Quote from: Mantis on January 21, 2015, 12:57
Look at the poll on the right of this screen. That is essentially all things micro stock.  And who, as a guide, makes artists the most money.  Results very but that is the guide we use here for discussion purposes.  You can expand your work in fine art sites (if you shoot that kind of stuff) or you can go sell RM on Alamy or even RF on Alamy. Sales for me are few and far between (2-4 a month) but can be $30 to $200 each sale, for which I get 50%.

name some fine art sites you share your works with ...thanks

Quote from: cascoly on January 07, 2015, 00:46
I've done ok with editorial images of calligraphy on mosques, etc

if you submit to ss, be sure to include a translation

yep my instant mistake..just uploaded yesterday without translation and got rejected...but mine was only a mixed of letters w/t meaning.

Quote from: jatrax on December 27, 2014, 16:57

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!

yea thankxx...

Quote from: ouchie on December 26, 2014, 22:32
I hope the one thing you have learned is that your work is mediocre at best and if you want to make good money then you'd better substantially up your game and produce quantities like your a factory with a bank of employee's working for you. But don't get discouraged it can be done. and i think your the one to do it. Please come back and let us know when you earned your first 11k.

sign,
reality sux

Soon baby

sign,
realiy sux for sukers!

Quote from: No Free Lunch on December 26, 2014, 21:44

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....!

There will be times you will want to give up-  instead just take a small break and go back with more determination each time! Keep learning and never stop trying. I applied those to myself and the rest is history!

and i bet you must be doing well in the business

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....!

Quote from: Semmick Photo on December 23, 2014, 21:07

Quote from: No Free Lunch on December 23, 2014, 20:24
To reach $11,000 per year in one year you better plan on working 18 hour days - 7 days a week for a full year! Also eating a full meal and taking a long hot shower will be a luxury that you will not have time for...

I do $10K per year now, next to my day job. I do not add many photos these days. My 2K images do the work for me at the moment. I am making that money now without putting in many hours. It was hard work to get here though. Imagine what 2K vectors can do.

to be sincere, you are the only one among all those replies giving such a positive feedback...this kind of response does motivate dude....finally what i can conclude is the result is not the same for everyone....its so unpredictable..

Quote from: Semmick Photo on December 22, 2014, 23:58

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 22, 2014, 21:37

Quote from: jatrax on December 22, 2014, 03:34
I am confused about the $11,000 do you mean total or annually or what?

As others have said it is impossible to say as everyone's circumstance
are different.  Even excellent work might not do as good as older ones beause of search placement.

A rule of thumb I was given when I started was $1 per image per year.  You should do better if the work is good but for projections and budgeting that is what I use.

If you need $11,000 quickly I would suggest another line of work.

note that when i say i need $11000, it does not imply to be monthly or annually-this is just ridiculous and i know it...but what i meant was with good quality vectors online and a large portfolio, within how many years would i be able to make that money...in short, i want to know if there is a constancy in the income of microstockers or it all depends on luck!!

It took me 2 years with photos on several agencies.

two years with vectors??

Quote from: Shelma1 on December 22, 2014, 21:45
If you have a few thousand good vectors you should be able to make that kind of money. Vectors tend to bring in a higher amount per image than photos, I believe. But you need to *not* try to copy the best-selling vector images, because they sell well for a reason and already have a good search position. It will be very difficult to knock high-selling images off the front page unless your work is amazing.

thats well said..copying best sellers is a bad thing i used to do with nothing in return...but from where do you guys get your inspirations???

Quote from: jatrax on December 22, 2014, 03:34
I am confused about the $11,000 do you mean total or annually or what?

As others have said it is impossible to say as everyone's circumstance
are different.  Even excellent work might not do as good as older ones beause of search placement.

A rule of thumb I was given when I started was $1 per image per year.  You should do better if the work is good but for projections and budgeting that is what I use.

If you need $11,000 quickly I would suggest another line of work.

note that when i say i need $11000, it does not imply to be monthly or annually-this is just ridiculous and i know it...but what i meant was with good quality vectors online and a large portfolio, within how many years would i be able to make that money...in short, i want to know if there is a constancy in the income of microstockers or it all depends on luck!!

Quote from: sketchyt on December 21, 2014, 17:19
If you even have to ask these questions, you're in the wrong business. There are much easier ways to make a living!

You have to do the work and You have to figure it out for yourself! Your art will be more meaningful when you do.

Now get to work!

WRONG BUSINESS YOU MEAN FOR WHAT?? MICROSTOCK???

Quote from: cobalt on December 21, 2014, 16:39
Well, creating stock media files is something that takes years to learn. there is a reason why in some countries commercial stock photography is a six year university degree. Obviously you can also do it by yourself, but from what I see it takes many,many years.

The first thing to learn is to become an excellent illustrator artist and the best way to do that is to work for real live clients or be employed by a design firm. When you see in your day job how graphic art is used,what is it that people will pay money for etc...plus your boss will make sure your quality is good or you simply won´t get paid.

And then you can build your stock portfolio on the side.

Obviously,unless you try you won´t know if it is the right thing for you.

In my experience though,many people are attracted to stock because they want to get out of their day job and think it will be an easier life. But the reality is that for most people it will be hard to achieve a decent living wage,because it is such a complex industry and changes very,very quickly.

