I just got called a “parasite of the stock industry” and I was told to “wake up”. Well, isn’t that special?

It’s still hard for me to believe how many bitter feelings are still being held about microstock by those who have been in the stock business for decades. I’m not sure the Rights Managed photobanks will ever forgive it. Microstock strikes a very painful nerve with most rights managed photographers. I can understand where they’re coming from, but it’s been a good 6 years that microstock has been in the limelight. I don’t think rights managed will ever go away totally, but its definitely on the decline. But don’t blame microstock – blame technology and it’s advancement. You can get an 8mp DSLR used for $200 right now in the US. That’s less than the cost of an ipod or iphone, and we all know how many of those are in people’s pockets.

A lot of credit has to be given to those traditional stock shooters that have either embraced microstock, or at least given it some respect and consideration.  Guys like Jack Hollingsworth and John Lund.  Not everyone is a hater, thankfully.  Check out their amazing blogs.

Heck, if I could license all of my work at prices ranging from $100-10,000+ per license, I most definitely would.  Unfortunately, I had my start in microstock, and I’ve been playing the “bulk sales” game ever since.  If you’re a rights managed stock photographer and are still maintaining your sales, that’s incredible – keep up the good work.  All the best to you.  I’m not knocking that side of the business at all.

All I’m saying… is that the creative fields change yearly, if not monthly.  If you can’t roll with the punches, and the changes of the market (the same as in any other field) then you’re going to be left behind.  Just because some of us choose to sell micro, doesn’t mean we’re giving stuff away for free.  The prices of microstock are, in many case on the increase.  The price wars will continue to go on between the newer and upcoming agencies.  But you can trust me on this: you will never see my giving my work away for free.  It’s one thing to give stuff away.  We all do it, you almost have to nowadays just to get hits to your website.  Free advice, free tutorials, etc.  It helps one another out, and one hand washes the other as in all things.

Different strokes for different folks, is all I’m saying.  I’m done ranting, time for me to get back to work.  Happy shooting!

I hear this a lot from those looking into microstock to earn a full time living.  Questions like this come up frequently on microstock forums, twitter and facebook.  How many images will I need?  What can I make hourly?  Is building up a sizable microstock portfolio even worth the effort? Read the rest of this entry »

There was recently a discussion regarding different pricing of the same images on through different websites at Microstock Diaries.

Many of the industry’s best have posted their viewpoints.  Here is how I personally feel…

It’s a proven fact that when products or services are priced higher, some buyers think they are getting something “better” or of “higher quality”. Many times this isn’t even the case. A generic product could even be identical, only in different packaging. Is Tylenol going out of business, just because CVS sells the same thing in a generic form? It doesn’t seem like they are. The product could probably even be manufactured in the same plant. Many times, manufacturers only want you to think you’re getting less when you purchase the same product for a lesser price. In actuality, many are identical – even if the product is packaged or marketed in a different way. Paul Mitchell hair care products come to mind. The CEO gets on TV and in commercials he testifies that it isn’t genuine Paul Mitchell, if you find the product being sold in a grocery store. In fact, it is – and I know many professional hairdressers that will attest to that. Want to know the difference? About $10-20 per bottle, depending on what salon is selling it.

If a buyer wants to be choosy and shop around, they will. If they are willing to spend extra money on photos from agencies that offer better guarantees, or a different user experience, then let them. I don’t see anything unethical about that. Product pricing is the same in all markets, it’s just all about the brand label many times that determines the pricing. Even if it’s the same exact product. Designer clothes are sold at outrageous prices, and sometimes the quality is even lower than that of the cheaper department stores’ clothing lines.