Thank you, Microbius, for the suggested way to find our work on the web...

When I started in microstock (2005), although I treated it like a business as far as using our Tax guy (reporting earnings, deductions, etc., alongside my 'real' job), I never got around to thoroughly investigating 'business' insurance and left my equipment on the 'house' insurance.  A year ago, we experienced a HUGE home break-in, and ~ $17K worth on lenses were stolen.  Amazingly, the thieves left my 5 plus Nikon camera bodies. 

Amazingly, our insurance company replaced ALL the lenses and flashes that were stolen, but did say I had to from now on carry a business rider since I was using it for business purposes as well as pleasure.  One of the lenses was the Sigmonster (Sigma 300-800mm) which I had purchased for ~ 2200 around 2006 or 2007, it was a steal of a price even then...

But the 'replacement' cost is now ~8,000 so I received the newest iteration with lens coatings my 'old' model didn't have, because my old model isn't sold anymore.  Insurance is for the unexpected, not the expected.  Perhaps you might consider just insuring what you would really want replaced and perhaps could not afford to otherwise replace.  Also maybe see if there are higher deductibles that might lower premiums, like some do for health insurance...

Quote from: michaeldb on October 11, 2012, 18:44
SSTK trading at 21.55 after opening at $17 per share.

Sorry, but your quote is incorrect.  For the Retail Investor (you and me), the stock market opens at 9:30AM EST, and Shutterstock (SSTK) OPENED at $22.50, not the $17 you quoted.  The High was 22.90, the Low was 21.28, and it CLOSED at 21.66, actually lower than it opened...

IPOs are like that, there's always the price 'special' investors (favored bank customers, etc) get on board with before it's real first day on the stock exchange, that was the $17 before it's first 'real' day on the open market. So it almost always looks like a big jump, but the first time 'Joe Blows' like us could have bought was at the opening price of $22.50 at 9:30 this morning.   Just look at any daily stock chart.

(I trade stocks/options regularly)

I wish SSTK the best... just wanted to clarify this point.

What Sean said. 

You could sell signed prints, but numbering them is pointless since you no longer control who can print them.  A fine art gallery owner wanted to show and offer my photography as LE's, and I was upfront (honest) that most of them were already stock images, then he said 'that's too bad' we can't do that then.  The whole point of LE is to artificially induce value by 'limiting' them.  But that means the artist has the capability to limit them, which of course can't be done if they are 'stock photography' or digital files are now in someone else's hands too.  Now if you Only had them on Red Bubble and could vouch that a print (or digital file of it) had never been sold, and you pulled it off the market, then you could do a LE.

I love SS and have been a contributor since 2005, but I will not be buying any stock right off the bat.  To do so without knowing if institutional investors will get on board ('Smart Money') amounts to speculating/gambling versus investing for the retail investor (known on Wall Street as 'Dumb Money').

SS will not have the the public interest of a Facebook, Yahoo, etc. so you don't have to worry about missing the train out of the station.  How many people still go 'huh?' when you even mention the term stock photography, let alone 'microstock'?  Besides, other important things to know would be lockup period, etc.... Look how much further FB fell when the lockup period was over.

I'll let the Smart Money with their smart analysts advise their institutional clients whether SS is a good buy as a stock, and if it is, the Smart Money will move the stock price.  Just look for price action on high volume (and even what is low, normal, or high volume will take time to establish).   As retail investors, we can only go along for the ride, but I have no idea what direction from the $13-$15 range that is. 

Normally, one could look at cohorts to see how a group of like stocks is moving (metals, tech, transportation, etc), but with Getty being taken private, Corbis being private (ala Bill Gates), and Sipa (I read it is the third largest stock agency in the world?? owned by a German group), it's hard to know how it would do.  Too much in the dark for me to just 'buy and hope'.

There ain't gonna be a public frenzy over Shutterstock, so you don't have to 'jump in'.  If there is value, then there will be plenty of time to get on board and hopefully grow with the company.  I wish SS all the best!

I tried it out, and quickly, after a few days, deleted my photos.  It seemed to me that the 'latest photos sold' were always the same, and I was extremely annoyed by messages encouraging me to rate others as a way to market my own photos that appeared every time I logged in.

I'm not convinced they have many buyers, since the latest photos sold always looked the same. 

Anyone?  I'm not looking to pit one service against the other, just info on anyone's experiences in using either to help me decide who to go with.  Any replies greatly appreciated, thanks.

