Since February has passed, I can present a summary report of my tiny microstock achievements. Everything started on 01/18/2009 12:48:31 – the first image was uploaded to Fotolia, just for fun. A few days later, I joined Dreamstime on 01/25/2009 to compare. Since my portfolio wasn’t huge, with only 8-15 images, I decided to join StockXpert, especially since I remembered that more than six months ago I tried to apply there but they rejected my not-so-carefully selected photos.
I had several downloads, but with such a small portfolio, I couldn’t expect more. It’s tough to compete with just 15 images when there are millions out there. However, some of the pictures I did have were selling.
I gathered about 10 good illustrations and photos and sent them in a package to Shutterstock. They got approved, so I started uploading more. That ended up being a good move.
Within a week, Shutterstock had beaten all the other microstock agencies in terms of downloads and left Dreamstime and SXP behind in terms of earnings. With just 20 images in my portfolio, Fotolia was beaten in terms of both revenue and download count, even though there were price differences.
The next week, I had 46 paid photo downloads, still with only those 20 pictures in my gallery. By the third week, I had around 60 downloads with 24 images. Not bad, but I wanted more.
More images would have led to higher sale dynamics, but unfortunately, most of the thousands of photos I took before joining weren’t suitable for the stock photo market. There are a lot of things to consider when taking a shot for stock, but some of the photos were still useful.
And remember, each stock site has its own image preferences and customer base, so don’t be surprised if your images aren’t as popular on one site as they are on another. Just keep working and try to improve your skills.
That’s why most of my earnings come from illustrations. I don’t like taking pictures of isolated vegetables or cell phones. I prefer to wait for an opportunity to take pictures during day trips. No trip, no photo.
I’ll continue with illustrations too, since they’re very popular and allow me to be more creative. Studio shots just aren’t for me.
If you have a large collection of photos and think they would be suitable for the stock photo market, don’t hesitate to submit your files and start selling images. Every photo agency has its own tips and submission guidelines, so make sure to check them out. Look through your library for high-quality photos and send them in.
If you’re skilled in raster illustrations or even better, vectors, try submitting to those agencies too. You might find an extra way to make money. Vectors are especially profitable because designers can edit them without losing quality. Another opportunity is selling footage, which can fetch high prices.
I was surprised to learn about sphere images, which can sometimes lead to sales even if there are none otherwise. It’s really intriguing!
Update
It’s nice to see created design on a real object like a T-shirt. Zazzle helps with that.
Thanks for reading and all the best while selling online.
Abstract Blue Holo Sphere with a Halo Effect
Light Blue dotted 'holo' sphere with halo abstraction.
I’m so excited to find your site. I’ve been debating whether to go this route or not. It sounds like you are having great luck and making some money. what is vector? Your images are very different than mine, so I’m not sure or not. maybe if you want you could take a look and tell me. I’m going to check out the rest of your site alot. Thank you
peace n abundance
cheyanne
Yeah there is some money to get and i am trying hard as You’ve read, my old photos aren’t suitable for the market cause stock photos should meet specific requirements. Getting new photos takes time then in a meanwhile i do illustrations.
Vector illustrations are those from Corel for example, built of scalable lines and shapes not as raster illustrations which when You resize down and back – loose their quality.
Vector illustration can be edited, saved, rescaled, reedited without loosing the quality (technical quality not the look of course;)). Because of that vectors can be widely used and are more profitable.
I’ll check out Your site and photos but in my opinion, when someone has a passion for example photo passion and creates sufficient amount of those why do not try?
A passion means knowledge, ability and learning from mistakes and that i can see in Yours.
If You have enough of time then go for it.
And at the end, no one has to shot just for stock market, it can be just byproduct but if systematic and aware – it should work.
I gacha’, Ilooked at your site more and saw the vector which you do so well. I wouldn’t have nay idea how to do that and I think if I found out it might be hard to quit. I love all the designs and backgrounds and textures others do. I have so much on my plate right now, so I’ll leave all that vectoring to you and others.
anyway……
I joined shutterstock and already entered 4 photos to start.
And I do have a passion named “photography” and it’s awonderful blessing in my life to finally get to it.
I’ll add your link to my page.
peace n abundance
CheyAnne
ps cool craps shot. I played, I won, I played more and lost more, but still great shot
My illustrations aren’t such vectors, they ‘use mathenmatical vectors’ but during edition in 3 Dimensional space. After that software processes them, adds colors, lighting, which You have to set up first and so on and then the -raster image- file stands up, which is just as a photo file.
You can edit again your shapes in 3D but again software recalculates and generates for example JPG raster file. normally it would be a bunch of three dimensional objects.
And ‘true’ vector illustration means You edit it as a vector (lines,circles,curves) in 2 Dimensional space, sell as a vector for further edition, You can convert it to raster but the power of vector is to be seen and editable as it is. And it is a What You See is What You Get.
It is a lot to talk ;)
The ‘Craps’ image is a just 3 Dimensional illustration. And such called ‘vectors’ are rather two dimensional cause doing 3D at flat screen with lines and circles is slightly harder, but yes, talented people can do.
I just sold my first photo on the web the other day – via flickr. But your suggestions sound much more effective in the long term – especially Shutterstock.
So thanks for the ideas.
http://www.blackwatertown.wordpress.com
All the best then on the new way
Thank you for behind the scene.