"few photographers get $500 or $1000 per photograph anymore. Those are bygone days."
How do you know this? Have you tried RM for a consistent amount of time, or did you come to this conclusion by the influence of others? I sell through traditional RM, and I still sell a fair amount of images for $500-$1500. I recently had a very average type of image license for $1500 on Alamy. It still does happen.
I have tried macro and micro. Tried it as an experiment, and didn't see the potential in micro for long term.
I find it upsetting that Shutterstock provides usually a flat 25 cents where whey often sell an image for $10. Bigstockphoto sells some stock photos through sub agents that charge $70 per image, and what trickles down to the photographer is a dollar or two. Maybe I'm too emotional, but this stuff upsets my sense of justice. If you can follow the trail, microstock agencies do not always sell for such a micro price...there is a chain of subagents each taking a cut, and the photographer is getting the smallest piece of the pie. I've tried to rationalize the acceptance of microstock by photographers, but I just can't wrap my brain around it.
--- In selling_stock_photography@yahoogroups.com, "John" <john@...> wrote:
>
> Shaun,
>
> You don't look like you need much help, but here's my two cents worth.
>
> First, if you haven't already, check out the web sites of a couple of the top stock photographers in the world: Yuri Arcurs (http://www.arcurs.com/) and Lise Gagné (http://lisegagne.com/). I especially like Yuri's tour of his studio (in videos). These people really make money at stock photography.
>
> I don't make lots of money. I just make enough to cover expenses. But, that's OK with me. I do it for fun and for a "retirement" vocation.
>
> I contribute to several microstock agencies, the top producing being iStockphoto and Shutterstock. It took me 5 years of really uploading photographs to get to where I am. You can find stats of istockphoto photographers at http://istockcharts.multimedia.de/ (how many files they have uploaded, how many sales they've had, etc.). Very interesting.
>
> Getting accepted is a matter of following an agency's submission rules and seeing what happens. I wouldn't give up if I were rejected once. Keep trying.
>
> And I wouldn't listen to anyone badmouthing microstock agencies. Unfortunately, few photographers get $500 or $1000 per photograph anymore. Those are bygone days. Know today's markets and what people want (web-based, brochures, online news, image messaging...you tell me as I'm past my prime). It still is supply and demand, after all.
>
> So, just go for it. Keep trying different things. See what works for you. And be sure to have fun.
>
> John
>
> John Sfondilias
> http://sfondilias.com
> john@...
>
>
> --- In selling_stock_photography@yahoogroups.com, "ramsayshaun115" <shaun.ramsay@> wrote:
> >
> > Hi everyone,
> >
> > I've been in business for about a year and a half and am looking to take the plunge into stock selling, though I don't have experience with it.
> >
> > My website is www.shaunramsay.com. I'm also on flickr at www.flickr.com/photos/shaunramsay. If anyone has suggestions about stock companies that are accepting new photographers, I would be interested to know and appreciate any tips and advice.
> >
> > Thanks and Happy New Year!
> > Shaun
> >
>
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