Anybody Sell Images on Micro-Stock Websites?

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Anybody Sell Images on Micro-Stock Websites?

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Started 3 years ago by alphanikonrex
Latest reply from NikoDoby
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alphanikonrex

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Does anybody sell images on micro-stock websites? I signed up for one a while back and am proud to say I've made a few dollars :^)

I can't believe people have actually bought my images, considering I have only about 20 in my portfolio and that I'm a kid.

I've found the hardest thing is getting images approved. Currently my approval ratio is less than 20% I think, so it's difficult for me to submit a lot of images at once. Doesn't matter anyway, as they all tend to get rejected.

What are your experiences?

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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I HATE stock agencies! I've seen them pay a few dollars for a picture that gets used on a multi million dollar campaign! Instead of paying a makes-a-living-from-photography photographer for a proper photo and shoot they pay 13yr old alpha $10USD :^(

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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You can make that 50¢ :^(

I actually have no idea what happens to my photographs...

But how often does an extreme like that really happen? I can't see my photo being using on a big campaign like that!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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It happens all the time! It might not be used on a cover very often but stock photos are used on brochures, ad campaigns, packaging, just about anything and everything. Do you really think someone is buying your photo just to print it out and hang on their wall?

Often times if the entire photo isn't used then a single element such as a sunset or flower will be photoshopped out and placed on someone else's photo.

Heck even the FBI's own digital artist used a "stock" image of a Spainish politician to make a composite sketch of an older Osama Bin Laden!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8463657.stm

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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NikoDoby said:
Do you really think someone is buying your photo just to print it out and hang on their wall?

Of course not! Don't be silly :^)

But the whole photoshopping of my photos makes me nervous. I'd rather they be used in their original form.

I have to admit, the Osama Bin Laden thing is pretty funny!

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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For fitty cents you have no say! Actually it's better to chop up your image because it then becomes something new and you no longer have copyright! So I can make millions selling T-shirts with a cool screen printed image i put together that uses a part of your photo which I paid you 50¢ for.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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NikoDoby said:
For fitty cents you have no say! Actually it's better to chop up your image because it then becomes something new and you no longer have copyright! So I can make millions selling T-shirts with a cool screen printed image i put together that uses a part of your photo which I paid you 50¢ for.

Blast it all! That's legal? Dang these micro-stock buyers! Grrr....

Posted 3 years ago #
pher

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I've got a friend that makes some decent change off stock HD video footage. He's had some luck with Getty also. I think you'd be surprised how much people actually pay for stock photos.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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No, I don't think so. With a real stock agency you can make thousands off an image.

All I know is the only pay ME 50¢ an image!

Posted 3 years ago #
pher

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You're not making that much - they are. I see my room mate's firm drop money on stock photo all the time because it's cheaper than their photographer's day rate.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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I know. I get really annoyed when whoever purchases my image gets an extra-large copy (usually upsized I think) for less then a dollar because they have a "subscription" plan, meaning I get 50% of that—about 42¢. :^(

Currently I have $10.46 as my balance, though it's not an accurate number of how much I've really made. I got $5 for signing up for their referral program, and spent some of it to get useless professional keywording. And I can't even get the money until I have $100. *Sigh*

Posted 3 years ago #
pher

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Sounds like a waste of time to me. You could probably make more money off deviantart. Or you could just take your prints to the street and get a hustle going.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Do you really think so? It doesn't take that much time, I only send them stuff now and then and then check in every week or so to see if I've sold anything.

What's Deviantart? Do you really think it'll make more money?

I'm not crazy about selling prints on the street though ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
pher

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Deviantart is worth visiting. It's mostly young people with varying degrees of talent. Nerd art, fashion, some photography or other stuff. They do have some system set up for selling artwork. I'm not a fan, but they have a big community.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Hmmm, I'l take a look then...

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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alphanikonrex said:
And I can't even get the money until I have $100. *Sigh*

What?! How long did it take you to get $10? I have a feeling it'll be a few YEARS before they send you a check. In the mean time they've been paid out several times for your images! Borderline scam if you ask me :^(

pher, diviantart is a not-safe-for-Alpha kind of website :^)

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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I've been a member since August 2008, so it took about a year. LOL, by 2020 I'll have my $100—oh yeah! But I think things will speed up since back in 2008 my portfolio was like one picture that didn't sell at all till Fall 2009 (when it sold twice), and made me $1.77 :^)

Plus my skills are improving and all. AND they pay you better when you become exclusive with them, but you need to have 50 pictures online to do that. According to them, they're holding about another $10 from me unless I become exclusive, which I'll do as soon as I can get 50 images up.

Yeah, it's kind of a scam I guess, but I'd rather call it a "delayed-reaction-get-rich-quick-scheme" ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Oh, and I forgot to mention that the more sales an image has the more expensive it gets, so that'll help me earn faster as well.

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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alphanikonrex said:
Oh, and I forgot to mention that the more sales an image has the more expensive it gets, so that'll help me earn faster as well.

Hmm not really if I was looking for images and I liked your image but hated the price I'll just move on to another image. Plenty to choose from. The agency still makes money because you pay them to become an "exclusive" member :^( I wouldn't Pimp out my pictures like that.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Joined: Apr '09
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You don't pay to become an exclusive member, you just swear not to put your images on any other stock website. I used to use many websites, but none of them got me any sales except for one so I canceled my accounts. But yeah, they'd probably move on anyway once the price starts getting high...

I don't appreciate you using the word "pimp" (just looked it up), but I see your point. Now, what's the worst that can happen though? I mean, if I ever do find where one of my photos showed up, at least I'll have something to be proud of, right?

Posted 3 years ago #
PB PM

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I agree, stock photography is like selling out. Not to mention making work for professional photographers harder to get, and forcing them to work for less pay.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

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Joined: Apr '09
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So let me get this straight: by contributing to stock-photography websites I'm working to destroy my future as a professional photographer?

Blast it all!

And if I jump out now, I give up my money! Dang nab it all!

*Sob* :^(

Posted 3 years ago #
NikoDoby

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Yes that's right Alpha you're just hurting your future I-make-a-living-from-photography self

alphanikonrex said:
I don't appreciate you using the word "pimp" (just looked it up), but I see your point.

You don't know what a pimp is? Wow! But remember this is an 18+ only forum so you have no right to complain! If you don't like finding out "new" words then don't post here.

Posted 3 years ago #
alphanikonrex

I'm under 18!
Joined: Apr '09
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I freakin' hate these stock image companies! They're messin' with my future!

NikoDoby said:
You don't know what a pimp is? Wow! But remember this is an 18+ only forum so you have no right to complain! If you don't like finding out "new" words then don't post here.

Now I do *Grumble*

But let's get the facts straight:

This is NOT an 18+ only forum, this forum is for members of all ages. HOWEVER, there's is no guarantee of "safety" for any member of the forum.

I HAVE the right to complain, and I just did :^P HOWEVER, nobody has to do anything about it and forum mods have the right to delete it.

There we go.

Now are you asking me to stop posting? Do I have to go and re-establish the [NR] Jr. Forum? LOL ;^)

Posted 3 years ago #
pher

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It's totally safe. Half the pictures are Naruto crayon drawings!

Posted 3 years ago #

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Anybody Sell Images on Micro-Stock Websites?

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