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Messages - Don McGillis

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1
Stocksy / Stocksy - Are You Curious? Response?
« on: February 15, 2013, 12:11 »
For those who have supplied email addesses to Stocksy, has anyone heard back from Bruce? If so, what was the response? No rush really, just wondering.

2
Newbie Discussion / Re: Starting a microstock business
« on: January 01, 2009, 11:00 »
Pixart is correct for Canada; you do need to register (it costs very little) and have a "reasonable expectation of profit" in the the first three years of your SP to get the tax benefits.

sjlocke (as noted) offers the best advice in following the sequence of (1) have fun, (2) learn and then maybe, just maybe, (3) earn. I'm having a lot of fun, learning tons and don't have a reasonable expectation of profit for quite some time . . .

I still work with my old Konica Minolta D7, it's more about the images and less about the tool. Microstock is a very inspiring place to be; take a look at the portfolios of some of the contributors to this thread alone and it's clear that some of the best teachers in the business are here and willing to share their insights freely.

3
I'll buy the a900; not so much that I want (but I do) but because I have been waiting for ten yen years to "get my lenses back". I have a Minolta 700si (film) and a Konica Minolta 7D (6MP digital) I have absolutely refused to buy another SLR until I get full frame. (I do like my G9 though!) The lenses I'll get back will be a 20mm, a 24-85 and an APO 100-300. I'd buy an a900 today but . . . three more months won't kill me and I expect it to save me hundreds of dollars (Canadian dollars) over today's "early adopter" price. Sony have been making a900 noise for over a year now, it's a shame that global consumer confidence is in the tank and they announced reduced expectations for '09, it just means the a900's in the channel will have to be reduced in price to keep Sony shareholders happy. No one makes money with inventory on the shelf.

4
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Anyone else with 11 days pending images?
« on: September 23, 2008, 22:08 »
Just to close the loop on this, the last of the 15 images in question were done today, so that's 12 - 13 days; a bit long I suppose but 14 of 15 were accepted so IS can take their time at that acceptance rate. I'm quite satisfied.

5
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Anyone else with 11 days pending images?
« on: September 21, 2008, 20:28 »
Of the 15 images I had at nine days yesterday 6 have been accepted; waiting on the next 9 no rejects so far. For a non-exclusive basic contributor like me this seems pretty good. It's just like when you get a new job, they always make you work a bit harder to see if you're going to stick it out. Anyone find the left handed mop? or the bucket of steam? The boss sent me out for both. ;D

6
iStockPhoto.com / Re: Anyone else with 11 days pending images?
« on: September 20, 2008, 22:07 »
I'm at nine days (nonexclusive, basic member @IS).

7
General Stock Discussion / Re: 70% don't reach the first payout
« on: September 19, 2008, 07:12 »
I have yet to make a payout.

I was accepted at IS in May 07 but then I didn't upload anything for 11 months.

When I did begin uploading it was at a slowish pace (well under < 15/week) and my current acceptance rate runs at ~55%. I don't see a payout in sight for a long long time and my portfolio has only 37 images (with some that simply aren't all that salable). BUT, I have become a much better stock photographer along the way. I spend about 8 hours a week working on this and it's costing money like crazy. I've also read that a full time (traditional) photographer should not expect to be in a profit position for five years (two years longer that most other small business startups).

I have a day job that I spend 50+ hours a week at. When I factor in the money and time and effort (and thickening skin I'm developing) there's nothing I'd rather be doing with that spare time and money. I do have a plan (a five year plan) and it's working slow and steady despite the first year set back. I sell about one image a week and that's just fine for me now. I've wanted to be a stock photographer for 15 years and as far as I'm concerned, this counts, I'm a photographer; solving the same problems and looking at the same details.

I love every minute behind the camera or in front of Lightroom & Photoshop. I suspect I'm not unique. BTW MSG has some great contributors, really inspiring - Thanks to all of you.

8
I'm still struggling with the exclusive versus nonexclusive question but given that my sales are so low and my portfolio is still tiny, I have time to figure it out and I'm tending toward exclusive. The PC/MAC analogy works to a degree (like all analogies) and I've been there since 1986 when I bought my first Mac SE but was forced to used PC in my day job. It was true then and it's true to today Apple (and the similar iStock) are all about brand and market capture. iStock is the default brand in micro (Apple was too, anyone remember the Apple II?) and iStock is looking to capture both buyers (by market dominance) and sellers (by exclusives). It's a choice they've made, a Steve Jobs style choice; big risk, huge payoff.

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