Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

Haimai · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Salt Lake City

Hi,

if you have looked at my pictures you might realize that i'm brand spankin' new.

i know that some of you make some decent amount of money on here and would like to see some examples of a portfolio that sells.

i know i need atleast 100 photos or more and i'm shooting like a maniac but i don't really know what to shoot... (there are only 3 images right now.. told ya i was new.)

any suggestions?

rodehi · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 10:49 am

Mine is nothing special but have a look if you like,I have been averaging about 120 dls/month for the last few months.I think variety is a must,followed by volume.The top 50 is a good place to look as well.You can look in anyones gallery and click on the "most popular" option and see what that person sells the most of.Just a few ideas for you hope they help......Ron

Haimai · Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 5 Location: Salt Lake City

Thanks,

i'm not quite sure what you mean by volume though. the most popular really helps

Tim · Joined: 10 Mar 2005 Posts: 458 Location: UK

Volume: As in LOTS of Pictures on lots of subjects.

Find what shutterstock needs (Find something they haven't got tonnes of, or do stuff on the top 50 words foud in the "Top 100" link).

Basically, You need loads of photographs. As in hundreds.... But it's a waiting game. I made $5 this month. That's about !0c per pic per month on here. But there's a few in my gallery that sell every week and a few that have never sold....

I guess the trick is to just keep shooting.

RosaMystica7 · Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 267 Location: New York

100 isn't enough... I've currently got 107. I'm nearly up to $20 total, since I joined last month. I'm struggling with the variety part... I'm still learning how to photograph stuff so that it actually comes out not only good but in a way that designers would actually want to download. I have to set a goal for myself.. I'll work on that.

That's something I'll suggest for you, too - make a weekly or daily goal for yourself. Aim to shoot x amount of new subjects every week... or submit x amount of photos each week, of x amount of different subjects... etc. Don't just go for submitting a ton of photos, try to do it in the way that's best for your gallery - good solid pictures of a variety of subjects.

Now I need to practice what I preach. ^_^

StuartE · Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 7:33 pm

I don't know if mine is that good an example, I don't think I'll quite make a cheque this month - but I did get payouts in Feb & March - take a look, I don't have any 'huge' selling images, just a spread of variety of average images...

Cheers,
Stuart

Forgiss · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:26 am

pjmorley · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 3300

I've been here since 12th April and now have 177 pics in my portfolio... I have made 246 d/l's in that time.... It has slowed though and I'm guessing I'll make 180 d'l's for May (79 so far this month) unless I keep uploading in which case it should pick up again..

Anyway, feel free to have a look at my gallery.

Regards

pjmorley · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 3300

Sean, could you post a link to your wifes portfolio? I'd be interested to comapre the two ;-)

Regards

John

Riger · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 524 Location: Dubai

In an attempt to "focus" on subjects, I have a Projects folder on the PC, and inside it, I have about 15-20 different sub-folders each named with a new subject. I have that list of subjects in my photo bag, so I am looking for those subjects. When I have "enough" of a subject, I start a process of evaluating, fixing, cutting and keywording. THis ends up with me uploading a "series" of images at a time and starting another subject sub-folder.

I am new here, and I am just trying to get my uploads more regular. So take what you want from my mehtod, maybe even improve on it.

Good Luck

As a Side Note.

Whilst this is a numbers game, maintain a certain minimum standard for yourself, because SS has just upped the ante on their quality side, and avoiding rejections are better than suffering them.

Forgiss · Posted: Sun May 15, 2005 4:04 am

Riger · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 524 Location: Dubai

Forgiss, check your PM

sapsiwai · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Posts: 298 Location: Mauritius

Haimai you need to have them across different micropayment sites too to reach the targetted amount. And the pics should have high usability. I guess you have visited the portfolios of those who responded to this thread to understand what I mean.

Good luck!

pjmorley · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 3300

Thanks Sean,

it's nice to see the comparison.

If it makes you feel better your wifes gallery puts my gallery to shame too. So does yours come to that...

Regards

joelk04 · Joined: 30 Apr 2005 Posts: 99 Location: Birmingham, UK

imo alot of the better paying pictures have humans in them lol. So get a group of your mates round for a day buy lots of beer and at the end of the day get your model releases =)

Joel