iStockphotos etc... do these sites work?

DeVore

I've been thinking about taking my photography a little further and specifically giving iStockPhotos a go. I've used these sites as a buyer before but never as a photographer. Is it viable? Can you make a few bob from it? Has anyone out there done it before?

DeV.

Thoie

DeVore wrote: »

I've been thinking about taking my photography a little further and specifically giving iStockPhotos a go. I've used these sites as a buyer before but never as a photographer. Is it viable? Can you make a few bob from it? Has anyone out there done it before?

DeV.

After approx 8 months and 5 photos, I've made $0.62 from iStock. While your photos may be better/more popular than mine, I haven't yet bothered the Revenue with my earnings.

forbairt

one friend made a few hundred from it. Again it'll depend on the type of imagery you've got. While you may have an amazing photo will people really want to buy it for use on a website. Does it contain any branding or is it something generic they could work with.

I've pondered doing it in the past just as a test. Some of the popular images can be things like Toilet Signs. (those with the male / female symbols). Of course to make a few hundred quid you've got to sell €1000 or so worth of stock photos. There are more and more photographers in there as well competing so at the end of the day would you make more money with less effort from a simple advert in your sig on here saying want a portrait photo taken for 10 quid. You probably would.

My favourite photographer (in the commercial sense) is selling fulling I believe on iStock. No idea what his earnings are but he's living in eastern europe and does some gerat work with models. (of course that said everyone uses his photos these days and they appear everywhere).

(just a few thoughts from a non photographer type person)

sasar

I am not really into it, but have made some money there.

For example this photo has earned me 160$

You should also try photolia and shutterstock. The more stock sites you join, the more money you make.

Check out this guy:
http://www.arcurs.com/ world top stock seller from Holland.

PaulieC

you can make money *if* you are prepared to make a bit of effort. I would say that you'd nearly make a living out of it if you were prepared to put the work in. You need to be pretty thick skinned at the start until you figure out exactly what the stock sites are looking for and not get all offended (as one person here on Boards did not too long ago) when they reject your stuff.
There was a thread about 2 months ago in which I posted a link to a very thorough blog on selling stock. I'll see if I can dig it up somewhere...

kgiller

I uploaded 10 images, and all 10 were rejected! They arent interested in good photos, only photos that can be used in the commerial sense, so studio shot fruit like sasar's is perfect and will make money. Anything else, like a nice landscape or something, theyre not interested in.

PaulieC

kgiller wrote: »

I uploaded 10 images, and all 10 were rejected! They arent interested in good photos, only photos that can be used in the commerial sense, so studio shot fruit like sasar's is perfect and will make money. Anything else, like a nice landscape or something, theyre not interested in.

of course they are only interested in photos that sell - that's their business. They are in the game to accept images that won't sell just to keep photographers on their good side. That's what I meant about being prepared to take rejection if you want to get anywhere. You need to take a little time to figure out what they are looking for and I can guarantee that they do take landscapes - just do a search and see the results.