MicrostockGroup

Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: bobkeenan on September 17, 2009, 19:22

Title: A Money earning photo?
Post by: bobkeenan on September 17, 2009, 19:22
I have been doing microstock for about 6 months.  So I am just a beginning photographer.  I have anywhere from 50 - 300 photos on the big 6 sites.  But I probably only make about $1 a day.  I think my top photo has about 30 downloads between all of the sites but over about 4 months.

But today an interesting thing happened.  I took a photo of some red and green peppers at the farmers market. It got approved 3 days ago.  And today there were 4 downloads.  That never happened before.  So is that just a coincidence or could this one be a good money earner?

http://bobbyk.smugmug.com/Other/stock-1/9668450_TDKKz/1/652720010_5iqFj (http://bobbyk.smugmug.com/Other/stock-1/9668450_TDKKz/1/652720010_5iqFj)
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: MatHayward on September 17, 2009, 19:29
It's a good looking photo.  From what I understand of Shutterstock (I don't contribute to them) it is a revolving door of photographs as far as what sells and what does not.  Newly uploaded images are sought out by the buyers and as the photo's stay in there for a while they get buried deeper and deeper in the database.  Enjoy the sales while they last and keep shooting to keep the sales coming. 
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: HermanM on September 17, 2009, 19:53
It is the quantity of peppers that make the pic so good.  it is not the classic pepper on white, this is a great pic.  Sales will go down after a while, but it will keep on selling for a long time.  Just keep uploading.
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: Aetherial on September 17, 2009, 23:58
it is a great photo and 4 downloads in one day is very good, but wait and see what will happen in the next three or four days. If it continues to sell in those quantity over a week you have a strong seller. It's still not popular enough for Top 50 of the week, I'm afraid. I've had photos sell 2-3 a day for several days and then die entirely unless you regards one sale a month as "hot cakes".
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: Dan on September 18, 2009, 08:52
  They  look  delicious  -  did  you  buy  any.  Oh  yeah  GREAT  PHOTO!!
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: epantha on September 18, 2009, 08:56
Yep, great shot! The lighting is good and the contrast of red and green makes it interesting. I bet this will be a best seller on more than one site. :)
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: tempura on September 18, 2009, 11:33
full frames of veggies sell well,
funny thing is that I haven't brought myself to shoot some,

nice one at that too, my guess is that it will keep earning you money
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: takestock on September 18, 2009, 14:58
Like in any other area of photography, vibrant colors attract the viewer.
One of my best sellers is 95% Red.

You'll know a best seller when it comes along - it should "take off" right at the start!
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: leaf on September 18, 2009, 17:04
I think most people can agree that 90% of the sales come from 10% of the images.  The trick is to get more images that hit that 10% pot.

Sometimes it takes 30 images before you get one good seller, sometimes only 4 images.  Perhaps this is one of those images.
Title: Re: A Money earning photo?
Post by: click_click on September 18, 2009, 21:23
It is a GOOD shot!

Well done!