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Agency Based Discussion => Shutterstock.com => Topic started by: steheap on June 15, 2012, 15:15

Title: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on June 15, 2012, 15:15
One sale of an ED today finally pushed me over the $10K lifetime earnings total on Shutterstock and I get to reap the rewards of 38c per download!!

Its amazing when I look back - in January 2010 I earned $60.91 on Shutterstock, in May 2012, $636. All it takes is endless hard work and the support and ideas of this forum!

Thanks guys...

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: WarrenPrice on June 15, 2012, 15:22
Congratulations.  GREAT job -- and fast.
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on June 15, 2012, 15:27
congratulations! nice job and well deserved, not far but you got there 1st :D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: ason on June 15, 2012, 15:43
Big Congrate! :D Grattis!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: qwerty on June 15, 2012, 17:46
cool
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: cthoman on June 15, 2012, 18:20
Congrats!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: suemack on June 15, 2012, 18:42
WTG Steve!!!  ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: CD123 on June 16, 2012, 01:06
Well done! Perseverance and hard work still pays in the end.  ;)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Wim on June 16, 2012, 01:56
Congrats Steve!

It's guys like you that keep me going.

Take care mate
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: ShadySue on June 16, 2012, 04:19
Congratulations  ;D
How long have you been selling on SS?
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on June 16, 2012, 08:45
Quote
How long have you been selling on SS?

I started in January 2008 trying to sell old images off my hard drive - some of which sold reasonably well. I was a bit slow in 2008 and 2009, and have really started focusing on this as a way of making money in 2010. My annual earnings at Shutterstock have been:

2008: $522
2009: $845
2010: $1680
2011: $4094
2012: $2548 year through end May

I've tried to maintain a regimen of uploading enough images each month to add about 100 online shots - I'm currently at 2662 on SS. A real mix of travel, landscape, still life, portraits and, yes, cats. That latter group are actually my best selling subjects!

Along the way, I wrote my eBook about the nitty gritty mechanics of getting into the business and managed to update to a second edition - so it has been hard work to get to this point -  processing, keywording and uploading images each week. Nice to get to their highest tier though and now I look forward to basking in the well deserved income from all these ventures!  ;D

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: lisafx on June 16, 2012, 11:36
Congratulations Steve!  Very impressive rise you've had.  Proof that with really hard work and smart planning it's still possible to make money at this :)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Wim on June 16, 2012, 11:41
so it has been hard work to get to this point -  processing, keywording and uploading images each week. Nice to get to their highest tier though and now I look forward to basking in the well deserved income from all these ventures!  ;D

Each week, hah! try each day bro ;) I hope you don't get the issues I've been getting with reviewers, very exhausting, as if I don't have enough work already. SS rejecting best selling work, DT being picky about similars and IS rejecting composites. Soon I'll have to built a seperate port for each agency ::)

Like I've said, it's because of guys like you and Louis (to name a few) that I find the courage to keep on going in this business, I thank you for that.

Have a good weekend fellow contributors.
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on June 16, 2012, 12:18
so it has been hard work to get to this point -  processing, keywording and uploading images each week. Nice to get to their highest tier though and now I look forward to basking in the well deserved income from all these ventures!  ;D

Each week, hah! try each day bro ;) I hope you don't get the issues I've been getting with reviewers, very exhausting, as if I don't have enough work already. SS rejecting best selling work, DT being picky about similars and IS rejecting composites. Soon I'll have to built a seperate port for each agency ::)

Like I've said, it's because of guys like you and Louis (to name a few) that I find the courage to keep on going in this business, I thank you for that.

Have a good weekend fellow contributors.

donīt say that or other contributors will get us in this topic :D

that said I believe I have stopped posting in my blog because of competition, after reading some big/top contributors in this forum it got to me, we don't need to train new corners, I have learned "everything" alone so if they want they can pursue it too :)

the more we get our "space" we certainly donīt want to get back so we need to cover our back! (sorry for the redundancy)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Wim on June 16, 2012, 13:04
so it has been hard work to get to this point -  processing, keywording and uploading images each week. Nice to get to their highest tier though and now I look forward to basking in the well deserved income from all these ventures!  ;D

Each week, hah! try each day bro ;) I hope you don't get the issues I've been getting with reviewers, very exhausting, as if I don't have enough work already. SS rejecting best selling work, DT being picky about similars and IS rejecting composites. Soon I'll have to built a seperate port for each agency ::)

Like I've said, it's because of guys like you and Louis (to name a few) that I find the courage to keep on going in this business, I thank you for that.

