Author Topic: Shutterstock is an embarassment (Read 97419 times)

Injustice for all · « **Reply #150 on:** April 30, 2024, 18:14 »

like many,I know you from the days of the SS forum,excellent work,congratulations!

I don't think anyone who starts producing videos and uploading them to SS today,will ever be able to achieve these results.

I seem to remember that until a few years ago you used to make over $30k in a year.

luckily there is Adobe,otherwise microstock would have no future!

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #151 on:** April 30, 2024, 20:13 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on April 30, 2024, 18:12

Yes Adobe is doing really well. Is Adobe earnings surpassing Shutterstock earnings on a monthly basis for you now?

No, Adobe has not surpassed Shutterstock yet, but every month they come closer. However, I have about 3x more clips at Shutterstock right now, so if you divide the earnings by the size of the portfolio then Adobe might be doing the best statistically.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #152 on:** April 30, 2024, 20:19 »

Quote from: Injustice for all on April 30, 2024, 18:14

like many,I know you from the days of the SS forum,excellent work,congratulations!

I don't think anyone who starts producing videos and uploading them to SS today,will ever be able to achieve these results.

I seem to remember that until a few years ago you used to make over $30k in a year.

luckily there is Adobe,otherwise microstock would have no future!

No, I'm not making $30K per year at Shutterstock, but the earnings keep rolling in month after month with virtually no effort on my part. And quite a few newer clips that I've uploaded are making good money now. I have had a pretty busy last couple of years with regular work and have not had the time to upload very many new clips. I'm still out shooting regularly because I enjoy it, but doing the metadata is another story. I've got a backlog of about 5000 4K clips that are all edited and graded. Will I ever find time to do the metadata and get them earning some money for me? I don't know. Too busy with other work to even think about it right now. Metadata is the bane of my existence. It takes time to do it well, and if you don't take that time, then why upload at all? Without good metadata it is just a waste of time.

Faustvasea · « **Reply #153 on:** May 01, 2024, 03:31 »

Quote from: Doug Jensen on April 30, 2024, 20:19

Quote from: Injustice for all on April 30, 2024, 18:14
like many,I know you from the days of the SS forum,excellent work,congratulations!

I don't think anyone who starts producing videos and uploading them to SS today,will ever be able to achieve these results.

I seem to remember that until a few years ago you used to make over $30k in a year.

luckily there is Adobe,otherwise microstock would have no future!

No, I'm not making $30K per year at Shutterstock, but the earnings keep rolling in month after month with virtually no effort on my part. And quite a few newer clips that I've uploaded are making good money now. I have had a pretty busy last couple of years with regular work and have not had the time to upload very many new clips. I'm still out shooting regularly because I enjoy it, but doing the metadata is another story. I've got a backlog of about 5000 4K clips that are all edited and graded. Will I ever find time to do the metadata and get them earning some money for me? I don't know. Too busy with other work to even think about it right now. Metadata is the bane of my existence. It takes time to do it well, and if you don't take that time, then why upload at all? Without good metadata it is just a waste of time.

Are you using any app for your metadata, if you don’t mind me asking.

Injustice for all · « **Reply #154 on:** May 01, 2024, 03:43 »

Quote from: Doug Jensen on April 30, 2024, 20:19

Quote from: Injustice for all on April 30, 2024, 18:14
like many,I know you from the days of the SS forum,excellent work,congratulations!

I don't think anyone who starts producing videos and uploading them to SS today,will ever be able to achieve these results.

I seem to remember that until a few years ago you used to make over $30k in a year.

luckily there is Adobe,otherwise microstock would have no future!

