Bike Tourist
Well-known
Joe, I came late to the party, the thread is closed, but I want to speak and so I will.
First of all, you have some nice stuff on the web site but we all knew you are a good photographer from what you've posted here on RFF. On the surface, these sites like Crated and some others sound like the shooter's ideal — post some art, sit back, wait for the orders to pour in and have someone else make the print and mail it. Just have that someone give you your money occasionally.
Reality dictates otherwise. Your photos are an infinitesimal small speck in a universe of images. As an example, my main source of photo money is the microstock agency, Shutterstock. I was lucky to get on with them eight years ago and they have since become the premier microstock agency. I have sold close to 33,000 images through them, worldwide. The per image return is a pittance, usually 37 cents per image (although in special circumstance I have received as much as $122 for one). Now, I have over 5000 files placed with them but — get this — they are approaching 43 MILLION images on their servers.
You can see that, at some point, the sheer volume of images will dilute and water down mine so that my sales should gradually wind down. That hasn't happened yet, but it will. That is just one agency and there are a ton of them. Most are not very successful. Then there are the picture sharing sites which harbor photographers who will give their work away just to see it used somewhere. Some of the less successful agencies are also prone to making free images available to try to score some business.
To be blunt, I don't see Crated furnishing you with a reliable income stream. Maybe occasionally, once or twice a year? The only potential media buyer I see using this service is the average citizen looking for wall art. And even then how does that buyer end up at your site instead of twenty, thirty, a hundred others?
Out of 7.2 billion humans on the planet I sometimes think that at least 6.2 billion are pretty good photographers! It's not much good for your ego!
The only do-it-yourself web sites that might do alright are the ones from the big names, Jay Meisel, Pete Turner, Eric Meola, et al. Somehow, I doubt they're selling much online either. If I were you, knowing that the only sales you will make are from the people who really, really want your image, I would RAISE my prices substantially. What have you got to lose?
The other avenue would be to research the good microstock agencies and submit your work to them. They are very fussy and most don't get accepted on the first try, but if you upload consistently and learn what is in demand you can get reliably paid every month. It is not a get rich quick scheme, especially these days, but if my example holds for you, and after a few years diligent work, you'll have enough income to buy whatever equipment you want.
Keep on making great images. Good luck.
First of all, you have some nice stuff on the web site but we all knew you are a good photographer from what you've posted here on RFF. On the surface, these sites like Crated and some others sound like the shooter's ideal — post some art, sit back, wait for the orders to pour in and have someone else make the print and mail it. Just have that someone give you your money occasionally.
Reality dictates otherwise. Your photos are an infinitesimal small speck in a universe of images. As an example, my main source of photo money is the microstock agency, Shutterstock. I was lucky to get on with them eight years ago and they have since become the premier microstock agency. I have sold close to 33,000 images through them, worldwide. The per image return is a pittance, usually 37 cents per image (although in special circumstance I have received as much as $122 for one). Now, I have over 5000 files placed with them but — get this — they are approaching 43 MILLION images on their servers.
You can see that, at some point, the sheer volume of images will dilute and water down mine so that my sales should gradually wind down. That hasn't happened yet, but it will. That is just one agency and there are a ton of them. Most are not very successful. Then there are the picture sharing sites which harbor photographers who will give their work away just to see it used somewhere. Some of the less successful agencies are also prone to making free images available to try to score some business.
To be blunt, I don't see Crated furnishing you with a reliable income stream. Maybe occasionally, once or twice a year? The only potential media buyer I see using this service is the average citizen looking for wall art. And even then how does that buyer end up at your site instead of twenty, thirty, a hundred others?
Out of 7.2 billion humans on the planet I sometimes think that at least 6.2 billion are pretty good photographers! It's not much good for your ego!
The only do-it-yourself web sites that might do alright are the ones from the big names, Jay Meisel, Pete Turner, Eric Meola, et al. Somehow, I doubt they're selling much online either. If I were you, knowing that the only sales you will make are from the people who really, really want your image, I would RAISE my prices substantially. What have you got to lose?
