success.

I could definitely make more with a regular job, but I choose freedom over money.

Goofy · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2014, 14:47 »

1. Shutterstock
2. Shutterstock
3. Shuttererstock
4. Shutterstock
5. shutterstock
6. Shutterstock

Maximilian · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:05 »

1. istock
2. shutterstock

ShadySue · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:16 »

Quote from: Maximilian on June 10, 2014, 15:05

1. istock

For new files?

Harvepino · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:24 »

You'll do nothing wrong if you start with top 6 based on poll results. You can later try adding other agencies to see how they work for you. In my case, top 6 agencies generate 89% of income. As for a newbie, focus on Shutterstock, it is the absolute No.1
As you browse this forum, you'll see that some agencies, although profitable, are not very popular among us, contributors. It is your decision if you want to support them or not. But if you have only some tens/hundreds of images you are starting with, I wouldn't worry about it too much yet, it'll come to you as time goes. Good luck

Sean Locke Photography · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:36 »

"Sad answer. If it's so bad, why are you still uploading?"

I didn't suggest that I should stop. I was telling the OP not to start. I know enough about how things work to get by right now, thanks to experience.

robhainer · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:52 »

This is just my opinion. But I think these are the only ones where you can build up a regular payout in a reasonable amount of time.

Shutterstock
Dreamstime
Fotolia
Bigstock
123RF
Istock
Canstock
Deposit Photos

Ron · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:53 »

Quote from: Nikovsk on June 10, 2014, 14:34

I guess it all depends on where are your $$ expectations.
With U$ 500 / month people can live very well in most of the world.

Most of the world. Sorry thats very far from the truth. You cant live of 500$ in North America, Europe, parts of Russia, Australia, parts of the Middle East and parts of China and Japan. So leaves you with South America and Africa.

robhainer · « **Reply #22 on:** June 10, 2014, 15:55 »

Quote from: Ron on June 10, 2014, 15:53

Quote from: Nikovsk on June 10, 2014, 14:34
I guess it all depends on where are your $$ expectations.
With U$ 500 / month people can live very well in most of the world.

Most of the world. Sorry thats very far from the truth. You cant live of 500$ in North America, Europe, parts of Russia, Australia, parts of the Middle East and parts of China and Japan. So leaves you with South America and Africa.

Yeah, I doubt $500 a month would get you very far in any place that has modern plumbing. So that probably leaves out a lot of South America, too.

ShadySue · « **Reply #23 on:** June 10, 2014, 16:08 »

Quote from: Ron on June 10, 2014, 15:53

Quote from: Nikovsk on June 10, 2014, 14:34
I guess it all depends on where are your $$ expectations.
With U$ 500 / month people can live very well in most of the world.

Most of the world. Sorry thats very far from the truth. You cant live of 500$ in North America, Europe, parts of Russia, Australia, parts of the Middle East and parts of China and Japan. So leaves you with South America and Africa.

And swathes of Asia.

OTOH, whether sales in these areas are buoyant, I couldn't say, which might be relevant if local content is what you plan to offer.

Nikovsk · « **Reply #24 on:** June 10, 2014, 16:45 »

Wow Japan is one country in Asia, add Singapure so 2. What about the other 45?
Do you have any idea of the average salary in China?

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Author Topic: your top six microstock sites for a newbie? (Read 14200 times)

salaahkhayr

ChangPap

salaahkhayr

ChangPap

Sean Locke Photography

ShadySue

Epsilonth

EmberMike

luissantos84

cthoman

Ariene

Nikovsk

salaahkhayr

cthoman

Nikovsk

Goofy

Maximilian

ShadySue

Harvepino

Sean Locke Photography

robhainer

Ron

robhainer

ShadySue

Nikovsk

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