I looked at the Top 50 page, and downloaded the images I had which were closest to the top-ranked photos ... one of those got two downloads in the first 3 days. Look at the top keywords too, and see what photos you have which fit the popular search terms.
This is more a starting strategy -- obviously if everyone did this consistently we'd end up with 10,000 versions of the same photo -- but served to get the ball rolling and make me much more enthusiastic.
Actually, just getting a few photos approved was a good step ... : )
I am really loving that active x uploader.
I just uploaded 31 photo's in one batch.. i put them all in the uploader... worked on other things on my computer, then came back to find them all uploaded ready for keywording :)
I don't think anyone would have a check just yet, the site only started taking uploads like last week....It will take a little while to get started, but 500 downloads is not that much!
I am still a bit confused, so I put my shot in high quality full size and someone can use it for .20 cents So if a big ad company uses my shot to sell say a million dollars in cell phones I earn .20 cents? And they have the right to use my shots how ever they want to, do I get credit at least? I understand lesser agancies would most likely buy images but certainly this is giving away our images very cheaply isn't it? And why would someone buy one print say from dpc for $20-50.00 when they could download as many as they want for 80.00? I still feel like I am missing something here.
I am still a bit confused, so I put my shot in high quality full size and someone can use it for .20 cents So if a big ad company uses my shot to sell say a million dollars in cell phones I earn .20 cents? And they have the right to use my shots how ever they want to, do I get credit at least? I understand lesser agancies would most likely buy images but certainly this is giving away our images very cheaply isn't it? And why would someone buy one print say from dpc for $20-50.00 when they could download as many as they want for 80.00? I still feel like I am missing something here.
welcome to the heated debate between discount and professional stock sites, royalty free and rights managed photography.
do a search for dreamstime, or istockphoto in the forums here and you will have a little reading for yourself.
I am still a bit confused, so I put my shot in high quality full size and someone can use it for .20 cents So if a big ad company uses my shot to sell say a million dollars in cell phones I earn .20 cents? And they have the right to use my shots how ever they want to, do I get credit at least? I understand lesser agancies would most likely buy images but certainly this is giving away our images very cheaply isn't it? And why would someone buy one print say from dpc for $20-50.00 when they could download as many as they want for 80.00? I still feel like I am missing something here.
They're not selling prints, they're selling stock images. Although I'm sure there are a lot of prints that could work as stock also. Basically you upload images that people often use in advertising or the like - just look at images in magazines for examples. Smiling men or women huddled around a computer, product shots (without brand names), food or whatnot. Most of those shots can be photographed by anyone but instead of hiring a photographer to do it companies will download them from stock agencies. Sometimes it will be average joe downloading an image they like for a website design.
The scary part is you will never know what all your images are used for. That someone could download an image and then print and sell it locally is a possibility. Although doing that with an image of a businessman holding a phone isnt going to hang on the wall too well.
For a lot of people here it would seem that the opportunity to sell their images at 10, 20, or 50 cents each and accumulate a 100 dollar or so total is more logistical than waiting for someone to buy one of their prints for 20 dollars. They probably also have more images that can be used for stock than they have print-quality images that will appeal enough to sell for 'expensive' prints.
I think it boils down to who you are and what you want to get out of it. Some people do weddings and portraits to make money, some shoot and sell stock, some wait until they can sell prints at 20+ a pop.
For me, selling prints... i have sold 0, or well no, i have sold a couple to friends through dpcprints.. i know others have done better though.
as for stock photographer.. i am not getting that many sales either.. but at $20 so far, per site... dreamstime, istock, shutterstock (well no $20 yet) i am earning a bit more..
thx leaf and moodville,
I think I am slowly starting to get it, I also looked at some stock images and I can see what you mean re prints and not wanting the same kind of images for stock as prints.
I will continue reading
thx again
There is a market for both high priced and low priced images. An image that is not good enough (or a person who is not good enough yet, or doesn't have enough time to be pro) for the pro site... it doesn't hurt to have your images sitting on a stock site making a bit of cash for an extra lens or two.. :)
thx leaf and moodville,
I think I am slowly starting to get it, I also looked at some stock images and I can see what you mean re prints and not wanting the same kind of images for stock as prints.
I will continue reading
thx again
There are also limits on what it can be used for, at least on Istock. They can't print up 10,000,000 brocnures or put it in National Geographic or sell web templates with your pic in there.
Depends how much you want your money once you get it. I have 25.00 at Istock and I plan to get my 100. lol I only have 38 uploads, so I could be doing SO much better...