Have a good weekend fellow contributors.

donīt say that or other contributors will get us in this topic :D

that said I believe I have stopped posting in my blog because of competition, after reading some big/top contributors in this forum it got to me, we don't need to train new corners, I have learned "everything" alone so if they want they can pursue it too :)

the more we get our "space" we certainly donīt want to get back so we need to cover our back! (sorry for the redundancy)

Getting paranoid are we Louis-san? I know what you mean though, I'm also selft thaught and will never share the tools of the trade and even wonder why some put complete tutorials in forums/blogs. This is a business, not stock/photography/photoshop class.

ps. I think I'm in love with Lisa's hypnotic avatar (I wonder if that's her in the pic)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: lisafx on June 16, 2012, 14:23

ps. I think I'm in love with Lisa's hypnotic avatar (I wonder if that's her in the pic)

:D

It's my daughter.  I took it years ago, when she would still willingly model for me.  Now I have to pay other people's teenagers to model!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on June 16, 2012, 14:58
Quote
Each week, hah! try each day bro  I hope you don't get the issues I've been getting with reviewers, very exhausting, as if I don't have enough work already. SS rejecting best selling work, DT being picky about similars and IS rejecting composites. Soon I'll have to built a seperate port for each agency

Like I've said, it's because of guys like you and Louis (to name a few) that I find the courage to keep on going in this business, I thank you for that.


Thanks for this!

On the rejection and strange decisions of the reviewers - I've got to the point where I generally ignore it. I always get a lot of rejections from Fotolia, but as it doesn't impact anything of importance on the site, I just see the rejection emails, smile, and delete them. Rejections from SS annoy me a little more, but I take a deep breath and move on to other things. I very rarely try to correct them, although my last set of rejections were for "Long Nails" and I have emailed support for a review of that one!! I talked about it on my latest examples of stock images taken last week. http://www.backyardsilver.com/2012/06/stock-images-for-june-13-2012/ (http://www.backyardsilver.com/2012/06/stock-images-for-june-13-2012/)

On the broader topic of helping others - as you all probably know, I don't mind doing that. I learned from others when I started, it is unlikely that someone will find my stock photo examples so incredible that they will copy them, and so I have continued blogging, promoting my book and generally trying to be helpful. I've no idea if it hurts me personally, in the wallet, but it probably makes me feel good!

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: ShadySue on June 16, 2012, 15:04
Rejections from SS annoy me a little more, but I take a deep breath and move on to other things. I very rarely try to correct them, although my last set of rejections were for "Long Nails" and I have emailed support for a review of that one!!
That has to win the prize for the most bizarre rejection.
I'd love to hear the feedback!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on June 16, 2012, 15:06
Quote
although my last set of rejections were for "Long Nails" and I have emailed support for a review of that one


Here it is:

(http://www.backyardsilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Hand-object-14.jpg)

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Tryingmybest on June 16, 2012, 15:12
One sale of an ED today finally pushed me over the $10K lifetime earnings total on Shutterstock and I get to reap the rewards of 38c per download!!

Its amazing when I look back - in January 2010 I earned $60.91 on Shutterstock, in May 2012, $636. All it takes is endless hard work and the support and ideas of this forum!

Thanks guys...

Steve

That's great! Keep up the good work. It's inspiring.  8)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: ShadySue on June 16, 2012, 15:15
Quote
although my last set of rejections were for "Long Nails" and I have emailed support for a review of that one


Here it is:

([url]http://www.backyardsilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/Hand-object-14.jpg[/url])

Steve

Even if you had photographed Struwwelpeter himself, how could that be a rejection reason?
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on June 16, 2012, 15:34


On the broader topic of helping others - as you all probably know, I don't mind doing that. I learned from others when I started, it is unlikely that someone will find my stock photo examples so incredible that they will copy them, and so I have continued blogging, promoting my book and generally trying to be helpful. I've no idea if it hurts me personally, in the wallet, but it probably makes me feel good!

