Author Topic: Do you make good living from stock or is it side job? (Read 11578 times)

Stas77 · « **on:** March 20, 2013, 10:30 »

I am wondering if you can work full time with selling stock photography on internet and how many of you (us) do. Is it possible to earn enough for living or do you need to do another side job to make sure you work enough?

thank you!

ps i know it takes time to be able to work full time if to work at all full time.

lisafx · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2013, 10:46 »

I'm full time and do pretty well, but I wish I did better. So if I could, I would select both the top options. But I went with #1 because I make enough I don't need another job to supplement. Yet. Sales declining each year, I will probably need to get another job in a couple of years if the downward trend continues.

grsphoto · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2013, 10:57 »

I am a newbie. This is my 3rd month with sales, so it is part time for me. I hope to go full time in the ( distant?) future. Will I make it...

palirao · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2013, 11:03 »

That's a great question! I've been full time for 4 years now...

I've just written an ebook, Microstock Millionaire for beginners and advanced microstockers alike that has tips on how to increase your income (it's free too)

http://www.beaprofessionalphotographer.com

Im open to any suggestions, so please just let me know what you'd like to know about and Id be more than happy to help

Paulfleet · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2013, 12:01 »

I am fulltime but wish I did better. The problem is I am the only person who would employ me and I am on my second verbal warning for my obstructive attitude. $:-\$

tab62 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2013, 12:29 »

can you add in the poll- "Part time and wish I did better so that I can quit my daytime job"

T

heywoody · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2013, 12:52 »

Quote from: Paulfleet on March 20, 2013, 12:01

I am fulltime but wish I did better. The problem is I am the only person who would employ me and I am on my second verbal warning for my obstructive attitude. $:-\$

Consider this a written warning

gostwyck · « **Reply #7 on:** March 20, 2013, 12:57 »

I'm full-time but I'm sure I would make a far more comfortable living if I didn't waste so much of my time reading and writing posts on places like MSG (and playing golf if I'm honest!).

grsphoto · « **Reply #8 on:** March 20, 2013, 13:42 »

Quote from: gostwyck on March 20, 2013, 12:57

I'm full-time but I'm sure I would make a far more comfortable living if I didn't waste so much of my time reading and writing posts on places like MSG (and playing golf if I'm honest!).

This is the hardest part about any self employment....

Mellimage · « **Reply #9 on:** March 20, 2013, 13:51 »

I am part-time and even though I wish I'd do better in stock, I don't sweat it. I love my main job and do not intend to give it up.

fotografer · « **Reply #10 on:** March 20, 2013, 14:02 »

I'm a fulltime photographer making half of my money from stock and half for private work.

BaldricksTrousers · « **Reply #11 on:** March 20, 2013, 14:15 »

"Full time" but I only work when I feel like it and I'm not really driven by a desire to make as much as I possibly could, otherwise I would be far more commercial in my material. I've been making enough to get by on for many years now and that's OK.

gillian vann · « **Reply #12 on:** March 20, 2013, 17:56 »

I'm a freelance photographer and I usually consider I only work part-time hours, as I have 3 children to juggle also. I do stock in the down times. I don't want to do it full-time, I like my client work more.

Gel-O Shooter · « **Reply #13 on:** March 20, 2013, 18:13 »

Really, more of a part-time thing, but it is my only "job". My husband and I are retired and we travel the country with a 27ft RV. We don't depend on micro to pay any bills, but it sure is nice having that money magically appear in my personal paypal online shopping account every month. Especially for something I'd be doing anyway (photographing America).

WarrenPrice · « **Reply #14 on:** March 20, 2013, 18:33 »

Quote from: Gel-O Shooter on March 20, 2013, 18:13

Really, more of a part-time thing, but it is my only "job". My husband and I are retired and we travel the country with a 27ft RV. We don't depend on micro to pay any bills, but it sure is nice having that money magically appear in my personal paypal online shopping account every month. Especially for something I'd be doing anyway (photographing America).

We have things in common. Wife and I travel a lot but not full-time.
And we are retired, supplementing the income with Stock ... and an Occasional assignment -- Motocross or Supercross Races.

gostwyck · « **Reply #15 on:** March 20, 2013, 19:18 »

Quote from: Gel-O Shooter on March 20, 2013, 18:13

Really, more of a part-time thing, but it is my only "job". My husband and I are retired and we travel the country with a 27ft RV. We don't depend on micro to pay any bills, but it sure is nice having that money magically appear in my personal paypal online shopping account every month. Especially for something I'd be doing anyway (photographing America).