The other avenue would be to research the good microstock agencies and submit your work to them. They are very fussy and most don't get accepted on the first try, but if you upload consistently and learn what is in demand you can get reliably paid every month. It is not a get rich quick scheme, especially these days, but if my example holds for you, and after a few years diligent work, you'll have enough income to buy whatever equipment you want.
Keep on making great images. Good luck.
KM-25
Well-known
This is great insight and really good advice Dick, thanks for sharing in it a contextual manner.
I think I do see the problem now with what happened to the other thread. On his initial post, Joe asked for some insight and advice regarding selling on Crated, it was not what Moof said it was in the last post being "it was meant to introduce a nice resource for members to sell their work."
So Joe got a range of replies based on a range of experience and opinions. When a pro, an amateur, my self or Dick sells work, it is within the whims, why's and wherefore's of the photography marketplace.....it's not a pro or a hobby marketplace, it is one big market.
So when Dick says "Reality dictates otherwise. Your photos are an infinitesimal small speck in a universe of images." it is not that he is trying to tell someone how to be a top earning pro, it is his viewpoint of the broader market and how it operates and more importantly, how it gets saturated and becomes too competitive to make it worthwhile. Same with what I said regarding a flaw with Crated not being at least partly curated.
It does not matter if you are trying to earn a dime, dollar or a million of them, you have to understand how the photography marketplace works and if you have what it takes to compete, period.
I wrote Joe a polite PM of what I was trying to get across, because at first I took his inquiry seriously. Now I just hope he does what makes him happy and if the money comes in, great, if not, he either can move on or figure out another way to break into print sales.
That's all anyone can really do....
I think I do see the problem now with what happened to the other thread. On his initial post, Joe asked for some insight and advice regarding selling on Crated, it was not what Moof said it was in the last post being "it was meant to introduce a nice resource for members to sell their work."
So Joe got a range of replies based on a range of experience and opinions. When a pro, an amateur, my self or Dick sells work, it is within the whims, why's and wherefore's of the photography marketplace.....it's not a pro or a hobby marketplace, it is one big market.
So when Dick says "Reality dictates otherwise. Your photos are an infinitesimal small speck in a universe of images." it is not that he is trying to tell someone how to be a top earning pro, it is his viewpoint of the broader market and how it operates and more importantly, how it gets saturated and becomes too competitive to make it worthwhile. Same with what I said regarding a flaw with Crated not being at least partly curated.
It does not matter if you are trying to earn a dime, dollar or a million of them, you have to understand how the photography marketplace works and if you have what it takes to compete, period.
I wrote Joe a polite PM of what I was trying to get across, because at first I took his inquiry seriously. Now I just hope he does what makes him happy and if the money comes in, great, if not, he either can move on or figure out another way to break into print sales.
That's all anyone can really do....
back alley
IMAGES
thanks dick, well phrased.
i have never wanted to be a pro, even though i toyed with it when i had a primative studio with 2 other shooters. i did nudes, family portraits, lots of bands and some weddings too.
i much prefer the life of an amateur, shooting what i please and how i please.
would i like to sell a print occasionally? yes...and i do.
i also shoot family style portraits still. it keeps me sharp and in camera bags...
the crated thing is ideal for a guy like me, a place to put some favourite shots and see what becomes of them. and if they sell...wonderful!
i have never wanted to be a pro, even though i toyed with it when i had a primative studio with 2 other shooters. i did nudes, family portraits, lots of bands and some weddings too.
i much prefer the life of an amateur, shooting what i please and how i please.
would i like to sell a print occasionally? yes...and i do.
i also shoot family style portraits still. it keeps me sharp and in camera bags...
the crated thing is ideal for a guy like me, a place to put some favourite shots and see what becomes of them. and if they sell...wonderful!
back alley
IMAGES
i'm glad that you took the time and made the effort to rethink this and see it from another's point of view.
FrankS
Registered User
And Joe's post directed me to that site.