No, I'm not making $30K per year at Shutterstock, but the earnings keep rolling in month after month with virtually no effort on my part. And quite a few newer clips that I've uploaded are making good money now. I have had a pretty busy last couple of years with regular work and have not had the time to upload very many new clips. I'm still out shooting regularly because I enjoy it, but doing the metadata is another story. I've got a backlog of about 5000 4K clips that are all edited and graded. Will I ever find time to do the metadata and get them earning some money for me? I don't know. Too busy with other work to even think about it right now. Metadata is the bane of my existence. It takes time to do it well, and if you don't take that time, then why upload at all? Without good metadata it is just a waste of time.

ok,I thought I remembered a post on the old shutterstock forum,where you showed that for the first time you had reached $30K in a year,but if you say no then I remember wrong,maybe it was someone else.

however you have achieved incredible results,but well deserved,the work you did was extraordinary.

Yes i agree,metadata is as important as the content itself,perhaps even more important in some cases.

so in proportion you are earning more on Adobe,given that on SS you have 3 times more videos,interesting,this shows that even with videos Adobe has now surpassed even Shutterstock.

Pacesetter · « **Reply #155 on:** May 01, 2024, 04:33 »

Quote from: Injustice for all on May 01, 2024, 03:43

Quote from: Doug Jensen on April 30, 2024, 20:19
Quote from: Injustice for all on April 30, 2024, 18:14
like many,I know you from the days of the SS forum,excellent work,congratulations!

I don't think anyone who starts producing videos and uploading them to SS today,will ever be able to achieve these results.

I seem to remember that until a few years ago you used to make over $30k in a year.

luckily there is Adobe,otherwise microstock would have no future!

No, I'm not making $30K per year at Shutterstock, but the earnings keep rolling in month after month with virtually no effort on my part. And quite a few newer clips that I've uploaded are making good money now. I have had a pretty busy last couple of years with regular work and have not had the time to upload very many new clips. I'm still out shooting regularly because I enjoy it, but doing the metadata is another story. I've got a backlog of about 5000 4K clips that are all edited and graded. Will I ever find time to do the metadata and get them earning some money for me? I don't know. Too busy with other work to even think about it right now. Metadata is the bane of my existence. It takes time to do it well, and if you don't take that time, then why upload at all? Without good metadata it is just a waste of time.

ok,I thought I remembered a post on the old shutterstock forum,where you showed that for the first time you had reached $30K in a year,but if you say no then I remember wrong,maybe it was someone else.

however you have achieved incredible results,but well deserved,the work you did was extraordinary.

Yes i agree,metadata is as important as the content itself,perhaps even more important in some cases.

so in proportion you are earning more on Adobe,given that on SS you have 3 times more videos,interesting,this shows that even with videos Adobe has now surpassed even Shutterstock.

You probably remember correctly as I recall that too. If I'm not mistaken, I think Doug's response above refers to more recent and current yearly earnings where he no longer makes 30k a year on Shutterstock like he use to.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #156 on:** May 01, 2024, 07:22 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on May 01, 2024, 04:33

If I'm not mistaken, I think Doug's response above refers to more recent and current yearly earnings where he no longer makes 30k a year on Shutterstock like he use to.

Yes, that is correct.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #157 on:** May 01, 2024, 07:28 »

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 03:31

Are you using any app for your metadata, if you don’t mind me asking.

No, I am not aware of any app that will ease the burden of metadata. It is something you have to do manually if you want good results. Like I said before, without great metadata you're just wasting your time, no matter how good your clips are.

I do, however, have a custom Apple Numbers spreadsheet that stores all my metadata and significantly makes the submission process faster and easier. It uses auto-fill from similar clips, counts the characters in my description and alerts me if I go over the limit; shows the number of keywords and alerts me if I have too many or not enough; segregates editorial clips; etc. It helps, but still hate doing metadata.

I can average 12 clips per hour doing the ingest, editing, color grading, export, and all metadata. 5 minutes per clip.

synthetick · « **Reply #158 on:** May 01, 2024, 07:29 »

I have made a similar lifetime amount on SS but sadly these days it is a very poor earner. However I did have a very good sales day a week ago when I got several EL's and cart sales on the same day! It (briefly) felt like the old days!

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #159 on:** May 01, 2024, 07:36 »

Quote from: synthetick on May 01, 2024, 07:29

It (briefly) felt like the old days!