Great stuff! Sounds perfect. Enjoy!

gillian vann · « **Reply #16 on:** March 20, 2013, 19:32 »

Quote from: WarrenPrice on March 20, 2013, 18:33

Quote from: Gel-O Shooter on March 20, 2013, 18:13
Really, more of a part-time thing, but it is my only "job". My husband and I are retired and we travel the country with a 27ft RV. We don't depend on micro to pay any bills, but it sure is nice having that money magically appear in my personal paypal online shopping account every month. Especially for something I'd be doing anyway (photographing America).

We have things in common. Wife and I travel a lot but not full-time.
And we are retired, supplementing the income with Stock ... and an Occasional assignment -- Motocross or Supercross Races.

hopefully that'll be me in 15 years, and my port should be large enough to pay for fuel and holiday snacks?

shudderstok · « **Reply #17 on:** March 20, 2013, 20:59 »

full time for me at IS and Getty. Spend my days traveling the world doing what I love to do. It has been amazingly rewarding both personally and financially.

Silken Photography · « **Reply #18 on:** March 20, 2013, 21:45 »

Quote from: Gel-O Shooter on March 20, 2013, 18:13

Really, more of a part-time thing, but it is my only "job". My husband and I are retired and we travel the country with a 27ft RV. We don't depend on micro to pay any bills, but it sure is nice having that money magically appear in my personal paypal online shopping account every month. Especially for something I'd be doing anyway (photographing America).

Great retirement plan. My husband and I travelled for two weeks in an RV through the National Parks of Utah (mostly) and it was one of the best trips of my life.

On topic, I'd love to go full time in photography, but I'm not sure I want to do full time stock. For now I'm dipping my toes in and seeing how the water feels.

cthoman · « **Reply #19 on:** March 20, 2013, 21:54 »

Count me in as a full timer too. I still do freelance gigs, but most of my income comes from stock now. I'd love to make more though. I guess I could go back to work and do that, but the idea of going back 9 to 5 sounds kind of scary. Although, I could see the right opportunity coming along to make it worthwhile. So if anybody wants to hire a cartoon illustrator in Austin, I'm available. Maybe?

Gel-O Shooter · « **Reply #20 on:** March 21, 2013, 00:33 »

Vann, you better have a HUGE portfolio to pay for travel gas in 15 years. It's our biggest expense. And the way it's going up, it'll be at least $10 bucks a gallon by then!

sobm · « **Reply #21 on:** March 21, 2013, 01:53 »

in here, yes , only 2k can overcome the average incomes here, lol

gillian vann · « **Reply #22 on:** March 21, 2013, 04:11 »

Quote from: Gel-O Shooter on March 21, 2013, 00:33

Vann, you better have a HUGE portfolio to pay for travel gas in 15 years. It's our biggest expense. And the way it's going up, it'll be at least $10 bucks a gallon by then!

unless we're on biodiesel or solar? yeah, not holding my breath.
might have to think about doing the grey nomad thing in Europe, where the distances aren't quite so great.

Stas77 · « **Reply #23 on:** March 21, 2013, 04:52 »

Wow great to see so many answers! Very obvoius that people here have second job, but peolpe have different income from the stock sites. that is very nice.

I hope I can also travel for living one day! How do you do that? Only retired? I love taking pictures in all countries.

lisafx · « **Reply #24 on:** March 21, 2013, 12:42 »

Quote from: Stas77 on March 21, 2013, 04:52

Very obvoius that people here have second job, but peolpe have different income from the stock sites. that is very nice.

Really? It isn't obvious to me. Just over half the people in the poll report having a second job.

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Author Topic: Do you make good living from stock or is it side job? (Read 11578 times)

Stas77

lisafx

grsphoto

palirao

Paulfleet

tab62

heywoody

gostwyck

grsphoto

Mellimage

fotografer

BaldricksTrousers

gillian vann

Gel-O Shooter

WarrenPrice

gostwyck

gillian vann

shudderstok

Silken Photography

cthoman

Gel-O Shooter

sobm

gillian vann

Stas77

lisafx

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