Even bother with stock photography?

9 years 6 months ago #404892 by Cathy Kadolph
I have been looking at some prices of photos on stock photo sites and wondering how in the world do stock photographers make any money these days?  There are so many photos that have caused the price to be near nothing!  This must be a serious situation of luck and the volume of stock sites you are on?  

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up." Pablo Picasso
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9 years 6 months ago #404894 by Joves
I have never even thought of using one when I saw the payouts to you. The only one really benefiting is the buyer, and the stock sites. I know a couple of people who do fair on them, but they are not the rule, they are the exception.


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9 years 6 months ago #404901 by icepics
Some stock sites seem to be do-it-yourself and geared to amateurs who apparently just don't know any better than to list photos with the site for pennies (and some sites seem to make 80-90% of the profit).

There are legit photo agencies incl. stock that list on the Photo District News http://www.pdnonline.com under their PhotoSource section but I think it's commercial work and I don't know how practical or profitable it is to do.

Sharon
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9 years 6 months ago #404950 by Garbo
It's a tough means of making a buck.  Just be ready to discount your photography.  

Nikon D300: 24-70 2.8 | 70-200 2.8 VR |Sigma 150 2.8 | 50 1.4 | SB-800
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9 years 6 months ago #405009 by Cathy Kadolph

Joves wrote: I have never even thought of using one when I saw the payouts to you. The only one really benefiting is the buyer, and the stock sites. I know a couple of people who do fair on them, but they are not the rule, they are the exception.



You know, after looking around and reading some other post, this looks to be the case.  :( 

"Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once you grow up." Pablo Picasso
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9 years 6 months ago #405071 by Joves

Cathy Kadolph wrote:

Joves wrote: I have never even thought of using one when I saw the payouts to you. The only one really benefiting is the buyer, and the stock sites. I know a couple of people who do fair on them, but they are not the rule, they are the exception.



You know, after looking around and reading some other post, this looks to be the case.  :( 


Sadly it is. Also one of the people on another forum was all happy about making $100 in a month off of one of the sites. Then in another thread he was telling someone what they had to do to make that, it was a whole lot of work to make it. To me it is easier to set up your own site, and do the SEO work to get traffic to it. Something I really have to be in the mood to do in order to get it done.


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9 years 6 months ago #405078 by Baydream
You really have to research the market and find photos that will see. The second thing is to develop a workflow using software that lets you post to multiple sites at one time (usually letting the program run overnight). It does take a lot of time but can be profitable but not "rolling in dough". 

Shoot, learn and share. It will make you a better photographer.
fineartamerica.com/profiles/john-g-schickler.html?tab=artwork

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9 years 6 months ago #405299 by KENT MELTON
There was a blog I read some time ago talking about the death of stock photograph and the birth of surplus photography by the masses.  I'll need to find the article as it was very interesting.  


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9 years 4 months ago #412510 by Jerrid
On and off, but mainly for selling stuff on eBay


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9 years 4 months ago #412879 by KenMan
Yes, but when you get paid .75 cents for one of your photos, it's tough to stay motivated.  Stock is not where you want to be to earn big bucks.  


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