Warren, ouch... sorry to hear about your D7000.  The good part of sending it back, though (to Nikon in El Segundo?) is that the focus will be rechecked too.  At least with knowing your D80, you won't miss any shots from not knowing how to work it fast enough!

Happy shooting on your travels.

Congrats on your new D7000, it is a great camera.  I just got the D800E and will pair it with my D7000 on outings, since the D7000 is a DX camera, and the D800E is a full frame camera.

I would highly recommend 1) buy Darrell Young's 'Mastering the Nikon D7000', which is less than $10 as a Kindle download from Amazon.  Amazon has free Kindle apps for iPhone, Mac, Windows (not sure what you have), so for one $10, I have easy access to a great manual on my laptop AND iPhone (handy for trips or out in the field.

2) If you haven't already, join Nikonians.org (free) and you can ask questions on their D7000 forum. I have > 5 Nikon bodies (including the D3x), and often got answers the same day when I was on a trip, for example.  But Darrell's book is well organized and in Kindle, you can do a word search for specific issues.  WELL Worth the money.

Use the Fine-Tune autofocus.... I did, and it actually made me realize that my beloved 70-200mm VR1 was the problem (she has since been repaired/restored).

Also, you should be able to set the second card slot for either copy (backup), or overflow, or 1st slot Raw and 2nd slot jpeg... its in the Menu  if u have problems, I'll try and check back later... gotta run.

I pretty much stick to Nikon stuff only, I once bought a 'knock off' battery for my D3, and it wouldn't hold a charge after a year...you get what you pay for.... I would always try to bite the bullet and pay for Nikon quality.

I looked for you on Adobe.com, and I don't see how you can get an updated version of ACR for Photoshop 8 (CS1?).  It looks like they stopped updating for CS1 after 2005, well before the D7000 came out.  I have recently bit the bullet for Lightroom4 (I use Photoshop CS5 extended) because I am getting serious about DAM (Digital Asset Management) and also Time-lapse photography, so the LR4 had some great capabilities for both, but the ACR in Lightroom 4 is pretty much the same engine as in the latest CS6.  It's a learning curve, yeah, but worth it in the near and long run.

So ways to possibly consider not having to use NX2 (I also hate going between 2 programs, although  LR-Photoshop makes more sense than NX2-Photoshop imo, to get an ACR version that recognizes the D7000 and for less money than upgrading to CS6 is to buy LR4, or maybe even Photoshop Elements 10.  I wonder if Elements 10 has more to offer than CS1, PS 8.

Another way I save money is for ~$99 I joined NAPP, then go through their discount page.  They offer discounts on Adobe products, have a great link for BH photo, for example... If you will be buying any equipment at all in the next year, you can likely save on free shipping alone, and they have 'NAPP' member only specials that came in handy for gift giving times last year.  Just something to consider...

I found working with NX2 too cumbersome.

Sometimes getting a great camera means upgrading software.

Has anyone used both services to comment on why they like one better than the other? Or even why they like the one they do use?

I liked the fact that StockSubmitter seems to keep the community here apprised of constant updates, but when I tried to look at their YouTube video, there was no sound, and the Wiki they said houses their FAQ did not display any pages for me

OTOH, I don't see much comment here in the forums re PicNiche... is that because they aren't keeping up as well with changes, or because their process works so well ? I do like that they have a blog.
Does PicNiche upload videos to Pond5?

It is time for me to become more efficient, uploading to more than one agency at a time and especially since I plan to start submitting video, a distributor makes good sense (hopefully cents too ;-)  ).

Thank you in advance for any comments.  I tried a Google search and haven't seen a comparison of the two.

There was value in his rant.  Also, keep in mind who some of his intended audience was, those who had outcried his publishing a book on microstock photography.  So, some of the harsher criticisms here might be more acceptable if he was preaching just to the choir, but remember this was a reponse ALSO to those who just outright hate microstock photography/photographers.

Many comments in this thread also have much value.  And Lagereek, you are funny as hell

I will continue on as a tortoise  (tortoise and the hare fable), as I have since 2005.  Very small but growing port (>400), but a very good return. 

For 2012...

1) keep on learning and trying out new perspectives (pole aerial photography and underwater photography).

2) buy the Nikon D800, the first  'pro' level NIKON camera to offer 1080p 30fps  (the D5100 has it now, but is not pro level (weatherizing and such) and it would be too frustrating for me with it's deep level menu system, since I am familiar with Nikon's other pro bodies (D3x, D3, etc) so I can learn video.  I still haven't decided on an editor for a PC machine.

