hi

Just want to add this:

IS is the only micro where I still submit XXL sizes from scanner just because they accept them as all the others should do.
They are picky just where they should do. I don't see this histerical thing about noise or grain so typical in other micros.

I wonder why IS is so "advanced" to be able to recognise that film scans must have grain just because film is about grain. Smaller or bigger the grain must be there.

I had the same message but did not noticed any changes

Hi

I'm doing at least 4x more at IS when compared to SS. I've had those thoughts about going exclusive and maybe I should go. But after some thinking I prefer to maybe loose some money but go with the secure way.
I've found to much people complaining about sales decreasing here and there, and if most of them are because of disambiguation some others can be related with search engine behavior.
So I'll wait to have some more experience about download numbers and watch the regularity of sales at IS before trying some commitment.
Hope this helps.

Magnum started as a coop and had huge success.
Ok, they had some of the best in the business, but the model is proven and is good.

I have about 30 images as RM at feature pics

Never sold one but I had only 3 or 4 sales there since november.
Also the images I have there are not the best sellers in the world, so I don't expect much from them.
I've uploaded them because They also are as RM in some other place and since they don't have exclusivity I've gave them a try. Also they are the only images at FP from Cape Verde Islands, so maybe I'll get some sales later in the future. Hope so... 

  I'm so sad, she doen't love me!!!!

maybe that's because Christmas is when any one want's it to be.

I don't sharpen or unsharp any image on the scanner software.
If it come out softer then it should, it can be fixed later in PS.
I guess it's the best choice since sometimes it's better to have the original scanned file softer for some uses.

BigStock is my worst from this list and always have been.
Best of them for me is IS.

Hi

All my underwater images are from scanned film. I'm using Nikon Collscan 4000 and Nikon Scan 4.
I always try to get the best untouched image possible from scanner. I.E: I do not mess a lot with colors or exposure. Only try to adjust a correct histogram and always use ICE at normal setting.
I've add issues with SS but now I'm getting a really nice acceptance rate.
Usually all files to SS are downsampled to something betwen 3000 and 4200 pixels largest side. It depends on film used and slide exposure. Sometimes the best shoot is not the best in exposure so if I really want to upload it I need to be carefull and downsample to 3000 pixels to minimize grain and noise.
Also, I always use Noise Ninja, for SS and StockXpert.
For IS it depends.

Just be aware that each image is different and you need to use the correct tools
and procedures.

By the way:
Always scan with multisampling 16x and re check a few times the scanner focus. Mine is not the best performer in focus. So you really have to be carefull with focus.

I do not have many Kodachrome, mostly I have Fuji Provia 100 and 400 and Velvia 50.
Velvia I mostly use for macro and haven't uploaded many of those as I guess are not good sellers.
So my images are mostly Provia 100 and 400 and I don't have to many issues with grain.

I guess the best way is to do something on Excel
At least is what I do but I'm not the better example in organization.
I do some basic excel and have it upgraded with most recent stats once a week.
For me is enough.

Hate to spend more time than I need watching numbers.

Hummmmm

Guess it's time to sell the 300 2.8 or not.
Just add the beast and a couple of cargo guys.

The tripod is also here along with the head. Just need the lens and some space to go back.
This one just needs some space to work.

I wonder how noce can be to shoot sports with this one.
If the quality and price come to the right side of the bar, I guess this one is just one of the must have lenses, for sports and wildlife.

Where can I place my order?

Quote from: madelaide on March 06, 2007, 22:36
Digiology,

You're right this link works.  Hmm, another site that doesn't look good in Netscape.  And the password field appears before the username field...

Regards,
Adelaide

The problem is not with the site but with the browser 

Try Safari   

Just my two cents:

Professional: IS someone with or without a degree but with the experience and knowledge to deliver the work asked by a client.
Professionals work full time and have most of theire income from photography, but it's not only this small detail who makes anyone to be a professional. It's a lot more. A professional is someone who knows and understand the market where he is working and can have the job done.
As I see it, people who earn all of theire income from a micro can be or not a professional. Some can claim they are pros, but if it's me in theire place would prefer to be called a good amateur versus a bad professional.
Yes there are good professionals only doing stock and also only doing micros, but theire are no as many as one can think.
Also we can find a many pros who sell on the micros.

This one is a difficult one but I guess there is no rule to apply.
Each case is a different one.

