Comments on: MicroStock Photography – Share Your Experience

By: Rafal

Rafal — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 12:17:55 +0000

It’s probably a dead topic, but I”ll leave my comment …

@Marek: I think it’s even more than 70%, in my experience based on SS referrers it could be even 90% …

By: Robert

Robert — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 12:29:06 +0000

That is sad thing with photoshelter. If I knew that Photoshelter Collection was only considered as one year trial I would never spend time to send, and keyword my photographs there. Total waste of time. Alamy is another stock agency, more reliable I think. I must give it a try.

Cheers,

By: Marek

Marek — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:45:58 +0000

I started to sell my pictures as microstock in the end of the year 2007. After 9 months I have a portfolio of 300-400 pictures in 6 or 7 agencies, but 75% of my microstock income comes from iStock and Shutterstock.

If you are interested in specific numbers I am posting my monthly earnings (and payments) reports in my Pixels Away blog:
http://www.pixelsaway.com/C911796005/index.html

It’s easy to make a few $, but to reach an actual payment is another story. It is said that about 70% beginners are giving up before getting any payment from microstock.

There are plenty on-line resources on microstock photography. I would suggest to start with Microstock Diaries:
http://www.microstockdiaries.com/

I was preparing a separate portfolio to submit to PhotoShelter, but this agency is closing!

By: Rosh

Rosh — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:58:55 +0000

I appreciate that Yanik is making a living doing what he loves. He’s ahead of most people in this world. But, I think Yanik has the analogy wrong.

I’d rather sell 20 images for $200 than 3000 for $4000. I would know I received closer to the photographs true value. The reality is that one quality image could fetch over $4000+ based on the usage. But, not if you sell through micro-stock.

It is true you can make a consistent income buy working hard and undervaluing your images. But, again if you are that good, then your images should easily sell for a higher price.

Rosh
http://www.newmediaphotographer.com

By: Gillian

Gillian — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 10:21:07 +0000

I’ve been selling on iStock, Shutterstock and Dreamstime for a couple of years now. The most successful contributors do ‘people’ images (they require model release forms)and I’m not in that league. However I do earn some nice pocket money and I’m happy about that.
BUT – and it’s a big BUT – in my opinion, the bubble has burst. There are now so many contributors competing for the market and more joining all the time, and with the global credit crunch, things are changing. My income has dropped a lot – and with it my enthusiasm.

By: Robert

Robert — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 02:01:38 +0000

It differ in prices, and types of licensing. Microstock usually is connected with RoyaltyFree (RF) licensing. Normal stock comes with more tradidtional RightsManaged licensing profile (of course You can choose also RF licensing for Your photographs).

The Target is different.

Cheers,

By: Scott

Scott — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 01:03:19 +0000

Everyone keeps talking about microstock and stock, but I really don’t understand the difference. All I get is that stick sells less but you make more per sale. How does everything work and how does stock and microstock differ?
Thanks.

By: Lpat

Lpat — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:28:31 +0000

Hey,

Was pretty happy to see this topic. I am a bare bones beginner but happened to luck out with a couple of beautiful shots on my vacation. When I went in to get them framed the woman actually told me I should consider trying to sell them.

I had never ever thought of doing so — I’m really new, I’m still learning about aperture, and besides, these were actually taken with my non-DSLR camera….

What would be your advice? Should I try and see if anyone would be interested in them? (there’s only a couple really worth trying). What does it mean to sell it? Do I still maintain the right to do whatever the heck I want to with it? I’ve just given someone else the right to do stuff with it? I’m a bit uneducated in this way!

Thanks!

By: mikeledray

mikeledray — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:49:04 +0000

I love Shutterstock.com
I have close to a 5000 image gallery there.
I am on quite a few micros but SS for me is the very best.
I am doing fairly well there and find that SS is basicly the only site I really submit to anymore.
There are always naysayers about microstock or anything for that matter, but I for one Love the Monthly Income and ability to sell my images easily and feel safe and secure about getting paid out and not ripped off by sites that go “out of business” and dont pay out your commissions.

By: SurfOC

SurfOC — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:26:24 +0000

I have sold a few images at iStockphoto.. and a few others. I would have to say that I like the microstock sites which you can set your own prices.

I think that you have to look at selling stock photos as a long term investment, and not looking to make lots of cash quickly. I think this is what most people think when trying to sell photos for high prices.

SurfOC
http://www.socalstock.com/user.html?uid=2