I don't count my keywords. Some images have many, some only a few. It just depends on the subject and how many relevant keywords I come up with.

Here are mine:

2011 vs. 2010 up 9.5%
2010 vs. 2009 up 27.2%
2009 vs. 2008 up 36.7%
2008 vs. 2007 up 62.8%

It's becoming harder and harder. Partly because portfolio size is increasing (it takes much longer to for example double the portfolio size). And partly because the RPI is falling. In 2007 my RPI yearly was $14.88 and 2011 it was $9.60. Thats -35%

I have a decent amount of commisioned shoots, I don't seem to be able to produce more than about 50 stock images per month in average (20 images on a month with lots of commissioned shoots and 80 on a more laid back month) . To increase my stock earnings I should produce more, but because earnings are falling I can't afford to put any more time and effort to my stock business. My goal is still to earn a bit more every year.

I like these:
The building with german flags (4)
Shooting the gun (10)
City from above (14)

I would NOT submit these:
Key West (
Halloween (6)

They might have some intellectual property issues.

I like number 3 a bit too, but it might have some property issues.

Latest rumors from canonrumors.com ( http://www.canonrumors.com/2012/02/5d-split-5d-x-5d-mark-iii-cr1/ )


5D Split? 5D X & 5D Mark III [CR1]

Interesting thought
A split in the 5D line has been rumoured for a while now. This rumor was not submitted to me, instead it was sent to [NL]. It�s consistent with some things I have heard, however take this one with a large grain of salt.

5D X

    45MP (With a pixel size similar to the power shot G1X)
    61 points AF (Similar to the 1DX but simpler)
    3.4 fps, 100-6400 (50-12800)
    1 Digic 5+ Digic 4

5D Mark III

    22MP
    61 points AF (Similar to the 1DX but simpler)
    6.9 fps, ISO 100-25600(50-51200)
    1 Digic 5+ Digic 4
    Best HD video quality of any EOS camera

This is what is on Zoonar's "Partner management" page:

APIS Network is Europe�s most successful picture marketing platform. APIS is an independent databank system, accessible to a closed circle of users. In order to search the APIS database you need an APIS browser. Most picture editors in German speaking countries use APIS to get a majority of their pictures. For the customer it is a big advantage to search across the photo stock of several APIS suppliers at the same time, always using the same search engine. If you decide to release your pictures for APIS your pictures will be found and sold via APIS in the future, if our photo editors clear your pictures for release.

When you release your pictures for the APIS network they are fed into APIS as well als i-picturemaxx and DFJV-Bildportal via the independent company Flashmedia Group. Further information below:
i-picturemaxx ist a piece of software that allows clients who are are not registered with APIS to buy APIS pictures. I-picturemaxx is a kind of successor to the APIS browser which is still used by most picture editors. The media search engine my-picturemaxx allows several thousand users of more than 500 magazine and newspaper publishers, companies and advertising agencies to search for photos fast and efficiently. Picturemaxx is an exclusive operator of the APIS network and of the independent international media network i-picturemaxx, which combines the portfolio of more than 250 picture agencies, media portals and archives.
Flashmedia Group operates the DFJV-Bildportal (Deutscher Journalistenfachverband � German Journalist�s Association). Zoonar feeds all photos via the Flashmedia Group into the APIS system. A big advantage, because it means your photos will also be found and sold in the associated DFJV-Bildportal, which can result in more photo sales.

Terms of Service / Agreement:

1.    There are many weekly papers, regional newspapers, small publishing houses and magazines with a limited circulation that also search for pictures in the APIS network. These media will pay a much lesser fee than a large newspaper or magazine with a wide circulation. If you release your photos for distribution via the APIS network you have to reckon with a lower fee than you are used to at Zoonar. This applies especially for all photos in the premium category. But at the same time higher paid usages of up to several thousand euros are possible.

2.    All photos which you release for APIS must remain in the APIS network and DFJV-Bildportal for at least six months. Early deletions of pictures is not possible.

3.    All pictures activated for our distribution partner Picturemaxx, will also be distributed via our partner The Interview People. The Interview People pay Zoonar 60% of the commission so that you will get 36% of the picture commission when selling via this partner.

4.    Zoonar is not obliged to feed photos released by you into the APIS network or any other partner. Photos that are passed on to partners can be deleted by Zoonar at any time. There is no long-term guarantee that your pictures will remain online after acceptance of your pictures by our editors or after being passed on to the mentioned partners. A rejected picture cannot be submitted for release for the Apis network or DFJV-Bildportal again.

