Comments on: From microstocks to megabucks http://photocritic.org/making-money-with-microstoc/ The Photocritic DIY photography projects blog Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:12:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: Krista Neher http://photocritic.org/making-money-with-microstoc/#comment-273383 Krista Neher Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:56:03 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/?p=962#comment-273383 Great post! This is one of the more thorough posts I have read on the topic - thanks for posting! Great post!

This is one of the more thorough posts I have read on the topic - thanks for posting!

]]> By: Ivar Teunissen http://photocritic.org/making-money-with-microstoc/#comment-257118 Ivar Teunissen Thu, 15 May 2008 11:57:44 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/?p=962#comment-257118 Nice read Thomas. One thing that I did miss in the article is that microstock sites are, in my opinion, a really great learning place for photographers. I've seen people going from taking snapshots to creating professional work in short periods of time. I would say this is the result of two things, the helpful communities and being able to see what works and what doesn't in such a short period of time. For me personally it totally changed my life, from being a graphical design student who never shot an image to making a living as full-time photographer, through both assignments and microstock sales. I made friends all over the world, some I've only met on the internet, others I've met on different places all over the world and am able to do what I really love to do! Regards, Ivar Nice read Thomas.

One thing that I did miss in the article is that microstock sites are, in my opinion, a really great learning place for photographers. I’ve seen people going from taking snapshots to creating professional work in short periods of time. I would say this is the result of two things, the helpful communities and being able to see what works and what doesn’t in such a short period of time.

For me personally it totally changed my life, from being a graphical design student who never shot an image to making a living as full-time photographer, through both assignments and microstock sales. I made friends all over the world, some I’ve only met on the internet, others I’ve met on different places all over the world and am able to do what I really love to do!

Regards,
Ivar

]]> By: Thomas http://photocritic.org/making-money-with-microstoc/#comment-256187 Thomas Tue, 13 May 2008 22:33:27 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/?p=962#comment-256187 Hello Haje, Nice rewrite of the article I sent. I must disagree with two lines; "In practice, this still means that extremely good photographers are probably better off selling their work under rights managed licences" Rights managed, and RF are two different beast, you can compare one too the other. The forth misconception; selling your images using the Rights Managed licensing model is the only way to go. Here again the PDN survey tells another story. The survey reports that for photographers that reported the majority of their income came from RF stock sales earning on average were $63,200 from this licensing model. For the photographers that reported the majority of their income came from RM stock sales the average was $38,500 in stock sales. As I wrote it seems that the RM crowd is making about $30,000 less than RF group per year. but for anyone who is mediocre, there is a huge slice of the pie left, in the shape of microstock photography. " I never said people submitting to microstocks were mediocre. If anyone would like to see just how good the microstockers are take a look in this lightbox; http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=561700 Thomas.. Hello Haje,

Nice rewrite of the article I sent. I must disagree with two lines;

“In practice, this still means that extremely good photographers are probably better off selling their work under rights managed licences”

Rights managed, and RF are two different beast, you can compare one too the other.

The forth misconception; selling your images using the Rights Managed licensing model is the only way to go. Here again the PDN survey tells another story.
The survey reports that for photographers that reported the majority of their income came from RF stock sales earning on average were $63,200 from this licensing model. For the photographers that reported the majority of their income came from RM stock sales the average was $38,500 in stock sales.

As I wrote it seems that the RM crowd is making about $30,000 less than RF group per year.

but for anyone who is mediocre, there is a huge slice of the pie left, in the shape of microstock photography. ”

I never said people submitting to microstocks were mediocre. If anyone would like to see just how good the microstockers are take a look in this lightbox; http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=561700

Thomas..

]]> By: Joost van der Borg http://photocritic.org/making-money-with-microstoc/#comment-254006 Joost van der Borg Sat, 10 May 2008 09:39:19 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/?p=962#comment-254006 For those not trying 'traditional' stocksites because of what Nick says: They won't let you in, try www.photoshelter.com: They will let you in with a few images, but offer higer rf / rm rates (minimum is 50 dollars, you can set your own prices). Also: They take only 30% of the sale, 70% goes to photographers. They've only started out their collection in oktober '07 I believe, but they've got big plans and are getting some large clients already. For those not trying ‘traditional’ stocksites because of what Nick says: They won’t let you in, try http://www.photoshelter.com: They will let you in with a few images, but offer higer rf / rm rates (minimum is 50 dollars, you can set your own prices). Also: They take only 30% of the sale, 70% goes to photographers. They’ve only started out their collection in oktober ‘07 I believe, but they’ve got big plans and are getting some large clients already.

]]> By: Nick Kiest http://photocritic.org/making-money-with-microstoc/#comment-253955 Nick Kiest Sat, 10 May 2008 07:09:33 +0000 http://www.photocritic.org/?p=962#comment-253955 Great article. I see both points of view. I think the hardest thing about traditional stock is the gatekeeper aspect. If I don't yet have a ton of great photos, than I am not going to make any money from traditional stock, as they will not let me in. Microstock will let me start with a few images, and work from there. Maybe I should do it with the images I have that are not going to be used for fine art pieces. Great article. I see both points of view. I think the hardest thing about traditional stock is the gatekeeper aspect. If I don’t yet have a ton of great photos, than I am not going to make any money from traditional stock, as they will not let me in. Microstock will let me start with a few images, and work from there. Maybe I should do it with the images I have that are not going to be used for fine art pieces.

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