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Messages - hatman12
Pages: 1 ... 44 45 46 47 48 [49] 50 51
1201
« on: March 09, 2007, 06:29 »
The rejection reasons are given by SS on their site. You can check for yourself. Unless diversity is indeed the problem (I suspect it is).
BTW I've given five star ratings to your horse pictures, and also the 'home security'. Excellent work. Well done.
1202
« on: March 09, 2007, 06:18 »
Yes, another large size sale today at $1.50 commission.
For the first time my average commission per sale at DT now exceeds the average from IS. DT is averaging 86c whereas IS is languishing at 68c. Based on total sales.
I still believe the trend for pricing and commissions in the microstock industry is on a firm upwards trend. In a year's time I would expect to see these average income per sale figures at nearer $1.50.
1203
« on: March 08, 2007, 14:48 »
Suddenly this week I've noticed a sharp reduction in approval times for IS. Also, their waiting list has gone down from nearly 30,000 photos to only 21,000.
At the same time the approval process for DT has lengthened considerably, and DT are announcing near record upload numbers.
Perhaps this is just coincidence, but it seems to coincide with the price increases and higher commissions at DT.
My last two downloads at DT have paid $1.50 and $1.00 which is very competitive.
With the complex uploading procedure at IS and now higher prices/commissions elsewhere, does anyone get the impression that people are flocking/preferring to go elsewhere?
1204
« on: March 07, 2007, 15:55 »
Higher prices and higher commissions are attracting more people.
I believe the pricing/commission trend in microstock is firmly upwards.
1205
« on: March 07, 2007, 15:53 »
Yes, improving nicely and better prices/commissions.
1206
« on: March 07, 2007, 03:53 »
75%, except that I cancelled an upload of eight photos because I felt I could produce better quality, and it appears that my 'cancelled uploads' count as rejections..........
1207
« on: March 07, 2007, 03:44 »
Looking at some of the most popular contributors to iStock (where I can see statistics) it seems to me that the expected 'value' of a good quality commercial photo is about $40 over a three year period.
The top supplier has about 5,000 images for 450,000 downloads. This suggests a value of about $90. But if we take the average portfolio size over the three years, the number comes out at nearer $180. An exceptional case probably.
Looking at lesser mortals I see others with 7,000 pics for 250,000 downloads, and 3,000 pics for 100,000 downloads. These work out at $35, $33 and $70, $66.
Of course there is a difference between what a picture CAN generate and the actual day to day cash flow. Therein lies the rub.
But it seems to me that if I can spend a few days producing say 20 good quality commercial photos, I can assume that, on average, that work will earn me between $700 and $1400 over three years. Or between $233 and $466 per annum. In other words, a project to produce at that rate consistently each week should produce an annual income of between $12116 and $24232.
On the face of it, that clearly isn't enough to survive.
However, the calculation has to be compounded, of course. $12116 and $24232 apply in year one. The numbers are double in year two. And triple in year three. So by the end of year three the annual income is between $36348 and $72696.
Those are better numbers.
What do people here believe is the average 'value' of the shots they produce, over say a three year period? And does anyone have specific numbers they can share?
1208
« on: March 07, 2007, 00:53 »
Yes, the review time is getting much longer at DT. Files uploaded today have an estimated review time of 145 hours. That's about the same as IS.
But sales at DT seem to be improving.
1209
« on: March 06, 2007, 13:07 »
Yes, it's early days for me Phil.
BTW, I got a large size download at DT overnight (I am in Australia) which paid a commission of $1.50. That's a good rate and must reflect the new pricing structure.
I am of the opinion that microstock pricing is too low and over time prices and commissions will rise.
1210
« on: March 06, 2007, 00:48 »
I have only been uploading to microstock for exactly a month. But I have learned much in that month. I suspected all along that iStock would produce the goods better than elsewhere, but the upload limits are of course very restrictive for a newbie.
Nonetheless I now have 38 photos on line and have achieved 11 downloads in my first month. That's an encouraging start given that I started the period without any photos on line.
I have also been contributing to Dreamstime, who take many more photos of course.
Although I have twice a s many photos with DT, I have achieved only 8 sales for slightly less commission per sale than IS.
In other words, IS is achieving twice as many sales per uploaded image.
Of course one month is too short a period to draw any firm conclusions.
Nonetheless, I am already aware that had I been a diamond exclusive with IS my earnings per upload would have been four times greater than with DT.
BigStock has achieved only minimal results. One month is enough for me to decide not to continue with them (and I have already ditched 123RF and FT for other reasons).
I want to limit my uploading activity so that I can spend maximum time designing and shooting.
For me, at least, going exclusive with iStock is a definite plan.
1211
« on: March 05, 2007, 17:18 »
Interesting statistics epixx. Do you have the same portfolio at IS and SS?
Your numbers certainly make SS look appealing.
1212
« on: March 05, 2007, 17:16 »
What I'd really like to know is how many total sales each agency makes each week.
But I suppose getting that info is impossible.