You need to be a great artist, you need to find a niche you can either dominate or become one of the top 100 to really make it work,you have to constantly invest in equipment,software and be ready to learn new techiques,you have to watch overall trends - color schemes,fashion,trends in how society is changing, follow a lot of advertising trends and somehow still be able to create your own style of work that people will recognize.

You need your heart,your gut and a very business devoted mindset to actually make money. And be very, very honest with yourself.

It is the right thing for me, but I usually don´t recommend it. Everytime I mentor someone I realize how many things I have learned over the years that I just take for granted, but then you see how long it takes people to actually learn it.

It´s like dancing, some people can do a few basic steps, others dance with Alvin Ailey and others just do silly clips for youtube and become millionaires...

ETA: I doubt anyone will recommend a well selling niche to you. It took them years to identify it, you´ll have to find your own path...

im yet to find my niche..still exploring....do you peeps have an specific way for your inspiration???

Quote from: ShadySue on December 21, 2014, 16:40

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 16:30
another issue i would like to know: do 'everything' of good quality sells?? or is there only a particular demands on the market??? i mean some sort of specific topics??? i know lastly infographics, backgrounds were doing well....is there best demands in these topics or is it me who is seeing through blinkers???

I'm not sure that your strategy of asking your direct competitors for this sort of information is sound. (I'm not one of them: I don't do vectors and don't know the answers). Why would they help you to erode their earnings?

sounds true though

another issue i would like to know: do 'everything' of good quality sells?? or is there only a particular demands on the market??? i mean some sort of specific topics??? i know lastly infographics, backgrounds were doing well....is there best demands in these topics or is it me who is seeing through blinkers???

Quote from: cobalt on December 21, 2014, 16:11
If you have top level quality you will get excellent returns. But is what you are producing top level?

You are competing internationally against artist with 10 year experience who keep uploading superb work every day.

are you ready to work very,very hard for your success? It's a business, you get out of it what you put in.

so true what you said...sometimes when i look at others works, its just dissapointing and depressing....lol
but my motto is if they could do it, i can do it as long as im gaining...

Quote from: Sean Locke Photography on December 21, 2014, 16:15

Quote from: salaahkhayr on December 21, 2014, 16:04

Quote from: fritz on December 21, 2014, 00:24
So, can we see your cool and quality port and than we can discuss how many years will take to earn 11k? No kidding!

as i said my im a newbie so my port is small..
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=1787417

You're going to have to do work a lot better and more complex than that to have any level of success.

obviously im aware of what awaits me as a newbie...but i really in giving everythng i can into it...but my biggest fear is giving my life to it and gain nothing in return or gain nothing sort of what im putting into it.

Quote from: fritz on December 21, 2014, 00:24
So, can we see your cool and quality port and than we can discuss how many years will take to earn 11k? No kidding!

as i said my im a newbie so my port is small..
http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=1787417

did you mean what i understood: you can make a good sum with 2500 images online???

...I'M MORE A VECTOR ARTIST. I'M REAL SERIOUSLY INTO THIS BUSINESS AND CAN AFFORD TO WORK HARD, REAL HARD INTO IT TO HAVE A COOL AND QUALITY PORTFOLIO(MAY BE 2500 IMAGES BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR). YOU EXPERIENCED MICROSTOCKERS HERE, ADVICE ME PLEASE. AFTER HOW MANY MONTHS(BASED ON GENERAL CASES YOU KNOW BECAUSE I KNOW IT'S NOT THE SAME FOR ALL) WHAT IT TAKES(MONTH, PORTFOLIO SIZE, ETC....) TO ATTAIN $11000? I REALLY NEED ADVICES NOW. I WANNA DO IT, BUT NEED MORE MOTIVATIONS....AND ADVICE ME ALSO ON THE BEST OF AGENCIES...THANKS A LOT TO EVERYONE WHO CONSIDER THIS AND REPLY ME..

i surfed the site but found no vectors...do they accept it or not?

HOW ARE SALES GOING THERE??

Quote from: weltreisendertj on June 15, 2014, 12:34
I´m also a newbie and tried out several agencies now. My topic is currently only landscape and architecture. Income is monthly ~ 50 bucks with that. And here are my Top 6...

1. Shutterstock
2. iStock
3. dreamstime
4. depositphotos
5. 123rf
6. Fotolia

can you link me to your shutterstock portfolio
It´s very similar to the Microstock Poll Results on the right side here.

WHAT COULD BE THE BEST ALTERNATIVES FOR FREELANCERS AND ONLINE GRPHIC DESIGNERS? (LOOKING FOR A SUGGESTION TO KEEP THE PACE OF WORKING ONLINE)

admin edit: changed the subject to not be in all capital letters.  Please turn your caps-lock off!

Shutterstock best for newbies without doubt. So according to your experience there won't be any progress in the near future? Will microstock be a 'past' business soon?


Sent from my iPod touch using Tapatalk

don't  get into micro, well i too don't agree much with this statement. what i do agree is every ms sites is not the same. some are meant to waste time( you all know it better) and some are good revenue sources. i know people making over $5ooo monthly only through MS. i thnk for each of us its not the same.