Author Topic: Time management (Read 4575 times)

melastmohican · « **on:** April 29, 2008, 13:27 »

After 1 month of uploading I sell only on SS and other sites seems to be dead. I just wonder if I should focus more on them or drop all my stuff on SS only?

epantha · « **Reply #1 on:** April 29, 2008, 13:51 »

Hi melastmohican, I'm new to microstock and joined a bunch of places about a month ago and I think it takes awhile before the downloads start. I uploaded some Mother's Day theme type treatments to DT and Fotolia and those are doing well but Istock doesn't take type stuff so I think it's best to try a variety of subjects, themes and ideas on the different sites to see what works best where. Since I'm new and have A LOT TO LEARN, I will keep exploring to see what sells. I take pictures every day anyway, because I love to, so might as well share them with others.

melastmohican · « **Reply #2 on:** April 29, 2008, 14:47 »

I am new to microstock and amount of time spent on "photoshopping" pictures just kills me

epantha · « **Reply #3 on:** April 29, 2008, 15:22 »

Well, I think we are supposed to take the pictures correctly in the first place so we don't have to spend a lot of time photoshopping? But since I still frequently don't get it right, I put on some nice music and clone away the defects or fix other problems. I find it kind of relaxing. It's all fun though isn't it?

ebola · « **Reply #4 on:** April 29, 2008, 15:24 »

Shutterstock is nice because beginners get an instant return on investment. Downloads right away to boost confidence. For me and I think many others, the other sites take a while (sometimes quite a while) to get going. When I first started it took 3 or 4 weeks to get 1 download on Fotolia. I have since done a better job of taking pictures of what sells well, and sales have increased ever since.

At first I was uploading whatever I took a picture of, listening to everyone saying upload, upload, upload! This wasn't working great and I was spending a ton of time post processing, so I began trying to concentrate on just one photo at a time. Whether it was one I already had and really like or thinking up a new one to take. One well thought out photo will make way more money and take way less time in the long run than a whole bunch of average photos.

Once the photoshopping and keywording is done uploading to more sites doesn't take much effort and in the long run it will pay off.

snurder · « **Reply #5 on:** April 29, 2008, 15:31 »

I spend about 60 seconds, if that, processing a photo from a raw file. One click for white balance, then adjust exposure, take down noise right in raw processor. Even isolations with pen tool rarely take longer than 5 minutes. If you're tied to photoshop for hours on end, you're doing something wrong. I upload only the best, and forget the 17 different views of a pitcher of milk.

CofkoCof · « **Reply #6 on:** April 29, 2008, 15:59 »

Same was happening to me but now after about 2 months sales are picking up on the other sites (SS still makes 75% for me though).

melastmohican · « **Reply #7 on:** April 29, 2008, 16:22 »

60 seconds per photo would be great

I need to learn how to make isolations yet

snurder · « **Reply #8 on:** April 30, 2008, 01:45 »

Quote from: melastmohican on April 29, 2008, 16:22

60 seconds per photo would be great

I need to learn how to make isolations yet

Getting it right or close to it, in camera is key. Think about what you shoot.

Shooting raw virtually eliminates artifacting problems, getting white balance right is done in usually one click. I have just about eliminated any need for third party noise reduction software too. My photoshop time in microstock images is minimal these days.

DanP68 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 30, 2008, 02:07 »

Well I've been around for about a year now, and actively contribute to the Big 7 plus 2 small sites.

My experience has been that all sites, with the exception of Shutterstock, take patience. Images seem to "mature" for me. Especially at iStock and Dreamstime, I'll see an image sit untouched for 2 to 6 weeks before it finally gets a sale. But that sale appears to push the image up the search ladder, and increases the potential for more DL's.

Shutterstock is far and away my #1 earner. I absolutely love them. However about 65% of my earnings come from the other 8 agencies. So be patient, especially with IS, DT and FT. They are all very strong earners.

Peter · « **Reply #10 on:** April 30, 2008, 02:27 »

If I have som small series (less than 10 images) I upload only to FT, SS and DT. It is not rentabile for me to bother with other sites. (but I save those files in a separate folder, and when number of them is larger, I upload on StockXpert and 123rf later) If I have a series of more than 10 images, I upload on 123rf, StockXpert, ft, ss, dt. (IS is not in count because of 15 per week limit).

I spend about 1 minute in PS for editing each picture I take.