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Messages - nativelight
51
« on: August 29, 2008, 16:34 »
Like so many, will be happy that the hols are almost over.
Bring on the downloads!
Ah...but the next set of holidays is right around the corner. 
52
« on: August 29, 2008, 16:32 »
Oh I totally agree it's a good image and should be accepted. My point is you would probably have to have the status of Yuri (or at least a higher acceptance rate than I have) to get it accepted.
53
« on: August 29, 2008, 15:57 »
Ditto!
Lackluster sales, and yes I do take the time to sort my keywords for them.
I also sort my keywords. I wouldn't mind it if I saw results, but I don't.
54
« on: August 29, 2008, 15:48 »
hahahaha...only someone of Yuri's status could get an image like this approved. I'd definitely get rejected for blown highlights, uneven lighting and lens flare.  Whenever I have a lens flare from now on I'll just add a note to the reviewer that the "cinematic" flare was intentional. Think they'll buy it??? lol
55
« on: August 29, 2008, 13:25 »
56
« on: August 29, 2008, 13:02 »
I do well on FT, but I have 7500 images there.
Seriosly, August was very bad month for me there. Hope september will pick up.
So what types of images does Fotolia like to see? Is there anything that stands out as a preference for them?
57
« on: August 29, 2008, 10:35 »
I got the one I requested after just a few days. I requested one from IS at the same time and I'm still waiting for that one.
58
« on: August 29, 2008, 10:34 »
In many of the FT threads I've read where some people do very well on Fotolia and others do very poorly. I'm in the latter category. So I got to wondering what types of images do well and what types do not. If everyone is willing to share, I think it would be helpful to know some stats for those who do well and for those who do not. Again, I have never done well ($89 in about 18 months).
I have 233 images online which is about 33-50% lower than SS, IS, and DT because of my horrible (just above 50%) acceptance rate on FT. Most of my images fall into the categories of nature, travel and miscellaneus things like objects isolated on white. So apparently these are not the types of images FT thinks their buyers want. Is FT a site where they primarily want people in business situations? Something else?
What I'm really trying to determine is whether or not to continue with FT. If they don't want anything I enjoy shooting, it's just not worth it to me. But maybe there's something they need that I'm missing and would still enjoy shooting.
So let's hear from both those who do well and those who do not.
59
« on: August 28, 2008, 15:49 »
Nice images shutterscript! Fotolia is weird. They're very hot for some people and cold for others. I've never done well there although I sell decently at other sites so I apparently don't have the types of images they want or think they need. I just reached my first payout after more than a year there. This is one of the sites I am eliminating.
Keep in mind though that many people do very well there. You might want to give them some time to see how they work for you.
60
« on: August 28, 2008, 15:18 »
Nikon D3X with 24.4 MP. 
Ditto
61
« on: August 28, 2008, 10:06 »
I opted out of novel use. I'm on Alamy to make real $$$ not micro cents. Of course, I have yet to sell anything on Alamy, but I'm patient! 
62
« on: August 28, 2008, 10:04 »
I don't think Alamy has any specific rules on resubmitting. Unlike the micros they ONLY reject on technical faults rather than content. If you fix the reason they rejected it, there's no reason why you shouldn't resubmit. I've only had one batch rejected so far and I resubmitted after correcting the problem.
63
« on: August 26, 2008, 09:46 »
Well, on the bright side, about 75% of my income is from microstock. The rest are photography contracts. I was a school director and when they closed the school and offered me a job in another school I refused. It was scary but I took the leap of faith. Faith in my skills and the future of microstock. At that time I was earing roughly $2000/month from stock so I had to work hard and build up my portfolio with quality images.
It took me 1 year and now I make as much now as a school director. The rest of my contracts are bonuses. I wouldn't change my job for anything. Yes, roughly 15% of my job is shooting. The rest is post processing, keywording, uploading, yadda yadda yadda. That's the job of a stock photographer. I now have enough images that I can take a few months off and barely see an impact in sales (even in summer).
And the stress? What stress? I now work from home in my PJs (aka work clothes). I only work 10-15 hours a week on average on microstock now to maintain my current income. I don't need to increase my microstock revenue for now. I don't want to be the next Yuri and manage a whole staff. Not anymore. Been there, done that. Microstock allowed me to buy a house deep in the country cuz I don't need to commute anymore (the only way to get high speed is by satellite!). My property is on a small river that leads to a lake and when I take some breaks (which is often!) I either rest in my hammock or jump in my canoe with my 80-400mm to shoot herons and loons. The best part is that my mortgage pmts are less than what I was paying in town of a small apartment. Now I have a basement with a permanent studio to boot! 