1213
« on: March 04, 2007, 18:01 »
iStock's policy is to reward and support those who show a commitment. Although I am a newbie, it is already apparent to me that the best price/volume benefits will come from iStock rather than elsewhere. It is a question of building to gold/diamond status etc to reap the higher commissions.
One of iStocks successful contributors told me 'always upload the largest possible file, because you'll be surprised at how many large images are bought'.
In my first month at iStock half my sales have been at 'large'. As a result my average commission is 74c. I would need to sell three times as many images at SS to equal that.
A diamond exclusive would receive twice as much commssion as a newbie, making their take double at $1.44 per sale. Their best photographers sell 50,000 - 100,000 images per annum at this level or higher.
I don't think that can be achieved elsewhere.
Remember also that at iStock exclusives get better upload limits (a diamond exclusive can upload 200 photos per week), exclusive distribution deals and a priority status.
1214
« on: February 27, 2007, 22:01 »
Nice little portfolio latex. Developing very nicely. Well done.
1215
« on: February 27, 2007, 12:56 »
Interesting that prices and commissions at DT seem to have crept upwards. Same thing happened at IS. Makes sense - start off cheap, then once the business is established start to increase pricing to more realistic levels.
For contributing photographers this is good news - microstock images are underpriced and prices should increase gradually over the next couple of years. It's similar to the internet thing back in the 1990's etc - most of the new players went bust, leaving the larger businesses to capitalise on the customer base and increase prices.
This is another reason why agencies are becoming more selective, both in accepting new photographers AND in being more fussy in the image inspection process.
It will become very important for all contributing photographers to submit only the best quality - the days of the holiday snapper being accepted by the top agencies are numbered.
1216
« on: February 25, 2007, 20:04 »
Yep, I rushed also. Lesson learned......
1217
« on: February 25, 2007, 19:49 »
Yes, acknowledged.
As I am a newbie, I failed to get accepted by SS on my first attempt. Second attempt is allowed on 1st March so I'll give it a try. Promising numbers you've achieved.
1218
« on: February 25, 2007, 17:01 »
leaf, I am trying to approach stock photography from a business point of view. I know I am new, but I want to get it right.
I can either spend my time uploading to all sorts of different agencies, or I can take a different approach and focus my effort in a different way.
All businesses need sales and marketing. A business can invent the best product ever seen by mankind, but unless it has a sales and marketing strategy, no-one will ever hear about that product.
I have been uploading to IS for only three weeks, and I only have 25 snaps uploaded so far. But instead of uploading elsewhere I have spent time looking for designers with lightboxes relevant to my pictures, making a gentle approach to them to see if my pictures might suit their needs. In doing this in a gentle way, designers and photographers have visited my small portfolio and voted for a few images (I didn't ask them to - it's just something people do naturally). As a result, I have only 25 images, but 40 five star ratings!
I also now have the start of a contact list added to my network. I want to get that list up to 1,000 designers over the next two years. Then, when I have important new work to upload, I already have a relationship and contact list I can bulk sitemail. This is only the same method as used by millions of sales people worldwide - build your contacts and maintain a relationship.
I cannot do this everywhere, which is why, after only three weeks, I have already decided to limit my work to IS and DT. I may add SS if time permits.
I know it is early days. But on IS I already have five downloads which I think is encouraging for only three weeks and 25 images. I look forward to the day when I've got 2,000 images and 1,000 designer network contacts.
Already, designers have asked 'can you do it this way, or that way etc'. This is what sales, marketing and relationship building is all about.
Just my view.....
1219
« on: February 25, 2007, 16:32 »
I'd simply rather not have my name associated with 123RF. I don't regard it as good quality.
Also, if I eventually decide to go exclusive with an agency I don't want to find I've got a problem because of various accounts open elsewhere.
1220
« on: February 24, 2007, 16:27 »
From a business planning point of view, what do people here think is the shelf life of photos uploaded today? Three years? Five years?
Given that three years ago the best pro cameras were 4mp and now almost anyone can shoot 10mp, does anyone believe that photos taken today will 'expire' because of advances in technology?
The reason I ask is that I want to work out a net present value formula, and I need a time span for that.
1221
« on: February 24, 2007, 16:18 »
I have deleted my photos from 123RF and I have asked them to close my account.
In fact, I have asked them TWICE to close my account, but neither request has been acknowledged or dealt with.
I'll give it a few more days then ask them a third time........
1222
« on: February 24, 2007, 16:16 »
Closed my StockXpert account yesterday.
I know I am new at this game, but in the three weeks I have been uploading pictures I have achieved 11 sales through DT and IS and a considerable number of views at each of those agencies.
Not a sausage from StockXpert, BigStock or Fotolia and I see little point in continuing with those agencies now that the evidence suggests I will have greater success elsewhere.
Yes, I know three weeks is not a long time, but I would rather spend more time taking pictures and concentrating on promoting those pictures through agencies that appear to have willing and ready clients.
1223
« on: February 21, 2007, 13:32 »
Why? Are you suggesting that StockXpert actually SELL any images at the moment?
1224
« on: February 20, 2007, 22:41 »
Anyone else having great difficulties with the IS web site today?
Or is it just me...?
1225
« on: February 20, 2007, 15:20 »
Well done.
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