3) I've always treated microstock like a business from the getgo, using an accountant for earnings, depreciations, etc.  In 2011, I became 'more' business like by forming an LLC for my photography.  But the next big step up is doing a proper WILL (hey it's New Year's resolution time, right?) beyond the hastily scribbled napkin my kids have which really isn't legal or helpful to them.  It was very disturbing to my son, who was 'forced' to do a will as part of deployment in the military, that his parents didn't have a will.  And you know, he and his sister are right.  So tonight, my husband and I are going to do a rough draft tonight (using guidance from an excellent NOLO book0, have it looked over by a lawyer and finalize by the end of January 2012. It will include my photography LLC (and thus the microstock agencies I submit to as well).

4) Work on my 'new' website, my current one is very clunky... and I'd like to start blogging as well.  So far, I have the domain name and bought a WordPress theme.  I keep reading about how important it is for photographer's to get involved in Social Networking (FB, Twitter), and but I don't think it is as important for stock photographers... however, I might want to explore selling from my own website, so I may experiment with that... I have resisted joining FB so far...

5) I will eventually do photography full time after I 'retire' from medicine.... but that could be another 10 years, so I am learning, contributing, and growing along the way, enjoying it all...small tweaks are worth exploring also... For example, I just ordered a Kirk tripod collar for my old Nikkor 80-400mm VR (yes, slow, hunts, etc), and will see if I can extract more sharpness from it on my new backup Nikon D7000.  I read that Live View focusing may be superior to the regular AutoFocus, so maybe there will be new life for an old beloved lens...  little things like this are enjoyable to check out.  It would be a useful for travel, and who knows when if ever the AF-S version will happen.

Best of success to all in the coming year.

I just checked, and it turns out I have a small portfolio there from 123RF as well, with sales. I know it is from 123RF originally, because I had a unique (different than my userid at other MS agencies) name at 123RF that is the same name for PixMac.  So if 123RF is no longer a Partner, then where is the money going???  I certainly have never heard from them.  I did send an email to them on this...

There used to be forums on ScanStock.  Did the management stop them or am I missing something? 

Quote from: madelaide on January 15, 2010, 20:43
I have a full time job.  Does it count as "life"?

I also have my dear lovebirds: http://www.mariaadelaidesilva.net/agapornis/

Wow, Maria! I loved your youtube video.  I've hatched chickens before, and they seem self sufficient the first day.  The one day lovebirds look so helpless.  On what day do they stand on their own?

I'm an M.D., spend 50+ hours/week in the O.R.  Hobbies: photography, gardening, 'homesteading', guitar, and I justbought a flamenco guitar to learn for 2010...

Done.

I had 2 today, unusual for my tiny port (< 400 images).  Congrats to Lisa and nrubok!  Thank you Shutterstock.  I never have had issues with them.

Quote from: lisafx on January 01, 2010, 16:56
Gee, I feel we should have a moving retrospective photo montage, accompanied by some poignant music, or something.  Like at awards shows...   

That's funny!

Quote from: PaulieWalnuts on December 31, 2009, 21:25

Quote from: CarolinaSmith on December 31, 2009, 19:45
Congrats on  your D3x.  I too just bought one.  When it was first on the market (about a year ago) I said I would give Nikon one year to come out with a less expensive body but with a greater than 20MP sensor.  I kept waiting impatiently, and the 'D700x' or similar never materialized.  I had the D3, but kept wanting the 20MP+ body.

So I bit the bullet a few weeks ago and do not regret it one bit.  Besides, it was totally paid for by microstock earnings this year.

  It is amazing how you can pull so much detail even when enlarging in postprocessing.  Nikon's CLS (Creative Light System) is enough alone to keep me with Nikon.  But when even Canon photogs spend money on Nikon's amazing 14-24mm f/2.8 (which I also have) to put on a Canon body.... and the D3x is named CAMERA OF THE YEAR, well, I would really think very hard before 'switching' to Canon, especially if you have other Nikon equipment.  To me, Nikon has it all, lighting system, lenses, and now what others have crowned, the best dSLR to date (not counting medium format bodies), the D3x.  Even Nikon's raw developer took leaps and bounds, Capture NX2 with it's U point technology.

From capture to post processing, I feel Nikon now has the total package from which a photographer will only be limited by his/her own imagination, skills, or knowledge base.

