Stock photography

[+Tantawi Subscriber²]

Hi,

Does anybody here shoot stock photos and submit to microstock sites or even sell directly? how was your experience so far? I know SirEvan does, anyone else?

I'm asking because my applications in a couple large stock photo sites has been approved, I uploaded 3 images to both, and so far sold only one download (in a week) :D is that poor or what?

A great article on microstock: http://digital-photography-school.com/blog...ur-photography/

Thanks :)

[duritz]

wow, i looked at some microstock sites and most only pay out .25 cents per download, while a regular stock site charges 50+ dollars for a high res image. i wonder how much regular stock makes over micro?

[+Tantawi Subscriber²]

It's not necessarily 25 cents, it's the minimal, they usually pay %30 of the sale price which is variable according to the chosen download dimensions, on average you can say it'll be $0.80 per download as a minimum. Still low, but if the photographer is new to the industry it's good to build some reputation or a reference, also if you're that good you can sell like 500-1000 download per month on 4-5 sites, not bad at all.

[crazzy88ss]

You're just starting out; I've heard that you don't get much for a little bit. Let your library grow as well as the popularity of your images. I plan on getting into stock photo (dunno if I'm really good enough, to be honest) this summer.

[SkyLost1984]

Hi Tantawi hows it going?

Ive just been approved at Alamy, i chose it becuase it was the only one that didnt need a copy of my ID which i didnt have at the time,.

Got 4 photos approved and need to start building up my catalogue, its going to take a long time before any worthwhile money comes in but at the moment im more concerned about getting the pictures out there for exposure (no pun intended!)

Anyone got any suggestions for other good sites?

Thanks

[+Tantawi Subscriber²]

Hi Tantawi hows it going?

Ive just been approved at Alamy, i chose it becuase it was the only one that didnt need a copy of my ID which i didnt have at the time,.

Got 4 photos approved and need to start building up my catalogue, its going to take a long time before any worthwhile money comes in but at the moment im more concerned about getting the pictures out there for exposure (no pun intended!)

Anyone got any suggestions for other good sites?

Thanks

Great, good luck to you! :)

Here's another very popular site http://www.istockphoto.com, and it does not require an ID scan either.

[moloko]

Personally I would rather make 50$ with one shot that .25 per shot at 100 shots. Sure you can submit stuff for pennies and over time make big bucks if 1000's of photos are sold. I think selling for more is better. My time and talent are worth more than a .25 pic.

[crazzy88ss]

Some people make $20k a month doing stock photo. It's really up to you; how good you are, how much you submit, and a bit of luck (getting exposure for your images on the site).

It's also great for those of us who can't find places to sell a single picture for $50. It's a place to get a good start.

[moloko]

Your right crazzy88 but those high end places, many of them do not allow you to join if you were part of another stock place. This is always discussed in photography forums. I was gonna itch and do the low end ones but decided to wait to make a portfolio to submit to the high end. It all depends on what the person wants.

[crazzy88ss]

Could you not withdraw your images from the "lower" end ones?

[BoJo]

You're just starting out; I've heard that you don't get much for a little bit. Let your library grow as well as the popularity of your images. I plan on getting into stock photo (dunno if I'm really good enough, to be honest) this summer.

Although I can't tell one end of a dslr from another, I really like the photos on your flickr: got "trees by the lake" as my desktop picture right now. Have self confidence and it will fall into place for you ;)

[crazzy88ss]

Oh, sweet thanks man! :p

[Brandon]

If your into making money, get into kids sports. I shot a High School state Track (running) meet, and so far have made $275 (including 2 small town newspaper photos for $20/photo). My strategy - underprice the "official" photographers by about 40-50%. They charge $8.25 for a 4x6, I charge $4.50.

I charge $5 for shipping, which covers my printing and actual shipping costs for 75% of my orders, and I only get docked a 18% fee from my host. So on a $45 order ($50 with shipping) I end up walking away with $40 in net profits, which isn't bad.

Over summer, I plan on going to a few little league / soccer games and talking with parents there. I went to one random game last year and ended up having two parents buy prints from me in which I made around $35 for an hour's time.