I've contributed to SS since July and now have about 130 photos in my portfolio.

I make about $2.00 a day (8 to 12 images average)

So that is $60 a month. Do you feel this is below average, normal or above average?

Can I assume a constant multiple of:
100 images = $60 a month
1000 images = $600 a month
3000 images = $1800 a month $21,600
6000 images = $2600 a month $31,200 a year

View site
link

Also, I am open to feedback regarding my portfolio.

Thanks for your comments
OX

I did some similar projections a few years back when I was just starting out. I, too, had lofty goals of my six-figure earnings if I could just make enough new images. Needless to say, I'm still not driving that Audi I've had my eye on throughout those same years.

So no, you can't project future earnings in this way. And in fact, a lot of people have seen their incomes drop over the last year or two despite continuing to produce new images. Competition is stronger than ever in this business, and it's getting harder to grow your earnings in any meaningful way.

I don't think what they said is entirely true. You can track RPI and have fairly accurate results. It's hard with a smaller portfolio though because RPI's tend to be higher when you have under 500 or 1000 images. You will run into pitfalls where your growth slows, stops or regresses. That usually means you need to change what you are doing. I'd say track the numbers and use them as a guideline. It may work for you and it may not, but it doesn't hurt to at least monitor it and set some goals.

snip
thanks for your quick replies. That is kinda what I thought after seeing others post about the DL/$ curve at SS flattening or descending. Oh well... it is what it is. It is still fun.

That's the best way to look at it.

No, this is not acurate, as many have stated.

Try to measure your MPM value as Yuri Arcurs explains here:
http://www.arcurs.com/advanced-stock-photography-termology-for-photographers

That will take the short half time at Shutterstock into account.

Bye,
Robert

how about some stats? (I add a little increase on Oct, but not done yet..)



I think that you will be a lot better than what I am these days.. so keep up! (not easy to upload, work, rejections etc..)

go for the quality, you would do a lot better.. (don�t have much but I am working to get there)

A slightly personal question (and on a complete tangent) - is the port size on each of the sites a reflection on the toughness of the reviewers?   

As long as you focus on quality, you won't see as big a decline in your sales.

You almost got it.  But it's "As long as you focus on MARKETABILITY and UNIQUENESS you won't see a big decline in your sales."

I started out with a projection similar to what the OP described, and I'm well into my third year right along the very same trend line as my first few months.  I don't lose sleep wondering how to increase the quality of my uploads, but rather dreaming up topics that may have high demand but aren't being copied to death every day. That's the marketability aspect.  Before you say, "but if those images sell well, then they'll be copied," that's when the second key point comes in: uniqueness.  Create your shots in a manner and style that's difficult to duplicate, and conveys the core message of the image better than anyone else.  Focus on those two missions, and do them well, and you'll not only maintain that trend line, but perhaps even lift it.  That's been my experience anyway.

I was hoping that would be a Yes    I hope to get more files on to SS than IS while recognising that I'll probably have more rejections than from the other 2.