I am now totally satisfied and do not plan on buying another Nikon body until they come out with a dSLR that has HD 1080p video capability. 

http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2009/0817_EISA_01.htm
http://www.popphoto.com/Features/Camera-of-the-Year-Nikon-D3x

Best to all in 2010!

http://CarolinaSmith.com

Congrats on your purchases. I'm one of the people who jumped. I got tired of waiting for a D700x, sold my D300 and other stuff, and picked up a 5D MII. I have no regrets.The image quality of the 5D is incredible. 

The D3X is awesome and offers better focusing, pro body, and a list of other stuff. But for what I'm shooting I couldn't find one reason to spend the extra $5,000.

Both Canon and Nikon make great systems. I don't think either is just "better". They both have pros and cons.

Paulie, you are 99% correct! The other 1% can't help but come from a Nikon diehard fan  .  Congrats on your purchase also. 

I don't know how many times I almost pulled the trigger to buy the Canon 5D MII, especially after watching Vincent Laforet's movies! (and have you seen the latest, 'Nocturne'?...really fabulous).   It took the fact that I was already heavily invested in Nikon gear (and happily so), 13+ lenses plus flash (including R1C1 outfit), plus other Nikon bodies to keep me from pulling the trigger (an economy of scale then comes into play).   I have been with Nikon a long time (Nikomat FTN, Coolpix 5000 on up) and am somewhat a loyalist (not just because, but because their equipment has proven itself over and over to me).  But I didn't want to manually focus my Nikon lenses on a Canon body. 

Now if I could AUTOfocus a Nikkor on a Canon body (LiveView is fantastic, but too cumbersome in many situations), well then, that'd be a different story!

Best wishes for a great 2010 microstock year!

Congrats on  your D3x.  I too just bought one.  When it was first on the market (about a year ago) I said I would give Nikon one year to come out with a less expensive body but with a greater than 20MP sensor.  I kept waiting impatiently, and the 'D700x' or similar never materialized.  I had the D3, but kept wanting the 20MP+ body.

So I bit the bullet a few weeks ago and do not regret it one bit.  Besides, it was totally paid for by microstock earnings this year.

  It is amazing how you can pull so much detail even when enlarging in postprocessing.  Nikon's CLS (Creative Light System) is enough alone to keep me with Nikon.  But when even Canon photogs spend money on Nikon's amazing 14-24mm f/2.8 (which I also have) to put on a Canon body.... and the D3x is named CAMERA OF THE YEAR, well, I would really think very hard before 'switching' to Canon, especially if you have other Nikon equipment.  To me, Nikon has it all, lighting system, lenses, and now what others have crowned, the best dSLR to date (not counting medium format bodies), the D3x.  Even Nikon's raw developer took leaps and bounds, Capture NX2 with it's U point technology.

From capture to post processing, I feel Nikon now has the total package from which a photographer will only be limited by his/her own imagination, skills, or knowledge base.

I am now totally satisfied and do not plan on buying another Nikon body until they come out with a dSLR that has HD 1080p video capability. 

http://www.nikon.com/about/news/2009/0817_EISA_01.htm

http://www.popphoto.com/Features/Camera-of-the-Year-Nikon-D3x

Best to all in 2010!

http://CarolinaSmith.com

Thanks for the replies.  Seems like Andres has > 8000 photos there and Yuri has > 10000 photos there.  Maybe that's who's making the payouts.

Hi, this statement was part of a Vivozoom email I received yesterday (22Dec09):

I am delighted to let you know that vivozoom's first batch of royalty payments were paid out recently...

Has anyone here had sales with them?

I am, well, Carolina Smith... been uploading to microstock since Apr2005, often read the forums, but respond very infrequently, since I have a way more than full time profession (though photography is a passion of mine, and one I plan to 'retire' into).  I enjoy following sjlocke's comments (pithy and funny) and LisaFx (hey, I saw your hubby on a hospital brochure not too long ago! I was going to tell you, but got dropped from your IS network for , well, responding too infrequently  , don't worry, no offense taken!).  I submit to ~ nine agencies and continually seek to grow as a photographer.  I just had a Nikon D300 modded by Hutech for astrophotography, am teaching myself time-lapse photography.  There is just so much I wish I could do.  I strive for quality over quantitiy and love every moment of it, pain in the arse or not.  Photography rocks. ok,  nuff about me.

http://CarolinaSmith.com

I sent some via PayPal.  Hope you got it. Feliz Navidad.