Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1058

Hi I am new to shutter stock I got accepted mid January and have been working on my portfolio like mad ever since.

I know how hard and frustrating it can be for new submitter competing against people who have been here for years, wondering if anyone can a decent amount of money stock anymore. Wondering if you are the only one who feels this way.

So here is a thread just for us(sorry if there is a thread like this already if there is I can't find it so I decided to start a new one.)

Rules of the thread, to post in here you must:
1. be here less than a year or have less than 300 images in your portfolio or both
2. if you are a seasoned submitter please post encouragement and tips for the rest of us newbies
3. this thread is to post exciting mile marks such as reaching 100 images in your portfolio, made your first EL sale.
4. this thread is to post things you are frustrated with such as no sales in a day or having trouble getting new images accepted
5. Post your goals and what you hope to achieve in the next year or two.
6. things not to post: don't post photos for critique save them for the critique thread. No rants or arguing in this thread if you feel you have something like that that needs to be said start your own thread, this thread is meant to be supportive.

I really hope to see a bunch of graduates from this thread and a bunch of new people carry on this thread. I think it could be a big help to those of us just getting started.

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1058

Okay so I will start the first post. How am I feeling after being here a few weeks? A mix of excitement and frustration.

It's exciting to see your images being downloaded but also frustrating when you see other thread saying that they had 100 downloads in 1 day? Right now that doesn't even seem possible.

My goals for February:
1. get 100 new photos in my portfolio, almost have 50 so I'm off to a good start.
2. get at least $20 in sales this month, I know it's a small number but you have to start somewhere right? I am half way there and I'm not even half way through the month plus I will have more photos in my portfolio each week so that should help so maybe I will even exceed my goal. :)

ruxpriencdiam · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:40 pm

Well since you aren't getting any hits!

Let me say to you that believe it or not sometimes your best seller can be found less then 10 miles from your house.

And sometimes they are some of the simplest crazy things you would believe and may even be in your front or back yard.

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 1:48 pm

kellyplz · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:17 pm

Very nice port, keep at it. :)

canalenes · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 2228 Location: Orygun

Love the thread concept---and your new port, well done!

Judging by my icon date, I've an oldie around here. In reality I didn't submit my first 10 until last March or April (and got in on the first try). So in that way, I'm a newbie submitter.

Am currently busy shooting today and on a tight schedule, but am planning to be active with this thread until I get kicked out---LOL. ;-)

kellyplz · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 3:44 pm

Your port is looking good Candace...that llama pic made me chuckle!

triceratops · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Posts: 7933 Location: The other Nevada

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 4:22 pm

Sorry jenn, were just trying to keep your thread going.
Bump.

hansenn · Joined: 10 Feb 2009 Posts: 827 Location: netherlands

canalenes · Joined: 21 Mar 2008 Posts: 2228 Location: Orygun

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1058

lmel900 · Joined: 13 Mar 2011 Posts: 5005

Hi Jenn,

I have been at SS for 9.5 months, and I have 362 images in my portfolio. I recently reached 1000 downloads milestone. I have lots of image rejections along the road, but it doesn't stop me from uploading. I have had zero sales days ,and it is always on the weekends, mostly Saturdays for some reason. I have been lucky lately, and it has been 28 days straight with no zero sales.
Im looking forward to be part of the $0.33 club soon ,and working to reach 500 images in my portfolio.
Love your portfolio, keep up with the great work, and it will pay off.

okiepony · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 7:51 pm

rinder99 · Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 8:07 pm

Jenn, When dave and I wrote our first Book in 2007 "The Beginners Guide to microstock photography" we did a bunch of research about this and we found that 800 Images online was the point at which you would start getting a good Idea of what this is about and if what you were doing was working. But, That was when there were Half the number of Images for sale than now . Were coming up very quickly to 20 Million,Next stop 30 Million which simply means a smaller piece of the pie.Unless your work is so completely different and commercial and thats getting harder if you spend any time at all searching the site by newest first.Still today as was then,Business,Lifestyle,health and fitness are #1 and there are folks uploading a 1000 a month, Lots of them. There are complete teams doing this, This is just one small example. A lot of this is going on.And a darn good opportunity and business for lots of people.

http://www.shutterstock.com/buzz/candybox-images