 Michael D. Vanden Berg |
Microstock agencies What are people's opinions about microstock agencies (i.e. ShutterPoint, etc.)?
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Carolina K. Smith |
Hi Michael, You can make money with microstock agencies like Shutterstock, but I would never submit to an agency like ShutterPoint that makes you pay a fee for 'storage'. A stock agency should never charge you any money to submit or store your files. Below is my current philosophy on the Microsite stocks, actually an article on my BetterPhoto Deluxe Website. After actually experimenting with the microsites, I am VERY pleased to say that the outcome is positive, and I am making real money, over $800 in just the last 5 months... read on, and I have provided a referal link at the end of this where you can cut and paste in the URL to get more information. A key reason you can make this kind of money with very few photos is that you can submit the same photo to each microsite since they are royalty free. I started making money INSTANTLY (same day) with only 3 photos uploaded easily online. I have thought very long and hard about stock agencies, and I have to say that I believe the microstock agencies (which are basically royalty free) have a rightful place, and I believe they represent a paradigm shift in the stock agency world. One buyer contacted me to tell me how they were planning to use my 'Soldier Meets Son' (one of the photos on my BP Deluxe website homepage)... that it would be used for a nonprofit military aid website that helps soldier's returning from war to readjust to civilian life. Now THAT really boosted the morale of my son, who is currently deployed to Iraq, since he is the soldier in the photo... I know I have the caliber to make it professionally, because I have had requests to join non microsite agencies (the last was from the Chief Art Director at Inmagine (he even wanted to talk to me by phone from Malaysia) and I have been offered assignments from people viewing my BetterPhoto website. I have been requested to do limited editions for an art gallery. But, after CAREFUL and THOUGHTFUL consideration, I have decided to go the way of microstock agencies. I am a very passionate photographer, and I have decided that when I die, I want my photographic legacy to be spread as far and wide as possible... not to make a few (or even many) killings in the commercial field. I am very happy to know that my photos are serving a purpose other than commercial, though they can be used commercially as well. What has surprised me is that actually making money through the microsites is real and possible... So far, I am actually making more than $12/image per year... and like any agency, these images have the potential to payback for years to come. You are not married to a microsite... you can leave at any time... the images' copyright still belong to YOU, the photographer, and some photographers will use the microsite agency to hone their skills if they want to step up to a more exclusive agency. For many buyers who don't have much of a budget to speak of (like nonprofit agencies), or for a small mom and pop company who want to grace their website with a photo, it serves a real need. My earnings as of today are $826.04 and I started with just 3 photos and even now, only have ~ 130 photos in my gallery at one microsite, for example. This in just 5 months, and in the first month I had less than 30 photos! This can pay for your photography hobby, or more. There will always be a need for the big boys like Gettys and Corbis, for commercial projects for corporations with the big bucks. But why shut out the smaller buyers?? There is room for both, and the microstock agencies, I believe, offer and fill a needed service to a different (read noncompeting)segment of buyers. This is a paradigm shift that is here to stay, and I believe can co-exist well with the 'big boys' because they serve different markets. For sure, it offers photographers a great way to cut their teeth in stock photography, to learn what sells, to hone your skills. Then you can decide to stay on, move on, or whatever. This is America's freemarket place at it's best. For more information, copy and paste in my referal link below: http://submit.shutterstock.com/?ref=6865 Best regards,
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