Steve

I understand once I had the exact same feeling while I was blogging my earnings, milestones, tutorials, tips or other.. BUT the fact is that they will open accounts and some will do "well" and most certainly it will hurt your income, yes not much but you never know..

like I have said I don't think they will do very well, from my blog I would say I got around 100$ from around 2 and half year blogging (126 posts) on referrals

p.s: you need to cut your nails ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: pancaketom on June 16, 2012, 18:44
Congrats on that milestone. For a while we were running pretty even on DT and SS, but your superior work ethic has easily surpassed me. I did get to 10K first, but only with a good head start.

That long nails rejection is really weird - especially as those nails don't appear to be particularly long to me.

It would be nice to help less for the zero sum game sites like IS and soon to be 123, but otherwise I am guessing unless people directly copy your images that it won't actually lower your income in a noticeable way.
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: gemmy12 on June 17, 2012, 00:10
Quote from: Wim


Getting paranoid are we Louis-san? I know what you mean though, I'm also selft thaught and will never share the tools of the trade and even wonder why some put complete tutorials in forums/blogs. This is a business, not stock/photography/photoshop class.

ps. I think I'm in love with Lisa's hypnotic avatar (I wonder if that's her in the pic)
Some do give tips and all helpful articles in their blog but still those guys are doing so well in stock. Example is Steve himself. I do read his blog and find it quite interesting.
I also find Lisa's avatar hypnotic. lol would like to hear from Lisa that how does this pic do in stock ?
Btw wim, your new (i guess) avatar is also quite interesting. He looks like my old school HOD. Lolz

and yes congratulation on the milestone Steve. I believe SS people will have to set new milestone for you guys. :) probably for next 50k Dls....
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: djpadavona on June 19, 2012, 20:13
That's awesome Steve, well done!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: trofia on June 28, 2012, 12:22
Dear Steve,

congrats on your great achievement!

I have similar numbers you had in 2010, about 700 images and $70 a month...still on the 25 cents per image, since I started uploading in March. I try to have 70-100 images approved every month and would like to achieve 1000 by the end of this year.
Regards,
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: cidepix on June 28, 2012, 13:48
Oh! when I saw the title I thought you have done 10k per month :)

still a good story though.. congrats  ;)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on June 28, 2012, 13:51
Oh! when I saw the title I thought you have done 10k per month :)

still a good story though.. congrats  ;)

I believe there arenīt many doing 10k per month at SS or IS ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Microbius on June 29, 2012, 00:42
Oh! when I saw the title I thought you have done 10k per month :)

still a good story though.. congrats  ;)
That's actually what I thought too! Well on the way though, congrats!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on July 03, 2012, 16:47
sorry to post in your topic Steve but I wasnīt going to open a new topic :D

Approved: June 13 2009
500$: March 09 2010 (9 months) (rpd 0.31$, 1119 photos, 1643 downloads)
3000$: March 16 2011 (1 year and 9 months) (rpd 0.40$, 2478 photos, 7447 downloads)
10000$: July 3 2012 (3 years and 20 days) (rpd 0.49$, 3929 photos, 20564 downloads)

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0Di7rtrCL4w/T_NoFGHAFQI/AAAAAAAABMQ/dd8yRc7g-cs/s1600/all_time2_SS.PNG)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: rubyroo on July 03, 2012, 16:59
Congratulations on your milestone Luis!  Enjoy your celebrations  ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Microbius on July 04, 2012, 02:21
Congratulations Luis!!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: mtkang on July 04, 2012, 02:42
it seems some people got quite high EL sales, I wonder why i got very little percentage of EL sales, like 2-3 % of my overall sales. You guys have idea what usually a buyer need a EL license? could it be most of my portfolio are some vector?
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: THP Creative on July 04, 2012, 02:48
Big congrats Steve and Luis, thats a great achievement. :) Very happy for you guys. Now we just need to push SS to make a royalty category above 10k...! (20k perhaps?)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on July 04, 2012, 07:11
thanks guys :D

a raise? honestly with all stuff from agencies I just want them to keep it, glad I made it before any change

regarding EL I have tiny sales there, my average is still below 1 per month
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: borg on July 04, 2012, 07:28
Luis congrats! ;)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Mantis on July 04, 2012, 08:12
Big congrats Steve and Luis, thats a great achievement. :) Very happy for you guys. Now we just need to push SS to make a royalty category above 10k...! (20k perhaps?)