Hi,

I've upload around 60 pictures to RSI, and 2 or 3 days later, surprise.

I've sold one. It's not a big deal but it's great for the soul.

Thanks Richard and the unknown buyer who had this nice gesture.

they have at least two clients 

I've had 2 sales already for 2 diferent guys.
I've also noticed that they both are Italians. One of them sent me the ad were my image was beeing used. was a very nice gesture as all of us always like to see our work in action.
This one was a bridge pic as a background on a Motorcycle clothes ad.

Edited: Actually today got a new sale. So far I'm counting 3.

I've joined LO on Dec 25 2006
Since then until 6 Feb I had 7 sales.
After 6 Feb not even one sale, despite that the views counter is going up.
Also I've noticed some delay on the reviewing process. I have 3 pictures waiting for more than a week now. I'm not worried with that since none of mine are selling any way.

I'm not happy with things at LO, at least for me.

It's slow for me today. But nothing very unusual.
Sometimes I see all day very slow and at the end of the day things pic up to more normalc values.

I've noticed Internal Server Errors twice today. This is not usual at least on my end.

Quote from: photovan on February 22, 2007, 15:25
.... And I think that microstock really is a place for amateurs rather than professionals. ......

Maybe you're right, maybe not!!
I guess in a shorter time then probably expected by many of us,  all the guys who really get some income from Micros will be professionals or very hard working and almost professional amateurs.
Quality is picking up and the difference between micros and macros will be shorter in many ways except the price.
Let just more buyers be aware of the micros and some more professionals realise how they can get in the micros.

At this pace I can imagine in 2 or three years this will be a completely different business in terms of quality.
Amateurs will be around for sure but they will see higher rejection rates and lower earnings.

That's just my guess

123RF have just slowed down this month for me.
All month so far only 3 downloads from credits and none from subscription.
Today I ad my first aproval from this month submissions

This one is another I must consider stop uploading. But since it's so easy to upload, I'll give it some more time.

I've also had a few sales when I started uploading, but now it stoped for what it looks like a long time now.
I just keep uploading because it's easy and I really like the site.

I'm just starting to think I do submit for to much non (or very low) sellers sites.
Cuts will start sooner or later!

I shoot RAW+Jpeg but rarely use the jpeg.
Most of the times I don't do much with the RAW but always extract my images from there on Capture NX.

Quote from: Eco on February 21, 2007, 06:25

QuoteI can say that my BEST shots, the stuff I'm REALLY proud of...  aren't on ANY microstock site.

That was my viewpoint as well until I realized one important thing many people often overlook.  For your portfolio as a whole to be successful you need some top quality images that attract downloads every day. These are the images that appears first under "most popular" searches.  They are the images that bring clients to your other, less than stunning images, because they click on your name, which take them to the rest of your portfolio.  If you think of it this way, the earnings from those top images are often much higher (indirectly) than you may think. Now, with few exceptions, my best images go to the microstock sites.  In this way they help me achieve what I like most: to travel the world. 

I agree with ECO
And by the way, great images in a shoe box don't sell for themselves. I only try to upload every single image that I can imagine will sell.
Of coarse there are a bunch of images that do not make sense to upload on the micros but this is a really different matter.
Also we must think what should be considered difficult or unique to shoot. Some pictures from remote locations or unusual subjects may be unique for me but no so unique for others and I always keep this in mind.
I have a few pictures of endangered species that I do not consider to upload, because they are difficult to get for everyone, but if I have a Lyon picture I would upload it despite it could be considered one of a kind for me, since we do not have so many Lyons around town.


For jeancliclac

I've never submitted to them but if you have many travel pictures you can consider http://www.lonelyplanetimages.com
I've heard they are good at it and it's theire speciality, but they want one initial submission of 500 images.

http://www.imagecatalog.com/index.php

Here is a new one.
At least for me.

25% comission and no FTP

If they start like this I can see a great history of success, or NOT.

Istock is my best seller site for at least a good 50% more then SS.
So my answer is YES.
But I also have a friend who sells a lot better in SS than IS and he complains a lot about low sales.
Theire system is a pain but I guess it worth it if you get the sales.
Also I read about lot of people complaining about low sales.

I guess the best advice is to give it a try. If you can have a very high acceptance ratio and sell well, than I guess it will be good, if not .....