I thank Mr. Microstock every day for giving the this wonderful lifestyle. I feel semi-retired! So much so that I needed to occupy more of my time (the workaholic in me ) so I started Yanik's Photo School. I'm now giving back to the photo community because I'm so grateful.
Who knows what the future holds. None of us do so why worry about it.
People who worry about what could happen never make it happen! You just need to be smart and stay in touch with what's going on (liek coming here everyday). That's also part of a microstocker's job.
Hope this helps. We dream for a reason!
Will you please adopt me?  Just kidding. I envy your courage. I was ready yesterday to tell my job to f... off, but I don't have the nerve to follow through. I did, however, decide to start putting more effort into my "exit strategy" from my stressful IT job.
64
« on: August 26, 2008, 09:33 »
Tom, you don't mention Fotolia. They are one of my better sellers.
Are you not seeing sales there? Just curious why they aren't on your list of keepers...
FT is weird for me. I'll get several downloads in a row and then I'll go weeks with nothing. I wonder if they change up their search algorithm regularly to keep search results fresh.
65
« on: August 23, 2008, 18:11 »
Thanks, Leaf. I've successfully uploaded it after reducing the size.
66
« on: August 23, 2008, 18:08 »
Ah...thanks. I've never paid attention to that before. I see the pic I'm trying to upload is probably too big. It's over a mb. I'm going to reduce it and try the upload again.
67
« on: August 23, 2008, 18:02 »
what error message are you getting?
Can you post the avatar in this thread and i can try getting it in there for you
I don't get an error message. After I submit, the page looks like it's trying to upload but then goes blank. I see "done" in the bottom left, but the rest of the page is blank. I can't post it here because it's just on my hard drive.
68
« on: August 23, 2008, 17:46 »
Are there any specific size limitations or file types for avatars for this site? I've searched, but I can't find anything. I'm trying to upload an avatar, but so far I've been unsuccessful.
69
« on: August 23, 2008, 17:15 »
I am in the process of doing this. I dumped LO shortly before they announced their closing. Next I shut down 123rf and I'm working on Albumo. Stockxpert will go as soon as I finally reach a payout, but I'm no longering uploading to them. Bigstockphoto will be next. I'm still undecided about SnapVillage so i'll leave them be for now. The last to go will be Fotolia. I'm focusing now on SS, IS and DT. I'm also focusing on building portfolios on Alamy and PSC. I don't need to make a living from stock so I'm willing to invest time into midstock.
70
« on: August 22, 2008, 10:02 »
A quick "google" search will net you many websites where you can upload images and design your own photo book. I've never created one myself, but a couple at my photography club gave a short seminar about www.mypublisher.com. They seem to really like that particular service. I know there are many others out there too. I can't answer your questions about content as I have no experience in this area.
71
« on: August 22, 2008, 09:53 »
Nice work, Chumley! I'm just looking at the flash intro and it appears you have excellent lighting technique. They're all so different. Very cool.
72
« on: August 15, 2008, 11:50 »
Is it the same if you're selling your images as RM? I was under the impression I could still sell fine art prints even though I have the same images on Alamy, PSC and MyLoupe as RM.
Yikes, am I wrong?
Is what the same? Calling them 'limited edition'? Or just selling them?
I think you can sell them as and how you want ... you are, after all, the copyright owner.
But if you sell an image as a 'limited edition' fine art print I would imagine buyers would be pretty pissed off if they then saw their treasure illustrating an article in a magazine, or plastered over billboards.
Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. Leaf said you are free to sell fine are if your images have been submitted as royalty free. I was wondering if the same holds true if the images you want to sell as fine art have also been marketed as RM. I understand you can't put "limited edition" on them. I hadn't thought about that until Leaf mentioned it, but it certainly makes sense.
74
« on: August 15, 2008, 09:39 »
Is it the same if you're selling your images as RM? I was under the impression I could still sell fine art prints even though I have the same images on Alamy, PSC and MyLoupe as RM.
Yikes, am I wrong?
75
« on: August 14, 2008, 15:37 »
I got the Manfotto 190ProB and it's alright.
I thought I had done my research but I'm not happy with the little 486RC2 I got with it. It's not enough for my Nikon D200 with an old 105mm on. I would definitely go for a bigger head now.
I just have the legs and I really like it. I LOVE the Really Right Stuff BH-40 ball head. I lost my first one during a backpacking trip that turned into quite a nightmare. I didn't hesitate in ordering a new one as soon as I returned home. They're expensive, but worth it.
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