Shutterstock Photographer Forum :: View topic

Forgiss · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 7:35 am

Hi all!!!!

I reached a nice milestone yesterday and thought I would share some insights about microstock (to all the new guys) and some stats (to those that have been here beside me) and ask some questions (to those that own galleries I aspire to...)

Yesterday I hit my $2000.00 mark in microstock earnings (downloads only, no referrals worked in)

It took me 200 days to do it

My current Daily average is $21.63 (includes weekends)

If I can keep this trend going I will be earning in excess of $4000.00 per month by June 2006

The secret of my success: I maintain an average of 5 images accepted per day.

Is it hard work? For Sure!!

Do I think it is a viable business? Absolutely!!

Is it worth the return on investment? Not in your first year unless you really produce some stunning shots and/or grow your library at a tremendous pace. If you are an average joe like me with a nine-to-five (or 6h30 to 0h30 job) you need to stick at it for a year or more before the investment in quality equipment will pay off.

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NOTES
(The above mentioned stats refers to earnings over all microstock sites I submit to. The site with the most images online have 989 images and the site with the least has 160 images

rankamateur · Joined: 23 Dec 2004 Posts: 957 Location: Colorado

Great info, Sean.
And congrats on milestone passing!

Barbara

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

Quite an achievement Sean. But I guess it increased that much not only because of the number, creativity and quality of your uploads but also you had new avenues of sales ie new microsites during that period. Thanks for sharing such information.

But what I do not understand is how you can at the same time be so active in forums and willing to share info! You should be a very cool person. LOL

In my case it took me 400 days to reach the $2000 mark with an average of 300 pics across 5 main microsites. I need to design more stuffs to maintain the tempo.

And for sure its motivational!

Forgiss · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 9:11 am

mariec · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:02 am

Hey Forgiss,
Congrats on your earnings and milestones :) You certainly seem to have the knack of it!
Can I ask how many sites you have your pictures on altogether?
Marie

Forgiss · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 10:05 am

13 Microstock sites, but only 6 have earnings above $10

feztaa · Joined: 14 May 2005 Posts: 616 Location: Canadia, eh?

mariec · Posted: Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:54 pm

13!!! Ill have to go looking for your ID name in Google ;)
Marie

narcisa · Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 1822 Location: Oradea, Romania

Congrats :)

pjmorley · Joined: 15 Apr 2005 Posts: 3300

Thanks for those figures Sean. It shows what you can do if you take microstock seriously. I've thought for a couple of months now that it really is possible to make a living at microstock and your figures suggest that it is entirely possible.

Interestingly, If I extrapolate my own figures to reach your number of images, it comes out pretty similar suggesting that it really is viable business and not just a one off.

I've been at this for 170 days and my grand total is $850.00. That's with less than half the number of images you have and slightly less time so I guess it balances out.

I need to follow your advice and get at least 5 images up a day but the thing that inspires me now is that because your figures support my own estimates... I've calcualted that a library of 5,000 images would potentially earn over $60,000.00 per annum.

Once I pull my finger out, that's what I'm aiming at.

As I said in another post. You're an inspiration. I'm determined now to get my first 1,000 images up before the end of the year.

scott5797 · Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 658

What am I reading these forums for when I should be taking pics? You've given us all a lofty goal to reach Sean. Great pics and thanks for the info:-)

SeaOtter · Joined: 21 Apr 2005 Posts: 305 Location: West Hartford, CT

Thanks for sharing Sean. Just goes to show that hard work still pays off. I haven't uploaded any pics in a while because my real life has been a bit hectic, but I am getting out and will most likely grow my portfolio much slower than you have. Nevertheless it will grow.

Ed

reviewer · Admin Joined: 01 Jan 2005 Posts: 1627

Forgiss · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 2:48 am

andresr · Posted: Sun Oct 09, 2005 5:18 am

Forgiss, congratulations on your first $2000 :) you seem to have all your sales figures very well organised. I haven't got a clue how long it took me for the first 500 I suppose a couple of months, but I do know that currently I reach $500 every 5 days :)

PJ morley, with 5000 images you would sell a lot more than 60,000 a year ...
The thing is, the more images you upload the more recognition you get from buyers, and also the better photos you take so they will sell more in average.