5.    Zoonar is not liable for consequential damage caused by software or any third party, the involved partners Picturemaxx and Flashmedia Group or their respective external contractors.


Whether your pictures are accepted or rejected depends heavily on proper keywording and captioning. Therefore it is of utmost importance that you check the keywords and captions of your photos before you release them for APIS or any other partner. A rejected picture cannot be submitted again! APIS does not allow cryptic captions like "DSC000.jpg" or "Kodak_Image009.jpg". So please use meaningful captions and picture titles. A title like "What you�re looking at!" is not accteptable either. Please use a descriptive title, for example something like "Young woman makes a funny face". Keyword spamming (too many incorrect and unfounded keywords) is not allowed either.
You can release your pictures now for sale in the APIS system and DFJV-Bildportal using the Zoonar picture management. Your Zoonar account will be credited with your commission after we have received the fee. Zoonar bills the APIS users directly, therefore no third party participates. But Zoonar pays a user fee to the partner agency.
Zoonar will check all released pictures before they are passed on. We ask for your understanding that we can pass on only those pictures which meet our partners� requirements in picture quality. These requirements may differ from those at Zoonar. After a few days you will see in your Zoonar picture management which of your photos were accepted and rejected.
You may request a deletion of a picture from the APIS network and the DFJV-Bildportal at any time using the Zoonar picture management. The picture will remain online for another six months. Should you wish for a deletion of your Zoonar account we will archive your data until final deletion for another six months so that we are able to credit your account with any possible commision received during that period.
Photos with English keywords only will get their keywords (no other IPTC fields) translated by an auto translator tool before they are fed into the APIS network. Translation errors may occur, we try to correct those errors but we cannot guarantee for it.

And here is a link to the portal: http://dfjv-gate.picturemaxx.com/

�   5D X
�   22 mp
�   61pt AF with DIGIC 4
�   6.9 FPS
�   DIGIC 5 (Doesn�t say DIGIC 5+)
�   Announcement February 28
�   + with 3 lens
�   Available April $2700

I hope the 61pt AF is going to be very good. With a decent AF and better dynamics and less noise = worthy successor to the 5D mk II.

On a sidenote: why would they throw away the "mark..." naming system, I always liked it: clear and systematic. What are they going to call the next one? 5D XY 6D X? 4D X?

Wonder what the lenses are going to be? I hope they don't update the 35/1.4 (because It's an old lens design and I just bought one!)
I'd very much like a 50/1.4 mk II. Or even a decent 28mm.

I like the two last ones (the crabs on the beach and the christmas-bell-thing). I'm not sure which one I'd pick for the third one.

I was just uploading some pics to Depositphotos. When I was trying to submit an image, I got a red text saying "Please correct errors below: Title - (min length 6 chars)"

What the... My title was 5 characters. I can't understand why there has to be a limit like this, it just doesn't make any sense...?

What other strange "quirks" does other sites have that you would like to get rid of?

If you are going to keep the sensor size the same, then I don't see the point of upgrading. But if you are going to upgrade to a full-frame sensor (24*36mm) then you are going to get noticeable better pixels.

I shoot at 21 mpix, but I often crop and downsize my images so they are usually in the 4 to 12 mpix range. Maybe 40% of my images are 21 mpix.

Sure, large files sell some times, but they also more often get rejected by noise (yes, even good cameras with correct exposure are noisy in some solid-color areas), downsizing helps this. Also some large-aperture shots may benefit from downsizing.

Ease of uploading here also. If I can dump my whole portfolio to a site with just a few clicks, I propably end up doing it. Of course I need to see some reports about sales etc.
I have about 6 microstock sites that are the "core" of my sites. Then I have about 10 sites that have very easy upload (active uploading time about 1min / month) that brings me payments slowly, but it happens.

Here is some tough love:

1. Hair over the eye and cheek. Bad bokeh. I also have some problem interpreting the facial expression... maybe she looks tired(?)

2. Harsh lighting

3. Distracting background with colorful blobs. Artefacts in the face area.

4. Same distracting background. Hair "growing" from the chin. The man has a distracting button(?) on his jacket. Better than number 3.

5. Soft/artefacts. Skin tones aren't perfect. Dull light.

6. Rough isolation, especially in the lower parts of the images. If you have shot these on white background, why not include a weak shadow? I think there are already too many "tomatos on white" shots on all the stock sites.

If they don't go after them and you choose to pursue it yourself then you are obligated to share any awards with IS.

I would like to be in that situation and see what IS thinks about the 15% they get from me. (They might get 16% if they have enough redeemed credits)