Comparing the 1st quarter of 2021 and 2020:
DT sales went up by 40% in my case while almost all other agencies went down.
Go figure ...

So, DT is now in the 4th place with 8% in my sales after AS, SS and IS.

Quote from: Bauman on April 25, 2021, 10:02
I no longer upload images to sites with RPDs under 0.50 cents (IS-DP-BS ...

Nothing will be left soon.

BTW. I am getting 80% of my income from microstock. The rest is from a few commissioned projects and retirement distributions. In a couple of years these numbers will be reversed, I am afraid. I would probably still survive from microstock alone, but without buying a new camera or a new computer ...

If somebody would like to compare notes, here are my data for the 1st quarter of 2021 in comparison to 2020:

total revenue: -5%

AS  -9%
SS  -9%
IS  +7%
DT +42%
DP  -7%
123RF  -41%
...

RPD   $0.72 (-4%)

AS+SS+IS provide 77% of my income

These data are for both still images and video, but I have mostly still images in my portfolio: 23K+.
Video sales are down by at least 40%.

Two chats with DP support and I still didn't get my payout.
I am going to bankrupt! 
   

New pictures don't sell very well. I added 2700 pictures to my stock portfolio this year and made around $5000 with them so far. About $1000 sales were related to covid with a peak in March/April. According to my sales the pandemic is over ...

Interestingly, some very old pictures (5-10 years old) are coming back to life.

When IS releases sale data I am usually looking back at my YTD sales.

11 months of 2020 compared to 2019:

+4% in revenue (+3% in downloads)
I've been working full time in microstock since 2014. This is the first increase of my annual sales revenue since 2015.

by agencies:
AS +7%
SS +11%
IS  -11%
DP +11%
DT +16%
123RF -9%
BS  -11%
CS -7%
AL -40%
P5 -40%

AS+SS+IS provide about 80% of my income

my portfolio: 22K files, 97% still images

I am not optimistic about microstock future, but I will keep going in 2021.
Actually, I reduced somewhat my mstock production in 2020 and spent more time shooting just for fun, film photography etc.

Quote from: Clair Voyant on November 21, 2020, 20:08
Just remember the only reason you get 0.10c per download at the highest level is because you allow it. It's not the fault of Shutterstock, it's your fault. Blame nobody but yourself.

Shutterstock, microstock ... It's not my fault, it's my choice. I don't feel guilty of anything.


Moving from level 5 to 6 on SS a few weeks ago, I didn't notice any significant difference in total earnings.

And, if you are at level 5 now, you should be back to this level sometime in February.

As soon as I upload 1,000,000 images I will have 3,600 downloads per day just from SS ... 

Estimated time: 244 years ...   

Hmm... Maybe, I am confused, but 40,000 downloads/month with 1.4 millions images online doesn't look so high too me. Or, maybe, I am doing pretty good without models ...

Congratulations anyway. 

Quote from: Bart on September 17, 2020, 04:18
By increased sales, you mean quantity or royalties earned?

Quote from: PixelsAway on September 17, 2020, 03:39
Last few months in my case:
increased video sales in SS, very poor sales on P5, no sales on AS,
but I don't have too many clips, 700+ .

Both quantity and total earnings. My average RPD from video in SS during June-September was around $18.

Last few months in my case:
increased video sales in SS, very poor sales on P5, no sales on AS,
but I don't have too many clips, 700+ .

Staying motivated is a challenge!

If stock photography is your job you need a hobby or personal project - I am just starting medium format film photography.

total microstock earnings from the first 7 months of 2020 compared to 2019:
-1% with ~1800+ files uploaded this year

It's actually much better than in previous 3 years or so.
I am just trying to find some good news here ...

RPD - last 3 months in my portfolio (20K+ files, 97% still images)

           SS      AS
May     0.73    0.95
Jun      0.84    1.00
Jul       0.65    0.92

In June SS was outperforming AS in total earnings, May and July almost the same.

Quote from: Microstockphoto on July 28, 2020, 13:42

and people clinging on to microstock should have a hard look in the mirror, because in the end its the 'laziest' form of photography. shoot, process, upload. but there is a lot more than photography just for stock. and if you shoot great stock photos, you should be able to get assignments, freelance, do workshops, become a photography teacher, find a proper employer, or set up shop, and earn money that way.

Yes, shooting for microstock is easy, but making living from it is not. It's a challenge which may be attractive for some people. Not everybody wants or can work directly with clients.

Well, only negative opinions are welcome here ...

So, I am not happy with a general condition of the microstock industry, especially, that I am making my full income here and I am living in US.

However, my total earnings from SS during June and July are much higher than before or the same time last year. It doesn't mean that I like SS! Right now, I am more concerned about not so great performance of AS. And, Pond5 is a disaster for me this year. Fortunately, I am producing mostly still images.

What agency do you recommend for a purchase of a single image or just a couple of images?
Good buyer experience + fair share for a photographer...

I don't have experience as a buyer.

Just a tiny 22K+ portfolio.
And, recently my SS is up, but AS is down.
What's wrong with me?
Fortunately, my total microstock sales follow a widely accepted downhill trend,
so I am not "Josephine" yet. 

             RPD       (99% images, more than 2000 downloads per month)

Jan         0.68     
Feb         0.71   
Mar         0.71     
Apr         0.68     
May        0.73     
Jun         0.84     

It feels like that half of my images I am giving to SS for free and other half brings a decent income.

Quote from: Ludovic on June 27, 2020, 01:58

Quote from: PixelsAway on June 26, 2020, 21:29
RPD in SS (level 5, mostly still images):

June 2019 - 0.81
May 2020 - 0.73
June 2020 - 0.87

It looks like June will be my best month in the last two years or so.

But what do you think will happen with your earnings in January when you drop to level 1 like everybody else?

Probably, I will need one month to return back to level 5, and, maybe, 10-11 months to reach level 6. But who knows? I am not very optimistic about microstock in general. I am still making my living here. One more year?

RPD in SS (level 5, mostly still images):

June 2019 - 0.81
May 2020 - 0.73
June 2020 - 0.87

It looks like June will be my best month in the last two years or so.

I am so ashamed ...  But, I don't upload new stuff to SS.

A lot of $0.1/image, $0.67/video and AS is lower in total earning than SS recently.
It may be time to retire my one person microstock image factory.

RPD total numbers, mostly pictures, level 5

                     SS           AS
June 2018    0.82          0.88
June 2019    0.82          1.06
May 2020     0.73          0.95
June 2020    0.84          1.02

AS was outperforming SS in total earnings for the last 2 years, but in June 2020 SS is better (with plenty of $0.10 sales). Go figure.

Of course, my numbers clearly indicate that I must be a troll paid by SS or other dark forces.

Back to work ...

No surprises here, but no emotions just business decisions. My plan B didn't really work, so I am already implementing plan C. Interesting times! 

Certainly, things look a little bit different if microstock is your only source of income and you don't live in a cheap country. It may be OK to sacrifice a few hundreds $, but 40% of the entire income on a few days notice?

Anyway, I stopped uploading to SS, prioritizing AS now, and ... trying to retire from microstock.

thanks