When I do art shows it sometimes seems the only people who come in my booth are people who want to tell me their little point and shoot or cell phone camera will take pictures just as good as mine and they could do art shows but just don't have the time.  They will never buy anything but they clog up my booth anyway.

If the newbies coming in are getting the amount of sales I get on new images I suspect they will get discouraged and quit fairly fast.  Some months it seems I sell nothing that is not 2 to 4 years old, despite constant uploading.  Last week I sold an image within minutes of approval, first time that has happened since maybe 2014.

So would this be a double zombie thread? 

[quote ]
first, because as my experience with SS showed me, resubmitting at SS can be quite successful. And secondly, from purely mercantile reasons: SS (unfortunately) generates the most for me as of today, and I want my good (subjectively) pictures to be available in their search.
[/quote]SS is I think the biggest revenue generator for many of us.  But if they reject one of mine I move on and shoot something else.  I have on occasion re-submitted after correcting an image and I've complained and re-submitted whole batches when they rejected in mass.  But to go back six times?  You should take the hint and move on.  As to other agencies accepting it, so what?  Means nothing.

As to critique, honestly I would never have submitted that image in the first place.  I am astonished it was accepted anywhere.   (maybe I should adjust my standards:) )  The building has areas of overexposure, it looks like some motion blur or maybe just soft.  I suspect there would be copyright issues as well.  No reason not to give it a shot if you have the time but if they rejected it, move on.  Just my humble opinion of course but as others have said I agree with the reviewer.

Six times???  I admire your persistence.   But I have to ask, why on earth are you wasting time re-submitting this?  Life is too short and by re-submitting even once you are most likely wasting more time than you will ever earn back.

Quote from: Liorpt on December 27, 2015, 07:40
All of my work in the past two months, all of it, every single photo on every single batch got rejected. 

Ss approved, ft,dt...good for them.

1800 live photos on alamy, random sales.

The last rejection was a batch of 6 files and the rejection was for "number of images".

I used to get them ALL approved.

What's going on?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I think perhaps you do not understand how Alamy works.  First they do not inspect all images, only a random sample.  If any image that is tested fails, then all images fail.  Second the "all images" applies to all open batches at the same time.

So if you have 5 batches uploaded of say 20 images each and they test one image in the first batch and it fails then all 100 images in 5 different batches fail.

Also be aware that failing QC will lengthen the time you must wait in the queue for your next review, sometimes as long as 30 days.

It is generally safer to upload a batch and then wait until it has passed QC before uploading another, otherwise you risk have your second (third, fourth etc) batch failed as well.

Between those two for a first camera, it really does not matter.  Honestly  there are no bad cameras today.  The demands of microstock are not high end gear wise.  Get a body that feels good in your hand a nice zoom and maybe a good 50mm.

Do not look only at canon nikon, they are the big players but unless you need exotic glass like 600mm f/4 other brands are just as good sometimes better.
Sony and fugi are worth a look and for bang for buck you cannot beat Pentax.  Look at their k--5IIs or the k-3.

Quite interesting reading ancient history though.

According to SS TOS any changes to your account must be made before the end of the month to be paid in the following month.  Now that your account (card?) is activated you should receive your funds during the August payment cycle.  SS only pay everyone once per month, if you miss that date you wait until next month.

I know that is disappointing but that is the way it works.

SS is 100% reliable IF your payment account is setup properly.  If not then it takes time to correct issues.

Have you gotten past payments properly?

Buy a Pentax.  They are weather proof.

More useful: check the battery terminals both on the camera and the battery.  If it got wet some tarnish / corrosion could be present.  If it is just enough to increase resistance at the terminals that might cause the problem.  If you see anything it can be cleaned with either a soft micrfiber cloth or a pencil eraser.

It is also possible the moisture caused similar issues internally that are just starting to show but that would not be good so I hope it is just the battery terminals.

Hope that helps.

Matt,
The categories seem to be the biggest time waste for me.  One level,ok.  Two levels if must, but three?  I spend way too much time trying to find something that fits.  And usually that is a poor fit anyway.

My suggestion would be to eliminate categories completely.
If you feel they are needed, then one level only.

Thanks for listening!

Congrats!  I'm glad someone is doing well.  I've had two slow months including my first no download day in over two years.  Good to see positive inspiration.

I gave you a +1 to counteract the flood of negatives you will get for doing well:)  Of course if Ron had posted that no amount of +1 help would be enough to balance the flames.

I see no reason microstock as a business or model or whatever will not continue.  It fills a niche and a need.  So from that standpoint all is good.

However, if you asking if it will be possible in the future for a photographer to make any money in microstock, that is a different question.  Many who started back in the good old days feel it is already over.  Returns are certainly declining, to the point that investing money in models and props is starting to become questionable.  Those with large salable portfolios already online will continue to earn.  Those starting out now will have a difficult time getting to a point of good returns.

But if you have good material, especially things that are not over down, work hard and add images on a regular basis there is still money to be made.  Your images need to be top notch, not snapshots.  Your titles, descriptions and keywords need to be done properly and you need a lot of images.

I was told when I started (4 years ago) that perhaps 2,000 images would be a large enough portfolio to earn fair money.  These days I think that is closer to 5,000 or perhaps 10,000 images.  And not junk, good images.

Of course it all depends on what your definition of decent return is.  Figure $1/image/year if you have good stuff.  More if it is exceptional or in demand.

There is no need for earning cap conspiracy theories.   Answer is simple new images cover up old ones unless they sell.