Yes, I love days like that! I just checked my account and found that I had a $180 download late last night after I'd gone to bed. A great way to wrap up April in the last hour of the month.

Faustvasea · « **Reply #160 on:** May 01, 2024, 07:54 »

Quote from: Doug Jensen on May 01, 2024, 07:28

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 03:31
Are you using any app for your metadata, if you don’t mind me asking.

No, I am not aware of any app that will ease the burden of metadata. It is something you have to do manually if you want good results. Like I said before, without great metadata you're just wasting your time, no matter how good your clips are.

I do, however, have a custom Apple Numbers spreadsheet that stores all my metadata and significantly makes the submission process faster and easier. It uses auto-fill from similar clips, counts the characters in my description and alerts me if I go over the limit; shows the number of keywords and alerts me if I have too many or not enough; segregates editorial clips; etc. It helps, but still hate doing metadata.

I can average 12 clips per hour doing the ingest, editing, color grading, export, and all metadata. 5 minutes per clip.

Thanks, I thoughts you use Ai tags or description using apps like Xpiks or other similar apps.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #161 on:** May 01, 2024, 08:06 »

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 07:54

Thanks, I thoughts you use Ai tags or description using apps like Xpiks or other similar apps.

AI is crap for stock. In my experience, it can't tell the difference between a smokestack and a rocket; between a goldfish and a salamnder; between an airplane and a cross. I could go on an on, but anyone who relies on AI is leaving money on the table. If buyers cannot find your images, then they cannot buy them. Simple as that.

BTW, we don't get paid for images or clips because that is the fun stuff most people would shoot for free. We get paid for the boring drudgery work of creating metadata. More than anything else, that's what separates the the successful from unsuccessful.

If anyone honestly thinks AI can replace a human for creating effective metadata, I will challenge that person to show me some examples.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #162 on:** May 01, 2024, 09:21 »

And May is off to a good start too, with a $104 sale this morning. It does feel like the old days.

Faustvasea · « **Reply #163 on:** May 01, 2024, 12:35 »

Quote from: Doug Jensen on May 01, 2024, 08:06

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 07:54
Thanks, I thoughts you use Ai tags or description using apps like Xpiks or other similar apps.

AI is crap for stock. In my experience, it can't tell the difference between a smokestack and a rocket; between a goldfish and a salamnder; between an airplane and a cross. I could go on an on, but anyone who relies on AI is leaving money on the table. If buyers cannot find your images, then they cannot buy them. Simple as that.

BTW, we don't get paid for images or clips because that is the fun stuff most people would shoot for free. We get paid for the boring drudgery work of creating metadata. More than anything else, that's what separates the the successful from unsuccessful.

If anyone honestly thinks AI can replace a human for creating effective metadata, I will challenge that person to show me some examples.

Thanks for heads up, I have started stock last year, and I am using Ai description and Keywords, there aren't big money in stock, so don't want to sink too much time. Any advice for a newbie like me?

cascoly · « **Reply #164 on:** May 01, 2024, 15:19 »

Quote from: Faustvasea on April 30, 2024, 16:52

Quote from: Doug Jensen on April 30, 2024, 15:57
I am happy to report I have now crossed the quarter million dollar earnings threshold at Shutterstock.
That's an average of $27.06 per download.
That's an average of $23.80 per video in my portfolio.
The earnings just keep rolling in.

How many images you have in your Port?

hard to accept their questionable claim as a newbie without a portfolio, so w/o a link doesn't matter what numbers they post

and remember this is the same guy who last year they were making $348/hr!

and besides, i've made $666,000 so far with my NFT w more sales every day

Pacesetter · « **Reply #165 on:** May 01, 2024, 15:28 »

Quote from: cascoly on May 01, 2024, 15:19

Quote from: Faustvasea on April 30, 2024, 16:52
Quote from: Doug Jensen on April 30, 2024, 15:57
I am happy to report I have now crossed the quarter million dollar earnings threshold at Shutterstock.
That's an average of $27.06 per download.
That's an average of $23.80 per video in my portfolio.
The earnings just keep rolling in.

