Microstock agencies-”top8-RazvanPhotography”(March 2010)

Romanian version

On this page, I will publish, on a monthly basis, the top of the agencies that are active within the microstock system, using the revenue of the previous month as a criterion. Ever since 2003, RazvanPhotography has been using more than 20 agencies in this system to sell photographs. This top includes the eight most developed agencies and, occasionally, it will include new ones that I may find promising. All the data published here reflect the opinions and experience of RazvanPhotography and may differ from other opinions present on the web. Nevertheless, I think that this page will be very useful in helping those interested in figuring out the microstock system. By studying my portfolio and my achievements on a particular site, they will be able to gather data that may be seminal to the development of their own portfolio. The photographs that are submitted to these agencies undergo a process of careful examination, which is a very important tool in achieving high standards of education in stock and commercial photography.

March 2010:

This month’s results were very good. All the major agencies yielded a bigger income, as compared to the previous month. The evolution was similar to that of the previous years, with March being among the best months of the year. As for myself, this month I reduced to a minimum my new uploads for a while, for various reasons. Under these circumstances, obtaining positive results proves very valuable, as it shows even when short production breaks occur, earnings can stay at the same level, even in these trying times. However, it will be interesting to see what the trend is over the next months. I invite you to read the following report to find out about this month’s details.

top8-RazvanPhotography

1. Fotolia: About My Portfolio Register
Fotolia has made great progress, becoming this month’s leader. There haven’t been any unpleasant announcements, contrary to what had been customary, and larely there have been a great number of downloads.

2. iStockphoto: About My portfolio Register

This agency has registered surprising progress, that shows a significant difference between independent photographers and exclusive ones. Having in view that the selection of photos is pretty restrictive, strict and many a time, although professional and effective, subjective nevertheless, the images that get selected by the inspectors yield very good results. The uploading trend they want to impose is also very interesting. They limit the number of images one can upload per month, especially for independent photographers. Thus, those who produce a great number of images find themselves in difficulty, since their production is too big for what the agency demands. It is as if what is being tried is a change of one of the basic ideas of stock photography: “ Stock photography is a game of numbers.” By using these uploading rules, they stimulate the ability of selecting subjects that are suitable for stock photography, to the detriment of the sole importance of the sheer number of photos, which, for the time being, is a positive aspect for photographic activity in general, or at least that is what I think.

My best images on iStockphoto

3. Shutterstock: About My Portfolio Register

This month’s results are superior to those obtained over the previous month, but far more inferior to those pertaining to the first two agencies in top8 RazvanPhotography. This agency specializes in selling photos mostly on a subscription basis and where that principle holds true which says that “ Stock photography is a play of numbers.” The problem over the past few months has been that, because of the huge number of photos they have in their collection, one finds it difficult to obtain results comparable to the past ones, irrespective of how many photos one uploads over a given time interval. It will be interesting to see how things will evolve in this case. We must not forget that Shutterstock bought Bigstock, which sells classic images and which Shutterstock has been successfully developed during the past months. The future is very promising in this sector.

4. Dreamstime: About My Portfolio Register

Results are good, although the problem with this agency remains the fact that the number of downloads is still too small to generate a satisfactory total income, despite the fact that the price per download is the highest among microstock agencies.

My best images on Dreamstime

5. Bigstockphoto: About My Portfolio Register

Again, a very good result with this agency. It will be interesting to see whether it will ever succeed in yielding better results than those yielded by Shutterstock.
My best images on Bigstockphoto

6. 123RF: About My Portfolio Register

This month’s evolution is, once again, remarkable when we speak about 123RF. Things might get significantly better if the trend continues and the pace stays the same.

My best images on 123RF

7. ScandinavianStockPhoto: About My Portfolio Register
Without standing out, just as always, Scanstockphoto holds this month’s last but one position in top8-RazvanPhotography.

My best images on Scanstockphoto

8. Canstockphoto: Descriere Portofoliul meu Inregistreaza-te

Canstockphoto has a very unsatisfactory evolution, since it is the only agency in this top that yields results that are inferior to those obtained during the previous months.

My best images on Canstockphoto

Nota:This page will be updated on a monthly basis. The next update is scheduled for April 24th 2010.