Stock photography is dead

8 years 9 months ago #450033 by Jacob Fisher
So for the last 5 months I have been trying my best at stock photography and I have come to the conclusion, it's a dead avenue to make any decent money.  I have made to date $47.23.  

Not exactly lighting my world on fire.  I'm just curious how anyone can make a living these days.  Even istock.com gives subscribers opportunity for either $166 per month for 750 photos or signature is $366 for same 750 photos.  Respectfully cost average will be somewhere around .22 cents and .48 cents is what THEY are making, then your cut is much less.  

Rant is over.  

P.S.  is anyone making money at stock these days then?  


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8 years 9 months ago #450036 by Screamin Scott
Only the stock agencies as they have a wealth of images for their clients to select from...

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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8 years 9 months ago #450038 by Jacob Fisher
Well that's a bummer, but also what I figured here.  I was hoping to hear contrary stories to my difficulties with making a buck with stock.    


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8 years 9 months ago #450043 by effron
Stock photography became impossible years ago. I sold a couple in (I'm guessing) 2008 , and within six months my camera was obsoleted by their acceptance standards. Way too much competition today.  I've had more luck on 500px.....

Why so serious?
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8 years 9 months ago #450059 by ThatNikonGuy
It's had it's day and has been brought out behind the barn already.


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8 years 9 months ago #450092 by Matt VanDyke
I know people who make some good money, however they have been selling their photos for years and have their photos listed on a ton of sites.  It has turned into a volume game for them. 


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8 years 8 months ago #450243 by Scott Klubeck
I tried a couple years ago, and most of my photos didn't make the cut.  I guess I was barking up the wrong tree with the wrong submissions.  Do you think we'll see other areas suffer like stock?  Meaning portraits and wedding gigs?  Technically, what killed stock could very well effect other areas as well.


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8 years 8 months ago #450272 by JeremyS
Well I do believe the time when you could make a lot of money on stock has dissappeared, I think you can still make a decent amount of side money if you concentrate your efforts on other things. If I consistently add items to my stock library, eventually I'll be making a small amount of money monthly, and that could be while doing weddings, or portraits etc. I wouldn't go out of my way to shoot stock and set up stock shoots etc. but I do add to my stock library for fun. 


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8 years 8 months ago #451755 by Jacob Fisher
All true, well I'm not throwing in the towel just yet, just wanted to see what others had experienced. 


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8 years 8 months ago #451960 by Eric A
Persistence might be the winning recipe, while others are jumping ship, sticking around might yield some surprising results.  Just my 2 cents. 

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