Ultimately we are all in competition with each other so I don't really get the point of threads like this, and also doubt whether the guys above would be freely sharing their strategies.

Exactly.  We're not doing wedding photos 1000 miles from each other.  We're all in direct competition.

One way this could change is if we could find some very deep pockets that want to take a couple of years to take this market over.

Yeah, they were called Getty.

I think one option for agencies to really compete is to go back to the days of paying 40% or 50% to their shooters so the people that treat this as their career can still compete and the weekend warrior can make a few more bucks for their family vacation.

I make 40% at iStock, btw...

I still don't know what he's asking...

Now, most of us will never approach his talent level....

... or luck.

Well, most people hiring non-model models stepping in front of the camera for the first time aren't going to make thousands off of the images.  I'm all for compensating where compensation is due, but I see no reason to pay first time college students $50/hour.

If that does occur though there will be lots of other Macro shooters making the change.

That doesn't sound like such a great thing.  If people think they have problems now keeping up their ROI...

Mind sharing your username on those sites?

Yes, I agree with epixx.  Probably got it from one of those logo farms.

My college Photography Prof use to say " If you share your secrets you'll just have to come up with new ones and that will keep you fresh".

Ha!  Like I don't have enough to do   Don't worry, I answer plenty of questions.  I just don't go about filming tutorials on how to duplicate the way I do things.

Thanks for the compliment.

Yeah, that would've helped.

Looks like "She Hulk" with a bad tan.  Sorry.

Not that impressed.