That would be a sweet move.  If no raise, then at least another ceiling to hit!! You got my vote.
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on July 16, 2012, 14:36
Quote
Approved: June 13 2009
500$: March 09 2010 (9 months) (rpd 0.31$, 1119 photos, 1643 downloads)
3000$: March 16 2011 (1 year and 9 months) (rpd 0.40$, 2478 photos, 7447 downloads)
10000$: July 3 2012 (3 years and 20 days) (rpd 0.49$, 3929 photos, 20564 downloads)



Luis - sorry, I must have been taking lots of stock photos, because I completely missed this! Congratulations!! It comes to something when I don't even read my own posts!

Your analysis of Shutterstock earnings was interesting and so I decided to do it for mine:
(http://www.backyardsilver.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Shutterstock-10K.png)

For those people who create blogs to get referrals, have a look at the 5th column along - $26 from referrals after 4 years of blogging!

I don't know if I am now jinxed, but I have had no EDs at all in July - not a good sign. I've been trying to work out what sort of images get this magic license and posting, each month, my images with an enhanced license. I can guess why some of them get that license, but some are complete mysteries. Here is my latest post: http://www.backyardsilver.com/2012/06/latest-enhanced-license-download-on-shutterstock/ (http://www.backyardsilver.com/2012/06/latest-enhanced-license-download-on-shutterstock/)

Anyway - here is to our $10K per month earning target!!

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on July 16, 2012, 14:52
cheers Steve! you have a great RPD comparing to mine, almost 60 cents :)
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on July 16, 2012, 15:07
I have fewer images online - I think you have 3929, and I currently have 2780 on Shutterstock. Obviously higher quality images!!!  ;D

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on July 16, 2012, 15:15
Belated congrats to both of you on the $10K milestone.

Some part of the split between subs and everything else depends on when you started. I was with SS from November 2004, so my all time totals include a lot of early sales at 20 and 23 cents per (23 cents was an early-contributor bonus that survived until the base rate went up to 25 cents for all). At the beginning, no ELs or on demand to bring the total up.

Also, I have a 3 year gap from 2008-11 (exclusivity at IS)

But my all time totals are 71% subs, 14% ELs, 12% OD and 1.5% singles and a 39 cents RPD. But if you look at July so far it's 77 cents and June was 73 cents, and the split for June overall was 46% subs.

Another way to look at how earnings have increased is that I made nearly as much in the last 12 months at SS as I did there for 2006, 2006 and the first half of 2008 (and my portfolio is the same size or smaller than it was then). The raises may have stopped but the sales volume and higher prices have kept earnings up.
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: tab62 on July 16, 2012, 15:17
more Home Runs with less at Bats! Great work Steve!  ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on July 16, 2012, 15:23
Quote
But if you look at July so far it's 77 cents and June was 73 cents, and the split for June overall was 46% subs.

Good point - in June, I had 46% or earnings from subs, 22% from on demand, 23% from ED and 6% from Singles. My earnings per download were $0.73, which means I am getting better month by month!!

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: borg on January 04, 2013, 09:43
I passed  10K$ milestone three days ago! But no change in earnings! When can I expect the "last change"?
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: steheap on January 04, 2013, 09:58
From what I recall, it happened the next day - an increase to 38c. I would email support if nothing has changed for 3 days.

Congratulations though! It is a great milestone to reach.

Steve
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: rubyroo on January 04, 2013, 10:52
Yay!  Congratulations Borg. ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Jo Ann Snover on January 04, 2013, 10:55
Congratuations! As I recall I received an e-mail about the change and I don't remember waiting long
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: Smiling Jack on January 04, 2013, 11:20
Well done Steve.
Smiling Jack
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: luissantos84 on January 04, 2013, 12:21
I passed  10K$ milestone three days ago! But no change in earnings! When can I expect the "last change"?

congratulations man, you truly deserve it, amazing creativity all your port! ;D
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: BaldricksTrousers on January 04, 2013, 12:33

For those people who create blogs to get referrals, have a look at the 5th column along - $26 from referrals after 4 years of blogging!


Someone's made thousands from referring me eight years age, can't remember who it was. A handful of people must have made a small fortune from early referrals.
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: borg on January 04, 2013, 12:36
Huge thanks my friends for your support!!!

I will contact them...

Thank you once more, I hope you all will be above 10K$ soon if you are not already there!
Title: Re: I've done it - $10K in earnings
Post by: gillian vann on January 05, 2013, 15:48
so inpsiring! congrats.