How many images you have in your Port?

hard to accept their questionable claim as a newbie without a portfolio, so w/o a link doesn't matter what numbers they post

and besides, i've made $666,000 so far with my NFT w more sales very day

Doug has been around for years and has over 9000 videos. Claims are legit. Port is easy to find with a search.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #166 on:** May 01, 2024, 16:00 »

Quote from: cascoly on May 01, 2024, 15:19

and remember this is the same guy who last year they were making $348/hr!

That was last year. Now it is higher than $348/hour because the 9000+ clips in my portfolio have earned even more now. If you ask nicely, I could run the numbers again if you want an update. My numbers are completely legit, and whether you want to believe them or not doesn't change that fact.

Quote from: cascoly on May 01, 2024, 15:19

and besides, i've made $666,000 so far with my NFT w more sales every day

Excellent. Keep up the great work. Stock is a big pie with plenty of slices for everyone.
What is your hourly wage so far on your earnings?

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #167 on:** May 01, 2024, 16:00 »

May is off to an even better start. Two sales today for $104 each plus another for $10. A nice way to start the month.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #168 on:** May 01, 2024, 16:02 »

Deleted. Accidently posted twice.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #169 on:** May 01, 2024, 16:06 »

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 12:35

Thanks for heads up, I have started stock last year, and I am using Ai description and Keywords, there aren't big money in stock, so don't want to sink too much time. Any advice for a newbie like me?

Actually, there is good money in stock video. Maybe not as much as a few years ago, but still plenty profitable for the amount of time I invest into it. The best advice I can give you is to do your own metadata. You have to put in the work if you want the rewards. There are no shortcuts.

Faustvasea · « **Reply #170 on:** May 01, 2024, 16:12 »

Quote from: Doug Jensen on May 01, 2024, 16:06

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 12:35
Thanks for heads up, I have started stock last year, and I am using Ai description and Keywords, there aren't big money in stock, so don't want to sink too much time. Any advice for a newbie like me?

Actually, there is good money in stock. Maybe not as much as a few years ago, but still plenty profitable for the amount of time I invest into it. The best advice I can give you is to do your own metadata. You have to put in the work if you want the rewards. There are no shortcuts.

Thanks a lot, really appreciate your help. I've seen your portfolio, and I think even If I would have good metadata, I won't be make big money, your videos are way superior than mine.

Doug Jensen · « **Reply #171 on:** May 01, 2024, 18:40 »

Quote from: Faustvasea on May 01, 2024, 16:12

Thanks a lot, really appreciate your help. I've seen your portfolio, and I think even If I would have good metadata, I won't be make big money, your videos are way superior than mine.

And other people's videos are way superior to mine. It makes no difference. :-)

You cannot predict what customers are looking for. If you have subject matter that is in demand; if you shoot, edit, and grade it competently; and if you have excellent metadata, you will succeed. That is the recipe for success.

MPfoto71 · « **Reply #172 on:** May 01, 2024, 18:49 »

Congratulations on the great triple-digit sales!

I only had one video sale today, which is more in line with the thread title ;-)
(see picture)

Pacesetter · « **Reply #173 on:** May 01, 2024, 19:35 »

I had quite a few 3-digit sales last year but none so far this year. Image below is the biggest single sale I had in September last year and in fact biggest single sale I've ever had on a video.

Artist · « **Reply #174 on:** May 01, 2024, 20:27 »

Quote from: Pacesetter on May 01, 2024, 19:35

I had quite a few 3-digit sales last year but none so far this year. Image below is the biggest single sale I had in September last year and in fact biggest single sale I've ever had on a video.

Wow.

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Author Topic: Shutterstock is an embarassment (Read 97419 times)

Injustice for all

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

Faustvasea

Injustice for all

Pacesetter

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

synthetick

Doug Jensen

Faustvasea

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

Faustvasea

cascoly

Pacesetter

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

Doug Jensen

Faustvasea

Doug Jensen

MPfoto71

Pacesetter

Artist

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