Back In the Game

Seems I've been too busy lately to upload to the microstock site. Other than sending existing images to StockXpert, I haven't uploaded in 2 months!! I finally sent 4 inages in to my main sites earlier this week. All 4 were accepted at ShutterStock, 123RF and StockXpert. Still waiting on iStock (they're always the slowest to review). So, here's my latest:

Found Photo

One of the disappointing things about microstock is that we seldom know where are images end up, or what they're being used for. But every once in a while we find one. I was recently doing some poking around, using a little program called Tin-Eye, and I discovered one of my images being used as a book cover!

I don't know for sure, but I think the image was bought from iStockPhotos. Possibly from Shutterstock:, the image is available at both places. Here's the original:

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More of StockXpert

Well, I've been on StockXpert a bit over a week, and the sales have started!! Nothing to stunning, but pretty respectable given the size of my portfolio. I still only have 107 images there, but got a bit distracted by my daughter's wedding last weekend. Gotta get back to uploading!!

I created my first lightbox at SX today, with power system images:

Stockxpert

Yep, I recently joined yet another microstock site. Stockxpert was recommended by several folks I know from one of the Yahoo groups I'm in, and I figured to give it a shot. I've been building my portfolio 5 images at a time, starting with images aleadey approved at other sites. No sales yet, but it has only been a couple of days.

This shot is from under the Rt. 19 bridge crossing the New River gorge, in WV. It hasn't been a big seller, but I still like it!

Down The Drain?

One of the first sites I was with was iStock. Over my 18 months at microstock, it has been a strong overall performer, generally #2. BUT... for a while it was growing great, even challenged to be my top site a few months. Then it seemed to reverse, and lately has been drifting closer towards #3. Dumping monthly sales data into a spreadsheet confirms my perception.

This graph shows $/month, with a 6th order polynomial trendline for reference. Pretty ugly. But why? Well, not to be paranoid, but they've been putting a big push towards getting contributors to become exclusive, to submit only to them. Part of that push includes things like limiting uploads from non-exclusives, different review process for exclusives, and skewing their search engines to show images from exclusives first, giving them more visability.

I'll continue to work with them, they still perform well for me. And I'd still recommend them to anyone looking at microstock (though not with as much enthusiasm). But the tone of the business relationship has certainly changed.

Goin' Racin'

I'm off to the races this weekend, for the NASCAR Nationwide series race at Gateway Intenational Speedway, here in the STL area. We went to the Craftsman Truck race last year, and had a great time. I even managed to get a photograph for the world of microstock!

This is an "editorial" image, meaning that there's copyrighted / trademarked information, without an associated model / property release. That limits the uses, but this image has still sold. No way was I going to try and clone out all of the logos!!

Latest Downloads @ Shutterstock

My last 3 at my best site:

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The Clocktower at Riverfront Park, Spokane Washington (this one is "editorial")

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In the woods, in the Inland Northwest (Idaho)

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Just east of Chicago, from one of the interstate "Oasis" rest areas. This is probably my best seller when combining all sites.