So add in small batches regularly and spread your shots out.  I have noticed a few from a batch sell quickly and continue to sell.  Others from the same batch do not sell until weeks later then start to sell.
The search algorithm is complex and not easy to say simply this or that happens.

Thanks I'll check that out.  I'm looking for someplace that will give me enough of a volume discount that I can sell them and actually make money.  Most of the online shops seem to be retail level and only good if you just want one for yourself, not to re-sell.

I have seen at some art fairs photographers selling blank journals with their images on the cover. I looked into getting them printed for a show I am doing this summer but the cost seems to be higher than what they were being sold for at any place I can find to print them.

Does anyone have a source for getting this type of merchandise printed at a reasonable cost?

Thanks,

There is an Adobe logo on the web site.  I feel much better seeing it.  So that is an benefit.

I uploaded a few images to them back last December despite all the warnings both obvious and from other posters here.  Just tried to go to the site to see if they had ever sold anything and all I get is "Server not found".  Anyone know if the quietly folded or what?

I kinda miss Jack, he was entertaining at least:)

I have had images rejected for readable ear tags so yeah, you have get rid of them.

I have emailed SS a number of times on rejections I felt were unwarranted.  In most cases they agreed and reversed the decision.  In a couple of cases they stuck with the reviewers' decision and pointed out why.  After looking at the images again I either agreed or at least could see why there might be an issue.

At no time has my account been throttled due to my 'complaints'.

While I like a good conspiracy theory as well as the next person the glaring hole in yours is that SS could not give a rodents rear end about your images, your account, your complaints or anyone else either.  They have more new photographers joining everyday than they need and they are not going waste their time throttling anyone for whatever reason.  If you tick them off enough they will just close your account and be done with you.

Quote from: dsonnenburg on January 19, 2015, 14:30
hi, i am just trying to get started doing stock photography and i have a few questions. first, fotolia asks for your a copy of your id and or ss#. should this information be given out? second, are there any reliable plugins for lightroom to upload directly to stock sites? lastly, any advice to which stocks sites to contribute to? Thanks!

All sites will require ID and SS# or TIN# because this is a business and they will be reporting income to the IRS.  They are required to withhold taxes in some circumstances.  If you start contributing you should consider how you will run your business and have tax issues clarified.

There is no Lightroom plugin to upload directly except for a third party one for Alamy.  However most sites will accept FTP transfers so exporting to a folder from LR and then using your FTP software to upload works fine.

For sites to use, look at the poll results to the right.  Honestly at this point get accepted by Shutterstock and forget the rest until you see how things go.  If you start to do good there then consider other sites.

But as others have noted this is not an easy business to make money at.  You need a lot of images in order to produce much income.  Estimate $1 per image per year on average, more if your stuff is exceptional.  If you can deliver 20 - 30 top notch, sellable images, with good titles and keywords every week then you might make some money.  Otherwise you are likely better off getting a job at McDonalds for the same number of hours.

That is not to discourage you, if you want to try your hand just to see how it works or the satisfaction of actually selling your work then by all means have at it.  Just do not expect to get rich or even compensated as much as a minimum wage job would pay.

Quote from: cascoly on January 18, 2015, 18:16

report of best selling mage prices isn't very helpful.  how many of those images were best sellers over several years?  how many other images were close?
unless you have multiple images that make more than $250 a year over several years, this is another useless exercise -- all you need is one $300 EL license that hides the fact that most of your images make < $50 per year.  and you still have no way to predict what other images will be best sellers

Most of my images make less than .36 per year

Quote from: mar123 on December 28, 2014, 21:53
That is my first payment request in ss. I m very sure all my settings are correct. I havent get any mail. Well if my case is pending for sone reason, then good business praxis could be to after sone time noticed me what is happening. In 8 month I get only silence from them. That is very unpleasent

There is no way to request a payment on SS.  It is automatic once you reach the payout amount.  When that happens you get an email stating you have reached payout, see the post above.  If you did not receive this email then you have not reached payout or your email is wrong, which means your Paypal address might be wrong as well.

I would suggest you go back and double check your account settings carefully.

Quote from: mar123 on December 28, 2014, 18:08
I m from Stockholm, Sweden,  so country surely is not the issue. I ve already got the payment on paypal from istockphoto. And i m very sure that all my settings on ss are correct

Have you ever gotten a payment from SS before?  About the only problem I have ever seen mentioned with SS is if the contributor's Paypal address was wrong.  If this happens it seems to take a long time to correct, at least partially because Paypal then has to verify that the money should be returned from the bad account.

Sorry you are having issues, but non-payment is NOT a common issue with SS, they are usually very prompt.  If you have not gotten paid it is because there is a problem with your account specifically, not SS in general.  You need to email them @ [email protected] and if you do not receive a response within a few days (excepting weekends) email again.  I have always gotten a prompt reply from them when using that address.

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 26, 2014, 21:16
well guys, i'v learnt a lot from this thread and benefited very much too....finally what i conclude is there are differences between vector artists and photographers and both go their own ways...make the most of your time and the result will come...and don't ever feel threaten by negative menaces of others....!

I hope you learned a lot more than that............

The most important thing I was told when I started was that this is a marathon, not a sprint.  If your goal is to earn $11,000 and quit (which is what the title of your OP implies) then this is the wrong business for you, there are many easier ways to do that.  But if your goal is to eventually earn $11,000 per year then yes you can do that.  Just do not expect that to happen quickly.  Produce consistent good quality images, submitted regularly and in 2 or 3 years you should have a portfolio that will earn that much.

Good luck!

Thank you ShadySue, I appreciate your input and the time taken to post.

Best,
John