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jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

Thanks for the link!

Finally got some photos reviewed and first milestone achieved 100 photos in my portfolio, I now fill a whole page!!! Also with the new images I finally am getting downloads again. Even with it being Saturday I have had one of my best days yet, with a photo that I almost didn't enter and it already has had several hits :)

Feeling positive today. Thought of some new ideas last night which is good because, I need to get at least 30 new photos in by the end of next week to reach my goal of 150 photos in my portfolio by the end of February. still have 30 waiting to be reviewed so hopefully most of them will make it and I will only have 20 to do next week, still I will try to do 30 anyway.

hhltdave5 · Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:24 am

tverkhovynets · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 749 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

Thanks I will try not to get to carried away with it. But right now at least I have a paper I carry around with me and jot down ideas as they come I have a huge list I haven't even got to yet. My goal is 75-100 images a month. I'm hoping to at least get the 75 but if I don't get 100 no big deal. I guess I just want to get things done while I am still really motivated. But you are right there is a balance between working while you are motivated and burning yourself out.

semmickphoto · Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 12:21 pm

Hi all,

My name is Ronald and opened my eyes in July 1973. With these eyes I have been looking at the world with great interest. I always had an interest in photos but never acted on it. Until I realized I just had to get a DSLR and started shooting. I do not understand why I started shooting only in May of 2012. Way too late to make a career, but never too late to make a great hobby out of it.

I do not photograph models in the fashion sense of the word and I don’t do food. Other than that I am ok. I don’t use extra lighting; all photos are taken with the available light or flash. But I might purchase a few strobes soon.

I shoot under the name Semmick Photo. Semmick Photo is a hobby that turned into a professional passion for Photography and its vast and unlimited possibilities to express vision and capture moments in time. Semmick is a portmanteau of Sem and Mick, my two nephews I love dearly.

Basically my story about stock photography is the same as sasel77 wrote earlier. I am not in it to make a living, but I do want to sell photos, just for the kick of it. I want to get better and I realise when it comes to the technical aspects of a photo, stock photography is a good alternative to learn to shoot better photos.

My biggest dream is having a photo published in a magazine, or have an expo with my own work and sell.

I have a long way to go. My first 10 photos were rejected and now I am working on a set of 10 new photos so I can submit them when my 30 day probation is over.

I have already learned a lot from a few old timers here, Rinder, Dave5, Jeff, etc. And I am now motivated to get into stock photography.

So new goals, new challenges, new fun times, and new learning curves.

See you around.
Cheers
Ron

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

Ron, good luck on your next set of 10 I think if you follow the excellent advice here you should make it on your next 10. I will look forward to watching your progress.

For me my first 2 goals are achieved
100 photos in my portfolio
and I just reached my goal for making money with a few days left to spare in the month.

For March my goals are similar:
At least 200 in my portfolio by the end of the month
Make double what I made this month(may not work though I don't know if doubling my images will necessarily double the money but I remain hopeful)

One of my goals is to get to my first $100 pay out. Hopefully this will happen by April or May if the patterns continue.

Anyway small goals but I don't want to get discouraged. I want to stay motivated and if I set things to high I'm afraid I will get discouraged.

People have warned me of burn out but one thing to remember, I am able to devote more time to this than many of you because I don't have another job. So really 15 to 30 images a week is pretty doable.

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

I am still excited with my progress so far, and one milestone just reached today I got 100 downloads for the month of February and so far I have exceeded my monthly goal by $10 I know the numbers are still small but since February is my first full month here its exciting to get a little glimpse of what the trend might be once I have even more photos.

Here is my 100th download:[img]http://www.shutterstock.com/cat.mhtml?gallery_id=924437#id=94919767[/img]

I can't figure out how to post the image maybe someone can help.[/img]

okiepony · Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 12:22 pm

Here, Jenn:

You have to grab the image code, not the page --

if you're using Firefox, right click on your pic and choose "copy image location" - then paste that between your img tags.

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

Thanks!

tverkhovynets · Joined: 12 Jun 2010 Posts: 749 Location: Kiev, Ukraine

Looks like this month was quite a success for me: no zero days. At least one download per day. Last month was different: zeros were quite often, but more single downloads. Let's see how it goes in March.

Taras

jhuls · Joined: 02 Jan 2012 Posts: 1046

So march is looking good for me at shutterstock, I'm thinking I will make my first $100 pay out by the end of the month so that is exciting. If the EL fairy would land I could get there in 1 day, (still haven't got one yet) Sales seem to be more consistent and I haven't had a zero day in over a month so that is good (knock on wood)

The other sites I submit to seem to be picking up, nothing compared to shutterstock but still nice to see some downloads. The only 1 that I haven't seen at least a few sales from is 123** not sure why. I also finally got accepted to IS but I'm not even sure I want to submit there anymore. I haven't submitted anything yet, I'm still trying to decide.

atulsinai · Posted: Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:45 am

I am a new submitter with a small portfolio. Unfortunately I have not been able to devote much time to Stock.

I am mainly a wildlife photographer and need to work on increasing the commercial value of my images.

I have doubled my portfolio in the last 3 weeks, got my first ODD yesterday.

I am planning to reach 500 images by May.

For my little experience, I would like to say "You spend more time on stock and you'll be rewarded. Patience and consistency is the key"