Challenge © Carsten Reisinger
How does it work, this Microstock model?
Here are the facts:
Photographs, 3D and vector illustrations, Flash, footage and audio files are being offered to everyone at extremely low prices.
Credit based purchases can be as low as $1 for an image or audio file while a subscription plan can get you a full high-resolution image for $0.33.
Footage, flash and vector illustrations usually sell for more but are not exempt from the subscription model and can also sell for a very low price.
Naturally you would ask “Why would any artist sell his/her work for such low pices?” – absolutely logic question.
Answer is that the entire Microstock industry is built on the incredibly big demand for good media (images, audio and video) which allows the Microstock agencies to sell each file many, many times.
Now, many contributors continue to join Microstock agencies all the time and lots of contributors who have been working in the industry already gave up the hard struggle with their competition because you’re only going to see profits (that are worth your time…) if you dedicate a good chunk of your time and talent.
It is crucial to produce attractive, popular and high quality content to stay in the game. Just taking a picture of your neighbor’s cat “Buffy” is not going to make you rich.
So the idea is to constantly produce content that meets current quality standards in order to compete with the best that are out there. Now you’re looking at making $300, $600 or $1.000 with one image over the period of 3 years. Not with every picture but with good images and really good images make you more money.
Be aware that you also won’t get these numbers with only one image in your portfolio! You need to built a strong portfolio with hundreds and thousands of images. This will get the ball rolling.
It is hard work but it’s not too complicated either. Microstock allows anyone to start from Zero and to become really successful if you have what it takes.
